text editor script

By janne4791 · 2009-09-05

Description

i need to create a script like this.

1. make a box
2. project text on it
3. boolean the text 1 mm deep out of the box
4. go just back to the script to change the text for several different objects
5. export the file as STL

i have a billion objects, which i need to make, so i need to automate this somehow instead of going back to 3D and do it there. maxscript wont allow me to change the text in the text modifier, but it only appears as general modifier there...i can only alter simple tasks like the size of box and so forth. would anybody here know how to do this?

thanks

Comments (6)

Anubis · 2009-09-06

Now I see what you trying to do, but only Text shape object has this feature. There is example:

txt = Text size:12 text:"Hello World!" -- create Text shape with string "Hello World!"
exMod = Extrude amount:10 -- define Extrude modifier
addModifier txt exMod -- add it to shape
txt.size = 24 -- change Text size
txt.text = "New string" -- change it string value

Anubis · 2009-09-05

Briefly, everything is possible.
You use some strange terminology in your description ...
Which I can suggest you is to use MacroRecorder to record your whole task:
1. Open Max Listener (F11)
2. Turn on MacroRecorder
3. Do your modeling job for 1 of yours objects
4. Turn off MacroRecorder
5. Copy recorded data to new script file
6. Search in MaxScript Refernce (sited in Help menu) for all additional infos about your recorded params
7. Finally write your own script

janne4791 · 2009-09-06

this is all clear, but i still dont know how to edit the text within the script. i get this...

Box lengthsegs:1 widthsegs:1 heightsegs:1 length:50.2568 width:59.8157 height:17.7188 mapcoords:on pos:[5.05145,-1.88914,0] isSelected:on
actionMan.executeAction 0 "40020"
max delete
Box lengthsegs:1 widthsegs:1 heightsegs:1 length:57.6321 width:64.9305 height:22.8629 mapcoords:on pos:[-1.95162,-1.13111,0] isSelected:on
text size:25 kerning:0 leading:0 pos:[-2.41546,-3.86473,0] isSelected:on
max move
toolMode.coordsys #view
max modify mode
modPanel.addModToSelection (Extrude ()) ui:on
$.modifiers[#Extrude].amount = 29.5
move $ [0,14.5727,0]
select $Box01
max create mode
ProBoolean ()
actionMan.executeAction 0 "40472"

where it says "max modify mode" i would hope to have something like...arial font, size xx, text which i wrote etc. etc.

do you know how to make this happen?

janne4791 · 2009-09-05

... I think you missunderstood mr. I don't want to 3d model this, but I have to make a script for this. Is it possible?

janne4791 · 2009-09-05

Could you show me how. Kinda new to making scripts...thanks!

Marco Brunetta · 2009-09-05

You could use a Text Shape and extrude it. The text class has a text property you can use for changing the displayed text.