3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [51]
Tip
Personally, I like to keep all my content in a separate directory from where the application is installed. That way, new installs or upgrades don't risk overwriting my files. To do this, simply change the Project Folder to a location separate from the 3ds Max installation directory. •
Under the External Files and XRefs panels, you can add and delete paths that specify where Max looks to find specific files. All paths specified in both these panels are searched in the order they are listed when you're looking for resources such as plug-ins, but file dialog boxes open only to the first path. Use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to realign path entries.
Caution
Using the Customize⇒Revert to Startup UI Layout command does not reset path configuration changes. •
At the bottom of the Configure User Paths dialog box are buttons for saving, loading, and merging the defined configuration paths into a separate file. These files are saved using the .mxp format. This file can be found in the root of the Project Folder.
Tip
Setting up a Project Folder on the network gives every team member access to all the project files and synchronizes all the paths for a project. •
Configuring system paths
Max default paths are listed in the Configure System Paths dialog box, shown in Figure 3.11. When Max is installed, all the paths are set to point to the default subdirectories where Max was installed. To modify a path, select the path and click the Modify button. A file dialog box lets you locate the new directory.
The Configure System Paths dialog box also includes the 3rd Party Plug-Ins panel where you can add directories for Max to search when looking for plug-ins.
FIGURE 3.11
The Configure System Paths dialog box specifies additional paths.
Importing and Exporting
If you haven't noticed, Max isn't the only game in town. A number of different 3D packages exist, and exchanging files between them is where the importing and exporting menu commands come in. You can find both of these commands in the Application Button menu.
Importing supported formats
Choose Application Button⇒Import⇒Import to open the Import dialog box. This dialog box looks like a typical Windows file dialog box. The real power comes with the various Import Settings dialog boxes that are available for each format. These dialog boxes appear after you select a file to import. The settings in the Import Settings dialog box are different for the various format types.
Max can import several different formats. All acceptable files are automatically displayed in the file dialog box, or you can filter for a specific format using the Files of Type drop-down list at the bottom of the file dialog box. The available import formats include the following:
• Autodesk (FBX)
• 3D Studio Mesh, Projects, and Shapes (3DS, PRJ, SHP)
• Adobe Illustrator (AI)
• Autodesk Alias/Showcase (APF, WIRE)
• Collada (DAE)
• LandXML/DEM/DDF
• AutoCAD and Legacy AutoCAD (DWG, DXF)
• Flight Studio OpenFlight (FLT)
• Motion Analysis (HTR, TRC)
• Initial Graphics Exchange Standard (IGE, IGS, IGES)
• Autodesk Inventor (IPT, IAM)
• Lightscape (LS, VW, LP)
• OBJ Material and Object (OBJ)
• ACIS SAT (SAT)
• Google SketchUp (SKP)
• StereoLitho (STL)
• VIZ Material XML Import (XML)
New Feature
The ability to import and work with Alias Wire files is new to 3ds Max 2012. •
Cross-Reference
More on import and export SAT files is covered in Chapter 28, “Working with Solids and Body Objects.” •
Note
Be aware that these formats are used for different types of data. For example, Adobe Illustrator files typically hold only 2D data, and Motion Analysis files hold motion capture data for animations. •
Import preference
The Files panel of the Preference Settings dialog box has a single