The Time class implements animation time in MAXScript. Time values reflect the properties of animation time in 3ds max. Resolution is in ticks, with 4800 ticks per second. You can work with time as ticks, frames, h.m.s, or normalized time.
You can intermix numbers and time values in time computations defined below. The rule is that numbers are always interpreted as frame counts, with floating point numbers specifying fractional frames. The numbers are always converted to tick-based time values internally and so have an ultimate resolution of 4800 ticks per second.
You can do time arithmetic and comparisons using numbers as well as time values and convert between time and (frame) numbers using the as operator. See also Time Literals.
Literals
[-]{<decimal_number>[m | s | f | t]}+ -- minutes/sec/frames/ticks
[-]{<digit>}:{<digit>}[.{<digit>}] -- SMPTE mins:secs.frame
[-]<decimal_number>n -- active segment normalized time
Example Literals
2.5s -- 2.5 seconds
1m15s -- 1 minute 15 seconds
2m30s5f2t -- 2 minutes 30 seconds 5 frames 2 ticks
125f -- 125 frames
17.25f -- 17.25 frames
1f20t -- 1 frame 20 ticks
2:10.0 -- 2 minutes 10 seconds 0 frames (SMPTE)
0:0.29 -- 29 frames (SMPTE)
Constructor
normTime <float> -- time from normal fraction
Properties
<time>.ticks : Time as ticks
<time>.frame : Time as frames
<time>.normalized : Time as normalized fraction of active segment
Operators
<time> + <time>
<time> - <time>
- <time>
<time> * <number>
<time> / <number>
scale time
<time> == <time>
<time> != <time>
<time> > <time>
<time> >= <time>
<time> < <time>
<time> <= <time>
<time> as <class>
You can coerce a time to a Number - you get the time in ticks.
Methods
Examples
sliderTime = 30
t2 = n as time
if currentTime == 45 then ...
Some of the examples above refer to system global variables. See 3ds max System Globals for more details.