Boolean Controller

Main toolbar > Curve Editor (Open) > Select a track containing a float value in the Track View hierarchy > Track View toolbar > Controller menu > Assign > Boolean Controller

Graph Editors > Track View – Dope Sheet > Select a track containing a float value in the Track View hierarchy > Track View toolbar > Controller menu > Assign > Boolean Controller

The Boolean Controller is a variation on the On/Off controller. It was designed primarily to control the Enabled state in the History Independent (HI) IK system.

It differs from the On/Off controller in two ways: first, each key has its own float value, either 1.0 or 0.0, signifying its on or off state. This enhancement leads to the second component that differentiates the Boolean Controller from its On/Off cousin: the ability to lay down sequential keys without inadvertantly changing the on/off state of any keys downstream.

The Boolean Controller can be assigned to any parameter that would normally be controlled by a float or boolean class controller, such as sphere's Hemisphere or Smooth track.

Boolean Controller key values can be changed in on of two ways: through Track View's Dope Sheet editor or through MAXScript.

Note: Although the Boolean Controller displays a function curve in Track View's Curve Editor, it does not display keys. Key time and value must be changed in the Dope Sheet editor.

Procedures

To assign a boolean controller and add keys:

Open Track View's Dope Sheet editor and select any track that would normally be assigned a float or boolean class controller.
Right-click and select Assign Controller. Pick the Boolean Controller from the Assign Controller dialog and click OK
From Track View's main toolbar, select the Add Keys button and click anywhere on the selected track.
New keys with a value of 0.0 are added.

To change boolean controller key values in track view:

Open Track View's Dope Sheet editor and select a track that contains a Boolean Controller.
Select any key and enter 1.0 or 0.0 into the key value field at the bottom of the Track View dialog.

Note: Values greater than 0.0 will automatically be clamped to 1.0

To change boolean controller key values via MAXScript:

Enter the following into either the MAXScript listener or mini-listener:<node>.<animatable_property>.keys[<index_integer>].value = <float> where <node> is the object containing the Boolean controlled parameter (i.e., $Sphere01, <animatable_property> is the parameter itself (i.e., Smooth, <index_integer> is the actual sequential number of the key in the key array, and <float> is either 1.0 or 0.0.

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