3ds Max® 2008 Bible

Chapter 3. Working with Files, Importing, and Exporting

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Saving, opening, merging, and archiving files

• Importing and exporting objects and scenes

• Importing objects from external packages such as Illustrator

• Working with file utilities such as the Asset Browser

• 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 can also export and import files to and from other packages.

Working with Max Scene Files

Of all the different file types and formats, there is one file type that you probably will work with 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.

When Max starts, a new scene opens. You can start a new scene at any time with the File

Starting a new scene deletes the current scene, but Max asks you whether you want to keep the objects and hierarchy, keep the objects, or make everything new, as shown in Figure 3.1. Starting a ...