There is a one-line DOS command to get all files with a specific extension and change it to a different extension. In my case, I had a bunch of p12 files that I wanted to be pfx so they’d open magically without creating a new association.
for %f in (*.p12) do ren "%f" "%~nf.pfx"
Silked pork, sliced radish, and glass noodles with the sauce recipe from the package:
I copied the pawn and grew her a little. Added a crown and necklace … voila, a kitten queen! I’ve been using the smooth brush a lot to even out the surface. I’m curious how these will 3d print because the model is made up of a lot of little triangles.
421,132 to be exact. As I’ve discovered, you can configure the viewport to add data in overlays. Statistics is a nice one!
Made a “mac and cheese” with the vegan “cheese” from Violife, broccoli, and ham.
A pawn … this little guy took quite a long time to get cat shaped, but I think I’ve got it!
OK, so I don’t know that anyone would see this and say “cat!” … but it’s a start!
My idea is to have a king and queen, a knight pouncing on something, a bishop based on the beckoning cat, and a rook that is a cat sleeping in a little cat tree. Pawns will just be kittens. Should probably start there since they’re the least adorned.
I’ve got a start to my chess pieces — now I just need to figure out how to use all of these sculpting tools to nudge this cylinder into the shape of a kitten king!
The pork loin dries out easily, so I tried silking it this time. Thin slices lightly coated with cassava flour and salt. It sat for about 30 minutes and then was boiled until not quite cooked. Sauteed with onions, broccoli, and a soy/maple/stock mixture. Served with rice — the pork wasn’t dry!
I had to create a number of Visio diagrams for a new project. Since Blender has a Python API, I wondered if I could do something similar with Visio. There does appear to be an VSDX library for Python, I also found that Powershell can just control the Visio instance on my laptop.
This is a demo creating a diagram for a simple web server with a database back end. You can, however, use any stencils and make more complicated diagrams. The lines aren’t great — part of my Visio diagramming process is moving things around to optimize placement to avoid overlapping and confusing lines. The programmatic approach doesn’t do that, but it gets everything in the diagram. You can then move them as needed.
# Sample Visio diagram: Firewall -> Load Balancer -> Web Servers -> Database
# Auto-discovers stencils
# Works on Windows PowerShell 5.x
$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
# Output
$docName = "WebApp-LB-Firewall-DB.vsdx"
$outPath = Join-Path $HOME "Documents\$docName"
# Start Visio
$visio = New-Object -ComObject Visio.Application
$visio.Visible = $true
# New document/page
$doc = $visio.Documents.Add("")
$page = $visio.ActivePage
$page.Name = "Architecture"
$page.PageSheet.CellsU("PageWidth").ResultIU = 22.0
$page.PageSheet.CellsU("PageHeight").ResultIU = 14.0
# -------------------------------
# Stencil discovery and loading
# -------------------------------
$searchRoots = @(
"$env:PROGRAMFILES\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\Visio Content",
"$env:PROGRAMFILES\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\Visio Content\1033",
"$env:ProgramFiles(x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\Visio Content",
"$env:ProgramFiles(x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\Visio Content\1033",
"$env:PROGRAMFILES\Microsoft Office\root\Office15\Visio Content",
"$env:ProgramFiles(x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office15\Visio Content",
"$env:PROGRAMFILES\Microsoft",
"$env:ProgramFiles(x86)\Microsoft",
"$env:PROGRAMFILES",
"$env:ProgramFiles(x86)"
) | Where-Object { Test-Path $_ }
# Keywords to select useful stencils (filename match, case-insensitive)
$stencilKeywords = @("network","server","compute","computer","azure","cloud","firewall","security","database","sql","load","balancer","web","iis")
function Find-StencilFiles {
param([string[]]$roots, [string[]]$keywords)
$results = @()
foreach ($root in $roots) {
try {
Get-ChildItem -Path $root -Filter *.vssx -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | ForEach-Object {
$fname = $_.Name.ToLower()
foreach ($kw in $keywords) {
if ($fname -match $kw) { $results += $_.FullName; break }
}
}
} catch { }
}
$results | Select-Object -Unique
}
function Load-Stencils {
param([string[]]$files)
$loaded = @()
foreach ($file in $files) {
try {
Write-Host "Loading stencil: $file"
$loaded += $visio.Documents.OpenEx($file, 64) # read-only
} catch {
Write-Warning "Could not load stencil: $file"
}
}
foreach ($docX in $visio.Documents) {
if ($docX.FullName -ne $doc.FullName) { $loaded += $docX }
}
$loaded | Sort-Object FullName -Unique
}
$files = Find-StencilFiles -roots $searchRoots -keywords $stencilKeywords
$stencils = Load-Stencils -files $files
if (!$stencils -or $stencils.Count -eq 0) {
Write-Warning "No stencil files loaded automatically. Fallback rectangles will be used."
} else {
Write-Host "`nLoaded stencils:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
foreach ($s in $stencils) { Write-Host " - $($s.FullName)" }
}
# -------------------------------
# Master selection helpers
# -------------------------------
function List-Masters {
foreach ($st in $stencils) {
Write-Host ("Stencil/Doc: {0}" -f $st.Name) -ForegroundColor Cyan
foreach ($m in $st.Masters) {
Write-Host (" - {0} (NameU: {1})" -f $m.Name, $m.NameU)
}
}
}
function Get-MasterByPattern([string[]]$patterns) {
foreach ($st in $stencils) {
foreach ($m in $st.Masters) {
foreach ($p in $patterns) {
if ($m.NameU -match $p -or $m.Name -match $p) {
Write-Host ("Selected master '{0}' from '{1}' for pattern '{2}'" -f $m.Name, $st.Name, $p) -ForegroundColor Green
return $m
}
}
}
}
return $null
}
# Drop master centered at x,y; keep default size; label it
function Add-Device([double]$x,[double]$y,[string]$label,[string[]]$patterns,[double]$fontSize=10) {
$m = Get-MasterByPattern $patterns
if ($null -eq $m) {
Write-Warning ("No master matched patterns: {0}. Using fallback rectangle." -f ($patterns -join ", "))
$w = 2.0; $h = 1.2
$shape = $page.DrawRectangle($x - ($w/2), $y - ($h/2), $x + ($w/2), $y + ($h/2))
} else {
$shape = $page.Drop($m, $x, $y)
}
$shape.Text = $label
$shape.CellsU("Char.Size").FormulaU = "$fontSize pt"
return $shape
}
# Simple transparent containers (thin gray outline; sent behind shapes)
function Add-Container([double]$x,[double]$y,[double]$w,[double]$h,[string]$text) {
$shape = $page.DrawRectangle($x, $y, $x + $w, $y + $h)
$shape.CellsU("LineColor").FormulaU = "RGB(180,180,180)"
$shape.CellsU("LineWeight").FormulaU = "1 pt"
$shape.CellsU("FillForegnd").FormulaU = "RGB(255,255,255)"
$shape.CellsU("FillForegndTrans").ResultIU = 1.0
$shape.Text = $text
$shape.CellsU("Char.Size").FormulaU = "12 pt"
try { $shape.SendToBack() } catch {}
return $shape
}
# Connector
function Connect($fromShape,$toShape,[string]$text="") {
$conn = $page.Drop($visio.Application.ConnectorToolDataObject, 0, 0)
$conn.CellsU("LineColor").FormulaU = "RGB(60,60,60)"
$conn.CellsU("LineWeight").FormulaU = "0.75 pt"
$fromShape.AutoConnect($toShape, 0, $conn)
if ($text) { $conn.Text = $text }
return $conn
}
# -------------------------------
# Diagram content
# -------------------------------
# Title
$title = $page.DrawRectangle(1.0, 13.4, 21.0, 13.9)
$title.Text = "Web App Architecture: Firewall -> Load Balancer -> Web Servers -> Database"
$title.CellsU("Char.Size").FormulaU = "14 pt"
# Patterns for official icons (broad to match common stencils)
$patFirewall = @("Firewall|Security|Shield|Azure.*Firewall")
$patLoadBalancer= @("Load.*Balancer|Application.*Gateway|LB|Azure.*Load.*Balancer")
$patWebServer = @("Web.*Server|IIS|Server(?! Rack)|Computer|Windows.*Server")
$patDatabase = @("Database|SQL|Azure.*SQL|DB|Cylinder")
# Containers (optional zones)
$dmz = Add-Container 1.0 10.8 20.0 2.0 "DMZ (Edge/Ingress)"
$webtier = Add-Container 4.0 6.8 14.0 3.2 "Web Tier"
$dbtier = Add-Container 8.0 3.5 10.0 2.8 "Database Tier"
$clients = Add-Container 1.0 1.0 6.0 2.2 "Clients"
# Devices (kept at native size; spaced widely)
# Edge/Ingress
$fw = Add-Device 3.0 11.8 "Firewall" $patFirewall 10
$lb = Add-Device 8.0 11.8 "Load Balancer" $patLoadBalancer 10
# Web servers (pair)
$web1 = Add-Device 9.5 8.0 "Web Server 1\nIIS" $patWebServer 10
$web2 = Add-Device 13.5 8.0 "Web Server 2\nIIS" $patWebServer 10
# Database
$db = Add-Device 13.0 4.6 "Database\nSQL" $patDatabase 10
# Clients
$client1 = Add-Device 2.0 1.8 "Client\nPC" @("Desktop|PC|Computer|Laptop") 10
$client2 = Add-Device 5.0 1.8 "Client\nServer" @("Server(?! Rack)|Windows.*Server|Computer") 10
# Connectors (flow: clients -> firewall -> LB -> web servers -> database)
Connect $client1 $fw "HTTPS"
Connect $client2 $fw "HTTPS"
Connect $fw $lb "Allow: 443"
Connect $lb $web1 "HTTP/HTTPS"
Connect $lb $web2 "HTTP/HTTPS"
Connect $web1 $db "SQL (1433/Encrypted)"
Connect $web2 $db "SQL (1433/Encrypted)"
# Save
$doc.SaveAs($outPath)
Write-Host "Saved Visio to: $outPath"
Originally, I wanted to sculpt the entire thing in python, but it appears that the programmatic interface only works in defined shapes. I guess I could construct millions of tiny triangles? polygons? to create cats … but I suspect that using the actual sculpting tools is going to be the easier approach.
However, the base of each piece seems perfect for a script. This will ensure consistency in my chess pieces (and let me play around with the Python approach since I think it is really cool that Blender takes Python code!). I am making decorated cylinders onto which my figures will sit.
import bpy
import bmesh
import math
INCH = 0.0254 # meters per inch
params = {
# Cylinder base size
"base_diameter_in": 1.75,
"base_height_in": 0.25,
# Wreath hemispheres
"hemi_count": 24,
"hemi_radius_in": 0.05,
"hemi_offset_in": 0.125, # inward from base outer edge
# Collection
"collection_name": "Chess_Base",
}
def inch(v):
return v * INCH
def ensure_collection(name):
if name in bpy.data.collections:
return bpy.data.collections[name]
col = bpy.data.collections.new(name)
bpy.context.scene.collection.children.link(col)
return col
COL = ensure_collection(params["collection_name"])
def build_base():
base_r = inch(params["base_diameter_in"]) / 2.0
base_h = inch(params["base_height_in"])
# Place the base so its top is at Z = base_h (sitting on Z=0 plane)
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cylinder_add(radius=base_r, depth=base_h, location=(0, 0, base_h / 2.0))
base = bpy.context.active_object
base.name = "Chess_Base_Cylinder"
# Link explicitly to target collection (in case active collection differs)
if base.name not in COL.objects:
COL.objects.link(base)
return base
def make_hemisphere_mesh(radius_m, segments=32, rings=16):
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_uv_sphere_add(radius=radius_m, segments=segments, ring_count=rings, location=(0, 0, 0))
sph = bpy.context.active_object
bm = bmesh.new()
bm.from_mesh(sph.data)
# Keep the top hemisphere: delete vertices with z < 0 (tolerance to avoid floating error)
to_delete = [v for v in bm.verts if v.co.z < -1e-7]
if to_delete:
bmesh.ops.delete(bm, geom=to_delete, context='VERTS')
bm.to_mesh(sph.data)
bm.free()
hemi_mesh = sph.data
hemi_mesh.name = "Hemisphere_Mesh"
# Remove the temporary object but keep the mesh datablock
bpy.data.objects.remove(sph, do_unlink=True)
return hemi_mesh
def build_wreath_hemispheres(hemi_mesh):
base_r = inch(params["base_diameter_in"]) / 2.0
base_h = inch(params["base_height_in"])
ring_r = base_r - inch(params["hemi_offset_in"])
count = params["hemi_count"]
hemis = []
for i in range(count):
theta = (i / count) * 2.0 * math.pi
cx = ring_r * math.cos(theta)
cy = ring_r * math.sin(theta)
obj = bpy.data.objects.new(f"Hemi_{i:02d}", hemi_mesh)
# Flat face of hemisphere (its equator at local Z=0) sits on base top (Z=base_h)
obj.location = (cx, cy, base_h)
COL.objects.link(obj)
hemis.append(obj)
# Join hemispheres into a single object
bpy.ops.object.select_all(action='DESELECT')
for o in hemis:
o.select_set(True)
bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active = hemis[0]
bpy.ops.object.join()
wreath = bpy.context.active_object
wreath.name = "Wreath_Hemispheres"
return wreath
def build_all():
base = build_base()
hemi_mesh = make_hemisphere_mesh(inch(params["hemi_radius_in"]))
wreath = build_wreath_hemispheres(hemi_mesh)
print("Built:", base.name, wreath.name)
build_all()