Autodesk University is being held November 26th to November 29th at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. While Autodesk University starts officially on November 28th, the Autodesk Developer Network is holding a specialized conference for M&E users. If you are interested in the roadmap for our SDKs and meeting with some of the ADN API gurus then I encourage you to attend!
The following is a select list of classes at the main AU conference which should also be of interest to people who use the scripting API or SDKs of 3ds Max, Maya, and Softimage. For a more complete list of classes regarding M&E products go here.
The first two classes listed are being offered by Cyrille Fauvel and Kevin Vandecar from the Autodesk Developer Network.
CP2520 - Using .NET Programming in Autodesk® Maya®
Cyrille Fauvel , Autodesk (Autodesk Developer Network)
In this class, we will introduce you to .NET programming in Autodesk Maya software. We will present using the C# language, but the techniques can apply to any .NET programming language including Microsoft® Visual Basic®. We will cover how to create an assembly that will load into the Maya environment. We will show how to interface with other .NET Framework features that will include the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and other features such as LINQ functionality. This class will be organized for those who want an introduction to these new APIs, including practical techniques. You do not need to know Maya programming, but some general programming experience will be helpful.
CP2177 - Autodesk® 3ds Max® .NET API Introduction and Techniques
Kevin Vandecar , Autodesk (Autodesk Developer Network)
Last year, with the release of the Autodesk® Subscription Advantage Pack for Autodesk 3ds Max 2012, .NET users gained access to significant enhancements in the Autodesk 3ds Max C++ SDK, enabling them to do more with Autodesk 3ds Max 2012 software. Now, these .NET APIs are available in the main product. In this class, we will introduce you to .NET API programming in 3ds Max. We will present using the C# language, but the techniques can apply to any .NET programming language, including Microsoft® Visual Basic®. We will cover how to create an assembly that will load into the 3ds Max environment. We will show how to interface with other .NET Framework features that will include the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and other features such as LINQ functionality. This class will be organized for those who want an introduction to these new APIs, including practical techniques. You do not need to know 3ds Max programming, but some general programming experience will be helpful.
DG2443-P - Autodesk® 3ds Max® MAXScript + Microsoft® .NET: Discover a Bigger World
Paul Neale , PEN Productions
In 2009, Autodesk 3ds Max software opened up MAXScript to .NET to enhance user interface design and extend the capability of MAXScript beyond the confines of 3ds Max. With .NET, tool developers can create dynamic and comprehensive production tools to help manage scenes, characters, and data sets, as well as an infinite host of other possibilities. In this class, you will learn to inspect .NET classes and objects and use them to build comprehensive .NET tools in MAXScript. This is an intermediate MAXScript class—participants should have a good working knowledge of MAXScript and the fundamentals of coding, including a good understanding of function, for loops and data types.
DG2619-L - Autodesk® Softimage® Interactive Creative Environment: Making Math Accessible
Todd Akita , Psyop
An all-too-common complaint from most visual artists is that in school, mathematics wasn't taught with a specific application or goal in mind and was too abstract or difficult to visualize. The Interactive Creative Environment (ICE) in Autodesk Softimage software combines high performance with a user-friendly interface. This combination of fast visual feedback and ease of use makes it a great environment to apply mathematics towards problem-solving in a hands-on way. In this hands-on lab, we will first examine what ICE is and what it can do. Then, we will introduce and review essential math concepts (trigonometry, vectors, and matrices) and explore the application of those concepts in a production context. Attendees should be familiar with the Softimage interface, but non-users are welcome because the graphics-related material is general enough to be applicable to almost any software package.
DG2567-P - Autodesk® Maya® Scripting: MEL™ and Python
Roland Reyer , Autodesk
The script language MEL (Maya Embedded Language) is not only a feature of Autodesk Maya software, it is the foundation. Every function in Maya is a MEL command that can be accessed using menus, icons, buttons, marking menus, and other controls. In this class, we will cover MEL concepts, the possibilities and limitations of this scripting language, and the differences in the Maya API. We will work through some examples, and discuss the differences between MEL and Python and explain the advantages of using Python for Maya.
DG2176-P - Think Outside the Box: Custom Development with Autodesk® Entertainment Creation Suites
Laurent Abecassis , Di-O-Matic
During this class, you will learn the best practices and typical approaches involved when developing custom tools for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, Autodesk® Maya®, Autodesk® Softimage®, and Autodesk® MotionBuilder® software. We will cover scripting and programming languages and discuss the numerous APIs and SDKs available from Autodesk. This class will help you grasp what you can do beyond what is available out of the box in Autodesk entertainment creation suites.
AV3567 - Parametric Design Modeling with Autodesk® 3ds Max®
David Fano , CASE
This class will describe how to use Autodesk 3ds Max software modeling tools to build iterative parametric design systems. In this class, we will cover Autodesk 3ds Max geometry types such as Editable Mesh, Poly, Patch, and NURBS; combine modifiers to build complex systems; use wire parameters to quickly make geometric patterns; and provide an introduction to MAXScript. In this class, you will learn to reduce the amount of explicit modeling you do and instead build flexible design systems so you can focus more effort on design.
Please let me know if I am missing any SDK or scripting classes that you think would be of interest to Area members.