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124 Chapter 4: Object Properties
• Step—Thestepbywhichthebasenumberis
incremented in succeeding renamed objects.
Rename—Click to rename the affected objects and
have your changes t ake effect.
Custom Attributes
Animation menu > Parameter Editor
Keyboard > Alt+1
Use the Parameter Editor to assign custom
attributes to objects, modifiers, materials, and
animation tracks. A custom attribute is an
additional, abstract parameter; abstract in
the sense that it does not direc tly extend the
functionality of the object by default. It affects an
object only after
w ire parameters (page 2–393) ,
react ion controllers (page 2–342) ,or expression
controllers (page 2–315)
are set up to connect
the custom attribute to another parameter in the
scene. You can also use custom attributes to store
job-specific notes and data.
Custom attributes behave like other object
parameters in several ways:
• They are saved and loaded in the scene file
along with the object.
• They can b e animated and keyframed.
• They are displayed in Tr ack View along with the
base parameters.
Each custom attribute parameter can be one of a
number of different data types, including i ntegers,
floating numbers, Booleans, arrays, nodes, colors,
and texture maps. Parameters added to an object
or modifier appear on a Custom Attributes rollout
on the Modify panel. For each custom attribute
parameter you create, you can specify the name,
layout, value range, default value, and UI t ype:
spinnerorsliderforfloatsandintegers,checkbox
for Booleans, etc.
As you c ustomize an attribute, the result is
displayedontheTestingAttributerolloutatthe
bottom of the dialog.
See also
Parameter Collector (page 1–133)
Attr ibute Holder Modifier (page 1–539)
Custom Attr ibutes Specia l Features
The Custom Attributes feature offers an array of
workflow-enhancing functionality, including:
• the ability to add custom attributes to specific
animation tracks.
• the ability to edit existing custom attributes.
• 13 available data t ypes.
• a variety of available UI options, such as
ComboBox and ListBox for the Ar ray data type.
• the ability to position UI elements precisely
w ith X and Y Offset controls.
•theabilityto
preser ve custom attributes when
collapsing the stack.
•Aspecial
Attribute Holder modifier (page
1–539)
that lets you collect attributes from
different entities and access them in one place
on the Modify panel.
Procedures
To add a parameter to an object:
1.
Select the object.
2. Choose Animation menu > Parameter Editor .
The Parameter Editor opens.
3. Change settings as desired.
4. Click Add.
The parameter is added to the level specified
in the Add To Type list. If an object has no
custom attributes, Parameter Editor first adds a
Custom Attributes entry to the current Add To