Editing Lofts: Situation Gone from Good to Bad to Worst

[pbretzger]

I am a teacher working on a tutorial I wrote for editing lofts using Path Parameters. I create a loft using a rectangle as a shape and select a line to form a square post. To edit the post, under "Path Parameters" I set the "Path" to 20 (%). I used to click on the "Get Shape" icon (in "Path Parameters") and select a square. I would then set the "Path" to 20.5 and click on "Get Shape" and select a circle to begin substantially changing the shape of my loft.

But recently, I started failing to be able to select a shape. I could highlight the "Get Shape" icon but then could not select a shape. The arrow cursor would not change. This is the first kind of failure I began to experience.

Now, after I create the loft, then set the "Path" under "Path Parameters" to 20, the "Get Shape" icon remains grayed out. In other words, I am getting farther away from the success I used to have editing lofts and teaching students how to do it.

I would appreciate suggestions.

[Anonymous]

What 3dsmax version are you using? Loft->Pick Shape is definitely broken under 2018.3. You can highlight the button, but it doesn`t put you into selection mode.

Please report:

http://download.autodesk.com/us/support/report_a_bug.html?SelProduct=3dsMax

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @pbretzger and @Anonymous,

Hmmm... working fine on my end.  2018.3.   I'm on Win7 with my laptop, which OS are you both using?  I don't have anything logged for this and I'd like as much info as possible.  Are you able to pick objects in my attached scene?

Best Regards,

[pbretzger]

Mr. DeFlaminis,
Thank you for your effort. I have 3ds Max 2017 Student Version on Windows 10 Home on a Dell Inspiron. I will need to check tomorrow (Wednesday) when I get to school to give you the specs of that machine.
When I tried to open your file I got the error message attached herein.
Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Alfred for looking into this. I have made a screencast to demonstrate what i am seeing on my end.

It`s like after the button pressed, you are not really in 'Selection-Mode'. Because i can`t pick from SceneExplorer or Select-by-Name either.

Interesting that it works on your side. I also tried this with wiped user settings.Perhaps a plugin interfering? I have only ForestPack Pro installed.

http://autode.sk/2xJcWAa

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @pbretzger and @Anonymous,

Thanks for the info.  Aon are you on W10 Home as well?  This may be a result of the Fall Creator's Update, do you both have that installed?  @pbretzger I don't see an error message, would you please repost it?  

I do have Forest Pack Lite installed, but my gut tells me this isn't related to plugins.  I can't be sure though, do you use FP @pbretzger?  I do think this is possibly related to the Creator's update.  I'm going to test on my end over the next 24 hours and log it afterwards. 

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Hello Alfred,

i am on Win10 Pro Version:1703, so i guess no Fall-Creators-Update yet installed.

Graphics Card is GTX970, Driver Version 388.13.

[Anonymous]

Hmm, ok Alfred this is really embarrassing for me but i was using Loft the wrong way. Classical user errror, so to speak.

I was trying to use Path Parameters->Pick Shape and wrongly assumed it would add additional shapes to the loft. 

Instead i had to use Creation Mode->Pick shape for adding shapes. Guess that`s @pbretzger was doing too.

Really,sorry for wasting your time.

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

You don't need to apologize to me @Anonymous, I missed it in the video myself.  Thank you for the update!  My opinion is any discussion that is fruitful is not a waste of time and it is my pleasure to be of assistance.  I need to remind myself sometimes that not everything *is* a technical issue and some are just about usability.  So I shall sit beside you in the penalty box.  🙂 

@pbretzger, is it possible this is what was happening for you as well?

Best Regards,

[pbretzger]

Thanks again for your considerate assistance, Mr. Flaminis. But I do not think that is my problem. I have attached the beginning of the tutorial which I originally wrote years ago, and never had problems with it until now.

Sincerely,

Paul E. Bretzger

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @pbretzger,

I see, thanks for the update.  Would you be willing to record a screencast of this for me, please?  I need to see the process I suppose to look for clues.  Were you able to select them in my attached scene?  

I cannot repro on this end, so my first suggestion is to reset your user settings.  Do you use multiple monitors?  Is Max on monitor 1?  Thanks for the info.

EDIT Grammar.  

Best Regards,

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @pbretzger,

I just wanted to follow up here, any thoughts on my previous post? Thanks for the update!

Best Regards,

[pbretzger]

Mr. DeFlaminis,

Sorry about the delay--been really busy. That means I've also not been doing much about that particular 3ds Max problem I have.

I can't open the file you generously sent. I skipped over the lofting topic for my class; and I suppose I am moving on and will meet the same problem next year.

Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,

PeB

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Understood @pbretzger.  I thought I saved it out as 2017, sorry about that.  I have a new file here for 2017.  I realize you are busy and cannot continue with it, but I think perhaps your installation has gone bad or possibly your Windows User Profile.  I've tested on about 10 machines, no problems so the issue must be with the OS or installation.  Thanks for the update and wish you the best.

Best Regards,

[PROH]

Hi pbretzger. I tried to follow your instructions (pdf's) in 3dsMax 2014 and 3dsMax 2018 without any problems at all. On two different manchineel, both on Windows 10.

There was particularly one thing I wanted to test: In the pdf you tell to pick the line first and the make it to a loft and then pick a shape. But in your first post your description indicates you started by picking a shape, then making it a loft object and then picking a line. I wanted to test this route since I've had problems with it before, but it turned out to work as it should.

So I've got only one suggestion left: Have you tried changing your viewport driver to an older one than the recommended? Sometimes these problems with picking object derives from a incompatible display driver - not unusual on a laptop.

Hope you get it solved 🙂

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Interesting idea @PROH, excellent post.

Best Regards,

[pbretzger]

The viewport driver? Interesting. Thanks again for your efforts.

[pbretzger]

10 machines? You've really put in a lot of effort.
Thanks again,

[PROH]

Nahh.. is was 2 machines on Windows 10 🙂