Some quick Max questions

[Frump]

Hey guys. I hate to make a thread asking for answers, especially ones as simple as these, but throughout all of my searching I haven't found any answers. I'm just starting to use Max (I'm using 2009), and so far I'm having no trouble transitioning, but I'm wondering if I can't make it work more like how I want.

So here are my questions:
Is it possible to change the default world up axis in Max from Z to Y?

Is it also possible to get rid of the bounding box and instead have selection highlighting where it just highlights the wireframe? It does this with edged faces on, but ideally it would highlight the edges of the selected object without having edged faces on or with a bounding box.

Can you alter the camera/viewport controls without using 3rd party switcher software? This one is not a big deal, because I am getting used to the camera controls, I just find the Maya ones much more intuitive and faster.

Thanks for reading. :D

[Shadownami92]

I'm not sure about most of the stuff but for the camera controls you can edit the keys used in the Custom UI option under the Customization menu at the top right.

[Beartastic]

For the edged faces/bounding box, it's done per window. Right-click the window name (e.g. Perspective) and click "configure...". Then turn on 'display selection with edged faces' and turn off 'use selection brackets'.

For the camera controls, I'm not sure how you're doing it but a lot of people new to Max seem to use the Pan and Arc Rotate stuff down in the bottom-right corner, but you can do all that stuff by middle-click and drag and hold alt and middle click to rotate.

I don't know about making Y axis the up axis, I'm not sure it's possible.

[Buzzy]

Sounds like you're trying to turn Max into Maya. Which isn't going to happen.

You CANNOT change Max's coordinate system. It is very very deeply ingrained into the software. Z is up. Period.

Max's viewport controls are all on the Middle Mouse button. How is that not as fast or intuitive? Learning to use different viewport controls is one of those skills you need to learn as a 3d artist because every app is different. And no, they cannot be changed. In fact, the only major 3d package I can think of that lets you change viewport controls is MoBu...which you're probably not using much.

[Integrated]

You sound like me when I transitioned from Max to Maya - you will very quickly get used to using the different camera control system, and soon enough you'll be able to switch between them in your mind when switching from Max to Maya.

[Frump]

Thanks for the replies guys, that helps a lot. Glad some of this stuff can be done. :D

The bounding box one was bugging me the most and if that can be changed I am happy with that.

Yes, I am using middle mouse button, and I am not having trouble with it, It's not an issue of me not being used to it. I just like what I like and if it was possible to do, why not have it that way? Maya has one mouse button for each pan, rotate and zoom as long as you are holding down alt. To me that makes much more sense than using one button with different key combinations.

Buzzy: You can also select key layouts and camera controls in XSI. They have presets for all of the major packages and their own set.

[Buzzy]

I've never actually used XSI, so thanks for the info. I had know idea.

Good luck using Max!