Prerequisites : knowledge of a programming/scripting language (algorithmic) is a plus

Profile : artists with an experience with 3DSMax, R&D engineers, technical directors, tools developers

Duration : 7 hours

Sessions on demand: Ask for one session

Cost : 600 Euros per person without V.A.T (19.6%)  (travel, lodging, meals NOT included )

Course content

Basics

• Overview
• Maxscript access in UI
• Maxscript doc
• Listener
• Place objects
• macro-recorder
• Variables
• Maths
• Learn with box primitive
• Script editor (Max 9 and 2008)
• Load/Save/Run a script file
• Errors and « undefined »
• Comments
• simple scripts examples analysis
• simple dialog box creation
• simple rollout creation
• Tests, variables3
• 3D Vectors
• Example : Create a box in the middle position of 2 selected objectsRotations
• Euler
• AxisAngle
• Quaternion
• Example : Change the object rotation using these 3 ways
• Casting between rotations representations
• Scale
• Most common commands
• Apropos
• Help
• ShowClass
• Showproperties (ex : Showproperties $.modifiers[1] --(1-based index !!)
• GetpropNames
• Classof
• Tests instructions
• If / then /else – if do
• While
• Arrays
• Iterate through an array – for Loops
• for i = 1 to 5 do (...)
• for myvar in MyArray do(myvar...)
• Continue command to skip iteration
• Exit command to break a loop
• Example : Clone a box primitive with a for loop
• Get the selected nodes and modify them
• Case of a single object selected
• Case of several objects selected (if $ == selection)
• Functions
• Definitions (same line of in a code block)
• blocks between ()
• send parameter by value (copy)
• send parameter by reference like C++ doe
• globals & locals variables
  

User Interface

• Macroscripts
• Where they are in the UI ?
• Where are they on the directories ?
• Example : an exporter made with Maxscript : in Maxscripttools subdir
• File is Macro_MXSExport.mcr
• Interfaces
• Dialogs
• Rollout and controls
• Angles
• Buttons
  
• push
• check
• Bitmap
• Spinners
• CheckBox
• ColorPicker
  
• Dropdownlist
• Slider
• Timer
• Mouse events management
• Mouse. buttonStates / Mouse. pos / Mouse. screenpos
• Visual Maxscript to graphically create / modify controls
• List of scripted plugins you can create
• Utility
• Example, create a utility which gets the selected node and modify its position
  with a spinner control into a rollout
• Floating dialog
• Modifier
• Extend an existing mod or replace its UI
  

Advanced MAXScript programming

• Maxscript debugger
• Follow example_start_here.ms file
• Follow Example_Tutorial1.ms (animation)
• Follow Example_Tutorial9.ms (animation)
• Tips and tricks to debug your script
• print
• MessageBox
• Debugprint
• Going through a script step by step (in the Maxscript editor shift+enter on a selected line)
• try / catch blocks
• including a script into another script (include command)
  
• Encrypt a script
  
• Garbage collector
  
• Files processing (getfiles)
  
• Streams
  
• String stream
  
• File stream
  
• Callbacks
  
• Bitmaps
  
• Set an ActiveX control into a Maxscript (for example to visualise the resulting film)
  
• Repetitive process automation
  
• Example : Add an UVW Map modifier to create UVs with specific settings on different objects.
  
• Examples of advanced scripts analysed