3dstudiomax file format spec

[EricChadwick]

Well, .MAX is a binary file, not ascii which I think OBJ is (can't recall offhand).

The software ships with an SDK with fairly complete specs. What isn't complete can be filled in via the SDK samples and forums on the Sparks site.

http://sparks.discreet.com/

[Nicool]

thanks :beer:

[LFShade]

I doubt you're going to find any information about the .max file format spec, as it is not an open format. The main reason for this is that a Max scene is largely dependent on plugins which are loaded at Max run-time, and the geometry database is built by the plugins rather than being stored as explicit, single-object lists of vertices/edges/faces as in the typical 3d format. For pure 3d object I/O, Max has long used the .3ds format, which is documented thoroughly.

RH

[Nicool]

I undersand what you say. If it's true, does it was realy a hard task for polytrans coders to do it? http://www.okino.com/conv/conv.htm

[LFShade]

Okino managed 3dsmax support by writing a plugin to export the scene, thus circumventing the .max format altogether. Note that you can't just open up Polytrans and load a .max file, you have to load up the Polytrans plugin in Max and use it to export to one of a variety of other formats (obj, lwo, etc.).


RH

[EricChadwick]

You should check out the free dl from Sparks...


Introduction to Game Export Interface
http://sparks.discreet.com/downloads/downloadshome.cfm?f=2&wf_id=92
(need to register 1st)

"IGame provides a High Level API to the max sdk, primarily focused at data export. The goal was to provide a set of interfaces that would allow a novice max developer to extract data from max with minimal effort."

They have a ton of free example files + code for using this thing.

[Nicool]

Ok thanks posm ( I hate register :thumbsdow ). I'll see it :beer:

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.