Grab Viewport Plus

56 votes
Version: 
1.1
Date Updated: 
04/26/2010
Author Name: 
Anubis

Grab Viewport Plus

A requested script that add a few options to the standard Max screenshot tool:
   incremental save in given folder and prefix name,
+ forced toggle to Expert mode and maximize Viewport.

Additional Info: 

Update:
v.1.1 -- directory string bug fixed
v.1.2 -- FiXed: expert mode is only working when viewport is not maximized

Usage Notes:
All script settings are stored in INI file in Max "ui\macroscripts" folder.
[*] Hold Control key while executing to load the INI file for editing.
Yes, I know, the most people prefer GUI where to enter the configs, but
the names of all keys are descriptive, so not the big deal to edit them.

-- their is the default contents of the INI file:

[Settings]
SaveToFile=1
MaximizeViewport=1
DisplayInVFB=1
Directory=C:/3ds Max Screenshots
FileName=img_
FileFormat=.jpg

First 3 keys are boolean values. 0 = disable , 1 = enable

"SaveToFile" -- enable/disable saving. 
"MaximizeViewport" -- toggle Expert Mode + Maximize Viewport. 
"DisplayInVFB" -- whether to display or not the shot. 
"Directory" -- is the output path. 
"FileName" -- is the base prefix. 
"FileFormat" -- the output file format.

Error handler:

To prevent errors while keeping the code simple, I end with this:

  • Disable first 3 options by set their value to 0 and
    enable them by set their value to 1 (or whatever else different from 0).
  • If the directory not exist the Max "previews" folder will be used insted,
    e.g.: C:\Documents and Settings\USER\My Documents\3dsmax\previews
  • If "FileName" key is empty, the "img_" will be used by default.
  • If you set an invalid file format (i.e. that Max not support) then
    the JPEG (.jpg) will be used by default.

Installation: Typical/normal macro script installation.

Version Requirement: 
3ds Max 9 and higher
AttachmentSize
Grab_Viewport_Plus.mcr3.93 KB
Grab_Viewport_Plus_v1.1.ms3.9 KB
Grab_Viewport_Plus_v1.2.ms3.98 KB

Comments

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Anubis's picture

Yep, good bug catch, thanks,

Yep, good bug catch, thanks, fixed :)

my recent MAXScripts RSS (archive here)

harumscarum's picture

expert mode is only working

expert mode is only working when viewport is not maximized?

Anubis's picture

ops, guess Im very absent,

ops, guess Im very absent, hehe... i fix the bug now, try updated v.1.1

my recent MAXScripts RSS (archive here)

harumscarum's picture

both with no errors. but your

both with no errors.
but your initial scripts is working fine if output folder is not exist. weird? yeah:) so i use it - files are in 'max/preview' folder

Anubis's picture

Hi again, I'm trying to

Hi again, I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with "/" sign. It's just built string and work fine in Max2009 and below, so I suspect that this is a some disappointing bug in Max2010-2011, but to be sure make this 2 tests --
test
...and tell me what's happen. If the test 1 bring some error and test 2 works fine then the fix would been:

-- replace this line...
outFile = Directory + "/" + FileName + FileFormat
 
-- ...with this 2 lines
outFile = "" -- 1st declare variable as string
outFile += (Directory + "/" + FileName + FileFormat)

my recent MAXScripts RSS (archive here)

Anubis's picture

Realy strange error for "/".

Realy strange error for "/". The expert mode is ok I think, if you notice that is a little bit slower, that come only in PNG (due to my test).

my recent MAXScripts RSS (archive here)

harumscarum's picture

thank you! it is stopped to

thank you!
it is stopped to work when i changed path and file format
could you please also add 'forced expert mode' only if expert mode is not active

AttachmentSize
ddd.png 24.45 KB

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