3ds MAX Commands

MAXScript allows you to invoke 3ds Max menu and toolbar commands from within scripts using the max construct.

The general syntax for max commands is:

max <command_name>

EXAMPLE:

max file open
max unhide all
max hold
max time play

The keyword max is followed by one or more words that describe the command. The available commands can be displayed using the '?' character in a partial max command:

max time ? -- show all the time-related commands
max sel ? -- show all the commands with 'sel' in them as a substring
max ? -- show all the commands (there are a lot!)

The max command always returns the system value ok .

NOTE:The max spacebar max command appears to do nothing when invoked from the Listener window, because the spacebar command is window-specific and only locks selections in the active window. Because it is the Listener window that is active, 3ds Max effectively ignores this command.
3ds Max Command Name Command description
max ?

Displays all max commands in the Listener

max accel pan

Activates viewport Pan mode

max acthomegrid 
max activate home grid

Makes home grid the active grid

max activate grid object

Makes selected grid the active grid

max adaptive persp grid 
max adaptive perspective grid toggle

Changes look of grid in non-orthographic viewports.

max align

Activates Align mode

max align normals 
max alignnormals

Activates Align Normals mode

max align camera

Places you in Align Camera mode

max angle snap toggle

Toggles Angle Snap toggle

max apply ik

Same as clicking Apply IK button in Hierarchy/IK panel

max array

Displays Array dialog

max backface 
max backface cull toggle

Toggles Backface Cull for selected objects

max background 
max background display toggle

Displays Viewport Background dialog

max bind space warp mode 
max bindwsm

Activates Bind to Space Warp mode

max box mode 
max box mode selected

Toggles Display as Box for selected objects

max box mode toggle 
max box toggle

Toggles active viewport’s shading mode to/from Bounding Box

max configure paths

Displays Configure Paths dialog

max create mode

Sets Create command mode active

max customize UI

Displays Customize User Interface dialog

max cycle select

Cycles through Selection Region types - Rectangular, Circular, Fence

max cycle sublevel 
max cycle subobject level

Cycles through sub-object levels. Must be in Modify panel with Sub-Object active.

max default lighting toggle 
max def lgt toggle

Toggles between default viewport lights and scene lights for viewport rendering

max delete

Deletes selected objects or sub-objects

max display floater

Displays Display Floater dialog

max display mode

Sets Display command mode active

max dolly 
max dolly mode

Activates Zoom/Dolly mode

max drawingaids 
max drawing aids

Displays Grid and Snap Setting dialog

max fetch

Activates Edit/Fetch - displays About to Fetch dialog

max file archive

Activates File/Archive - performs a scene file archive operation

max file export selected

Activates File/Export Selected - displays Select File to Export dialog

max file import

Activates File/Import - displays Select File to Import dialog

max file insert tracks

Activates File/Merge - displays Merge Animation dialog

max file merge

Activates File/Merge - displays Merge File dialog

max file new

Activates File/New

max file open

Activates File/Open - displays Open File dialog

max file preferences

Activates Customize/Preferences - displays Preference Settings dialog

max file preferences gamma

Activates Customize/Preferences - displays the Gamma tab of the Preference Settings dialog. Available since 3ds Max 2010.

max file replace

Activates File/Replace - displays Replace File dialog

max file save

Activates File/Save

max file saveas

Activates File/Save As - displays Save File As dialog

max file xref object

Activates File/XRef Objects - displays XRef Objects dialog

max file xref scene

Activates File/XRef Scenes - displays XRef Scenes dialog

max fov

Activates Region Zoom/FOV/Falloff mode

max freeze inv

Freezes non-selected objects. Same as clicking Freeze Unselected in Display panel.

max freeze selection

Freezes selected objects. Same as clicking Freeze Selected in Display panel.

max fullinteract

No operation

max grid nudge down

Nudges active grid down

max grid nudge up

Nudges active grid up

max grid toggle

Toggles display of active grid in active viewport

max grids align

Aligns active grid to active viewport

max group attach

Enters Attach Object to Group mode - user clicks on group to attach selected objects to the group

max group close

Closes active group

max group detach

Detaches selected objects from group

max group group

Groups selected objects - displays Group dialog

max group open

Opens selected group

max group ungroup

Ungroups objects in selected group

max help about

Activates Help/About - displays the About 3ds Max dialog

max hide camera toggle

Toggles Camera in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.

max hide command panel toggle

Toggles display of command panel

max hide floating toolbars toggle

Toggles display of floating toolbars

max hide helper toggle

Toggles Helpers in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.

max hide inv

Hides un-selected objects. Same as clicking Hide Unselected in Display panel.

max hide light toggle

Toggles Lights in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.

max hide main toolbar toggle

Toggles display of main toolbar

max hide object toggle

Toggles Geometry in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.

max hide tab panel toggle

Toggles display of Tab Panel

max hide selection

Hides selected objects. Same as clicking Hide Selected in Display panel.

max hide shape toggle

Toggles Shapes in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.

max hide system toggle

Toggles Particle Systems in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.

max hide wsm toggle

Toggles Space Warps in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.

max hierarchy mode

Sets Hierarchy command mode active

max hold

Activates Edit/Hold

max ik terminator

Toggles Terminator in Hierarchy/IK, Object Parameters rollout

max ipan

Interactive Pan - places center of active viewport at current mouse location

max izoom in

Interactive Zoom In - zooms in active viewport at current mouse location

max izoom out

Interactive Zoom Out - zooms out active viewport at current mouse location

max key mode

Toggles Key Mode Toggle

max link

Activates Link mode

max load custom UI

Activates Customize/Load Custom UI - displays Load UI File dialog

max lock UI layout

Toggles locking of the UI layout

max material browser

Displays the Material/Map Browser dialog

max mirror

Activates Mirror mode - displays Mirror dialog

max modify mode

Sets Modify command mode active

max motion mode

Sets Motion command mode active

max move

Activates Select and Move mode

max mtledit

Activates Tools/Material Editor - displays Material Editor dialog

max next mod

Moves up one level in modifier stack

max override

Toggles Degradation Override. Executing this command works on the active window only, so if executed from Listener does nothing.

max pancamera

Activates Arc Rotate/Orbit mode

max panview

Activates Pan/Truck mode

max persp

Activates Zoom All/Perspective/Hotspot mode

max prev mod

Moves down one level in modifier stack

max preview

Activates Rendering/Make Preview - displays Make Preview dialog

max properties

Displays Object Properties dialog

max quick render

Performs Quick Render

max redo

Performs Redo operation

max renamepreview

Activates Rendering/Rename Preview - displays Save Preview As dialog

max render last

Performs Render Last

max render scene

Activate Render Scene - displays Render Scene dialog

max reset file

Activates File/Reset

max revert custom UI

Activates Customize/Revert to Startup UI - displays confirmation dialog

max rns

Activates Edit/Edit Named Selections - displays Edit Named Selection dialog

max roll

Activates Roll mode - active viewport must camera or light viewport

max rotate

Activates Select and Rotate mode

max rotateview

Activates Arc Rotate/Orbit mode

max save custom UI as

Activates Customize/Save Custom UI As - displays Save UI File as dialog

max safeframe toggle

Toggles viewport Show Safe Frames

max saveplus

Saves to the current file name with incrementing number, or if the scene is Untitled, opens the Save As dialog.

max scale

Activates Select and Scale mode

max scale cycle

Cycles through Scale modes - Scale, Non-Uniform Scale, Squash

max select

Activates Select mode

max select all

Activates Edit/Select All - selects all objects

max select by color

Activates Edit/Select by Color - user then picks object, all objects with same wireframe color selected

max select child

Selects all 1 st level children of currently selected objects

max select invert

Activates Edit/Select Invert

max select none

Activates Edit/Select None

max select parent

Selects parents of currently selected objects

max selection floater

Displays Selection Floater dialog

max set key all position

Set position keys

max set key all postion rotation and scale

Set position, rotation, and scale keys

max set key all rotation

Set rotation keys

max set key all scale

Set scale keys

max set key all x postion

Set key on X track of position XYZ controllers

max set key all x rotation

Set key on X track of rotation XYZ controllers

max set key all x scale

Set key on X track of scale XYZ controllers

max set key all y postion

Set key on Y track of position XYZ controllers

max set key all y rotation

Set key on Y track of rotation XYZ controllers

max set key all y scale

Set key on Y track of scale XYZ controllers

max set key all z postion

Set key on Z track of position XYZ controllers

max set key all z rotation

Set key on Z track of rotation XYZ controllers

max set key all z scale

Set key on Z track of scale XYZ controllers

max set key clear

Clear pending changes

max set key customattributes filter

Toggle Custom Attributes filter in the Key Filters window

max set key ikparams filter

Toggle IK Parameters filter in the Key Filters window

max set key keys

Set Keys for all filtered keyable tracks

max set key materials filter

Toggle Materials filter in the Key Filters window

max set key mode

Toggle the Set Key mode

max set key modifiers filter

Toggle Modifiers filter in the Key Filters window

max set key objectparams filter

Toggle the Object Parameters filter in the Key Filters window

max set key on selected

Same as hitting Set Keys but always on selected nodes (ignores Character dropdown setting)

max set key position filter

Toggle the Position filter in the Key Filters window

max set key rotation filter

Toggle the Rotation filter in the Key Filters window

max set key scale filter

Toggle the Scale filter in the Key Filters window

max shade selected

Toggles Views/Shade Selected

max show last img

Displays last rendered image

max showaxisicon

Toggles Views/Show Transform Gizmo

max showhomegrid

Toggles display of home grid

max show vfb

Shows the Rendered Image Window (also known as Virtual Frame Buffer) if it is not open. Available in 3ds Max 2011 and higher.

max snap toggle

Toggles Snap Toggle

max spacebar

Toggles Lock Selection Set.Executing this command works on the active window only, so if executed from Listener does nothing.

max spacing tool

Displays Spacing Tool dialog

max spinsnap toggle

Toggles Spinner Snap Toggle

max subobject sel

Toggles Sub-Object button in Modify panel

max swap layouts

No operation - no A/B layout any more

max texture correct

Toggles viewport Texture Correction

max time back

Sets time slider to previous frame or keyframe (Previous Frame/Previous Key)

max time config

Displays Time Configuration dialog

max time end

Sets time slider to end frame (Go to End)

max time forward

Sets time slider to next frame or keyframe (Next Frame/Next Key)

max time play

Plays animation

max time start

Sets time slider to start frame (Go to Start)

max toggle key mode

No operation

max toggle keyboard shortcuts

Toggles Plug-in Keyboard Shortcut Toggle

max toggle ik

Toggles IK Toggle

max toggle sound

Toggles Active in Audio group of Sound Options dialog

max tool animmode

Toggles Animate button

max tool center

Cycles through transform centers - Pivot Point, Selection, Transform

max tool dualplanes

Toggles state of Use Dual Planes in Preference Settings dialog, Viewports tab.

max tool hlist

Activates Select by Name - displays Select Objects dialog

max tool maximize

Maximizes/Minimizes active viewport

max tool x

Activates Restrict to X

max tool xy

Activates Restrict to XY

max tool y

Activates Restrict to Y

max tool z

Activates Restrict to Z

max tool zoom

Activates Zoom/Dolly mode

max tool zoomall

Activates Zoom All

max tool zoomextents

Activates Zoom Extents

max tool zoomextents all

Activates Zoom Extents All

max tool zoomregion

Activates Zoom Region/FOV/Falloff mode

max trajectories

Toggles trajectory display for selected objects

max treeview

Activates Track View/Open Track View - displays Track View dialog

max truck

Activates Pan/Truck mode

max tti

Activates Tools/Transform Type-In - display Transform Type-In dialog

max undo

Performs undo operation

max unfreeze all

Unfreezes all objects. Same as clicking Unfreeze All in Display panel.

max unfreeze by hit

Activates Unfreeze by Hit mode. Same as clicking Unfreeze by Hit in Display panel.

max unfreeze by name

Displays Unfreeze Objects dialog. Same as clicking Unfreeze by Name in Display panel.

max unhide all

Unhides all objects. Same as clicking Unhide All in Display panel.

max unhide by name

Displays Unhide Objects dialog. Same as clicking Unhide by Name in Display panel.

max unitsetup

Activates Customize/Units Setup - displays Units Setup dialog

max unlink

Unlinks selected objects from their parents

max utility mode

Sets Utility command mode active

max videopost

Activates Rendering/Video Post - displays Video Post dialog

max view file

Activates File/View File - displays View File dialog

max view redo

Performs viewport redo operation

max viewpreview

Activates Rendering/View Preview - displays last preview

max views redraw

Redraws all viewports

max views undo

Performs viewport undo operation

max vpt back

Sets active viewport to Back

max vpt bottom

Sets active viewport to Bottom

max vpt camera

Sets active viewport to Camera. If only 1 camera in scene, or a camera is selected, that camera will be used for the viewport. If there is more than one camera, and no cameras are selected, the Select Camera dialog will be displayed. If there is no camera in the scene, a No Camera in Scene warning is displayed.

max vpt disable

Toggles Disabled state of active viewport

max vpt front

Sets active viewport to Front

max vpt grid

Sets active viewport to Grid

max vpt iso user

Sets active viewport to User

max vpt left

Sets active viewport to Left

max vpt persp user

Sets active viewport to Perspective

max vpt right

Sets active viewport to Right

max vpt shape

Sets active viewport to Shape

max vpt spot

Sets active viewport to Spotlight. If only 1 spotlight/directional light in scene, or a spotlight/directional light is selected, that light will be used for the viewport. If there is more than one spotlight/directional light, and no lights are selected, the Select Light dialog will be displayed. If there is no spotlight/directional light in the scene, a No Light in Scene warning is displayed.

max vpt tab

Cycles between Restrict to axes - X, Y, Z, XY

max vpt top

Sets active viewport to Top

max vpt track

Sets active viewport to Track View

max vptconfig

Activates Customize/Viewport Configuration - displays Viewport Configuration dialog

max wire facet

Sets active viewport shading mode to Facets + Highlights

max wire smooth

Sets active viewport shading mode to Wireframe

max zoom in 2x

Zooms in active viewport by 2x

max zoom in 2x all

Zooms in all viewports by 2x

max zoom out 2x

Zooms out active viewport by 2x

max zoom out 2x all

Zooms out all viewports by 2x

max zoomext sel

Activates Zoom Extents Selected

max zoomext sel all

Activates Zoom Extents All Selected