Objects can be created in a straightforward way, by assigning them to variables.

• Type b = box()

A BOX will be created, with default dimensions (25,25,25) and located in the origin (0,0,0).

To view the object properties, we can use the built-in Showproperties function, which will list all properties of an object.

• Type showproperties b

The following properties will be listed:

.height : float
.length : float
.lengthsegs : integer
.width : float
.widthsegs : integer
.mapCoords : boolean
.heightsegs : integer

To modify these properties, we simply type the object variable followed by the property, separated by a dot, just like the following example:

• Type b.height = 30, b.width = 60 and b.heightsegs = 15

Notice the object will be livetime updated in the viewports.

Besides these properties, we can access Position, Rotation and Scale properties this way:

<object>.pos.x = 17.5 - indicates the X position
<object>.pos = [10,20,-15] - indicates de [X,Y,Z] position
<object>.rotation.x = 90 - indicates the X rotation (using TCB)
<object>.rotation.x_rotation = 90 - indicates the X rotation (using Euler)
<object>.scale.y = 1.5 - indicates the Y scale

These properties can vary according to the animation controllers assigned to the object.

• Type b.pos.x = 25 and b.rotation.z_rotation = 45

We can assign modifiers using the built-in addmodifier function.

• Type addmodifier b (bend())

Using the same processes we used above, we can list all properties of the Bend modifier.

• Type Showproperties b.bend

MAXScript will then list all properties:

.angle : float
.axis : integer
.direction : float
.limit : boolean
.upperlimit : float
.lowerlimit : float
.center : point3
.gizmo : transform

• Type b.bend.angle = 45 to change the Bend angle and b.bend.direction = 90 to change the Bend direction.

From the steps you've seen so far, you can imagine it's easier to create a Box and apply Bend to it directly.

On the next tutorial you will see how to make these steps practical.

Alexander Esppeschit Bicalho © 1999