9.5.2

PLUGINS • 639
12. Plugins
Plugins are auxiliary modules that extend the function range of a program. In CINEMA 4D, plugins
are able, for example, to automate particular functions, to make new tools available (perhaps for
modeling or animation), to add new import and export lters or to add new shaders. For this purpose,
CINEMA 4D includes a powerful programming language, C.O.F.F.E.E., available to both developers
and end-users.
C.O.F.F.E.E. is an object-oriented programming language, closely related to C++ and Java. Full
information and the SDK is available at www.plugincafe.com, where you’ll also nd links to many
plugins.
Plugins can be developed freely by anyone and offered for sale. However,
MAXON, as the manufacturer of CINEMA 4D, has no inuence on the quality
of these plugins and you should assure yourself as to the value-for-money and
usefulness of a plugin before purchase.
We give as much support as possible to all vendors and developers of plugins
— however, if a problem should arise with one of these products, please
contact the manufacturer of the plugin directly. Please understand that
MAXON can give no information on, or provide technical support for, products
from other manufacturers.
As already mentioned, plugins can solve many diverse tasks and therefore, after installation, your new
plugin may appear in different places within the CINEMA 4D menu structure. Please always consult
the vendor’s documentation that was supplied with your plugin. If there is no special information to
be found in the documentation, a plugin will usually be found on the Plugins menu.
You cannot add new plugins while CINEMA 4D is running, Instead, quit
CINEMA 4D rst, then install the plugins. When you next start CINEMA 4D,
the plugins will load automatically.
Execute Last Plugin
This command gives you a quick way to call the last plugin used, especially if you assign a shortcut to
this command using the Command manager.
ASCII Animation Import
This plugin allows you to load ASCII-format CSV les (‘comma-separated values’) containing animation
data. The plugin can also load TXT and ASC les.
Values in the CSV le are separated in some way such as by commas. For example, a typical CSV le
could look as follows: