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User Interface Problems and Recovery 987
theentirescenewithRescaleWorldUnits. For
example, if working on a tiny scale, like modeling
coins, you mig ht change the System Unit Scale
from the default of 1 unit=1 inch to something like
1unit=0.1or0.01inch.Forlargerscaledscenes,
like an airport, increase the System Unit Scale.
As a rule of thumb, keep the scale such that the
smallest detail is not less than one generic unit.
If this makes the scene too big to work with
comfortably and efficiently, you can create separate
scenes for models that include cameras for "close"
and "far" shots.
User I nterf a ce P r oblems a nd
Recovery
I t’s very aggravating when you can ’t find
something on the user interface, especia l ly w hen
you saw it a few minutes ago and now it’s gone
missing. Of course, you’re so engrossed in your
modelingthatyouforgetwhatyoumayhave
done that caused the button, element or dialog to
disappear.
This sec tion addresses several of the most common
user interface situations and how you can fix them.
Problems and Resolutions
Large Fonts and 3ds Max
Whilesomeusersliketoconfiguretheirsystems
to use large fonts, this setting is not recommended
w ith 3ds Max. The 3ds Max user interface was
designed to operate with your system set to small
fonts. Small fonts are the default setting for both
Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
If you have your system set to use large fonts, some
of the most common anomalies y ou can expect
while running 3ds Max are as follows:
• Buttons may be missing from the command
panels.
• Some text-entry fields may not allow you to
type in them.
• Garbled text appears in some dialogs.
• Textlabelsindialogsandrolloutsmightbecut
off or overlap other fields.
• Dialogs show c asc ading text fields and spinners.
To remedy these problems, set your system font
back to small fonts.
1. Exit 3ds Max.
2. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel, and
click Display.
You can also right-click anywhere in the open
desktop and choose Properties.
3. Open the Settings panel and click the Advanced
button.
4. In the Display group, click the arrow to open
theFontSizelistandchoose:
• Small Fonts, if ru nning Windows 2000
• Normal Size, if running Windows XP
5. Click Close to exit the Display Properties
dialog.
You will most likely have to reboot the system
for these changes to take effect.
Lost Dialogs and Windows
3dsMaxhasmanydialogsorwindowsthatfloat
when you open them. This feature allows you
to drag them anywhere on your desktop. You
cangreatlyimproveyourdesignefficiencyby
positioning dialogs out of the way of t he main
3ds Max interface, such as on a second monitor if
you have dual-monitor functionality.
However, there are times when a dia log gets lost.
Either you drag it someplace and inadvertently let
go of it, or some data is written incorrectly to an
initialization file and you end up with a lost dialog.