Datasheet

Part I ✦ Learning the Max Interface

✦ MAXScript Mini-Listener: This displays MAXScript commands as they are executed.

You can open and close this control by dragging its left edge.

✦ Key Controls: These controls are for creating animation keys and include two different

modes — Auto Key and Set Key.

✦ Time Controls: Resembling the controls on an audio or video device, the Time Controls

offer an easy way to move through the various animation frames and keys.

✦ Viewport Navigation Controls: In the lower-right corner of the interface are the con-

trols for manipulating the viewports.

Accessing frames and keys with the

Time Slider and the Track Bar

Directly beneath the viewports is a slider control known as the Time Slider. It spans the num-

ber of frames included in the current animation. Dragging the Time Slider can move you

quickly between frames. The arrows surrounding the slider select the previous or next frame.

The Track Bar, positioned under the Time Slider, displays animation keys as color-coded

rectangles with red for positional keys, green for rotational keys, and blue for scale keys.

Parameter change keys are denoted by gray rectangles. You can hide the Track Bar with the

Customize ➪ Show UI ➪ Show Track Bar menu command. Using the Track Bar, you can select,

move, and delete keys.

At the left end of the Track Bar is the Open Mini Curve Editor button that you can use to

expand the Track Bar to show function curves.

See Chapter 30, “Animation Basics,” for more information on the Track Bar. More information

on the Curve Editor can be found in Chapter 33, “Working with the Track View.”

Learning from the Status Bar and the Prompt Line

As you work, the Status Bar provides valuable information, such as the number and type of

objects selected, transformation values, and grid size. The Status Bar has two buttons —

the Selection Lock Toggle button (keyboard shortcut, space) and the Absolute/Offset Mode

Transform Type-In toggle button. Clicking the Selection Lock Toggle button prevents the

selection of any additional objects. The button is yellow when selected.

The Transform Type-In fields display the world coordinates of the cursor in the active view-

port, unless an object is selected. For the selected object, these fields show the absolute

world coordinate values if the Absolute Mode Transform Type-In toggle button is selected.

If the Offset mode is selected, then the fields show the offset values as the object is trans-

formed. The values that are displayed depend on the type of transformation that is taking

place (units for moves, degrees for rotation, and percentages for scaling). You can also enter

values into these fields to transform the object.

The Prompt Line is directly below the Status Bar. If you’re stuck as to what to do next, look at

the Prompt Line for information on what Max expects. To the right of the Prompt Line is a

field marked Add Time Tag. Click this field to pop up a menu with options to Add or Edit a

Time Tag. You can set Time Tags for each frame in the scene. Once set, the Time Tags are visi-

ble in the Time Tag field whenever you select that time.

Cross-

Reference

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