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Part I: Getting Started with 3ds Max

FIGURE 3.5
The Missing External Files dialog box identifies files for the current scene that are missing.

Setting a Project Folder
By default, Max’s Open File dialog box opens to the Scenes directory where Max is installed, but you can set
a Project Folder that may be located anywhere on your local hard drive or on the network. All file dialog
boxes will then open to the new project folder automatically. The Set Project Folder icon on the Quick
Access toolbar or the Application Button ➪ Manage ➪ Set Project Folder menu opens a dialog box where
you can select a project folder. After a project folder is selected, the folder is automatically populated with a
series of resource folders.
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 sub-
folders 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 3.6, 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.

Note
The Merge dialog box is very similar to the Select Objects dialog box. n
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

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