Timeline Addon

As much as I absolutely loved this script, dude... this move of yours makes you look like a greedy douche.

I can respect the fact that you put loads of time and work into this, but for fucks sake, this script was free!!! I mean the least you could do give people the option to purchase an "incomplete" version at a reasonable price instead of just sitting on your caboose while a useful tool collects dust. You created a wonderful thing here, you should at least give people the option to use it again instead of just teasing us with it and snatching it away. Sorry, but this sort of crap really gets under my skin.

Sorry guys, I dunno when or if I will have the time to work on this script again. Currently I spend most of the time on tools for our company and we dont do much animation here.

Timeline Addon 3 was 85% complete when I last touched it, but I would not upload it as a free tool, cause I spend months developing it. I love puting up small tools for free, but this one is quite large with 6000+ lines of code, and donations for the last version were quite rare (1 person donated 10$, thats it. still thanks to this person, I really appreciate the help).

So (if ever) released it would be available for a suitable price, but I dunno if anyone is even interested to spend money on it. Anyway I feel sorry for you guys who liked this tool and miss it, so I wanted to give you at least a feedback.

You gave updated version just last week... but still it shows expired!!!

:(

I Just tried to install in max 2009. It installed and at the end it displayed "this version has expired"

does it have expiry time set? :(

I believe the beta has expired.
I didn't the chance to try it out but hope the new version is on the way.

When the "Timeline Addon 3" will release?

thanks for the idea though...

Hi Andreas,

the Timeline Addon looks cool.
But, unfortunately the download link points to an expired version.

Hi,

do you think that you extend the expiration date please?

Thanks in advance.

Hi Andi,

Big fan of the script, I have an issue where after installing the latest version it says it has expired and does not start up.

Is there any way to fix this.

Happy New Year, real!

This reminds me, can you extend the timelimit? I can't use this script, and I really need it.

Just askin': Is there any specific reason to have these timelimits? Thus far I can't see the point for them.

Timelimit for this script has been extended until end of december/2011, sorry for any inconvenience

2.0.8-42 - Timelimit for this script has been extended until june/2011, sorry for any inconvenience

I hope you have time to continue working on this script again soon! I used it before and really liked it!
Unfortunately the currect version says the beta has expired. It also gives som script errors in 2011 if I try to open the settings.

There will be an update. What errors happen in 2011?

Currently the development for this script is frozen, you can unfreeze it by rightclicking in your viewport and hit ... :) I'm busy with other things and my diploma for studies.

theres a BIG freez when i wont jump to next key in object where are two or more slice modifiers ..i cant describe it better my english is so poor :(

edit: overall the script seems to me a little slow moving with multiple keys take more time than move them manualy :(

When it's done ;)

where is v3 :)
Hope you release it soon.

cheers

hey there, tried to install this on my max 2010 x64 but everytime I get a message saying:

-- Runtime error: fileIn: can't open file-"C:\Prpgram Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2010\Scripts\TimelineAddon\Macros.mcr"

I tried with Max 2010 32bit, everything works. Maybe check your writing permissions. You can also just drag'n'drop the "Macros.mcr" into your 3ds Max viewport to install it. I also recognized a mistake in the error message path you've writen ("...C:\Prpgram Files\..." should be "...C:\Program Files\..." right?). By the way if you don't use the TLA macros you don't need to install this file. Hope this helps ;)

2.0.7-2 - general bugfix of operationrange and keyprocessing, also a little bit opimization

Well long time no update. But you know, there are times a student has to learn a bit :)

Yeah I am one of these guys who uses your awesome script...extremely useful for timing VFX animation etc...I also always recommend this script to all my gfx comrades in the company who use 3ds max ^^

Hope we get the new version this year^^

Kind Regards.

I can't say when it will be finished :) (what was the motto of duke nukem developers ^^ ... when it's done)
Also I got a lil' bit lack of motivation currently, but I won't stop working on it cause I see some guys work with this script and I'm really happy about that ^^

When is the new Version ready? :D
I really cant wait to get my hands on it^^

well that should be no problem

Andreas, is it possible to add a button for setting playback speed? Double Speed, Realtime, 1/2 speed, 1/4 speed etc...I think it would be a very useful "little" feature...just a little Button or Button Rollout.

currently trying to get the reverse function also to work for bipeds, its damn tricky, but i hope i'll make it :D

in version 2.0.6-42 you should choose the "dark" ui scheme in the settings, you currently using the "light" scheme. in the next version of TLA its up to the user how the buttons will look, you can manipulate the colors in the settings as shown here: http://andreasmeissner.net/timelineaddon/preview/

thanks 4 your feedback!

Hi Andreas,

its me again :)
I know, its not important but if you want to give your wonderful script a little more visual appereance, you could make the Icon Backgrounds less contrastful.

Here is a actual screenshot, I mean the white Boxes behind the Icons:

http://img5.imagebanana.com/view/hh72t0vf/Untitled2.jpg

I would make every Background Boxes like the first Background Box behind the "TLA" Icon: GRAY...than you have less contrast + every Box look similiar...that would give your great script a good visual touch because the white boxes look really ugly if using black UI Theme.

Just my 2 Cents...hope this Idea helps to improve your already awesome script.

PS: The New Bookmark List is a awesome Idea...It does not waste space like the old bookmark time line + its user friendly. Keep up your good work!

Best Regards.

@Ankebut: thats not possible via scripting, but of course you can expand the command panel.

currently I got my hands on a custom updater for TLA that checks, downloads, extracts and installs the latest version of TLA.

That looks very good! Liked the new Icons etc...
I hope you give us a ETA for the final release of your new build.

thanks for your efforts.

Best Regards.

EDIT: Looking at the screenshot, I see that the compressed TLA bar also takes space in the right side although there is nothing...can you make it so that there would be a free space for other bars? Big Thx.

bookmarks group R.I.P.
...
I compressed the interface as I said and implemented the bookmarks within the timeline group. I think because bookmarks now are more accessable and user-friendly, artists will use them more than in the previous version.

wait a sec .. did I hear "sneak preview"?
http://andreasmeissner.net/timelineaddon/preview/

as you can see 3700 lines of code, and still not finished :D

well .. I could name the next version "Timeline Addon 3" because its really .. a complete recoding. and I got a lot of work to do, so it will take a while :\

but its really cool to see that TLA has found its way to someones everyday-tools, I think this will speed up my work ;)

Thanks for your reply.

I also work wirth HD resolution but I just thought that smaller Icons would be more decent...the UI Ideas you posted seems to be good...hope they are done in the upcoming next version.

My Max does needs 1-2 seconds to load the entire TLA script...after starting max, the silhoutte of the TLA Addon is visible for 1-2 seconds above the Max TImeline, after these 2 seconds, it transforms to the right place...but if the speed is correct, than there is no problem...maybe I just need a complete reformat of my system (Quad Core 4x4ghz, 8gb Ram)

When will the new version with tuned UI elements + recoding come?

Thank you very much.

hey there, big thanks for the feedback.

compressing the UI

currently the iconbuttons are 20x20 px, personally I think this is a good size and the user can hit the icons precisely and fast. also because on some icons you can either hit the upper or lower part of the icon (so you only got 10x20 px to hit) to trigger a different action.

I'm working on a 1920x1080 screen and got no problems with the size, but I checked the script on a 1280x1024 and think thats a resolution where it could be quite hard to work with TLA (to much scrolling around?).

so I will try to do my best to compress the UI and keep the userbility. here are a few things I can do:
- set icon button size to 14x18 px
- decrease size of some controls like the spinnerfields
- it would be cool if the UI got multiple rows .. lets see what I can do

faster startup

the script starts on my 2.4 GHz PC (maxscript is native only singlecored) within 1200 ms at maxstartup and within 200 ms if max already open. I don't think i can speedup this a lot. how long does it takes on your pc, with what hardware?

Hey Andreas,

nice script but could you please make following, urgent needed changes?:

- smaller Icons (actual icons are wasting space)...maybe you could compress the whole TLA UI.

- faster startup time of the script if 3ds Max is starting.

Thanks in advance...hope you make these changes for the upcoming next release.

coded on the keyprocessing for bipeds today. next version will definitely have some cool performance upgrades ^^ and much recoding ... veeeeeeeeery very .... oh so much recoding..

a little biped processing speedtest:

bipedanimation: with 100 keys (frame 0-100)
action: move bipedkeys keys 10 frames right

TLA 2.0.6-42
1 biped = 1093 ms every time
5 bipeds = 16391 ms every time

TLA latest build (61)
1 biped = 562 ms at the first time, if selection remains unchanged 469 ms
5 bipeds = 2407 ms at the first time, if selection remains unchanged 2188 ms

2.0.6-42 - 2.0.5-43 hotfix

2.0.5-43 - fixed bug in go through keys function

I use Windows 7 x64 and 3dsmax9 Extension1 Rev3, new version gave me errors when I tried navigate to keys forward.
Older version works fine for me.
Thanks a lot.

Vielen Danke Andreas for your script!
Could you share the version 1.0?
It works more properly in my case.
Thanks.

You're welcome, but why you want an earlier version?

MAX9.0 TURN OFF WHEN INSTALL and using TIMElineADDON due to [out OF MEMORY]

IS THERE ANY MEMORY PROBLEM?

Probably you got too much bipedobjects selected and operating on them or you got much objects selected and tried the inspect keys function. Inspect keys shows you every controller and its keys, all the text TLA is collecting for every controller of each object can cause out of memory. I got a few updates and performance upgrades in mind on which I will work later on.

Great job thanks!

where is 2.0.4-42 ???

note that the processing on a large selection of bipedobjects
<--- I dont understand.. what is problem??

2.0.4-42 - fixed bipedbug, note that the processing on a large selection of bipedobjects is currently very slow, but I'm sure there is a way to speed that up :D

Thank you very much.

The icon was displayed.

2.0.3-41 - Fixed that some images won't load if BlurBeta Tools is installed.

I don't know why but this works:

for ctrl in rlTimelineAddon.controls where (classof ctrl) as string == "ImgTag" do (
local sBmap = sIMGFOLD+sUiScheme+"_"+ctrl.name+".bmp"

While this isn't working (it only works without BlurBeta Tools):

for ctrl in rlTimelineAddon.controls where classof ctrl == ImgTag do (
local sBmap = sIMGFOLD+sUiScheme+"_"+ctrl.name+".bmp"

Maybe a bug, maybe a feature :D

Thanks for the reply.

I variously verified it.
I installed BlurBeta on max2008.

http://www.blur.com/blurbeta.html

When BlurDLX.dlx is installed, the icon seems not to be displayed.
C:\Max10\plugins\blur\BlurDLX.dlx

Thanks guys, now it's perfect!

This is probably due to the new script encryption introduced in MAX sp2.

To ask is human :) I tried it with Max 9 and it gives me the same error as you get ("Syntax error: at bad, expected
In line: r"). Then I've installed service pack 2 for Max 9 and it works. Click here to download service pack 2 for max 9.

I'm sorry if you answered this question before Andreas, but, I use Windows XP64, 3D Max 9 (2007), I'm not sure about the SP, and I'm having some problems to install it. I whatched the demomovies but I'm having some problems, like:

Syntax error: at bad, expected
In line: r

or in other installation:

Unable to convert: undefined to type: Filename

Thats probably my fault, I admited! Something I'm not doing right, but I wanna sove this problem.

I uesed 2.0

so good.

I finded 2 bug

1. as you know, in biped move key doesn't move exactly

2. in biped reverse key doesn't reverse exactly

Yeah, have a look at the top of this page, this bug is already known :) I know how to fix this bug (its a little bit complex), but currently I dont got the time. When you work on bipeds, just only select 1 bipedobject, then it will work correctly.

Please start the script, make a screenshot and copy the text from the maxlistener and paste both here. Usually you should get a message like this in the listener if an image cant be load: "Timeline Addon: Warning - could not load image "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2008\scripts\TimelineAddon\Images\light_grp4_itSelInvKeys_1.bmp"". Have you tried a reinstall of the script or a max restart?

Is there anyone with similar problems?

I use max2008 on WindowsXP x64.
Timeline Addon icon is not displayed.
The following Timeline Addon icon is displayed. But, The rest is not displayed.

light_grp1_itToggleDockstate_2
light_grp2_itPinTimelineToSlider_2
light_grp5_itOpMethod1_1
light_grp5_itOpMethod2_2
light_grp5_itOpMethod3_1
light_grp5_itPrefSelKeys_2
light_grp5_itTimelineBehaviour_2
light_grp6_itRestoreTimeline_2

install folder in C:\Max10\Scripts

How can I solve it?
Sorry bad English.

Fixed that macros won't be loaded.

Note that you can:
- toggle groups by clicking on their groupicon
- enter mathematical expressions in spinnerfields
- assign macros under: Customize > Customize User Interface > Category: "Timeline Addon" (macrosupport not yet complete)

Fixed a little bug in the installer.

let's make it iron >:D

Works great, saves me a lot of clicking. Thanks!

I started Maxscript 1 year ago and I love it :) You can improve your scripting if you doing tutorials, try to understand code of other people and their approach in solving problems and getting into the usage of the maxscript reference.

Good to hear that there maybe a version for a lower version of max! You rock if you can! How long have you been working with maxscripts? I just started learning a bit here and there. Im a real noob though. Can only write very very very simple scripts.

Where can download next version?

timeline is very gooooooooooooooooood!!!

Hi. I was wondering if this script can be made to work with Max 8? I know it works for version 9 and up but unfortuantely I currently am running 8. This script would help out a bunch if it's possible to get it to work.

Thanks!

Maybe there will be a version for lower versions of Max ;)

That bug is fixed in the next version, maybe have a look at the Preview (Link is on top of this page).

why dont move key frame at biped???
I am using max 9.0 sp2
but don't move key frame and
Go to K isn't move..

and undo is weired at biped

FUC?

plz~~ need marker FUC

Would it be possible to add a button to reset the timeline to its original length. For instance, if you can add a start and end frame value box, and a single button to click that would restore the timeline to these values.

@slebed: sounds like a job for the bookmarks :)

yea! good job!

great one ... big thanks

What version of Max is this script for? Script looks awesome, I am using an older version of Max and I tried using the script and it gave me the blue screen of death. When I deleted the script out it started working again. Any advice or info would be awesome.

Yeah, this is one life saver. I work as a game animator, and this really saves a lot of clicking around. When working with animation loops, I formerly used the time configurations panel all the time. Now I can do same things in a split of a second, and keep focus on the animation flow.

So, thank you very very much.

ps. One feature that I've been thinking that might be possible with maxscript: Looping only a wanted section of the visible timeline. Like when looking at frames 100-200 you could loop frames 137-167.

Thanks thats awsom, I need something to help me with tangents. and automatic looping like making a world turn around smoothly..
Thanks
Great job

I just started a new character animation, and half way through the project I found this script. It has made a huge difference in how I work. I'm working much faster and more fluidly thanks to your script. I can't thank you enough.

I'm running this in 64bit 3ds max with no problems.

Big thanks to you guys, I'm very happy about that :)

Great tool, big thanks.

Great script! Thanks for sharing :D