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This chapter covered the following topics:

• Understanding 3D space and the various viewport points-of-view

• Navigating with the ViewCube, the SteeringWheels, and the scroll wheel

• Using the various Viewport Navigation Control buttons

• Changing the Visual Style & Appearance options in the Viewport Configuration dialog box

• Discovering the other panels of the Viewport Configuration dialog box that allow you to change the layout, safe frames, regions, and statistics

• Finding out how to use Progressive Display to speed up viewport updates

• Working with viewport background images

In the next chapter, you find out all the details about working with files, including loading, saving, and merging scene files. The next chapter also covers import and export options for interfacing with other software packages.

Chapter 3: Working with Files, Importing, and Exporting

IN THIS CHAPTER

Saving, opening, merging, and archiving files

Setting file preferences

Configuring paths

Exporting objects and scenes

Importing objects from external packages

Working with file utilities

Accessing scene files' information

Complex scenes can end up being a collection of hundreds of files, and misplacing any of them will affect the final output, so learning to work with files is critical. This chapter focuses on working with files, whether they are object files, texture images, or background images. Files enable you to move scene pieces into and out of Max. You also can export and import files to and from other packages.

This chapter also includes perhaps the most important feature in Max, the Save feature, which I suggest you use often. Remember the mantra: Save Early, Save Often.

Working with Max Scene Files

Of all the different file types and formats, you probably will work with one type of file more than any other—the Max format. Max has its own proprietary format for its scene files. These files have the .max extension and allow you to save your work as a file and return to it at a later time. Max also supports files saved with the .chr extension used for character files.

Using the Application Button

All the various file commands are located by clicking the 3ds Max logo in the upper-left corner. This logo is called the Application Button. The Application Button menu, shown in Figure 3.1, presents its menu options as icons. Several shortcuts also are presented on the Quick Access toolbar located to the right of the Application Button.

FIGURE 3.1

The Application Button holds all the various file commands.

The right half of the Application Button menu displays an extensive list of recently opened Max files. This list fills the given space with the most recently accessed files, but clicking the pushpin icon to the right of the filename causes the selected file to remain on the list.

The icon button at the top of the list lets you change the size of the display icons. The options include Small Icons, Large Icons, Small Images, and Large Images.

Tip

The image options display a thumbnail of the Max file. •

To the right of the Application Button is the Quick Access toolbar, shown in Figure 3.2. This bar contains icons for the following commands: New, Open, Save, Undo, Redo, and Set Project Folder. The arrows to the right of the Undo and Redo icons present a list of buffered commands, and you can select one to undo or redo all commands up to the selected one. Clicking the small arrow icon at the right end of the toolbar presents a menu where you can toggle the visibility of each icon. Additional options allow you to hide the menu bar and to move the Quick Access toolbar below the Ribbon.

FIGURE 3.2

The Quick Access toolbar offers quick access for opening and saving files. It also holds the Undo and Redo buttons.

Using the Welcome Screen

When Max first starts, the Welcome Screen appears, as shown in Figure 3.3. The Welcome Screen includes Essential Skill Movies that show the basics of Max. It also includes buttons to create a new