I should’ve known

Honestly, I was kind of excited to see a book written about Maxscript and the corresponding SDK. Unfortunately, this book is mostly MaxScript and some SDK knowledge. As stated in another review, it doesn’t help you master anything; it just introduces you to it.

Also, notice when it was written. This book was published for MAX R3. Since then, about 70% of 3dsMax functionality has been added to the package, so this book is absurdly out of date. I would not recommend it over the current help-file included in 3dsMax.

Wish the SDK took up more space

The Max SDK has gone some improvements since this book was written but the general idea is the same. This is book is an excellent book to start writing your own plug-ins for MAX. It’s too bad that it’s the only book out there with the SDK. I hope this author comes out with some more of these books.

GREAT MAX BOOK..

I THINK THIS IS THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR ANYONE WANTING TO GET EVERYTHING THEY CAN FROM THE LATEST VERSION OF MAX. I LOVED THE PRACTICE FILES IN THE CD ALSO..

Not for the faint-hearted casual user of MAX

Aimed at advanced users who need complete control over 3D Studio MAX, this manual teaches the black art of MAXScript writing. The last third of the book also covers the Software Developers Kit (SDK), which enables you to design your own plug-ins.

If you have no programming experience then Mastering MAXScript was designed for you. Through over 11 chapters, which begin with a basic overview and conclude with a look at MAXScript extensions, you’ll be able to gain unprecented control over MAX R3 and its previous versions.

On the other hand, if you want to make the most out of the SDK you’ll need knowledge of C++ (MAX’ native language) and Win32 programming. Not for the fain-hearted.

The only book on programming 3DStudio Max

First of all, there isn’t really anything else on the market, so if you have to write a 3DStudio plugin this is it. On the otherhand the coding examples are only average. As in learn to code somewhere else, and just use the API exposed in this book to do the plugin. Don’t have global varibles everywhere. Use standard library containers, don’t write your own.

Good Info, but poorly written.

This book has some good info on MaxScript writing and is definately a better learning resource than 3DSMax’s on-line reference. However, the book’s effectiveness is marred somewhat by sloppy execution.

I’ve found numerous syntax errors and ambiguous line breaks while working through the lessons (i.e. code that must be on one line is listed as two lines without any sort of continuation mark shown. Extra commas when there should be none, etc.). And while most of these problems can be worked through by referencing the Maxscript help file, it forces the reader play detective when the code they’ve copied verbatim from the book generates unexpected errors.

In addition, the text is far too reliant on the (often poorly formatted and uncommented) files contained in the attached CD-ROM. Too often, the reader is forced to open a file to see the syntax referenced in the lesson because it’s not fully explained in the book itself. This can be highly annoying if you’re reading at multiple locations (work, home) and have forgotten to take the CD with you.