ScriptSpot

Script

Grab Viewport Plus

By Anubis · 2010-04-26

Version
1.1
Version requirement
3ds Max 9 and higher
Date updated
2010-04-26
Votes
56
Homepage
http://project3d.narod.ru
Downloads

Tags: Ini, viewport, save, incremental, anubis, keep settings, screenshot, grab

Description

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.

Comments (17)

-Comment removed-

HCkev · 2011-11-13

-Sorry, I accidentally posted a question on the wrong script -_- Can someone delete this?

crash, texture corruption

Violet · 2011-06-15

I'm having problems, I'm saving a viewport animation to a string of images, but the first output corrupts the texture on the viewport object, and quitting out crashes 3D Studio Max?

viewport animation?...

Anubis · 2011-06-16

Hi Violet, this script is for single image capture.
How exactly you force it to save multiple frames?

If you want to capture vp-animation check
Multi Camera Preview or ViewPort Preview

Michele71 · 2010-10-22

Thanks Anubis for this great script ;) One point to you :)

Thanks

Anubis · 2010-10-22

Спасибо, Александър!

Wakx · 2010-10-21

Большое спасибо.
Из многих подобных скриптов предпочел этот. Скрипт великолепно справляется с задачей.

Thank you very much. An excellent script.

asymptote · 2010-04-27

very VERY useful, perfect when writing tutorials

thanks

Anubis · 2010-04-26

Lets hope everything is fixed now :)
Thank you Viktor for testing support!

veneta · 2010-04-26

might i miss the funny part? :)
nicely done, thank you!

harumscarum · 2010-04-26

thank you!!

harumscarum · 2010-04-26

expert mode is only working when viewport is not maximized?

Anubis · 2010-04-26

Yep, good bug catch, thanks, fixed :)

Anubis · 2010-04-26

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

harumscarum · 2010-04-26

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 · 2010-04-26

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)

harumscarum · 2010-04-26

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

Attachments

Anubis · 2010-04-26

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).