Parameter Collector

Parameter Collector

Animation menu - Parameter Collector
Keyboard -Alt+2

Parameter Collector lets you sort and present animatable parameters so that you can access and key selected parameter sets with a click or two. It takes the form of a resizable dialog that regenerates dynamically as parameters change. The dialog supports drag-and-drop rollout reordering. Collections are saved with their scenes and can be merged into other scenes.

One of Parameter Collector's most powerful features is the ability to change all parameters in a collection simultaneously, in an absolute or relative mode. For example, if you're animating a character's hand, you can use Parameter Collector to easily make all the fingers curl up together to form a fist.

NoteParameter Collector does not support parameters of externally referenced objects or objects in externally referenced scenes.

Example: To use Parameter Collector:

This exercise demonstrates some basic Parameter Collector functions.
In general, start with a scene containing one or more objects whose parameters you'll collect. Ideally, they should be animated, but it's not absolutely necessary.

1. For this example, reset 3ds Max and then add a sphere.
2. Open Parameter Collector from the Animation menu, or press Alt+2.
3. On the Parameter Collector toolbar, click - (Add To New Rollout). The Track View Pick dialog opens. This lets you specify parameters to collect.
   
4. On the Track View Pick dialog, expand Objects - Sphere01- Transform: Position/Rotation/Scale - Position: Position XYZ.
5. Click X Position: Bezier Float. The parameter highlights.
   
6. Click OK to close the dialog. A new rollout named Parameters 1 appears, containing the X Position parameter.
   
   NoteA parameter in Parameter Collector can contain only a single value (for example: float, integer, color), so 3ds Max doesn't let you add parameters such as Position: Position XYZ, which contains three distinct values.