topic Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter? in 3ds Max Forum

Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

alexJ682T — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 05:02:27 GMT

This is very confusing - for boxes and square objects you have dimensions, but for round objects, such as cylinders or circles or tubes you have to specify radius, not diameter. So this is very inconvenient, and often causes a lot of errors. So maybe there is a system setting that will change radius to diameter when you entering object properties or drawing it? So when I go to cylinder, there will be no radius, but diameter instead?

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

RobH2 — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 14:56:26 GMT

I don't know if there is an easy user setting to change that functionality. There might be a line of code that could be changed in a configuration file behind the scenes somewhere but I don't know if it.

But, here's a post that might give you a good workaround. Further searches of this forum and Google may in fact bring up some other options: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/3ds-max-modeling/any-way-to-change-cylinder-radius-parameter-to-diameter/td-p/11989140

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

RobH2 — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 18:21:16 GMT

I just did something that might help you if you don't know about it. I was making a circle and going to put the radius in and thought of your post. I have the diameter for my object, so now I have to do the math to get the radius. Maybe that's why you posted, it's not handy to have to stop and do the math if it's not a simple number you can divide in your head.

If you didn't know, in a lot of the size fields for Max's creation paramenters, 'Shapes' parameter fields, the Poly Edit modifier and other places, the field will do the math for you. For instance, I know I have a dimension on a schematic of 29.4mm as the diameter of the part I need to build. So all I have to do is put '29.4/2' in the 'Radius' parameter of the Circle object I'm drawing and '14.7' pops up and my circle is the right size. It's pretty handy, not as much as changing it the way you want, but it still helps.

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

alexJ682T — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 18:54:43 GMT

The issue is not math - I'm using a lot of other vector design software and none of them uses "radius", so it is simply inconvenient. But as I can guess from experience with other software packages - no one going to listen to users and make any changes 😄

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

RobH2 — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 19:23:12 GMT

I wouldn't rush to that judgement so fast. If you post it on the 'Ideas' forum, that gets voted on and and it is taken into consideration. I've seen things on there over the years that showed up as a change in Max.

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

darawork — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 20:52:35 GMT

Nice tip Rob,

I know you can invoke a 'transparent' calc function in Autocad:
https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Use-equation-for-second-or-next-point-of-line.html

Sounds like it might work here too. I was too busy to check earlier in 3DSMax.
But it's basically steming off the same code. Cad made Max IMHO.

There's probably a line of code in an INI somewhere, User Entry Divisors or something.
Could even be tied into mouse wheel rotations.

I'll look somemore, when I'm less busy.
Good tip though.

Regards,

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

darawork — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 20:03:43 GMT

"The issue is not math",

It most certainly is.
It's all just 1's and 0's at the end of the day.

Regards,

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

RobH2 — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 20:39:57 GMT

Yea, there is probably some config file somewhere, if you knew where, that it could be modified. 🙂

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

darawork — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 21:06:47 GMT

Transparent calc functions work, as you've shown above. So it is simply a matter of brain adaptation, that is, until the next 'Glorious Update' from our Leaders. That said, 3DSMax could also do with Leader Dimension lines, and true Orthogonal Drafting Tools. We're not all sculpting the next James Cameron Movie, or trying to draw the perfect Radial Array with flower petals.

Miauu should be taken into the 3DSMax Dev Team, on a permanent basis:
https://miauu-maxscript.com/portfolio-item/polyline-pro/

Regards,

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

RobH2 — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 21:39:00 GMT

Wait, are you saying 'Transparent Calc' works in Max? I can't stop to test.

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

darawork — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 21:42:48 GMT

Not sure myself, but will certainly test too, when I get a chance. Your
expression worked above afaict.

Regards,

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

alexJ682T — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 06:54:36 GMT

And for the bug fixes.

I'm using 3DS Max since Version 2.0 (For windows 95).

Now we have 2023, but still, boolean/proboolean can crash app and ruin your unsaved data.

Imagine that, say, Excel crashing unexpectedly when you type in some formulas. How long will MS succeed with that? 😄

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

wernienst — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 07:02:51 GMT

CTRL+N is the magic shortkey in Max. Click into a numeric field, then CTRL+N: the Numerical Expression Evaluator pops up. Do your calculations, then click Paste.

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

darawork — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 08:27:10 GMT

No way haha. I've been using 3DSMax for decades and did not know that. Great tip 🙂

https://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-B8CBF0C7-B901-4A87-8D20-778BBE12BEA6

Regards,

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

RobH2 — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 13:32:56 GMT

@wernienst Hmmm, I didn't know about that either. Ctrl+N gives me 'New Scene' but I'll find it. I've been using Max since before it was Max and was 3D Studio and didn't know that one either. Nice, I'll go find it.....!

Re: Is it possible to switch default dimensions from radius to diameter?

RobH2 — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 13:37:15 GMT

Most of the time a boolean crashes because there are errors in your mesh components. If you repair them first you'll get less crashes. Max 2024 has new boolean improvements. It's more crash tolerant and will even boolean meshes that aren't manifold. It's really been improved.

But if you've been using Max that long, you should know my now you never boolean anything without saving first. If you do that, you'll lose a little time but now your model. The Excel comparison is unfair. Excel does one thing, calculate. Max does 100s of 1000s of things. Keeping it running error free for the developers must be a nightmare compared to Excel.