loading a global variable first

[mark_aldred]

I have a bunch of objects with FloatScript controllers. One of the scripts contains a global variable that the others reference. When I open the file, it looks like two of the objects are loaded before the one containing the variable, so I get two errors.

1. How do I ensure the global variable is loaded first?

2. I'd like access to the global variable in the UI so I can change it regularly. What's the best way to do this and still have it load first?

[MartinBeh]

What type/value does the global variable hold?

The best would probably be to use a custom attribute (attached to the screen root; or attached to some helper object in your scene) to hold your global value. That way, the value always is available, is saved/loaded with the scene, and your GUI could also find it. Unfortunately, CAs are a bit more cumbersome to use in MAXScript.

One could also use a Custom Scene File Property to hold the value.

An even more hacky way might be to define it in a startup MAXScript file (yourname.ms in the plug-in path)

[mark_aldred]

Thanks. It's just a simple float variable.

In the end I put it in a script controller in a different object, and for some reason that ensured that the variable was loaded first. Maybe because the object is closer to the origin? Object creation order? I don't know. 

[denisT.MaxDoctor]

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@mark_aldred wrote:

...

1. How do I ensure the global variable is loaded first?

2. I'd like access to the global variable in the UI so I can change it regularly. What's the best way to do this and still have it load first?

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1. Global variable is a bad solution to use with script controllers.
2. Using a CA is also not a good solution if this CA is not an element of your framework (part of your plugins and tools)

One solution might be to use a constant added to the script controller. But I need a little more information about the role of this #global in order to offer a better solution.

[denisT.MaxDoctor]

One way or another, any use of an #external to the controller (not defined with the controller) variable in the script controller is linked with the problem of data loading order. If such a use is necessary (which one might assume), you have to add to the controller script a check for the existence and a correct definition of such a variable ...