How to save nested arrays variables with the scene?

Thanks!

I know about these renderPass scripts and they are great but a lot too generic and complex to use for my staff...
I am trying to do something quickly customisable for each project, thats why I am looking for doing my own functions to store values and controllers...

I am actually close to success, i did a function to turn the classOf a property value into a type:#name of parameters... I wonder why it doesn't exist natively... like a typeOf()

I am again bumping into a wall with that last issue, if a value is undefined, that means has not been set by the user it is impossible to know the type...
for example I usually have nothing in #adv_irradmap_saveFileName so if I getProperty of that it outputs undefined but if I try to setProperty to undefined I get an error.
I would like to set to something empty, like ""for this property but I can't test if it is a string without trying every type of value...

I can do a specific workaround for Vray and for now but I would like to make it more generic to be able to tweak future version of this pass manager and keep it as simple as I can on the user side...

Any clue on how to guess the type of an undefined value in a defined param ?

hey, just sent you an email, but quickly you are on very good track.

Write the initial settings for a given control to a file and when you open the rollout read these settings (setINIsettings..., getINIsettings) or use custom attributes as miauu suggested.

Use Node User-Defined Properties and Methods, or Use Custom Attributes.

To add tabulations put the code between "

" "code here" "

"
without the quotes.

I probably don't understand properly but my understanding of user props is that it is limited to string.
I am currently finding a work around with strings in a custom attribute as parameters since it seems to be the only way to have it saved with the scene and not reset with new max session. I am r ally looking forward to understanding better but such short answer is hard for me who has no coding background and is struggling with the lingo of the help files.

You can use Custom Attributes as Miauu suggested.

But to store mixed array as u want is not that easy.

Start form example:
http://forums.cgsociety.org/archive/index.php?t-369543.html

What you need to do is create Dummy, put it on some safe layer zzz_Scene_Paramiters and hide. (just named it as you want to)

than run this:

a = attributes yourData
(
	parameters yourParam
	(
		yourArray1 type:#intTab tabSizeVariable:true  
		-- only Integer values can be stored in that array

		yourArray2 type:#stringTab tabSizeVariable:true  
		-- only Integer values can be stored in that array

		yourArray3 type:#nodeTab tabSizeVariable:true
		-- only nodes can be stored in that array or use #maxObjectTab
		-- etc
	)
)

custAttributes.add $Dummy001 a

than you can access it by:

$Dummy001.yourArray1
--or
$Dummy001.yourData.yourArray1

more info:
http://docs.autodesk.com/3DSMAX/15/ENU/MAXScript-Help/index.html?url=fil…

Hope it helps,
Best,
Pixamoon

that is what I am trying to do right now but it is a hell of complexity... always bumping into walls of special case...
for example storing/restoring VRay setting with array is as simple as:

Vrender = renderers.current
propNames = #()
propValues = #()

--Get Vray Properties
for i in getPropNames Vrender do
(
val = getProperty Vrender i
if val != undefined then
(
append propNames i
append propValues val
)
)
--Set Vray properties
for i = 1 to propNames.count do
(
setProperty Vrender propNames[i] propValues[i]
)

I am about to give up setting CA since converting string is limited to certain classes only. Converting some superclass like "filter" doesn't even seem to be possible

I am not yet giving up but...

How do you insert maxscipt code in your post?

Hi,

to post script here do that:

<_code_>
...
...
<_/code_>

just without underscore _ in <_code_> and <_/code_>

to save render setting in scene, take a look on:

http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/l-pass-manager
or
http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/prism

or one more thing...

converting string back to different type of variables: (boolean, color, Point2, Point3... etc) you can use just:

a = execute ("color 10 10 10")

or even to Array with different types inside:

arr = execute ("#(12, true, [10,10,10], color 10 10 10)")

this way u can even store it as string in dummy with Node User-Defined Properties

-- to save it:
setUserProp $Dummy001 "prop1" ( (color 10 10 10) as string )

-- and to get it back:
a = execute (getUserProp $Dummy001 "prop1")

One thing you can't story this way is node or arrays of nodes
(include / exclude)
for that you can store node handles (obj.handle) or store them in #nodeTab array