3ds Max System Directories

The following methods allow you to access the 3ds Max system directories:

GetDir <filetype_name> 	 

Returns as a string the directory specified in the Customize > Configure Paths dialog for the specified file type.

The valid <filetype_name> values are:

Value Available in 3ds Max Versions US English Defaults And Notes
#animations 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\sceneassets\animations"
#archives 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\archives"
#autoback All versions "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\autoback"
#autodeskCloud 3ds Max 2014 and higher

"C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Autodesk Sync\Cloud\<LoginName>"

Returns empty string "" if the user is not logged in Autodesk 360.

#defaults All versions "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max <ReleaseNumber>\en-US\defaults\MAX"
#downloads 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\downloads"
#drivers All versions "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max <ReleaseNumber>\drivers"
#export All versions "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\export"
#font All versions "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max <ReleaseNumber>\fonts"
#help All versions "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max <ReleaseNumber>\help"
#image All versions "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\sceneassets\images"
#import All versions "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\import"
#matlib All versions "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\materiallibraries"
#maxData 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\<ReleaseNumber> - 64bit\ENU\"
#maxroot All versions "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max <ReleaseNumber>\"
#maxstart All versions "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\scenes"
#pageFile 3ds Max 2010 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\<ReleaseNumber> - 64bit\ENU\temp"
#photometric 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\sceneassets\photometric"
#plugcfg All versions "C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\<ReleaseNumber> - 64bit\ENU\en-US\plugcfg"
#preview All versions "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\previews"
#proxies 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\proxies"
#renderassets 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\sceneassets\renderassets"
#renderPresets 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\renderpresets"
#renderoutput 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\renderoutput"
#scene All versions "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\scenes"
#scripts All versions "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max <ReleaseNumber>\scripts"
#sound All versions "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\sceneassets\sounds"
#startupScripts All versions "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max <ReleaseNumber>\scripts\startup"
#temp 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\<ReleaseNumber> - 64bit\ENU\temp"
#ui All versions "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max <ReleaseNumber>\en-US\UI\"
#userMacros 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\<ReleaseNumber> - 64bit\ENU\usermacros"
#userScripts 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\<ReleaseNumber> - 64bit\ENU\scripts"
#userStartupScripts 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\<ReleaseNumber> - 64bit\ENU\scripts\startup"
#userIcons 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\<ReleaseNumber> - 64bit\ENU\usericons"
#vpost 3ds Max 9 and higher "C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\3dsMax\vpost"

   

SetDir <filetype_name> <string> 

Sets the directory specified in string. Replicated in the Customize > Configure Paths dialog for the specified file type.

The valid <filetype_name> values are the same as for GetDir .

Returns true if successful, false if not. Does not check to see if <string> is a valid path. Any change made through this function is immediately reflected in the 3dsmax.ini file and so is persistent. Use with caution.

   

ConvertDirIDToInt <filetype_name> 

Returns an Integer corresponding to the given system directory name.

Available in 3ds Max 9 and higher.

Int

Name

Int

Name

Int

Name

0

#font

12

#drivers

24

#Photometric

1

#Scene

13

#autoback

25

#renderassets

2

#import

14

#matlib

26

#userScripts

3

#export

15

#scripts

27

#userMacros

4

#help

16

#startupScripts

28

#userStartupScripts

5

#expression

17

#defaults

29

#temp

6

#preview

18

#renderPresets

30

#userIcons

7

#image

19

#ui

31

#maxData

8

#Sound

20

#maxroot

32

 

9

#plugcfg

21

#renderoutput

33

#downloads

10

#maxstart

22

#animations

34

#proxies

11

#vpost

23

#archives

36

#pagefile

The following methods let you get, add or delete Bitmap and XRef paths, corresponding to the Bitmaps and XRefs tabs in the Configure Paths dialog in 3ds Max. Any changes made through these functions are immediately reflected in the 3dsmax.ini file and so are persistent.

Map Path Methods:

mapPaths.add <path_string> 

Appends the specified path to the list of Bitmap search paths.

   

mapPaths.count() 

Returns the number of Bitmap search paths defined.

   

mapPaths.get <index> 

Returns the indexed Bitmap search path as a string. The index is 1-based.

   

mapPaths.delete <index> 

Deletes the indexed Bitmap search path. The index is 1-based.

   

mapPaths.getFullFilePath <filename> 

Resolves the filename using map paths, returns fully qualified filename if the file is found. Available in 3ds Max 9 and higher.

FOR EXAMPLE:

mapPaths.getFullFilePath "fir.tga"

Xref Path Methods:

   

xrefPaths.add <path_string> 

Appends the specified path to the list of XRef search paths.

   

xrefPaths.count() 

Returns the number of XRef search paths defined.

   

xrefPaths.get <index> 

Returns the indexed XRef search path as a string. The index is 1-based.

   

xrefPaths.delete <index> 

Deletes the indexed XRef search path. The index is 1-based.

   

xrefPaths.getFullFilePath <filename> 

Resolves the filename using xref paths, returns fully qualified filename if the file is found.

Available in 3ds Max 9 and higher.

FOR EXAMPLE:

xrefPaths.getFullFilePath "delme.max"

See Also