I have a dream... [3dsMax]

[Mr. Bluesummers-3DT]

I just had the weirdest dream. I thought that Autodesk had produced a Ribbon like in Office2007, and it was amazing because it was like the best of the interface was brought forward, and unnecessary stuff was pushed back.

I could probably do it in script if there was enough demand. Anyone think this would be awesome? It would replace the command panel (and tab menu if you had it).

I had a dream too...
I had a dream that one day this program will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "Create stunning 3D in less time with Autodesk® 3ds® Max software."

I had a dream that my program would give me access to all it's rich and diverse tools! That it would know what I need- know what I want- and know beyond my own understanding how to provide it.

I refuse to believe that what I see here is the finest user interface that money can buy; because we as the users have paid and paid again for this decrepit, obsolete interface.

Now is the time! Now is the time to take matters into our own hands as users and fix what we know to be broken.

[shikav4]

Sure man........do u even need to ask to start????

But if u really try to script it its gonna take a lot of work. And then u gonna give it away for free (i hope u do) or sell it???

But i'd really want Autodesk to do something like that in the next release. Anyways in the last 1 or 2 versions i havent seen any big upgrades...........so why not make the interface better than the best........

If that gets incorporated into Max then it will have the best interface of all 3d programs. As it is it has one of the best and most user friendly interface in the business.

So i support u!!!!

[Mr. Bluesummers-3DT]

Rock on!

Yah, it would take a lot of work, but I plan to leave it free on my site like most other things I do.

Also, I spent a lot of time on airplanes over the last couple of days, and threw together a script that creates a "Simple" material type. It exposes only the 8 most commonly needed map types in one rollout, in a space roughly 400x400. Maybe I'll wrap that up all quick-like before taking on this new one.

[Novak]

Sound really nice Guy.

I think it would be cool. If you give it for free.. Maybe you could give it a try and maybe
a link for a little donate for who wants to donate.

Just a idea.

Greetz,
Novak

[Mr. Bluesummers-3DT]

Sounds like a plan. I've been trying to get some extra cash through the Google Adsense, but...it's...slower than I thought it would be. Donations might be a better idea. =)

More to follow!

[brentagain]

one thing I always thought max needed was a tool to fillet edges in poly mode.
Would this be able to be scripted?
Like the fillet in spline mode,only this time it works on edges in edit poly mode.
It would basically leave a smooth edge without having to smooth the entire object.

[Mr. Bluesummers-3DT]

Quick Reply
Fillet Edge? I could probably code that in like...two evenings if I had nothing else to do. How would you like that integrated? It'd be hard to put it in the Editable_Poly interface like you'd expect (next to chamfer and extrude). I could make it a modifier or maybe a hotkey-able tool (i.e. Ctrl + Alt + F would give you fillet edge or fillet poly).

On second thought; anyone know where the Editable_Poly modifier UI is defined?

[brentagain]

I was thinking make it a custom add-on that you would have to enable through a custom tab..like the old polytrans tools were.
Making it part of the default UI would be tricky..yeah.
The edit poly code might be embedded straight into the program and unable to be changed...but I`m just guessing here..

[Mr. Bluesummers-3DT]

You're probably right, Brentagain.

Anyway, I did some digging on what can and cannot be done with floaters, and I can safely say that a 3dsMax ribbon is 'go for launch'. Let me do some more planning and make sure I'll still have enough time to do homework and water the plants.

More to follow!

[Mr. Bluesummers-3DT]

Quick Reply
Alright, I've thought hard about this one. I see three major points that would need to be hit:

• Contextual Sensitivity - I bet I could get the ribbon to respond a lot like Microsoft got theirs to work. It should know what the base object you're working on is, and display appropriate tools for you. I.e. if you're working on an editable poly, it will display the tools and modifiers you usually want (symmetry, turbosmooth, etc).
• Editability - I want to have some way for users to change around the interface a little bit. For example, if I made "Turbosmooth" a double-wide button and you're going "but I have a hotkey for Turbosmooth, I want optimize in that slot", there should be a way for you to swap out one button for another (but not change the positions or sizes).
• Mountability - It should replace the tab bar and main toolbar, and react the way a toolbar should (right click menus, show/hide, etc).

Add to this if you guys've got any thoughts.
**EDIT** Did some measuring. Looks like I've got exactly 94 pixels in height to work with. It will chew up the same vertical space as the tab bar plus the main toolbar. For the curious; this is what 94 pixels looks like...

[poopipe]

This seems like a pretty helpful toolbar - if it were to remember the last 3 or 4 tools used in a given situation (based on the quad menu contexts) it could speed stuff right up.

my reservation is the amount of screen space used. I don't know about most other people but I spend a good chunk of my max life in expert mode with the command panel floating in order to maximise my available screen space so I can't help thinking this would work better as a quad menu extension than a big fat toolbar

[Mr. Bluesummers-3DT]

Getting close. I found an open source version that mimics some of the functionality of the MS Ribbon. It's pretty sweet but I love how there is ZERO documentation. :P'

*EDIT* Also, working with DOTNET through maxscript is horrible. It's like having the option between comfortably driving a jalopy or driving a Mercedes stuck in reverse.

[Mr. Bluesummers-3DT]

Behold!

This is a Ribbon...In 3d studio max...who's buttons can be bound to Maxscript commands.

[Novak]

Looks indeed nice... How you know all about this?? Are you a programmer? What Languages
do you use?

Hope to see this finished some day.. Looking forward to it..

Greetz,
Novak

[Jynks]

i do nto understand what you mean by the "Word Ribbon" can you explain what you are guys are talking about in this thread.