3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [48]
Within the project folder's root is a file with the .mxp extension named the same as the project folder. This file is a simple text file that can be opened within a text editor. Editing this file lets you define which subfolders are created within the project folder. The defined project folder also is visible within the title bar.
Merging and replacing objects
If you happen to create the perfect prop in one scene and want to integrate the prop into another scene, you can use the Merge menu command. Choose Application Button⇒Import⇒Merge to load objects from another scene into the current scene. Using this menu command opens a file dialog box that is exactly like the Open File dialog box, but after you select a scene and click the Open button, the Merge dialog box, shown in Figure 3.7, appears. This dialog box displays all the objects found in the selected scene file. It also has options for sorting the objects and filtering certain types of objects. Selecting an object and clicking OK loads the object into the current scene.
If you ever get involved in a modeling duel, then you'll probably be using the Application Button⇒Import⇒Replace menu command at some time. A modeling duel is when two modelers work on the same rough model of named objects and the animator (or boss) gets to choose which object to use. With the Replace command, you can replace a named object with an object of the same name in a different scene. The objects are selected using the same dialog box, but only the objects with identical names in both scene files display. If no objects with the same name appear in both scene files, a warning box is displayed.
FIGURE 3.7
The Merge dialog box lists all the objects from a merging scene.
Tip
When working with a team, one person, such as an environment modeler, can add a dummy object to the scene that shares the name of a more detailed model, such as “furniture.” When the detailed model is completed, the Replace command adds the detailed model to the scene. This lets the environment modeler work, even though the detailed models aren't completed yet. •
Getting out
As you can probably guess, you use the Application Button⇒Exit 3ds Max command in the lower-right corner to exit the program, but only after it gives you a chance to save your work. Clicking the window icon with an X on it in the upper right has the same effect (but I'm sure you knew that).
Setting File Preferences
The Files panel of the Preference Settings dialog box holds the controls for backing up, archiving, and logging Max files. You can open this dialog box using the Options button in the lower-right corner of the Application Button panel or with the Customize⇒Preferences menu command. Figure 3.8 shows this panel.
Handling files
The Files panel includes several options that define how to handle files. The first option is to Convert file paths to UNC (Universal Naming Convention). This option displays file paths using the UNC for any files accessed over a mapped drive. The Convert local file paths to Relative option causes all paths to be saved internally as relative paths to the project folder. This is useful if all files you access are in the same folder, but if you use files such as bitmaps from a different folder, then be sure to disable this option.
FIGURE 3.8
The Files panel includes an Auto Backup feature.
The next option is Backup on Save. When you save a file using the Application Button⇒Save (Ctrl+S) menu command, the existing file is overwritten. The Backup on Save option causes the current scene file to be saved as a backup (with the name MaxBack.bak in the 3dsmax\autobak directory) before saving the new file. If the changes you made were a mistake, you can recover the file before