maxscript parameter in framestamp

[miraldo]

Hi,
I'm trying to put specific vray parameters in the VFB framestamp, e.g. Imap parameters, Lightcache, etc.

Reading the help files I would suppose the right way to achieve this would be writting down the specific maxscript parameter name preceded by the "%" character.

For instance, writting down "vr.gi_irradmap_minRate" in the maxscript listener works fine, giving me the corresponding value. But when writting "%gi_irradmap_minRate" on the framestamp edit box I get this exact text on the image and not the corresponding value...

What is the correct syntax? Thanks in advance

[Sushidelic]

second that, tried to get it work some time ago, but without success as well.
regards, ml

[SnipeyX]

Along these same lines, is it at all possible to show any property of an object in your scene? For example, could you do %"$Box01.width" to show the wdith of object Box01 in your scene?

[vlado]

You need to enclose the name of the MaxScript parameter in quotes, e.g. %"gi_irradmap_minRate"; also this will only work in the 3ds Max frame buffer.

For arbitrary values you can sort of do that if you change the stamp text manually before rendering (e.g. with a pre-render script).

Best regards,
Vlado

[SnipeyX]

Okay, I'm trying the prerender script method, and it works on my inital render, but the frame stamp string doesn't update as it progresses to new frames. I am guessing this is more of a scripting technicality issue than a vray one, however I've use pre-render scripts succesfully for loading irmaps before, so I'm not sure why this would be different..

for my basic test here is what I have saved as a pre-render script

boxHeightString = $Box01.height as string
vr = renderers.current
vr.system_frameStamp_string = "BoxHeight:" + boxHeightString

When I first hit render it works, but if I try a sequence where the box height is animated, it doesn't update through multiple frames, it uses the first value that was valid when I initially hit render. (Not always frame 0's value, but whateer the time in my viewport was when I hit render)

I've tried assigning the script to both pre-render and post-render, but the framestamp still never updates. ?

[miraldo]

Thanks Vlado, been trying to figure this out for a long time. This is extremely useful for test renderings.

[vlado]

Okay, I'm trying the prerender script method, and it works on my inital render, but the frame stamp string doesn't update as it progresses to new frames. I am guessing this is more of a scripting technicality issue than a vray one, however I've use pre-render scripts succesfully for loading irmaps before, so I'm not sure why this would be different..

Ok, then you will need to register a pre-frame MaxScript callback; the pre-render script is called just once at the start of the rendering.

Best regards,
Vlado

[SnipeyX]

Just wanted to post and say thank you, got it working properly!

For whatever reason, a preRenderFrame callback alone wasn't working properly, but I was able to get it working fine by loading the script into 3 different callbacks, preRenderEval, preRenderFrame, postRenderFrame.

Thanks for your help!