MAXScript Tools and Interaction with 3ds Max > Interacting with the 3ds Max User Interface > 3ds Max Commands >

# MAX Commands

MAXScript allows you to invoke 3ds Max menu and toolbar commands from within scripts using the max construct.

The general syntax for max commands is:

    max <command_name>

EXAMPLE:
    max file open
    max unhide all
    max hold
    max time play

The keyword max is followed by one or more words that describe the command. The available commands can be displayed using the '?' character in a partial max command:

    max time ? -- show all the time-related commands
    max sel ? -- show all the commands with 'sel' in them as a substring
    max ? -- show all the commands (there are a lot!)

The max command always returns the system value ok .

NoteThe max spacebar max command appears to do nothing when invoked from the Listener window, because the spacebar command is window-specific and only locks selections in the active window. Because it is the Listener window that is active, 3ds Max effectively ignores this command.

3ds Max Command Name | Command description
--- | ---
    max ?
| Displays all max commands in the Listener
    max accel pan
| Activates viewport Pan mode
    max acthomegrid
    max activate home grid
| Makes home grid the active grid
    max activate grid object
| Makes selected grid the active grid
    max adaptive persp grid
    max adaptive perspective grid toggle
| Changes look of grid in non-orthographic viewports.
    max align
| Activates Align mode
    max align normals
    max alignnormals
| Activates Align Normals mode
    max align camera
| Places you in Align Camera mode
    max angle snap toggle
| Toggles Angle Snap toggle
    max apply ik
| Same as clicking Apply IK button in Hierarchy/IK panel
    max array
| Displays Array dialog
    max backface
    max backface cull toggle
| Toggles Backface Cull for selected objects
    max background
    max background display toggle
| Displays Viewport Background dialog
    max bind space warp mode
    max bindwsm
| Activates Bind to Space Warp mode
    max box mode
    max box mode selected
| Toggles Display as Box for selected objects
    max box mode toggle
    max box toggle
| Toggles active viewport’s shading mode to/from Bounding Box
    max configure paths
| Displays Configure Paths dialog
    max create mode
| Sets Create command mode active
    max customize UI
| Displays Customize User Interface dialog
    max cycle select
| Cycles through Selection Region types - Rectangular, Circular, Fence
    max cycle sublevel
    max cycle subobject level
| Cycles through sub-object levels. Must be in Modify panel with Sub-Object active.
    max default lighting toggle
    max def lgt toggle
| Toggles between default viewport lights and scene lights for viewport rendering
    max delete
| Deletes selected objects or sub-objects
    max display floater
| Displays Display Floater dialog
    max display mode
| Sets Display command mode active
    max dolly
    max dolly mode
| Activates Zoom/Dolly mode
    max drawingaids
    max drawing aids
| Displays Grid and Snap Setting dialog
    max fetch
| Activates Edit/Fetch - displays About to Fetch dialog
    max file archive
| Activates File/Archive - performs a scene file archive operation
    max file export selected
| Activates File/Export Selected - displays Select File to Export dialog
    max file import
| Activates File/Import - displays Select File to Import dialog
    max file insert tracks
| Activates File/Merge - displays Merge Animation dialog
    max file merge
| Activates File/Merge - displays Merge File dialog
    max file new
| Activates File/New
    max file open
| Activates File/Open - displays Open File dialog
    max file preferences
| Activates Customize/Preferences - displays Preference Settings dialog
    max file preferences gamma
| Activates Customize/Preferences - displays the Gamma tab of the Preference Settings dialog. Available since 3ds Max 2010.
    max file replace
| Activates File/Replace - displays Replace File dialog
    max file save
| Activates File/Save
    max file saveas
| Activates File/Save As - displays Save File As dialog
    max file xref object
| Activates File/XRef Objects - displays XRef Objects dialog
    max file xref scene
| Activates File/XRef Scenes - displays XRef Scenes dialog
    max fov
| Activates Region Zoom/FOV/Falloff mode
    max freeze inv
| Freezes non-selected objects. Same as clicking Freeze Unselected in Display panel.
    max freeze selection
| Freezes selected objects. Same as clicking Freeze Selected in Display panel.
    max fullinteract
| No operation
    max grid nudge down
| Nudges active grid down
    max grid nudge up
| Nudges active grid up
    max grid toggle
| Toggles display of active grid in active viewport
    max grids align
| Aligns active grid to active viewport
    max group attach
| Enters Attach Object to Group mode - user clicks on group to attach selected objects to the group
    max group close
| Closes active group
    max group detach
| Detaches selected objects from group
    max group group
| Groups selected objects - displays Group dialog
    max group open
| Opens selected group
    max group ungroup
| Ungroups objects in selected group
    max help about
| Activates Help/About - displays the About 3ds Max dialog
    max hide camera toggle
| Toggles Camera in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.
    max hide command panel toggle
| Toggles display of command panel
    max hide floating toolbars toggle
| Toggles display of floating toolbars
    max hide helper toggle
| Toggles Helpers in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.
    max hide inv
| Hides un-selected objects. Same as clicking Hide Unselected in Display panel.
    max hide light toggle
| Toggles Lights in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.
    max hide main toolbar toggle
| Toggles display of main toolbar
    max hide object toggle
| Toggles Geometry in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.
    max hide tab panel toggle
| Toggles display of Tab Panel
    max hide selection
| Hides selected objects. Same as clicking Hide Selected in Display panel.
    max hide shape toggle
| Toggles Shapes in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.
    max hide system toggle
| Toggles Particle Systems in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.
    max hide wsm toggle
| Toggles Space Warps in Hide by Category rollout in Display panel.
    max hierarchy mode
| Sets Hierarchy command mode active
    max hold
| Activates Edit/Hold
    max ik terminator
| Toggles Terminator in Hierarchy/IK, Object Parameters rollout
    max ipan
| Interactive Pan - places center of active viewport at current mouse location
    max izoom in
| Interactive Zoom In - zooms in active viewport at current mouse location
    max izoom out
| Interactive Zoom Out - zooms out active viewport at current mouse location
    max key mode
| Toggles Key Mode Toggle
    max link
| Activates Link mode
    max load custom UI
| Activates Customize/Load Custom UI - displays Load UI File dialog
    max lock UI layout
| Toggles locking of the UI layout
    max material browser
| Displays the Material/Map Browser dialog
    max mirror
| Activates Mirror mode - displays Mirror dialog
    max modify mode
| Sets Modify command mode active
    max motion mode
| Sets Motion command mode active
    max move
| Activates Select and Move mode
    max mtledit
| Activates Tools/Material Editor - displays Material Editor dialog
    max next mod
| Moves up one level in modifier stack
    max override
| Toggles Degradation Override. Executing this command works on the active window only, so if executed from Listener does nothing.
    max pancamera
| Activates Arc Rotate/Orbit mode
    max panview
| Activates Pan/Truck mode
    max persp
| Activates Zoom All/Perspective/Hotspot mode
    max prev mod
| Moves down one level in modifier stack
    max preview
| Activates Rendering/Make Preview - displays Make Preview dialog
    max properties
| Displays Object Properties dialog
    max quick render
| Performs Quick Render
    max redo
| Performs Redo operation
    max renamepreview
| Activates Rendering/Rename Preview - displays Save Preview As dialog
    max render last
| Performs Render Last
    max render scene
| Activate Render Scene - displays Render Scene dialog
    max reset file
| Activates File/Reset
    max revert custom UI
| Activates Customize/Revert to Startup UI - displays confirmation dialog
    max rns
| Activates Edit/Edit Named Selections - displays Edit Named Selection dialog
    max roll
| Activates Roll mode - active viewport must camera or light viewport
    max rotate
| Activates Select and Rotate mode
    max rotateview
| Activates Arc Rotate/Orbit mode
    max save custom UI as
| Activates Customize/Save Custom UI As - displays Save UI File as dialog
    max safeframe toggle
| Toggles viewport Show Safe Frames
    max saveplus
| Saves to the current file name with incrementing number, or if the scene is Untitled, opens the Save As dialog.
    max scale
| Activates Select and Scale mode
    max scale cycle
| Cycles through Scale modes - Scale, Non-Uniform Scale, Squash
    max select
| Activates Select mode
    max select all
| Activates Edit/Select All - selects all objects
    max select by color
| Activates Edit/Select by Color - user then picks object, all objects with same wireframe color selected
    max select child
| Selects all 1 st level children of currently selected objects
    max select invert
| Activates Edit/Select Invert
    max select none
| Activates Edit/Select None
    max select parent
| Selects parents of currently selected objects
    max selection floater
| Displays Selection Floater dialog
    max set key all position
| Set position keys
    max set key all postion rotation and scale
| Set position, rotation, and scale keys
    max set key all rotation
| Set rotation keys
    max set key all scale
| Set scale keys
    max set key all x postion
| Set key on X track of position XYZ controllers
    max set key all x rotation
| Set key on X track of rotation XYZ controllers
    max set key all x scale
| Set key on X track of scale XYZ controllers
    max set key all y postion
| Set key on Y track of position XYZ controllers
    max set key all y rotation
| Set key on Y track of rotation XYZ controllers
    max set key all y scale
| Set key on Y track of scale XYZ controllers
    max set key all z postion
| Set key on Z track of position XYZ controllers
    max set key all z rotation
| Set key on Z track of rotation XYZ controllers
    max set key all z scale
| Set key on Z track of scale XYZ controllers
    max set key clear
| Clear pending changes
    max set key customattributes filter
| Toggle Custom Attributes filter in the Key Filters window
    max set key ikparams filter
| Toggle IK Parameters filter in the Key Filters window
    max set key keys
| Set Keys for all filtered keyable tracks
    max set key materials filter
| Toggle Materials filter in the Key Filters window
    max set key mode
| Toggle the Set Key mode
    max set key modifiers filter
| Toggle Modifiers filter in the Key Filters window
    max set key objectparams filter
| Toggle the Object Parameters filter in the Key Filters window
    max set key on selected
| Same as hitting Set Keys but always on selected nodes (ignores Character dropdown setting)
    max set key position filter
| Toggle the Position filter in the Key Filters window
    max set key rotation filter
| Toggle the Rotation filter in the Key Filters window
    max set key scale filter
| Toggle the Scale filter in the Key Filters window
    max shade selected
| Toggles Views/Shade Selected
    max show last img
| Displays last rendered image
    max showaxisicon
| Toggles Views/Show Transform Gizmo
    max showhomegrid
| Toggles display of home grid
    max show vfb
| Shows the Rendered Image Window (also known as Virtual Frame Buffer) if it is not open. Available in 3ds Max 2011 and higher.
    max snap toggle
| Toggles Snap Toggle
    max spacebar
| Toggles Lock Selection Set.Executing this command works on the active window only, so if executed from Listener does nothing.
    max spacing tool
| Displays Spacing Tool dialog
    max spinsnap toggle
| Toggles Spinner Snap Toggle
    max subobject sel
| Toggles Sub-Object button in Modify panel
    max swap layouts
| No operation - no A/B layout any more
    max texture correct
| Toggles viewport Texture Correction
    max time back
| Sets time slider to previous frame or keyframe (Previous Frame/Previous Key)
    max time config
| Displays Time Configuration dialog
    max time end
| Sets time slider to end frame (Go to End)
    max time forward
| Sets time slider to next frame or keyframe (Next Frame/Next Key)
    max time play
| Plays animation
    max time start
| Sets time slider to start frame (Go to Start)
    max toggle key mode
| No operation
    max toggle keyboard shortcuts
| Toggles Plug-in Keyboard Shortcut Toggle
    max toggle ik
| Toggles IK Toggle
    max toggle sound
| Toggles Active in Audio group of Sound Options dialog
    max tool animmode
| Toggles Animate button
    max tool center
| Cycles through transform centers - Pivot Point, Selection, Transform
    max tool dualplanes
| Toggles state of Use Dual Planes in Preference Settings dialog, Viewports tab.
    max tool hlist
| Activates Select by Name - displays Select Objects dialog
    max tool maximize
| Maximizes/Minimizes active viewport
    max tool x
| Activates Restrict to X
    max tool xy
| Activates Restrict to XY
    max tool y
| Activates Restrict to Y
    max tool z
| Activates Restrict to Z
    max tool zoom
| Activates Zoom/Dolly mode
    max tool zoomall
| Activates Zoom All
    max tool zoomextents
| Activates Zoom Extents
    max tool zoomextents all
| Activates Zoom Extents All
    max tool zoomregion
| Activates Zoom Region/FOV/Falloff mode
    max trajectories
| Toggles trajectory display for selected objects
    max treeview
| Activates Track View/Open Track View - displays Track View dialog
    max truck
| Activates Pan/Truck mode
    max tti
| Activates Tools/Transform Type-In - display Transform Type-In dialog
    max undo
| Performs undo operation
    max unfreeze all
| Unfreezes all objects. Same as clicking Unfreeze All in Display panel.
    max unfreeze by hit
| Activates Unfreeze by Hit mode. Same as clicking Unfreeze by Hit in Display panel.
    max unfreeze by name
| Displays Unfreeze Objects dialog. Same as clicking Unfreeze by Name in Display panel.
    max unhide all
| Unhides all objects. Same as clicking Unhide All in Display panel.
    max unhide by name
| Displays Unhide Objects dialog. Same as clicking Unhide by Name in Display panel.
    max unitsetup
| Activates Customize/Units Setup - displays Units Setup dialog
    max unlink
| Unlinks selected objects from their parents
    max utility mode
| Sets Utility command mode active
    max videopost
| Activates Rendering/Video Post - displays Video Post dialog
    max view file
| Activates File/View File - displays View File dialog
    max view redo
| Performs viewport redo operation
    max viewpreview
| Activates Rendering/View Preview - displays last preview
    max views redraw
| Redraws all viewports
    max views undo
| Performs viewport undo operation
    max vpt back
| Sets active viewport to Back
    max vpt bottom
| Sets active viewport to Bottom
    max vpt camera
| Sets active viewport to Camera. If only 1 camera in scene, or a camera is selected, that camera will be used for the viewport. If there is more than one camera, and no cameras are selected, the Select Camera dialog will be displayed. If there is no camera in the scene, a No Camera in Scene warning is displayed.
    max vpt disable
| Toggles Disabled state of active viewport
    max vpt front
| Sets active viewport to Front
    max vpt grid
| Sets active viewport to Grid
    max vpt iso user
| Sets active viewport to User
    max vpt left
| Sets active viewport to Left
    max vpt persp user
| Sets active viewport to Perspective
    max vpt right
| Sets active viewport to Right
    max vpt shape
| Sets active viewport to Shape
    max vpt spot
| Sets active viewport to Spotlight. If only 1 spotlight/directional light in scene, or a spotlight/directional light is selected, that light will be used for the viewport. If there is more than one spotlight/directional light, and no lights are selected, the Select Light dialog will be displayed. If there is no spotlight/directional light in the scene, a No Light in Scene warning is displayed.
    max vpt tab
| Cycles between Restrict to axes - X, Y, Z, XY
    max vpt top
| Sets active viewport to Top
    max vpt track
| Sets active viewport to Track View
    max vptconfig
| Activates Customize/Viewport Configuration - displays Viewport Configuration dialog
    max wire facet
| Sets active viewport shading mode to Facets + Highlights
    max wire smooth
| Sets active viewport shading mode to Wireframe
    max zoom in 2x
| Zooms in active viewport by 2x
    max zoom in 2x all
| Zooms in all viewports by 2x
    max zoom out 2x
| Zooms out active viewport by 2x
    max zoom out 2x all
| Zooms out all viewports by 2x
    max zoomext sel
| Activates Zoom Extents Selected
    max zoomext sel all
| Activates Zoom Extents All Selected