Thanks guys!

I've just uploaded a new update, which fixes a pretty serious issue when using the "convert object to" functionality after having had the Outliner open.
So please update to 2.0.6. You can get it by using the "Check now" button in the options dialog, or alternatively, download it directly.

Thanks for the update, that fixed some issues I was having. One I'm still consistently getting (and sending error reports for), is when I attach or detach objects from others, Outliner crashes.

Yeah I'll see what's going on there and fix it asap.

I've uploaded version 2.0.7, fixing a number of bugs and adding one new feature. As usual, get the update using the "Check now" button in the Options dialog, or download it directly.

Outliner version 2.0.7
* Fixed "attach node" crash.
* Fixed "freeze node" crash after Outliner has been opened more than once.
* Fixed "open context menu" crash for some materials.
* Fixed bug where empty group head isn't deleted after drag&drop ungrouping.
* Added optional Box Mode node button.
* note: there are some issues with the scrollbars and the label edit position when the node buttons are set to be aligned with the Outliner window, this issue is being worked on.

Pjanssen, marvelous tool! I've use it for quite some time now.
Is there a possible chance to add some sort of "clear all empty layers" function?
Merging scenes in 3dsmax also merges empty layers and it is very annoying when
your layer manager is clustered with unused layers.

Originally Posted by CodeFather

Is there a possible chance to add some sort of "clear all empty layers" function?
Merging scenes in 3dsmax also merges empty layers and it is very annoying when your layer manager is clustered with unused layers.

The "Outliner Workflow Tools" contains a macroscript that does this.
You'll get them after making a donation.

Ok, that sounds great.

The more I use the script the more I love it. I was thinking how wonderful would it be if there is an option to color code layers or objects (similar to Photoshop).

Hi Pier,

Sent you two mail but never get any answer maybe you didn't received it. or maybe you found them not intresting.

Thanks for this awesome tool.

Here is my report/wishlist to still improve this cool tool

-When you got like me about 50 layers per scene we need A bouton to add the selected object to selected layer --> RightClick --> AddSelectionToCurrentLayer (Like the "+" button into the Autodesk layer editor).

-A button that allow to expand all the layer hierarchy and to close all the layers hierarchy.

And something absolutely needed :

-A possibility to define a color per layer and all his content. Actually we dont know what is inside the layer or not without being very concentreted. When you got tons of layers you're lost :

Here is a mock up :



Another things is confusing me :

-The button that toggle the visibility of a layer or an object (the little light) is showing what will arrive if you click on it. This is not the good way i think and i know that the error is inside autodesk side. I think that if you whant to show a layer or an object the little light must be on.
And off when you don't want to see this object but actually it's the contrary. (Photoshop did it well as well as the stack visibilty mode of 3dmax why do autodesk changed it for the layer editor)

-is that possible to put object's name and icons (visibility, freeze, etc) into collums (actually icon are placed after the object name so the position is depending of the name's size --> They are not alligned) ? That will be make the things more easy to read. Exemple : If all the visibility icon are into a collum you can see easyier wich object is visible or not.

Cant working in Max without this, fivem million thumbs up

Cathodeus, check out the Node Buttons Location in the options menu to solve the issue you're having with keeping the icons aligned.

Thanks Solar for the column tips didn't noticed it.

Need now the "Add selected object to highlighted layer button" and i'll replace my Autodesk layer editor. (A "+" Icon behind Hide/Unhide, Freeze/Unfreeze, BoxView).

Havnt used this in a while, but seeing as the threads been bumped figured I'll asked: does it work with reset xform now? Last time I installed it resetting xform would take down all of max, whether the plugin was open or not, had to get rid of it for this reason.

Originally Posted by Cathodeus

Hi Pier,
Sent you two mail but never get any answer maybe you didn't received it. or maybe you found them not intresting.

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I haven't had much time to spend on the Outliner in the past month due to other activities.

When you got like me about 50 layers per scene we need A bouton to add the selected object to selected layer --> RightClick --> AddSelectionToCurrentLayer (Like the "+" button into the Autodesk layer editor).

I can understand why you'd want this feature, however it is not as easy to implement as it sounds. Since the rightclick action selects the node clicked on (object or layer), you'll loose your previous selection. And contrary to the default layer manager, this action propagates to max's object selection immediately.
I'll think about a way of solving this, but it might not come very soon...

-A button that allow to expand all the layer hierarchy and to close all the layers hierarchy.

That should be easy; a good one for the workflow toolset I reckon.

A possibility to define a color per layer and all his content. Actually we dont know what is inside the layer or not without being very concentreted. When you got tons of layers you're lost :

I like the idea, and it should not be too difficult to implement. Thinking about it: should it be a 'new' color tag, or should it correspond/modify the already existing layer wirecolor?

The button that toggle the visibility of a layer or an object (the little light) is showing what will arrive if you click on it. This is not the good way i think and i know that the error is inside autodesk side. I think that if you whant to show a layer or an object the little light must be on.
And off when you don't want to see this object but actually it's the contrary. (Photoshop did it well as well as the stack visibilty mode of 3dmax why do autodesk changed it for the layer editor)

Yeah I see how this can be a little confusing. My reasoning with this was: see the button as the 'hidden' state, rather than the 'visible' state. If it's "on", the object is hidden. Maybe the choice of the light for the hidden state was a bit unlucky.
The nice thing about this approach is that it works the same way as the freeze and boxmode button.
I guess it should not be too hard to make an option to switch the button images, but well...

Originally Posted by PolyHertz

Havnt used this in a while, but seeing as the threads been bumped figured I'll asked: does it work with reset xform now? Last time I installed it resetting xform would take down all of max, whether the plugin was open or not, had to get rid of it for this reason.

It could have been caused by a bug which was fixed in version 2.0.7, although it's difficult to be sure. Either way, I've tried using reset xform, both with the Outliner opened and closed, and it works fine. So I'd suggest you try installing 2.0.7 and see if it works now.
My config: Windows xp, 3dsmax 2010 32bit, Outliner 2.0.7

Originally Posted by Cathodeus

-When you got like me about 50 layers per scene we need A bouton to add the selected object to selected layer --> RightClick --> AddSelectionToCurrentLayer (Like the "+" button into the Autodesk layer editor).

Originally Posted by Pjanssen

I can understand why you'd want this feature, however it is not as easy to implement as it sounds. Since the rightclick action selects the node clicked on (object or layer), you'll loose your previous selection. And contrary to the default layer manager, this action propagates to max's object selection immediately.
I'll think about a way of solving this, but it might not come very soon...

And that way is it possible ? (Do not use the right click) :

(A "+" Icon behind Hide/Unhide, Freeze/Unfreeze, BoxView).

Thanks for your answers.

Awesome, I use this every day!
I don't know if that has been already noticed but,
If you delete a layer, and then you cancel the popup. The layer stay, but all layer's objects are deleted!

is there an older version who works with max9?

Probably not.

There was when we worked at Grin over a year ago. Not as many features, but still a million times better than Max's default

Originally Posted by Cathodeus

And that way is it possible ? (Do not use the right click) :

(A "+" Icon behind Hide/Unhide, Freeze/Unfreeze, BoxView).

Thanks for your answers.

Yes that could work. Good idea!

Originally Posted by zOffTy

Awesome, I use this every day!
I don't know if that has been already noticed but,
If you delete a layer, and then you cancel the popup. The layer stay, but all layer's objects are deleted!

I'll check that out! thanks.

Originally Posted by frwanque

is there an older version who works with max9?

The last version that is compatible with max9 was 1.6.1, which you can download here:
http://script.threesixty.nl/outliner/outliner_1_6_1.zip
But as Simon says, it's far inferior to the 2.0.x version, both in features and performance.

no worries Tanks a lot i use version 2 a home but a work you don't always have exactly what you need

Can we get an option to not show hidden objects at all in the out liner?

Originally Posted by dutch

Can we get an option to not show hidden objects at all in the out liner?

You can use the filter to do this. Right-Click the filter icon to configure it, disable the hidden objects checkbutton, and enable the filter.
There's an example of this in the first 25 seconds of the features video: http://vimeo.com/10783899

I'm not sure if you know this or not, but nested folders causes network rendering to crash on server nodes that do not have outliner installed.

Originally Posted by Vig

I'm not sure if you know this or not, but nested folders causes network rendering to crash on server nodes that do not have outliner installed.

Yeah I am aware of this. I'm looking for a way to fix this issue.
You can avoid the problem now by disabling the "outliner not installed message" in the Outliner options.

Originally Posted by Pjanssen

You can use the filter to do this. Right-Click the filter icon to configure it, disable the hidden objects checkbutton, and enable the filter.
There's an example of this in the first 25 seconds of the features video: http://vimeo.com/10783899

Perfect, I hadn't noticed that. Thanks, great tool