[Closed] maxscipting learning curve?

I don’t think it’s steep. I have started learning maxscript some weeks/months ago and I understand at least the basics of it.

Coding experience… hmm… the ColourCoder script is the fifth or sixth script I have written in my life, in fact I’ve never written anything more complicted than batch files before I started to learn maxscript. But I’ve never had any problems with math, I think that helps. So I’d say it depends on the person ofcourse, but on average it’s not very steep.

I think the best way of learning maxscript is the set yourself a task, a script you want to make and then go make it. Everytime you come across something you don’t understand you look it up in the reference or ask it here. It works for me, but then again, I’m not you. Maybe you’re more comfortable with maxscript video tutorials.

In any case, the reference should cover the very basics and rules of maxscript.

Good luck!

• R

Not sure about what the best resource is (I’ve only done a couple of the introductory tutorials in the maxscript reference). But if you want to learn maxscript, you’ll probably want to become familiar with scriptspot.com Apart from all the free scripts available on that site (which you could probably use for code-by-example references), they have a section for scripting tutorials, with tutorials diviced into ‘beginning’, ‘intermediate’ and ‘advanced.’

thanks for the imput guys…I am not so great with complex math so I guess i may have a downfall there, but I am still gonna try and learn what I can…and I guess as long as there is this comunitY I think I will be in good shape!

I have to pretty much agree with Rens, it was easiest for me to learn by starting with an idea and then working through it until I either finished it, or decided it was not possible at my skill level. Understanding higher maths has its uses, to be sure, but I’m not that great at math and it hasn’t stopped me from making effective use of vectors and matrices and such. You get used to doing certain things not because you understand how they work, but because you know that they work, and when. There’s also a fair amount of experimentation involved.

One nice thing is, when you’ve gained some experience you can go back to the problems that stumped you on your earlier scripts and make them work, or make them work better!

RH

I just started too, and found this forum essential. The Script help is good, but you need to know how things are layed out, and how to plug them in. I am still getting used to this!

My advice is to use the listener …a lot!
Activate it and if possible, do what you are trying to do (or parts of it) by using the standard interface and see what the commands are in the listener. This gives you a good base for what you need to look for in the Script Help. You can also copy Listener commands and use/tweak them in your script.

Also, don’t try to do too much in one script at once.

• As a total beginner, I found that by getting somthing to work on it’s own, in it’s own script is best for me. Once you are sure this functionality works, you can then plug it in to the main script, and you know its working.

At the moment, I am having a good few script windows open at any time!

If you get stuck on somthing, search the forum, then if you cant find a solution – just ask the guys. I was amazed at the detail some people go into to help you!

When I decided I wanted to learn Max Script, I was just firing in commands to see what they’d do. You learn MUCH, MUCH MORE by coming up with a goal you want to acheive. I am playing with a meterial script to help specifically the way I can create my scenes and ama mazed at how far I have got. By coming up with an idea of something, no matter what it is, you will find something to aim for. You will have to overcome problems in order to get something to work, and look for alternitives. This is how you learn!

Maybe start by modifying/merging some of the excellent “How to” tutorials in Max Script help to take them to the next level. These are essential for you to look at as they explain step by step what each line of script does, and why.

A good book is also “Mastering Max Script and the SDK for 3d Studio Max”, BY Alexander Bicalho and Simon Feltman, although do the How to stuff first to get to grips with the basics.

Good luck!

Biggest suggestion i can make is: start small, but START.

My first script was all of one command… to make a specific light, of a specific color/shadow in a designated place. Barely a script, more of a command really. But then I took that little bit of code, and made it a macro.

Next was basically a single command… but then i took it further, and instead of hard-coding values i learned to create value fields and use that data. Then learned to make it a nice palette with buttons. And from my first script, already knew how to make a macro. By the third script, it was all of some quick algorythm pondering – i’d already learned how to make a script; i just needed to figure out how to solve the particular problem i was up against.

And so on. Nearly all my scripts are basically batch routines… it’s really not that hard, it takes more reading and trying to do it than anything. Find some random small thing, and make it work for one object in one situation. Then add a small piece, then another. With each piece you add, you’ll understand more about the whole process.

And I’ll tell you, when a maxscript vet can tell you’re putting forth real effort in your coding (ie, not just trying to get free work out of them), the max community is THE coolest place to be when you need help.

thorn

Thanks guys, I am inspired to give it a whirl…and I have to say it’s not all that bad, I was going through the basics in the reference, and the just opening the macro recorder/listener and playing to see the lines of code used and I am getting excited about the posibilities…I will take all your suggestions and try and make my first simple code this weekend…I am gonna start small as that is the only thing I can do now, and add more and more as i go…I wish I knew it already though cause I have some very sweet Ideas, and now that I have done a bit of browsing and some minor research I know the scripts can be made, it’s just a matter of diving in and getting my feet wet…it will probably be a while before I make anything worth using, but when I get into it and understand it better, keep a look out cause there is gonna be some sweet new tools for you guys…And thanks again for all the support this place is the best!!