File Link Manager

The File Link Manager utility allows you to work in both 3ds Max and another design application, such as AutoCAD, while maintaining a single design database.

• File menu > References > Manage Links > Manage Links dialog
• File menu > Import > Link Revit, Link FBX, or Link AutoCAD
• Utilities panel > Utilities rollout > Click the More button. > Utilities dialog > File Link Manager > Manage Links dialog

File Link Manager lets you link to these kinds of files:

• DWG and DXF files AutoCAD drawings, including AutoCAD Mechanical and AutoCAD Architecture drawings

  File Link Manager supports files in AutoCAD Release 12 format and all subsequent releases

• FBX files Autodesk format created by any Autodesk product that uses this format, including Revit, MotionBuilder, Maya, and Mudbox.

  Revit FBX files are handled somewhat differently from those of other applications. Also, the Scene Explorer columns Application Origin and Linked Files show information about files linked with the File Link Manager.

  File Link Manager supports Revit FBX files in Revit 2009 format and all subsequent releases.

• RVT files Autodesk Revit Architecture files

  If the RVT file you link contains more than one camera, when you link the file 3ds Max prompts you to choose which camera view to load.

You can establish, refresh, and break links to any number of linked files. In 3ds Max, you can hide unnecessary information by using layers and other filters. The File Link Manager defines which geometry is included in the 3ds Max scene from the linked file, how the geometry is organized, and when it is regenerated.

The objects that you bring in from linked files behave just like any other object created in 3ds Max. You can scale, rotate, and move them, apply modifiers, and assign materials.

You can also refresh or break links to linked files. When you refresh a linked file, any changes you’ve made to the linked file are applied to geometry in your scene. However, 3ds Max will not change the original, linked file. The integrity of your other software’s design database is never compromised by using the File Link Manager.

Finally, if you decide to break a link to a linked file, you can either keep the objects from the linked file in your scene, or have them removed along with the link.

Tip: For optimal speed when bringing a DWG file that contains a lot of text into 3ds Max, use Import rather than File Link.

File Link Workflow

File Link is best understood through a few simple principles:

• Changes in AutoCAD, Revit, and other applications can change the data viewed in 3ds Max, but changes in 3ds Max never change the data in AutoCAD, Revit, or the other application.

  Creating a file link is a one-way process that supports the central role of AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit in developing and keeping a record of your core design database. Many changes made in AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit will appear in 3ds Max after you reload a file link. These include adding or removing objects, moving objects, changing material assignments (specific to AutoCAD Architecture and Revit drawings), and enabling Live Section objects (specific to AutoCAD Architecture drawings). Changes made in 3ds Max, such as moving objects, changing material assignme dnts, and adding lights, will never appear in your AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit drawing.

• Changes you can make in AutoCAD, Revit, or another application should be made in AutoCAD, Revit, or the other application.

  Changes that you make in AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit become part of the design database, whereas changes you make in 3ds Max appear only in the renderings you produce.

• Changes in AutoCAD, Revit, or another application aren't reflected in 3ds Max unless you choose them to be.

  When you make changes to drawing files or FBX files, those changes will not appear in 3ds Max unless you use the File Link Manager Reload command. When you reload a link in 3ds Max, you can choose to update just the geometry from AutoCAD, Revit, or the other application; you can reload only specific objects; or (with AutoCAD Architecture and Revit drawings) you can choose to update both the geometry and the material assignments.

  You can transform (move, rotate, or scale) linked objects and blocks that appear in 3ds Max, and these types of changes are not lost upon reload. If you have moved, rotated, or scaled linked objects and want the objects to resume the position and scale they have in the original drawing file, use Reset Position.

• 3ds Max integrates linked AutoCAD, Revit, or other programs' data with data specific to 3ds Max.

  In addition to the linked geometry and material assignments, 3ds Max allows you to create or merge into your scene many types of data from other sources, including:

  • Lighting objects for simulating light fixtures and daylight conditions.
  • Entourage objects such as surrounding buildings, terrain, trees, cars, and people.
  • Advanced rendering material effects that simulate the rich visual variety of any imaginable material. You can take advantage of materials that appear on objects created in 3ds Max, and you can create your own material effects using the Material Editor. Materials created with the Material Editor can be assigned to any component in your scene.
  • Bitmaps for use as environment backgrounds. You can use still images in a variety of formats, or even animated movies, as a rendering background to create stunning photomontages that appear to place your proposed design right into the actual location.