3D MAX TUTORIALS

  

Tab Panel

In 3ds max, the tab panel is off by default. To display the tab panel, right-click the Main toolbar and select Tab Panel from the pop-up menu.

The tab panel is a row of tabbed toolbars located directly below the menu bar at the top of the 3ds max window. The tabs offer quick access to many of the tools available in the command panel, as well as many of the items found in the menus. Each tab on the tab panel can become a separate floating toolbar that can be resized, or docked at the sides or bottom of the 3ds max interface.

The tabs can display icon buttons or text buttons. You can rearrange the items by holding down the ALT key, then dragging them from one toolbar or tab panel to another. You can also copy items to other tabs or toolbars by holding CTRL when you drag the buttons. You can create new tabs for your own tools, as well as dragging scripts from the Macro Recorder onto the toolbars in the tab panel.

Some tools may be duplicated on several toolbars to enhance productivity and speed workflow. Rendering buttons, for example, are found on the Main toolbar but also on the rendering toolbar for convenience.

Based on your screen size and number of tabs, it is possible to have tabs or buttons extend off the screen apparently out of reach. If you move the cursor over an open area, you will get a hand cursor that allows you to scroll the tabs or the buttons within a tab. In addition, you can click the middle mouse button over any tab or button to get the hand cursor.

See also

Default Tab Panels

Procedures

To switch from one tab to another:

  • Click the tab label and it appears instantly.

To move a tab left or right:

  • Right-click the tab label and select Move Left or Move Right. If you get to the end, the tab will wrap around to the other side. Move Left or Right is used for repositioning the tabs into your own preferred order.

To scroll the tab panel:

  • Press on any tab with the middle mouse button to scroll the tab panel right or left.

To float a toolbar from the tab panel, do one of the following:

  • Press the tab label and drag into the viewport.

  • Right-click the tab label and choose Convert To Toolbar.

To move a toolbar to the tab panel:

  • Right-click the title bar of an existing toolbar and choose Move To Tab Panel. This moves the toolbar to a tabbed slot in the tab panel and removes it from its previous location (either floating or docked).

To create a new tab:

  1. Right-click a tab label and choose Add Tab.

  2. In the Add Tab dialog, enter the name of the new tab, and click OK.

To move a button to a different position on a tab:

  • Hold down ALT and drag the button to where you want it.

To copy a button to a different tab or toolbar:

  • Hold down CTRL and drag the button to where you want it copied.

To move a button from one tab to another:

  1. Float the toolbar containing the button.

  2. Click the label of the tab where you want the button to go.

  3. Hold down the ALT key and drag the button from the floating toolbar to the displayed tab.

You can also create and drag icon or text buttons from the Customize User Interface dialog directly to any open tab in the tab panel.

To hide and unhide the tab panel:

  1. Customize Menu > Show UI > Show Tab Panel.

  2. Press Y to toggle the display of the tab panel. Use this in Expert Mode to gain access to your tools.

To hide and unhide individual tabs:

  1. Float the tab, and then close it by clicking the X button at the upper-right corner of the toolbar.

  2. To unhide it, right-click in the blank area in the upper-right of the tab panel. A history list of all toolbars appears: those displayed are preceded by a check mark; those that are hidden have no check mark. Click the ones you need to retrieve.

Interface

The tab panel includes the following toolbars. Right-click any tab label to display the Tab Right-Click menu.

Objects—Contains buttons for Standard and Extended Primitives, and Patch Grids.

Shapes—Contains buttons for Shapes and NURBS curves.

Compounds—Contains buttons for all Compound Objects.

Lights & Cameras—Contains buttons for Lights and light related scripts, as well as Cameras.

Particles—Contains buttons for particle systems and space warps that affect particle systems.

Helpers—Contains buttons for standard helpers, atmospheric gizmos, and camera match helpers.

Space Warps—Contains buttons for many space warps.

Modifiers—Contains buttons for many modifiers.

Modeling—Contains buttons for tools for modeling.

Rendering—Contains buttons for rendering related features.

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