9

MAX File Finder Utility 511
Theutilitycomesintwoformats:astandard
utility, and a standalone executable. Both work
identically.
File Finder demonstrates how to read a MAX file ’s
properties from an external application. These
properties include predetermined data such as
object and plug-in names, plus information you
provideviatheFilemenu>Propertiesdialog.You
can also v iew this data from outside the software
with Windows Explorer or an equivalent program
by viewing a file’s properties.
Tip: You can combine this tool with the powers
of the Properties dialogs. If you have a team of
animators, you can have the indiv idual animators
use the File menu > Properties dialog to create
Categories, Keywords and Comments that you can
search for using the File Finder. They can also use
the Contents and Custom Tabs as well. All are
searchable using the Finder.
You can also create similar structures at the Object
level. The Object Properties dialog (page 1–117)
has a User Defined tab to enter any proper ties you
like,andusethattoorganizeyourprojects.
Inter face
File men u
Reset—Clears the list box of any files previously
found.
Exit—Exits the application
Help me nu
About—Displays something fun to play with whi le
Finder is searching for files. The search continues
in the background while this dialog is active.
Program window
Search Text—Specifies the text to search for. If
you leave the field empty, all files that contain the
specified property will be found.
File Spec—Specifieswhichfiletypestosearch
through.Thepredefinedfiletypeis*.max.You
can enter a different file type, such as *.dwg.To
search through all files, use *.*.
The currently selected item in this list is restored
the next time you run Finder.
Proper t y —Specifies the property you want to
search for. Use All to search for any property.
Start—Activates the search. During a search, the
button title switches to C ancel. Click Cancel to
abort the search.
Browse—Specifies the directory for the search,
using the standard Windows Browse for Folder
dialog.
Include Subfolders—When on, Finder searches the
current directory and all subdirectories. When off,
only the current directory is searched.
File List—Listsallfilesthatwerefoundandmatch
the current search criteria.
Double-click a found file in this list to display
the property viewer for the file. The information
presentedinthisdialogisthesamethatisdisplayed
with File menu > Properties inside the software.