Using Scene Explorer
 
 
 

This topic includes procedures for using general functionality in the Scene Explorer window. You can find additional procedures for specific Scene Explorer features in Scene Explorer Columns, Advanced Search Dialog (Scene Explorer), and Advanced Filter Dialog (Scene Explorer) .

To highlight objects in Scene Explorer:

To edit properties for multiple objects:

  1. Highlight several objects, as described in the preceding procedure.
  2. Change a property for any of the highlighted objects. For example, turn on Hidden, or change an object name.

    All highlighted objects receive the changed value or property.

    TipYou can toggle an on/off-type property, such as Hidden, by clicking anywhere in the cell, not just in the check box.
    NoteClicking a highlighted item’s row doesn’t remove highlighting from other highlighted rows.

To synchronize selection between the scene and Scene Explorer:

Do any of the following:

To delete objects from the scene:

To edit hierarchies with Scene Explorer:

To remove a column from the table:

  1. Drag the column heading downward until the mouse cursor changes to an X icon.
  2. Release the mouse button.

To edit multiple items:

  1. Make sure the value or values you want to change are visible in the Scene Explorer interface. If they aren't, add them with Configure Columns.
  2. Highlight multiple list entries.
  3. Change a value for one of the entries.

    Scene Explorer sets the same value for all of the highlighted entries.

To rename an object:

This method applies to editing any text field, such as the custom Radius field demonstrated in the next procedure.

  1. Select the object in the list by clicking its name (or the field you want to edit). Alternatively, select multiple list entries. The editing is applied to all highlighted entries.

    The last item you highlighted explicitly has a yellow background; any others have blue backgrounds.

  2. Do any of the following:
    • Press F2.

      This highlights the name of the item with the yellow background.

    • Click the entry with the yellow background.

      This highlights the object name and places a blinking insert cursor at its start.

  3. Edit the name using the keyboard and, optionally, the mouse. To replace the name, just type. To change part of it, click where you want to edit, or drag over part of the name. After doing so, you can move the cursor with the arrow keys.
  4. When finished, press Enter or Tab, or click a different part of the dialog.

    If you rename several items, the items other than the one you edited explicitly take on numbered versions of the name (for example, door01, door02, etc.)

Example: To customize Scene Explorer:

With some knowledge of MAXScript, you can add custom fields to Scene Explorer that lets you view and edit object properties of your choice. In this example, you’ll add an editable Radius column that applies to object primitives such as Sphere, Cylinder, and Teapot.

  1. Open a text editor and enter the following (you can copy and paste this listing):
    showinterface sceneexplorermanager
    function getter node=(return getuserprop node "user")
    function setter node value=(setuserprop node "user" value)
    sceneexplorermanager.addproperty "User" getter setter
    function getrad node=(if isProperty node "radius" then return node.radius)
    function setrad node value=(if isProperty node "radius" then node.radius=value
    as float)
    sceneexplorermanager.addproperty "Radius" getrad setrad
  2. Save the file in text format in the Scripts folder in your program installation. Use the file name radius.ms.
  3. In 3ds Max, create some teapots and spheres.
  4. From the MAXScript menu, choose Run Script, and then find and highlight the script file from step 2 and open it.

    This adds a new item to the Configure Columns list.

  5. Open a new Scene Explorer window, right-click a column heading, and choose Configure Columns.
  6. Scroll down to the bottom of the Configure Columns dialog, and then drag the Radius item to one of the current column headings.

    The new Radius column shows and lets you edit the Radius values for the teapots and spheres. You can now, for example, highlight several of the objects by dragging in the Radius column, press F2 to edit the first item you clicked on, and enter a new value; this sets all highlighted items to the new Radius value.

Using groups with Scene Explorer