[1.3.18] 2024-08-28

*Context*
- Added parse_vec2 and parse_vec3 functions in global.h/global.cpp to parse vec2 and vec3 from a string.
- Added parse_xml_node_[*] functions in global.h/global.cpp to parse XML nodes of different types.
- Added the capability to calculate the volume of closed compound objects.
- Added the capability to hide primitives and objects within the Context such that they won't be visualized or used in plug-in calculations.
- Many performance improvements in the Context.

*Radiation*
- Added warning if users add more than one sun source.

*Plant Architecture*
- Changed name and behavior of shoot parameters: "insertion_angle_tip", "insertion_angle_decay_rate", "internode_length_max", "internode_length_min", "internode_length_decay_rate" (previously "child_insertion_angle_tip", "child_insertion_angle_decay_rate", "child_internode_length_max", "child_internode_length_min", "child_internode_length_decay_rate"). All of these parameters now apply to the shoot type corresponding to the ShootParameters structure and not the child.
- Added new phytomer parameter 'leaf.unique_prototypes', which controls copying of leaf prototypes to improve efficiency. By default, leaf.unique_prototypes = 1, which means that all leaves will look identical. Increase this value to increase random variation.
- Added Eastern redbud and asparagus models to the library.
- Base framework for carbohydrate model added. These methods were moved to src/CarbohydrateModel.cpp.

*Visualizer*
- There was an error in the case 'samples/visualizer' related to the sun position. Thanks to Jan Graefe for pointing this out.

*Energy Balance*
- Removed use of "evaporating_faces" input primitive data to specify whether the leaf is hypostomatous or amphistomatous. Instead, a more general version using 'stomatal_sidedness' was implemented which allows continuous variation in stomatal sidedness.

*Photosynthesis*
- Treatment of twosided_flag and stomatal sidedness in the moisture/CO2 conductance is now consistent with the energy balance model.

core/include/global.h

@@ -260,6 +260,67 @@ namespace helios{
  */
     bool parse_uint( const std::string &input_string, uint &converted_uint );
 
+    //! Convert a string into a vec2 with error checking
+    /**
+     * \param[in] input_string String to be converted to numerical value
+     * \param[out] converted_vec2 Output numerical value converted from input string
+     * \return True if conversion was successful, false if unsuccessful
+     */
+    bool parse_vec2( const std::string &input_string, vec2 &converted_vec2 );
+
+    //! Convert a string into a vec3 with error checking
+    /**
+     * \param[in] input_string String to be converted to numerical value
+     * \param[out] converted_vec3 Output numerical value converted from input string
+     * \return True if conversion was successful, false if unsuccessful
+     */
+    bool parse_vec3( const std::string &input_string, vec3 &converted_vec3 );
+
+    //! Parse an XML tag containing an integer value
+    /**
+     * \param[in] node XML node containing the tag
+     * \param[in] tag Name of the tag to be parsed
+     * \param[in] calling_function Name of the function calling this function (for error reporting). e.g., Context::loadXML
+     * \return Integer value of the tag
+     */
+    int parse_xml_tag_int(const pugi::xml_node &node, const std::string &tag, const std::string &calling_function );
+
+    //! Parse an XML tag containing a float value
+    /**
+     * \param[in] node XML node containing the tag
+     * \param[in] tag Name of the tag to be parsed
+     * \param[in] calling_function Name of the function calling this function (for error reporting). e.g., Context::loadXML
+     * \return Float value of the tag
+     */
+    float parse_xml_tag_float( const pugi::xml_node &node, const std::string &tag, const std::string &calling_function );
+
+    //! Parse an XML tag containing a vec2 value (i.e., two space delimited floats)
+    /**
+     * \param[in] node XML node containing the tag
+     * \param[in] tag Name of the tag to be parsed
+     * \param[in] calling_function Name of the function calling this function (for error reporting). e.g., Context::loadXML
+     * \return vec2 value of the tag
+     */
+    vec2 parse_xml_tag_vec2( const pugi::xml_node &node, const std::string &tag, const std::string &calling_function );
+
+    //! Parse an XML tag containing a vec3 value (i.e., three space delimited floats)
+    /**
+     * \param[in] node XML node containing the tag
+     * \param[in] tag Name of the tag to be parsed
+     * \param[in] calling_function Name of the function calling this function (for error reporting). e.g., Context::loadXML
+     * \return vec3 value of the tag
+     */
+    vec3 parse_xml_tag_vec3( const pugi::xml_node &node, const std::string &tag, const std::string &calling_function );
+
+    //! Parse an XML tag containing a string
+    /**
+     * \param[in] node XML node containing the tag
+     * \param[in] tag Name of the tag to be parsed
+     * \param[in] calling_function Name of the function calling this function (for error reporting). e.g., Context::loadXML
+     * \return String value of the tag
+     */
+    std::string parse_xml_tag_string( const pugi::xml_node &node, const std::string &tag, const std::string &calling_function );
+
 //! Convert a space-delimited string into an RGBcolor vector
 /**
  * \ingroup functions