Hello people,
I was wondering… this is a question of pure speculation :
while working on a small team project, I use a SQL database and a PHP page to keep track of the progression of the work. It’s VERY primitive, but it’s absolutly customized to my needs and I’m happy with it.
Then the question is : does anyone know if it’s theorically possible to access a SQL DB with MaxScript (probably via a PHP file). It could be usefull to, for exemple, enter and check a check-list directly in the Max interface. Or other uses I have still not thought of.
And if you believe it’s possible, do you have any advice about the direction I should go ? At this time I don’t see anyway to do that, but there may be some tools or workaround I’m not aware of…
thanks for any input
Jerome
At this time, I don’t think it’s possible to initiate a connection to a db directly through maxscript. You may be able to use DOSCommand to execute a PHP script which dumps its results into a text file, then harvest the results from maxscript by opening and parsing the text file. I’ve written a couple of tools that perform a similar function using the output from Python scripts; it’s not the most elegant solution but it certainly works.
btw if you don’t like how DOSCommand shows the command prompt window while executing, Mike Biddlecombe has written a small Maxscript extension which provides the function HiddenDOSCommand. It works just like DOSCommand except that it doesn’t show the cmd box.
<allonym>
I was wondering the same question not to long ago. I tried to accomplish a similar task: take the current work in progress file, copy it on an increment, send it VIA SMTP server (to a piped email address) then have a cron job download the attachment, store the information in a SQL database.
I could not figure out to retrieve the information back into max just from max (without using for example IE)
Hope this was helpful, I was just blabbing, so maybe you can get something out of it.
Jon
Max 8 will have sql capabilities
Are you serious! Awesom. Is there any documentation or tutorials about this?
Not yet, but maxscript is definately fleshed out with SQL and there’s a debugger finally!
Here’s the wrap from the tech sheet:
MAXScript Scripting Language
Automate your production pipeline with the ability to query a
database using MAXScript SQL Connect and Queries.
Build MAXScripts faster with our MAXScript debugger. This
debugger follows industry standards and allows you to set break
points and isolate any issues in your scripts.
Expression controllers now have full MXS support.
Rebuilt scripted controller supports name independence.
Interesting. Will it be anything like the SQL aupport in Toxik?
I would assume that’s the way they’re going, so they can link the products together more smoothly. Max 8 is also getting a similar asset management system like Toxik as a I recall.
Man, I can’t believe they are already coming out with 8… I just got 7 like 2 months ago. lol.
As a student… It stinks because of the money
They are really busting their butts to be the #1 3d software! GO DISCREET/AUTOCAD~ keep it up!
Thanks a lot guys for the informations.
The command prompt workaround may work and seems a good idea. But if Max 8 is coming with new maxScript about SQL, I think I’ll just wait. I have no emergency.
This is definitly a good news.
Jerome
probably, there may be an ActiveX component for work with DBs…?