What Was New in MAXScript in 3ds Max 2023 and Updates

This topic will give you a quick overview of the MAXScript language changes and improvements in 3ds Max 2023 and updates. For details on each feature, please follow the links to the respective documentation pages.

New in MAXScript in 3ds Max 2023.3 Update


Missing Items	Several previously missing methods in the `SkinOps` interface are now documented.
Deprecated Items	The `qat` Interface is deprecated and has been removed.

New in MAXScript in 3ds Max 2023.2 Update


Array Modifier	New `Arraymodifier : Modifier` MAXScript exposure
Collapse Utility	The Collapse Utility functionality is now exposed in the new `collapse` interface.
Previously Undocumented Items	Previously undocumented functions are now documented: `setNumberThreads()`, `isWorldSpaceObject()` The `#all` option for `meshop.getverts()` and `meshop.getfaces()`

New in MAXScript in 3ds Max 2023.1 Update


SpaceWarp Objects Exposed Properties	Several missing properties on various SpaceWarp objects have been exposed: SpaceBend: `.fromTo` and `.bendAxis` SpaceNoise: `.animate` and `.frequency` SpaceSkew: `.axis` and `.limit` SpaceStretch: `.axis` and `.limit` SpaceTaper: `.primaryAxis`, `.effectAxis`, and `.limit` SpaceTwist: `.axis` and `.limit`
Suppressing Scene Converter Warnings	New methods have been added to the `SceneConverter Interface` to register / de-register object types by class ID to prevent warnings when they are missing in converted scene files: `AddSilentClassID()`, `ClearSilentClassIDs()` and `IsSilentClassID()`.
Material Library Previous Version Support	Methods that save material libraries now take an optional `saveAsVersion:<integer>` parameter to specify a previous version of 3ds Max that the library can be compatible with: `saveTempMaterialLibrary()`, `saveMaterialLibrary()`, `sme.SaveMtlLib()`, and `sme.SaveMtlLibAs()`.
File loading and XRefs	The `loadMaxFile()` method takes a new `skipXRefs:<boolean>` parameter that allows you to disable xrefs on load to speed file loading.
SVG Icon Support	You can now use SVG format icons for custom icons, both as individual .svg files and compiled into .rcc archives in Macro Scripts.

New in MAXScript in 3ds Max 2023


Bake To Texture Common Map	You can now create scripted Bake To Texture Map plug-ins using the `CommonBakeMap` and `CommonBakeMapOperator` classes.
Autobackup	Several new properties and methods have been added to the `autosave` interface to expose new features and improvements in autobackup: `.prependSceneName`, `.finalCountdownInterval`, `.Compress`, `.tempDisable`, `<void>loadSettings()` and `<void>saveSettings()`. The autobackup interval is now specified as an integer, which changes these properties from a float to an integer: `autosave.interval`, `autobackup.time`. The `setSaveRequired() function` takes a new keyword argument `autobackupRequired:<boolean>`, that indicates whether an autobackup operation is required.
`windows` Struct	The `windows` struct contains a new member, `isWindowEnabled HWND`, that returns true if the specified window is enabled (able to recieve mouse and keyboard inputs). The new `getFocus()` function returns the HWND of the window that currently has focus.
Spline Reverse	A new optional keyword parameter `keepFirstKnot:true\|false` has been added to the `reverse()` function for SplineShape, which preserves the location of the first knot in closed splines.
Progress Bar	The progress bar `progressUpdate()` function takes a new keyword argument `stepName` that provides additional information to the user. The `progressStart()` function takes a new keyword argument `allowCancel:<bool>` that controls the display of the cancel button.
pluginManager Interface	The `pluginManager.pluginDllDirectory()` function now returns just the directory path, not the full path including the plugin filename.
Vertex and Face Access by Material ID	Both `meshop` and `polyop` now have functions to return an array of vertices or faces that match a specified material ID: `meshop.getFacesByMatId()`, `meshop.getVertsByMatId()`, `polyop.getFacesByMatId()` and `polyop.getVertsByMatId()`.
File Attribute Access Improvements	Additional file attribute names have been added for external files, as well as new functions `getFileAttributeNames()`, `getFileAttributes()`, and `isFileAttributeSettable()`.
OLE Automation	The `register_OLE_bridge.ms` script for setting up MAXScript OLE Automation is now shipped in the 3ds Max install `scripts/OLEAutomation` directory.
glTF Export	The new `GLTF_Export plugin` and `glTFMaterial` classes expose the glTF export workflow to MAXScript.
Snap Pivot	The `SnapPivot` interface exposes some of the functionality of the new Working Pivot improvements.
Real-Time Exporter	The Real-Time Exporter dialog can now be closed using `GameExporterHideDialog()`
SceneScriptSecurityManager	New functions on the SceneScriptSecurityManager Interface expose locked settings: `AreSettingsLocked()`, `GetCauseOfLock()` and `IsSafeScriptAssetExecutionEnabled()`.
manip interface	Two new methods on the `manip` interface control the new manipulators display setting: `getObjectManipulatorDisplayMode()` and `setObjectManipulatorDisplayMode()`.
File Saving	The new `maxOps` method `isSavingToFile()` returns true if 3ds Max is currently saving a file.
Hide By Category	The `hideByCategory` struct has a new property, `.nonrenderables`, which controls the show/hide status for non-renderable objects.
Previously undocumented items	The `snippet` argument for the createPreview() function is now documented. The `viewportFilter` interface introduced in 3ds Max 2022.3 Update is now documented.
Deprecated	The `ContainerPreferences.saveAsPreviousAccessType` is deprecated, setting this property has no effect. With the deprecation of Quicktime, `Combustion : TextureMap` and `Combustion.coordinates : MAXObject` have been removed from MAXScript.