Datasheet

FFIIGGUURREE 11..99
The Lower Interface Bar includes several sets of controls.
Interacting with the Interface
Knowing where all the interface elements are located is only the start. Max includes several interactive fea-
tures that make the interface work. Learning these features makes the difference between an interface that
works for you and one that doesn’t.
Gaining quick access with the right-click quadmenus
Quadmenus are pop-up menus with up to four separate sections that surround the cursor, as shown in
Figure 1.10. Right-clicking in the active viewport opens these quadmenus. The contents of the menus
depend on the object selected.
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Clicking with the left mouse button away from the quadmenu closes it. For each menu, the last menu item
selected is displayed in blue. To quickly access the blue menu item again, simply click the gray-shaded bar
for the quadrant that contains the blue menu item. Using Customize ➪ Customize User Interface, you can
specify which commands appear on the quadmenus, but the default options have just about everything
you need.
If you press and hold the Alt, Ctrl, and Shift keys while right-clicking in the active viewport, you can access
specific sets of commands; Shift+right-click opens the Snap options, Alt+right-click opens Animation com-
mands, Ctrl+right-click opens a menu of primitives, Shift+Alt+right-click opens a menu of reactor commands,
and Ctrl+Alt+right-click opens a menu of rendering commands.
TIP
TIP
Track Bar
Time Slider
Status Bar
Prompt Line Key Controls Time Controls
Viewpoint Navigation Controls
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