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CHAPTER

Working with Files,

Importing, and

Exporting

omplex 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 IN THIS CHAPTER
Cwith files is critical. This chapter focuses on working with files, whether
they are object files, texture images, or background images. Files enable you to Saving, opening, merging, and
move scene pieces into and out of Max. You also can export and import files to archiving files
and from other packages. Importing and exporting
This chapter also includes perhaps the most important feature in Max, the Save fea- objects and scenes
ture, which I suggest you use often. Remember the mantra: Save Early, Save Often.
Importing objects from
external packages
Working with Max Scene Files Working with file utilities such
as the Asset Browser
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 Accessing scene files’
for its scene files. These files have the .max extension and allow you to save your information
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.
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.

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