MAXScript Access To Krakatoa

Introduction

Krakatoa is a hybrid C++/MAXScript system designed to use the best sides of the 3ds Max SDK and the MAXScript language.

As a result, almost the whole User Interface of the Krakatoa Renderer and the Particle Loader objects as well as the additional tools like the Particle Data Viewer, Krakatoa Shadows Explorer etc. have been implemented in MAXScript.

Logically, anyone with enough scripting knowledge could interact with Krakatoa and even add or replace UI-level functionality, or at least use the scripted code provided unprotected with the package to learn how to script new tools that control Krakatoa.

Using MAXScript With Krakatoa

Krakatoa Plugin and Script Components

This topic overviews the various components of Krakatoa and their corresponding plug-in and script files.

The FranticParticles Interface

This topic discusses the use of the FranticParticle Interface to get and set properties in the Krakatoa Renderer and access some additional functionality exposed by the plug-in.

MAXScript Property Names

This topic lists the properties used by the Krakatoa renderer and the KrakatoaGUI.ms script and shows how to access the list of exposed properties and how to get and set their values.

The FranticParticleRenderMXS Struct

This topic documents the MAXScript struct exposed by the User Interface script file which provides useful utility functions for interacting with Krakatoa and its UI.

User-Defined Partitioning MAXScript Functions

This topic documents the ability of the Krakatoa Partitioning feature to call user-defined scripted functions to apply custom modifications to scene objects during the Partitioning process.