Page 714 - Kitab3DsMax

Part VI: Advanced Modeling
For linking nodes, the Connect button works the same way here as it does on the main toolbar—selecting
the child node and dragging a line from the child node to its parent. You can even select multiple nodes
and link them all at once.
The Edit ➪ Unlink Selected menu command (and toolbar button) destroys the link between any object and
its immediate parent. Remember that every child object can have only one parent.
Copying modifiers and materials between nodes
Before you can copy materials or modifiers between nodes, you need to make sure that they are visible.
Material nodes and modifier nodes show up only if they are enabled in the Display floater. You can access
this floater by clicking the Display floater button (or by pressing the D key).
To copy a material or modifier, select the material node for one object, click the Connect (C) button, and
drag the material to another object node.
Note
In the Schematic View, materials can be copied only between objects—you cannot apply new materials from the
Material Editor to Schematic View nodes. n
When modifiers are copied between nodes, a dialog box appears, giving you the chance to Copy, Move, or
Instance the modifier. You can also use the Schematic View window to reorder the Modifier Stack. Using
the Connect tool, just drag the modifier node to the modifier node that you want to be beneath and the
stack is reordered.
Cross-Ref
You can learn more about applying modifiers and the Modifier Stack in Chapter 11, “Introducing Modifiers and
Using the Modifier Stack.” n

Assigning controllers and wiring parameters
If controller nodes are visible, you can copy them to another node using the same technique used for mate-
rials and modifiers using the Connect (C) button. You can also assign a controller to an object node that
doesn’t have a controller using the Edit ➪ Assign Controller menu command. This opens the Assign
Controller dialog box, shown in Figure 25.8, where you can select the controller to apply.
Nodes can be wired using the Schematic View window. To wire parameters, just select the node that you
want to wire and select Edit ➪ Wire Parameters. A pop-up menu of wire parameters appears that works the
same as in the viewports. All parameter wiring relationships are shown in magenta.

Cross-Ref
You can learn more about parameter wiring in Chapter 21, “Understanding Animation and Keyframes.” n

Tutorial: Linking a character with the Schematic View
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of the Schematic View is its ability to link objects. This can be tricky in
the viewports because some objects are small and hidden behind other items. The Schematic View with its
nodes that are all the same size makes it easy, but only if the objects are named correctly.

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