# Guide Curves in the Z Dimension

**URL:** <https://forum.compas-framework.org/t/guide-curves-in-the-z-dimension/1059>\
**Category:** RhinoVAULT\
**Created:** [September 26, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.compas-framework.org/t/guide-curves-in-the-z-dimension/1059 "2025-09-26T22:45:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![malikilam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@malikilam](https://forum.compas-framework.org/u/malikilam)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.compas-framework.org/t/guide-curves-in-the-z-dimension/1059/1 "2025-09-26T22:45:25Z")

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In Chapter 7of Interactive funicular form finding using RhinoVAULT the following appears:

”\*Constrain Nodes is used to constrain the movement of individual vertices as discussed in § 4.3.2. The user can choose a weight, defining the ’inertia’ of a vertex, or a constraining guide curve.”  
\*  
I would like to know if such constraining guide curves are only available in the x and y domains or if they can also be used in the z domain?

Kangaroo has the ability to use such a guide in all three dimensions, but as yet I haven’t figured out how to accomplish using a “guide curve” in the z dimension in RhinoVault. (Now that I think about it more, I suppose I could do some math and generate edge length constraints as well as constrain the x and y coordinates and that might accomplish what I am after.)

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Edit, I think I have found the solution to my own question. I just need to start with a three dimensional mesh with the guide curves (in the z vector) that I want to enforce and the fix the vertices that correspond to those guide curves in place.

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**Author:** ![tomvanmele](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.compas-framework.org/tomvanmele/32/13_2.png) [@tomvanmele](https://forum.compas-framework.org/u/tomvanmele)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 9:11pm UTC](https://forum.compas-framework.org/t/guide-curves-in-the-z-dimension/1059/2 "2025-10-03T21:11:16Z")

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which document are you referring to?

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**Author:** ![malikilam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@malikilam](https://forum.compas-framework.org/u/malikilam)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://forum.compas-framework.org/t/guide-curves-in-the-z-dimension/1059/3 "2025-10-04T21:15:40Z")

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I think I misidentified the document (which can be found here: [https://block.arch.ethz.ch/eq/files/documents/cnyjdm7mqzsw9y1a9ey8yixjou2c8nxk1572544805.pdf](https://block.arch.ethz.ch/eq/files/documents/cnyjdm7mqzsw9y1a9ey8yixjou2c8nxk1572544805.pdf))

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**Author:** ![tomvanmele](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.compas-framework.org/tomvanmele/32/13_2.png) [@tomvanmele](https://forum.compas-framework.org/u/tomvanmele)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 9:08am UTC](https://forum.compas-framework.org/t/guide-curves-in-the-z-dimension/1059/4 "2025-10-13T09:08:25Z")

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the document you are referring to is the PhD of Matthias Rippmann. the information there relates to a very old version of RV that is no longer available.

please use the official docs of the current version instead: [About | RhinoVAULT](https://blockresearchgroup.gitbook.io/rhinovault)

thanks for reminding me, though, that some of the features described in MR’s PhD still have to be reintegrated 🙂