Python and PyQt in 3dsMax

#1

Ok so here we go - we at Blur had released a plugin about a year ago that began exposing Python functionality to Maxscript…

We since decided that it was not good enough.

We have developed a way to run Python as a complete replacement of Maxscript in 3dsMax, utilizing Python and PyQt to develop tools, we’re hoping to revolutionize the ability to develop fast, efficient and powerful utilities.

All the information you need to get going can be found at our new development website:

http://blur-dev.googlecode.com

Please feel free to post on the wiki pages for requests, bugs, and comments. Its still very beta and are looking forward to trying to make this the new future of programming in 3dsMax.

Please keep in mind - this is very much beta, and the code is as-is, but we will appreciate feedback as it’ll make our own code more stable.

Enjoy!

Eric Hulser
Tools Developer
Blur Studio

#2

BAD ASS! Been waiting for this for a while now… as you know by how often I’ve bugged you – no, I don’t have a life, thanks for reminding me! :smiley:

–Great work, I think this will open a lot more doors for max / max users… can’t wait to start doing some serious stuff with it!

#3

Wow! Awesome stuff!
Thanks for sharing :slight_smile:
Mike

#4

This is brilliant! I have been holding off on the whole python in max via com business mainly because of the lack of solid integration. I will be investigating this asap for sure.

Thanks a million!

#5

Absolute gread idea!!!

I try the 64bit version for 3dsmax2009…

My AntiVir Guard alerts while i install Blur3dsMax2009_x64_install_8275.exe !
The File “C:\blur\dev\offline\code\maxscript reegrunt\Lib\blurSubmit.ms” whould have a script virus “HTML/Silly.Gen” :wink:

Seems to be a false alarm, see:
http://virscan.org/report/e9866806a066b2ac4aaa284aa226d425.html
http://www.virustotal.com/de/analisis/5bd1f2897bf3a72fe47798f4393dc062a9c097b550f3b90a61c6c1c09321bebf-1255679004

@ehulser: Please activte the bug tracker on google code!

EDIT: I have installed Python 2.6 64Bit (ActiveState one), after this i installed Blur3dsMax2009_x64_install_8275.exe and than Py3dsMax2009_python26_x64_install_8666.exe
I started 3dsmax2009 64Bit and can’t see the python menu item :frowning:

EDIT2: Sorry, i found http://code.google.com/p/blur-dev/wiki/KnownIssues and the issues with the hardcoded path.
After i copied all files, i get this error on 3dsmax 2009 64Bit startup:

MAXScript Auto-load Script Error - C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009\stdplugs\stdscripts\blurStartupMaxLib.ms Exception

– Syntax error: at imgTagPlus, expected <rollout control>
– In line: imgTagPlus u

OK

I run blurStartupMaxLib.ms in the maxscript editor and get this in the listener: http://paste.pocoo.org/show/145231/

EDIT3: I tried to install Blur Libs, but i get this error:

Blur Libs 1.0.0 win32-msvc2008_64 Setup

Error opening file for writing:

C:\windows\system32\blur64\stone.dll

Bat idea to install in C:\windows\system32\ :frowning: (I’m using Vista 64Bit)

EDIT4: Sorry again. I installed “BlurBeta Tools” and found in the readme.txt the TroubleShooting section for MAX Users. The error was, i doesn’t insert the path in plugin.ini correctly.

#6

Great news Eric!

We will develop tools with Py3dsMax and the integration of Qt. Sure we will send feedback.

Are you planning a Max 2010 build in the near future ?

#7

OK, after a log road of installations and manuel copy things from one location to a other location, i see the Python main menu entry in 3dsmax 2009 64Bit :wink:

But it doesn’t work well.

I can open the Python Logger. But the menu points “new”-, “open”- and “run” python script doesn’t work. I get this Tracebacks:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
AttributeError: 'QApplication' object has no attribute 'openScript'
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
AttributeError: 'QApplication' object has no attribute 'newScript'
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
AttributeError: 'QApplication' object has no attribute 'runScript'

In the Python Logger menu under File i get this error on “open script”

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Python26\lib\site-packages\blur\wingui\__init__.py", line 83, in openScript
    fileName = str( QFileDialog.getOpenFileName( PyQWinHook.core, 'Open Script File', LAST_FILENAME, 'Python Files (*.py);;All Files (*.*)' ) )
NameError: global name 'PyQWinHook' is not defined

But PythonLogger/NewScript and PythonLogger/RunScript works!

EDIT: A other question: You tools are under GPL. But why you are not open the subversion server or use SVN from google code? I would like to checkout and help if i can.

#8

Very nice. I look forward to having a go at this when the current project is out of the way.

#9

:bowdown:

Perfect timing… I was just starting to dive into the whole python thing.

Thanks a bunch.

#10

HUGE news! Thanks!

Ian, I guess this means you won’t be using dotNet as much. :slight_smile:

Edit: Might be good to have a PyQT sticky soon…!

#11

When you said dotNet, I just puked a lil bit. Thanks, Jason!

#12

Wohooow!

awsome!!!

-R

#13

Hey guys -

Thanks for the quick feedback:

@jeddie:

I have enabled the Issue Tracking on the Google Code page - we don’t have a public SVN repo yet, so thats why we don’t have the code online but I’ll talk to my supervisor when I get into work about it.

I updated the KnownIssues page with your changes - I noticed you posted comments on there also, Thanks! Much appreciated.

I deprecated the Blur Tools download until this afternoon, I can fix those install paths and the plugin.ini config, the Py3dsMax installers should be working fine.

I’ll talk to our other programmer Matt about the system32 install on Vista x64, but we don’t run Vista at work - so we might not support that…may have to look into getting you the code.

#14

This is great news. Glad to see progress on this project, I look forward to trying it out this weekend.

I would REALLY like to see this open-sourced so we can all contribute to making this a rock solid plugin. Plus it is very risky for our studio to build production tools around plugins we don’t have source code for. We can’t risk being left high and dry when new version of max comes out and we have to wait the plugin to be re-compiled. This is even more of an issue with beta testing 3dsmax versions.

Also, do you know if there are still licensing issues with Qt/PyQT on windows? Is a commercial license still required?

I’d be willing to get wxPython integrated as alternative since I have already done some work on this.

Thanks for sharing,

-James

#15

New to Maxscript and such. I am a little confused as to where these files should be installed to. The root to my 3dsmax is C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009 so where should I install downloads to. BTW I have 64 bit version.

#16

Huzah! :bowdown:

#17

Oh Hell Yeah!!!
I look forward to digging into this in hours #25-32 of my day.
(I just need to finish a time re-mapping script I am working on first)
Seriously this just kicks ass…can’t wait till I wrap up the current project just to explore this.

EDIT: Who am I kidding? F the project, I’m digging into it now!

#18

Thanks for sharing… BLUR rocks :bowdown:

#19

Is there a eta on a probable max2010 release? Then I could try it on 2009 now, and move over when a 2010 release appears.

Greatly admire the stuff you guys share, it’s worth quite a lot!

-Johan

#20

@ Irishlad

You’re going to want to set C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009 as your 3dsMax install path, and wherever you installed your Python 26 x64 as your python path (most likely c:\python26)

This will install plugins and scripts into your 3ds Max 2009 directory and register them to your C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009\plugin.ini file. However, with 3dsMax 2009, they changed the default configs I think to store/load the plugin.ini information in your users directory - if thats the case for your setup, you’ll need to add a line to wherever that plugin.ini file underneath [Directories] that says:

blur=C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009\plugins\blur

We at Blur just set it back to the way it always ran, so our installer doesn’t support that new issue yet.

@JHN

I can’t give you a definitive answer on that since we don’t run 2010 in the studio, its not a high priority to get it to work internally…however, if the only change that I need to run to get it to work for 2010 is to compile with MSVC++ 2008, then it should work - I am going to give that a test run on Monday and hand it off to a friend w/ 2010 to see if it works.