Developing A Scripted Utility In 3ds Max-9
Script Explanation
utility ObjPlacer "Object Palcer"A Utility is created using a constructor utility with name ObjPlacer andcaption Object Placer.
Local copyState=1,sourceObj,destinationObj
Local variables are alive untill we close the utility is closed.
NOTE: Align and CopyOption functions are explained below.
About rollout
rollout Abt "About"A rollout named Abt with caption “About” is defined.
Label lab1 "Object Placer"
Label lab2 "By Sathish"
Label lab3 "Mail:Sathish101@gmail.com"
Labels are used to display information and it could not be altered. (If u need syntax details refer MaxScript reference).
Parameter rollout
pickButton sourcePikBtn "Source" width:75 autoDisplay:true
pickButton destnationPikBtn "Destination" width:75
Two pick buttons with caption Source and Destination is created with width =75. In Source pick button autoDisplay is enabled to display selected objects name as button caption.
checkBox vertexChkBox "Vertex" checked:true
checkBox polygonChkBox "Polygon"
Two checkboxes for Vertex and Polygon is created. Initially Vertex check box is enabled.
group "Copy option"
(
radioButtons copyOption labels:#("Copy", "Instance", "Reference") align:#left default:1
)
A group with three radio buttons for selecting copy type such as Copy, References or Instance is created. Radio buttons are aligned left in group box and Copy is set as default.
on sourcePikBtn picked sObj do
(
if sObj != undefined then
sourceObj=sObj
)
This function will be called when source pick button picked.
It checks whether object selected or the operation cancelled, after clicking pick button.
If selected then assign it to a global variable.
on destnationPikBtn picked dObj do
(
if(sourceObj != undefined) and (not isDeleted sourceObj) then
(
if(vertexChkBox.state == true or polygonChkBox.state == true) then
(
if dObj!= undefined then
(
destinationObj=dObj
If ((classOf destinationObj) == Editable_poly) then
(
…………………………
…………………………
…………………………
)
else
messageBox "Select only Editable poly object" title:"Error"
)
)
else
messageBox "Select Vertex or/and Polygon" title:"Error"
)
else
messageBox "Select Source Object" title:"Error"
Following operation will took place when destination pick button is picked.
Check whether Source object already selected and not deleted else display message “Select Source Object”.
Check whether vertex and/or polygon checkbox checked else display message
"Select Vertex or/and Polygon"
Check whether destination object is picked after clicking destination button or the operation is cancelled.
Check whether selected object is Editable poly, else displays message “Select only Editable Poly object”.
If polygon checkbox is checked then following operation will took place.
numPolygon = destinationObj.getnumfaces()
Source =CopySource numPolygon
Get number polygons in destination object.
Get copies of source object according to number of polygons in destination object and store it into an array.
for i = 1 to numPolygon do
(
faceCentre= polyOp.getFaceCenter destinationObj i
faceNormal = polyOp.getFaceNormal destinationObj i
Align source[i] faceNormal faceCentre
)
Iterate from 1 to numPolygon.
Get face centre and face normal of ith polygon in destination object.
Call Align function by passing ith copy of source object, face center and face normal of ith polygon in destination object.
End of iteration.
The following operation will took place when vertex check box checked
numVertex = destinationObj.getNumVertices()
source =CopySource numVertex
editNormalsModifier=edit_Normals()
addModifier destinationObj editNormalsModifier
setCommandPanelTaskMode #modify
destinationVertex = #{}
destinationNormalIds = #{}
For getting normal of vertex, we need to do some more work
Get number of vertices in destination object.
Make copies of source object equal to number of vertices, by calling CopySource function.
Add Edit Normals modifier to Destination object.
Set modify panel to be the active panel in the view port. We can get normal value only when modify panel is active and destination object is selected.
Declare two bit array for representing destination vertex and its normals.
for i = 1 to numVertex do
(
select destinationObj
destinationVertex = #{i}
destinationObj.edit_Normals.convertVertexSelection &destinationVertex &destinationNormalIds
normalArray = destinationNormalIds as array
firstNormalValue = destinationObj.edit_Normals.getNormal normalArray[1]
vertexPos= polyOp.getVert destinationObj i
Align source[i] firstNormalValue vertexPos
)
Iterate from 1 to number of vertex
Selectdestination object. As I said already we can get normal value only when modify panel is active and destination object is selected. Make the vertex bit array to represent ith vertex. Get normas(normal Ids) available in vertex i. Single vertex may contain more than one normal See fig below (vertex 7 contains 3 normals with Id 8, 19, 24.)
Store array of destinationNormals to normalArray, because destinationNormals is bit array. In bit array the corresponding bit value is set to true and all other values are set to false, but in this case we need normal Id. For example consider figure below, for 7th vertex the bit values 8 ,18, 24 are set to true. If we convert bit array to an array we can get Id value 8 at normalArray[1].
firstNorml retrieves actual vector value of the first normal in the vertex. In below fig firstNormal =[0,0,1] for normal 8.
Get Position of ith vertex.
Call function Align by passing ith copy of Source object, normal and position of destination objects ith vertex.
