Scale Control script

Nothing fancy I think, but I saw many times peoples confused when come to binding each of scale XYZ values to a separate spinner controller, so this time I decide to help on this question with this mimi tool, that's all ;)

The script you can get from this forum thread, or Copy/Paste it from here.

rollout dlgScaler "Scale Control"
(
   local asp = #()
   
   spinner spnX "X:" range:[-1000,1000,100]
   spinner spnY "Y:" range:[-1000,1000,100]
   spinner spnZ "Z:" range:[-1000,1000,100]
   pickbutton pbNode "Pick Object" autoDisplay:true
   
   on pbNode picked obj do if isValidNode obj do
   (
      if classOf obj.scale.track != ScaleXYZ do
         obj.scale.track = ScaleXYZ()
      local asc = getXYZControllers obj.scale.track
      for i = 1 to 3 do asp[i].controller = asc[i]
   )
   on pbNode rightclick do
   (
      pbNode.object = undefined
      pbNode.caption = "Pick Object"
      for i = 1 to 3 do asp[i].controller = undefined
   )
   on dlgScaler open do (asp = #(spnX, spnY, spnZ))
)
CreateDialog dlgScaler

Multi Camera Preview 1.2

I'm not really sure whether I need to bother the public with so small improvement of this MaxScript tool :) anyway, check it out if you need cancel option.

New Maxscript Tutorial Series

New Maxscript Tutorial Series - Beginner to Intermediate by Kevin Harper.

Exploder

The Exploder is a simple detachment tool (MAXScript) with a few extra options I wrote recently to automate faces detachment process on one or multiple objects. The script you can find here.

Select Edges By Material ID

Ok, here is a new MaxScript from me. It's just my quick attempt to help on user request in ScriptSpot forum. Enjoy!

Delete Duplicate Matte Render Elements

Well, incidentally, heh.. :) this script was only snippet code that I post into ScriptSpot forum as quick help reply, but I wrap it in a macro script and uplaod a copy on my web site.

The script is made for concrete purpose, so be sure you read the forum thread before run or use that macros.

Also just to note that the snippet code I post into the forum is not safe as the script should process only matte render elements, so it's better to use the macros that I uploaded on my web site.

That's it for now ;)

SEA3D exporter

An open-source SEA3D exporter (script) for 3ds Max 2008 and newly was released by Sunag Entertainment. It export animation, bitmap, texture, material, geometry, skeleton (Skin), camera, light, environment and helper to Flash Plataform (Flash Player 11 or higher required). More info at ScriptSpot or at the project web page.

FillMyShelf

FillMyShelf is a script for 3ds Max by PJ that creates books to fill up bookshelf.

3dsMaxScript.com

3dsMaxScript.com is a new web site (Turkish) for MAXScript tutorials.

Form for 3ds Max

Form is a new (more human beings) modeling system (similar to zspheres) for 3ds Max by Marius Silaghi. Read more here.

Miauu's Script Pack

Kostadin Kotev (the author of RTTassist, Miauu's Work Plane, and many other favourite scripts) recently release a set of scripts that automate many common and tedious tasks in 3ds Max.

The Miauu's Script Pack include:

Visual Pivot Placer
In-Volume Scatter
Orbit viewport Around Picked Point
Nested Isolation
Multi Dirs Save
Clone Between
Align Tool

More details available at his web blog.

Using SoX audio utility in 3ds Max

SoX is a cross-platform command-line audio utility (more info, docs, downloads), mostly used for audio file format conversion but it also armed with enough effects for quick composing. SoX is a very welcome tool to all batch script lovers, its free, still in development, and can be used with any program that can dump data to text file.

This blog article show nice introduction on how to use SoX in 3ds Max for quick audio sync composition to our animation, also show how to add some additional audio effects.

Delete NoteTracks

Well, its about cleaning the mess after bipeds. I write twice about this. Once by posting the primary and most older source that offer solution about - Long time max file save issue, and once more in Ballooning file issue where I post more links to additional sources and solutions.

Why then I post again about this? Looks like the bugs in Max varied between versions and the chance some of the solutions to work for everybody is a bit arbitrary. One more solution is always welcome, right?

For instance, in the case mention at ScriptSpot, the method is based on TrackViewNodes.Max_MotionClip_Manager but it is unstable as Max not always know Max_MotionClip_Manager track, but calling it by index i.e. trackViewNodes[5] solve that. This way it work not just for me.

fn deleteNoteTracks = (
    mcMan = TrackViewNodes[5]
    while (numNoteTRacks mcMan > 0) do
    deleteNoteTrack mcMan (getNoteTrack mcMan 1)
)

If by some reason this method not work for you, there is other 2 methods posted at CGTalk forum. The first of them not work here. Its based on DefNoteTrack, but it is undefined here and the line of code...

(notetrack "").classid -- that should fix it...

...as I read this work for someone but not for me. The DefNoteTrack still stay undefined after that, so the whole solution do nothing for me.

Well, at the end of this forum thread has another method that I never tested. It's based on re-copy the whole Max_MotionClip_Manager track. Two peoples confirm that it works and that it is really faster, do the job almost instantly. So if it works for you, it looks as the best one, but if not, then you have one more solution to play with.

Old fashion smoke chimney

Recently I help a little bit on almost ready scripted tool (by Danny McAuliffe) that made old fashion smoke chimney (read more here), but Denis Trofimov decide to move this task more forward by writing this as scripted primitive. The author plan to support future development of his plugin with new features, and he's open for questions and suggestions (read more here).

P.S. - I see that Danny McAuliffe add some features to it Chimney Maker and finally upload it to ScriptSpot.

LED style animation with MAXScript

Just illustration of an example approach which can be done and without writing code but there also a few points where using MAXScript (3ds Max scripting) can save alot of time.

Ok, I don't want to repeat my self by rewriting all description, more details at ScriptSpot. Also just to note that this quick tutorial just illustrate the idea of using "brush" but its prepared just for circular brush printing.

Mirror pivot tool

A very handy scripted tool by Daniel Kur to mirror objects pivot.

Miauu's Scatter Tool

Custom scatter tool (for 3ds Max 9 and higher) by Kostadin Kotev.

Dimension modifier 1.2

One more update (I was promised) of my scripted Dimension modifier. More details you can read at it script page.

Dimension modifier 1.1

I get a some reasonable requests to update my scripted modifier Dimension. Now I just add a checkbox to can scale uniform (keep proporsion) using one spinner, but there one more request on which I'll take care of somewhere into the next days.

Flip UVs across several files

Well, I know its not a time for work right now, but what is blogged here can be read in the future days, while what's in my head may not be there tomorrow, hehe :)

What I have in mind is just to post a link to that forum thread: FLIP UV across several files - Solution included. Its about how to batch UVs flip operation on several files, automating that procedure from importing to exporting the objects. The thread holds and working solution. Admittedly it can be polished and optimized but its a complete working script (at least for the case it written).

Well, looks like I can't hide my happiness after all because I was able to help on this task remotely (without Max on my hands), however, after reading the posts once more, I see a bit of educational value inside.

Ok, never mind, now back to the party. :)
Happy new year to all!