[3dsMax] Customize Shortcut

Next/Previous Key Mode Toggle
Alt + ,

Select and Manipulate
Alt + M

Select Object
Q

Scale
R

Layer Manager
Alt + ;

Curve Editor
Alt + '

Save File As
Ctrl + Shift + S

3dsMax - 請小心FBX Export Preset的設定

今天遇到了一個超奇妙的問題，當我輸出FBX要Bake Animation的時候，我的時間區段一直只能設定0到100之間，但昨天明明還是正常的，查了將近一整天一直無法解決，後來請高手支援一下才發現原來是個愚蠢的問題！

那就是FBX Export Preset中可以設定Start跟End的最大最小值，而這該死的被設定成了0到100，至於為何突然會被設定成0至100之間，這還是一個謎！不過我猜是因為我用了MAXScript的FbxExporterSetParam的關係‧‧‧

設定FBX Export Preset的步驟

1. 在FBX Exporter dialog中按下Edit按鈕並選擇Edit preset
2. 會跳出上圖左方的Tree List找到Bake Animation的Start/End項目並右鍵點擊選擇Edit min max
3. 輸入Minimum及Maximum數值

但目前還不知道要怎麼將他回復成預設狀態‧‧‧

另外要用MAXScript設定Start/End的話可以使用

FBXExporterSetParam "BakeFrameStart" [Integer value]

FBXExporterSetParam "BakeFrameEnd" [Integer value]

FBXExporterSetParam "BakeFrameStep" [Integer value]

[MAXScript] Path處理

以前在處理檔案路徑時，有些功能都自己寫Function來用，例如將兩段路徑結合成一個完整路徑等等。今天看MAXScript Reference時才發現，MAXScript自己就有許多Methods可以對路徑做各種的處理，非常方便。

MAXScript Reference - PathConfig Struct
以下從中節錄出較常用的項目

pathConfig.appendPath 
- 將路徑片段合併

pathConfig.appendPath "c:\\temp" "test.txt"

"c:\temp\test.txt"

pathConfig.convertPathToLowerCase
- 將路徑轉為小寫並將反斜槓統一

pathConfig.convertPathToLowerCase "C:\\Temp\Test/pATH"

"c:\temp\test\path"

pathConfig.pathsResolveEquivalent
- 比對兩個路徑是否相同

pathConfig.pathsResolveEquivalent "scenes\\test.txt" "./scenes/test.txt"

true

pathConfig.removePathLeaf
- 取得上一層的目錄路徑

pathConfig.removePathLeaf "c:\\temp\\test"

"c:\temp"

pathConfig.stripPathToTopParent 
- 取得最上層的路徑

pathConfig.stripPathToTopParent "C:\\temp\\test\\test.tga"

"C:\"

pathConfig.stripPathToTopParent "\\\\SomeServer\\Projects\\Test"

"\\SomeServer"

pathConfig.removePathTopParent
- 去除最上層的路徑

pathConfig.removePathLeaf "c:\\temp\\test"

"temp\test"

pathConfig.stripPathToLeaf
- 取得最深一層的路徑，與filenameFromPath作用相同

pathConfig.stripPathToLeaf "C:\\temp\\test"

"test"

pathConfig.stripPathToLeaf "C:\\temp\\test\\"

""

pathConfig.stripPathToLeaf "C:\\temp\\test\\somefile.tga"

"somefile.tga"

pathConfig.isAbsolutePath
- 檢驗是否是絕對路徑（但不檢驗該路徑是否存在）

pathConfig.isLegalPath
- 檢驗是否是合法的路徑（但不檢驗該路徑是否存在）

pathConfig.GetDir <#directory_type>
- 傳回系統預設目錄路徑

#font | #Scene | #export | #import | #help | #expression | #preview | #image | #Sound | #plugcfg | #maxstart | #vpost | #drivers | #autoback | #matlib | #scripts | #startupScripts | #defaults | #renderPresets | #ui | #maxroot | #renderoutput | #animations | #archives | #Photometric | #renderassets | #userScripts | #userMacros | #userStartupScripts | #temp | #userIcons | #maxData | #downloads | #proxies

pathConfig.isPathRootedAtBackslash
- 檢驗路徑是否是以斜槓為開頭

要取得Max的一些預設路徑則從此查找
MAXScript Reference - 3ds Max System Directories

如何不影響Scale的數值對Bone做到縮放尺寸的效果

如何不影響Scale的數值對Bone做到縮放尺寸的效果

例，在對原本Scale值為[1,1,1]的Bone，進行Scale 2倍的動作後，Scale值變為[2,2,2]，若想在保持現有尺寸的狀態下把Bone的Scale值歸回[1,1,1]，可利用Animation>Bone Tools，方法如下：

1. 開啟Bone Tools視窗。
2. 選擇要修改的Bone，執行Reset Scale，此時Scale值已被修正為1，但Bone的顯示有問題，用以下步驟進行修正。
3. 將Bone On關掉再打開，做個Refresh動作。
4. 執行Reset Stretch。
5. 執行Realign。

另外可用Max Script進行這個手續：

for o in selection do
(
    resetScale o
    o.setBoneEnable false currenttime
    o.setBoneEnable true currenttime
    o.resetBoneStretch()
    o.realignBoneToChild()
)

MAXscript : Find biped

想要在max檔案中找出所有的biped有什麼方法比較好？
主要是透過取得Biped的根骨架就能夠判別出有幾組biped骨架，而方法有好幾種...

1. 利用RootNode這個Property
   　bipedNode.controller.rootNode
   這個方式是從網上看到的（影片來源），透過能從所有biped骨頭中獲取的rootNode這個property，可取得biped根骨架 。另外也可使用rootName這個property直接獲取rootNode的name。

   //
   for o in geometry where classof o == Biped_Object and o.controller.rootNode == o do print o

2. 透過Controller的類型
   　classof bipedNode.controller
   利用判別controller的類型來尋找，root的controller類型為Vertical_Horizontal_Turn，root外的biped parts都會是BipSlave_Control，Footsteps即為Footsteps。

   //
   for o in geometry where classof o.controller == Vertical_Horizontal_Turn do print o

3. 透過biped.getNode這個指令
   　biped.getNode [bipedNode | bipedCtrl] [limbName | index]
   只要知道固定部位的limb name或者index即可用biped.getNode傳回該node，而根骨架的limb name是#vertical、#horizontal、#turn，index為13~15。詳見MAXScript Reference：Biped Node Hierarchy

MAXscript : constraints appendTarget

近日用MAXscript來做批次處理，其中有個步驟是先切biped的FigureMode為true，然後Merge物件並appendTarget $Bip01，但是發現取消FigureMode之後物件的座標點仍是merge時的座標，並未依據$Bip01的位移改變。後來發現在appendTarget後必需要取用物件的position（或者直接取用transform）資訊才會正常。不過若是一步一步手動執行，就沒有這個問題，也不是因為使用disableSceneRedraw、undo off、用fn進行addConstraint所導致。

MAXscript : Skin Copy/Paste

--
--選擇已Skin物件執行Copy, 自動記錄bones和存出env, 再選擇要套用Skin的物件執行Paste套回
--需要設定tempDir供存出env檔案用
--by JanusHaung
skinBonesArray = #()
tempDir = "D:/MaxProject/export/"
envFilename = ""

rollout skinCopyPaste "Skin Copy Paste" width:185 height:50
(
 button btn_copy "Copy" across:2
 button btn_paste "Paste"
 label lbl1 ""

 on btn_copy pressed do (
  -- 選擇已skin好的物件並執行
  if $.modifiers[#Skin] != undefined do (
   skinBonesArray = for i in 1 to skinops.getnumberbones $.skin collect skinops.getbonename $.skin i 0
   envFilename = tempDir + $.name + ".env"
   skinOps.saveEnvelope $.skin envFilename
   lbl1.caption = "Skin copied."
  )
 )
 
 on btn_paste pressed do (
  max modify mode
  if skinBonesArray.count > 0 do (
   -- 選擇尚未skin好的模型執行
   if $.modifiers[#Skin] == undefined do addmodifier $ (Skin())
   for i in 1 to skinBonesArray.count do skinOps.addbone $.skin ( getNodeByName skinBonesArray[i] ) 0
   --先執行completeRedraw()才可成功LoadEnvlope
   completeRedraw()
   skinOps.LoadEnvelope $.skin envFilename
   lbl1.caption = "Skin pasted."
  )
 )
)

createDialog skinCopyPaste

[MAXscript] 將所選擇物件轉為物件陣列形式

可將選擇中的物件名稱以#( $node1, $node2, ... )物件陣列的方式印出來

-- 將所選擇的物件名稱輸出成物件陣列形式 by Janus Huang

-- 紀錄下所有物件的名稱
tmp = for o in selection collect o.name

out = "#( "

--把物件名稱去除掉空白格
for i in 1 to tmp.count where matchpattern tmp[i] pattern:"* *" do (

    strNew = ""
    
    --留下space外的字串成array
    strTmp = filterString tmp[i] " "
    
    --將array結合成string後重新丟回
    for s in strTmp do strNew += s
    tmp[i] = strNew
)

for i in 1 to tmp.count do (
    --把物件名稱去除掉()
    if matchpattern tmp[i] pattern:"*(*)*" then
    (
        strNew = "getNodeByName \""+tmp[i]+"\""
        tmp[i] = strNew
    ) else (
        tmp[i]="$"+tmp[i]
    )

    if i != tmp.count then out += tmp[i]+", " else out += tmp[i]+" )"
)

print out

MAXscript : 圖檔轉檔

在MAXscript Reference 9.0中有寫並不支援輸出DDS檔

DDS : BitmapIOClass
instances not creatable by MAXScript, no interfaces or properties exposed

不過先用Max來Render輸出1張dds後，就能夠成功的用ms來輸出dds檔案了


sourceImage = openBitMap  "filename_string" --定義來源檔案(.psd ..)
outputImage = bitmap sourceImage.width  sourceImage.height --定義輸出檔案
copy  sourceImage outputImage --拷貝bitmap
outputImage.fileName = "filename_string" --定義檔案路徑
save outputImage --儲存
close sourceImage

但是openBitMap讀取的PSD檔案不包含alpha（只會有空的alpha 囧）

[3dsMax] 開檔時間異常的慢或者檔案容量異常的大的解決方法

　　有時會發現Max檔案的容量很大或者是開檔案時會異常的慢，但刪除檔案內所有物件後存檔卻沒有變小，這種檔案是空的卻容量很大的狀況是因為有一些沒有實體的數據資料還殘留在檔案內（例如Motion Mixer, reactor..），在網上找到了解決的方式，第一篇文章說明的很清楚，且有ms檔案可下載：

1. Scenes that take a long time to open or save and take up a lot of memory
2. Cleanup of a 3d max file. HELP!!!!! - pietro cunin
   Cleanup of a 3d max file. HELP!!!!! - marcwe
3. max file grew too big pls HELP - Alex Ayuso

簡而言之：

1. 以Maxscript清除trackview nodes的資訊
   

   // 請Copy下面這一行指令在Max中執行
   t=trackviewnodes; n=t[#Max_MotionClip_Manager]; deleteTrackViewController t n.controller; gc()
   // 如果執行後有-- Unknown property: "controller" in undefined 的錯誤訊息代表此方式可能幫不了你了
   
   // 下面將此行指令分行方便瀏覽
   t=trackviewnodes
   n=t[#Max_MotionClip_Manager]
   deleteTrackViewController t n.controller
   gc()
   
   

   如果不會使用Maxscript的話請看下面： 

   

   開啟Maxscript Listener，熱鍵F11

   

   或者直接用左下角的Listener

   

   貼上指令之後按下九宮格鍵盤區的Enter執行

2. 在只需要Objects及Hierarchy的狀況下，只需要File＞New＞Keep Objects and Hierarchy，就可存出乾淨的檔案
   
3. 也有可能只是Biped骨架系統的Copy Collections造成，刪除掉即可

   

   有時會重覆載入過多的collections，刪除掉即可

MAXScript : 讓Max說話

在網路上發現的有趣東西XD

透過OLE使用語音功能
theVoice = CreateOLEObject "SAPI.SpVoice"
theVoice.Speak "Hello"
如此就能讓MAX說話了 : D

來源 http://www.cnblogs.com/sitt/archive/2011/11/22/2258834.html

MAXscript : Display Layer

Interface: LayerManager

.count
Get the number of layers in the scene
.current
Returns a LayerProperties MixinInterface to the current layer.

getLayerFromName #name
Returns a LayerProperties MixinInterface to the layer with the given name.

選取Layer中的物件
layer = layerManager.getLayerFromName #name
--Returns true on success, and an array of all nodes on the layer in the by-reference Out parameter.
layer.nodes &theNodes
select theNodes

MAXscript : 如何自動觸發Dialog中的按鈕

在Max中有許多不被MAXscript直接支援的東西，譬如說Load Envelopes等等的Dialog，此時可靠一個callback function來解決，CGS的Bobo分享了這個方法，另外在這邊也有相關討論。

fn ANoon_EnvelopeCallbackFunction =
(
    WindowHandle = DialogMonitorOPS.GetWindowHandle()
    theDialogName = UIAccessor.GetWindowText WindowHandle
    if theDialogName != undefined and matchpattern theDialogName pattern:"*Load Envelopes*" do
    UIAccessor.PressButtonByName WindowHandle "OK" true
)

DialogMonitorOPS.RegisterNotification ANoon_EnvelopeCallbackFunction ID:#ANoon_Envelopes
DialogMonitorOPS.Enabled = true

這個callback是case sensitive

MAXscript : Skinops Methods

今天想寫個merge已綁定模型的同時也自動將skin加上去的script，但是當寫到給merge進來的模型add bone的時候就是一直** system exception **，搞了好久一直找不到原因，上網搜了一下找到答案了，原來是skinops的methods一定要在該skin modifier可以被選取的狀態下才可以使用！！真是太不人性化了...

Help裡面就有寫著，一直被我無視...

The following methods require that the Skin modifier be the displayed modifier in the Modify panel, and that the Modify panel is active.

addbone後要執行load envlope時，又遇到一個問題，load envlope雖然成功執行，但是卻沒有load到envlope，咕狗後發現解決辦法（還有如何執行load envlope dialog的按鈕的方法），一為執行load envlope兩次，二為在load envlope之前加入completeRedraw()。

MAXscript : 控制外部文件

MAXscript 控制外部文件的函數 (適用於max檔案及非max檔案)


getFiles "wild_card_filename_string"
Returns an array of file names that match the given wild-card path name. The following example gets an array of all the .max scene files in c:\foo and then loops over the array, opening each file and printing the objects in each:
files = getFiles "c:\\foo\\*.max"
for f in files do (loadMAXFile f; print objects)
getFiles() can also be used to determine if a file exists.


getDirectories "wild_card_directory_name_string"
Returns an array of directory paths that match the given wild-card directory path name.


makeDir "directorypath_string" all:
Return false on failure (either because the path could not be created or because the path already existed).


deleteFile "filename_string"
Fails if the file is open in MAXScript.


renameFile "old_filename_string" "new_filename_string"
Renames the old file to the new file. This can also be used to move a file between directories. Fails if new file already exists or if the old file is open in MAXScript. Returns true on success, false on failure.


copyFile "existing_filename_string" "new_filename_string"
Copies the existing file to the new file. Fails if the new file already exists, the new file cannot be created, or the existing file is open in MAXScript. Returns true on success, false on failure.


getFileSize "filename_string"
Returns the size of the specified file in bytes. Returns 0 if the file could not be found.


getFileAttribute "filename_string" "attribute"
setFileAttribute "filename_string" "attribute"
The valid values are:
#readOnly #hidden #system #directory #archive #temporary #normal


getFileModDate "filename_string"
getFileCreateDate "filename_string"


getFileVersion "filename_string"
This data is typically specified only for executable and application extension (i.e., .dll) files.


FileStream Values


createFile


openFile [ mode: ]


close filepath


Standard Open and Save File Dialogs


getOpenFileName
getSaveFileName
Both functions return a fully-specified file path name or undefined if the user cancels out.
When the optional keyword filename: is supplied, the string is used to define the path and file name of the file to be loaded or saved. The dialog automatically navigates to the specified path (if available on the disk/network), displays its content in the browsing area and suggests the file name in the "File name" field. If the path does not exist, the current path is used and only the file name is displayed as requested.

getMAXFileObjectNames
傳回該檔案內物件的字串陣列


checkForSave()
儲存確認視窗


shellLaunch "notepad.exe" filepath
執行外部程式 eg. Notepad


File Name Parsing 檔名的解析
filenameFromPath "filename_string"
從完整的檔案路徑中擷取檔名(包含副檔名)


getFilenamePath " filename_string "
getFilenameFile " filename_string "
getFilenameType " filename_string "
從完整的檔案路徑中獲得目錄路徑、檔案檔名(不含副檔名)、副檔名


doesFileExist " filename_string "
return True or False

Helper Joint

GDC2011 - Implementation and Application of the Real-Time Helper-Joint System

View more presentations from eiaserinnys

MABINOGI 2 - NEW TECHNOLOGY SIGHTED
《洛奇2》全新即时动画制作技术展示视频

其他參考：
Helper Joints:Advanced Deformations on RunTime Characters
An Automated Pipeline for Generating Run-Time Rigs

Bone-Gimbal & Gimbal Lock

在3dsMax創bone的時候，座標系的旋轉值會因為創bone時的軸向而異(viewport也有關聯)，會造成錯誤的gimbal軸向(Euler Controller的問題，x跟z軸會重疊)，導致調curves的時候會異常困難，動態也有問題。在網路上搜到了一個討論串提到了解決方法：

1. 建立一個dummy對齊bone的pivot，將bone link給dummy，對dummy上key
2. 創好bone之後，選取bone後alt+RMB執行Freeze transform

在搜尋解決方式時也發現了Gimbal Lock一詞，這個現象的相關資料：
Gimbal Lock到底該怎麼稱呼？
Wikipedia：Gimbal Lock
Gimbal Lock 萬向鎖 (內文有滿深入的講解跟有用的連結)

MAXscript : 新創同樣BoneList的Skin

從現有已加完Bones的Skin中，抓取Bone List到新的Skin中

--從已有的Skin中抓取骨骼的Name
bonesAry = for i in 1 to skinOps.getNumberBones $.skin collect skinOps.getBoneName $.skin i 0
--加入到新的Skin中

for i in 1 to boneAry.count do skinOps.addBone $.skin (getNodeByName boneAry[i]) 0

Maxscript : Writing Better and Faster Scripts

( Frequently Asked Questions in MAXscript help)

Disable Viewport Redraws when making changes to scene objects

You can use the with redraw off() context or a pair of disableSceneRedraw() and enableSceneRedraw() calls to speed up you code. The former method is the preferred one.

Disable Undo system when possible

ondo off( ... ) ; ondo on( ... ) ; with undo off

print (et-st) --print the resulting time

gc() --call Garbage Collection &endash; you will needed it!

Modify Panel can be slow - change to Create Panel when possible

In 3ds Max 7 and higher, you can also completely disable Modify Panel updates using the suspendEditing() and resumeEditing() methods

Only calculate once if possible

Try to avoid running the same calculation more than once, or interrogating the same value in the same node more than once.

Cache frequently used functions and objects

You can store frequently used functions and objects in user variables to faster access.

Pre-initialize arrays when final size is known

When adding elements to an array using the append method, a copy of the original array is being created in memory before the new array is created. When the size of an array is known before the array is actually used, it is a good practice to pre-initialize the array in memory by assigning the last element of the array to some temporary value. This will create an array of the desired size in memory and will let you simply assign values to any element of the array using indexed access without the memory overhead of the append method.

MyArray = #()

MyArray[100] = 0 --initialize a 100 elements array in memory

for i = 1 to 100 do MyArray[i] = random 1 100 --assign to predefined array

matchPattern is faster than findString

When searching for a substring inside a string, using the matchPattern() method is faster than using findString().

Executing the same method one million times on the same PC resulted in:

3.7 seconds execution time for matchPattern

5.9 seconds execution time for findString

5.0 seconds execution time for subString when comparing the first 3 characters.

Do not use return, break, exit or continue

Return, break, exit, continue and throw are implemented using C++ exception.

C++ exceptions are SLOW!

Use StringStream to build large strings

If building strings, use a StringStream value to accumulate the string and then convert to a string.

fn test5d =

(

 local ss = stringstream"",fmt ="%"

 for i = 1 to 100 do format fmt ito:ss

 ss as string

)

Using Bsearch For Fast Table Lookup
The bsearch() method available in 3ds Max 2009 and higher allows for very fast table lookup operations in sorted arrays.

Maxscript : Right-Handed to Left-Handed

正解！！Right to Left or Left to Right：by cmann

Let me try to explain it a little better. I need to export from Blender, in which the z axis is facing, to OpenGL where the y axis is facing up.

For every coordinate (x, y, z) it's simple, swap the y and z values: (x, z, y).
Because I have swapped the all of the y and z values any matrix that I use also needs to be flipped so that it has the same affect .

After a lot of searching I've eventually found a solution here:
http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=537664
If your matrix looks like this:
{ rx, ry, rz, 0 }
{ ux, uy, uz, 0 }
{ lx, ly, lz, 0 }
{ px, py, pz, 1 }

To change it from left to right or right to left, flip it like this:
{ rx, rz, ry, 0 }
{ lx, lz, ly, 0 }
{ ux, uz, uy, 0 }
{ px, pz, py, 1 }