Replacing multiple objects with variations from preassigned array of objects.

[musasyV6ABS]

Hi there, people of 3dsMax!

Here is my question - is there a native way i'm not aware of, or, maybe, script or plugin with similar functionality, that allows you to replace selected objects with random objects from the list you assigned beforehand?

For example: i have, say, 20 variations of wall tile. So what i want is to be able is to pick one (or use placeholder with appropriately placed pivot), copy, paste and move it all over to build a huge tiling wall, and after that select it and push a button, that will make all those placeholders being replaced with random variation object I've mentioned in the beginning (at each pivot of initial object random one from the objects variation list being spawned and initial object being deleted).

It would be even better, if there is a solution for this with an option to have (or set) rules like "don't pick object from the list to spawn, that being picked just before that (or in ideal world - check proximity for instances of same variation to check if it's valid to spawn - since i'm using hard tile step i guess it's achievable).

Sorry in case i failed to make things clear, since English is not my first language. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[darawork]

This will work for materials, but not objects (but with displacement on your materials it could achieve the result you are after):

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2015/ENU/3DSMa...

Another 'random scatter' type solution (?):

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2017/ENU/3DSMa...

This also looks interesting: http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/cando

Paid script: https://www.cg-source.com/floorgenerator.php

There is another one, that used to work for randomised roof tiles.... something like this: 

https://www.ronenbekerman.com/using-floor-generator-script-by-bertrand-benoit/ or this: http://www.vizpark.com/shop/walls-and-tiles/

[musasyV6ABS]

Many thanks, will definitely check all these out)

[sam_large · Accepted solution]

Railclone by iToo software is pretty good for doing wall tiles and their tutorials are great.

In terms of your request of replacing objects with random ones I would check out using a combination of these two:

Pick random objects from selection:

http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/random-select-v1-0

Replace object A with object B

http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/copy-replace

[Fadhil_Farook]

You can try posting this in the ideas forum if it's unique. May be it will be implemented in the next version. Just saying.

[musasyV6ABS]

Thanks. First one is already in use, second one seems promising) Guess, joining codes of these two with slight tweaks might be exactly what i want!

Hey, may be you happen to know this one - is there an information around about order in which Max operate with selected objects? Is it alphabetical?

[musasyV6ABS]

I might, thanks for suggestion - will do if will not find strict solution in next few days. It's strange though - seems like a pretty generic task for Max used in gamedev, and there is similar functionality, like scatter, already implemented natively.