Configure Project Paths

3ds Max uses stored paths to locate different kinds of user files, including scenes, images, DirectX effects, photometric, and MAXScript files. To customize these paths, use the Configure Project Paths dialog, which the Configure Project Paths command opens. This command is useful when you add new folders to help you organize your scenes, images, plug-ins, backups, and so on.

• Default menu: Customize menu > Configure Project Paths
• Alt menu: Customize menu > Customization > Configure Project Paths

You can use MXP (Max Path) files to save, load, and merge the paths that the Configure Project Paths dialog manages. This capability makes it easy for content-creation teams to keep projects organized and work efficiently by using the same paths.

Interface

The Configure Project Paths dialog comprises three panels:

• External Files
• File I/O
• XRefs

In addition, the dialog provides command buttons on the right side and across the bottom:

Project Folder

Lets you set the project folder.

Modify

Lets you change the highlighted path.

Make Relative

Lets you change an absolute or complete file path into a path relative to the project folder.

Note: For relative paths within the project folder, a leading “.\” represents the project folder path. On the other hand, one or more instances of “..\” preceding the path indicates that the path is in a sibling folder to the project folder, as opposed to a subfolder. For example, if your project folder is c:\MyProject\Project1 and the asset location is c:\Resources\myresource.jpg, then the relative path from the project folder to the resource is ..\..\Resources\myresource.jpg. If the asset was in c:\MyProject\Resources\myresource.jpg, then the relative path would be ..\Resources\myresource.jpg.

Make Absolute

Lets you make the path absolute, where a relative path is currently being used. For example, if “.\” represents your project folder in the path name, then when you make the path absolute the full name is used instead.

Move Up/Down

Lets you change the position of the highlighted path in the list to alter its search priority. Available only on the External Files and XRefs panels.

Save as

Lets you save the path configuration as an MXP file for sharing with team members.

Load

Loads a path configuration from an MXP file. The loaded configuration completely replaces the existing one.

Merge

Merges a path configuration from an MXP file. The merged configuration adds paths that exist only in the new file and replaces any existing paths.

For example, if your File I/O panel Scenes path is set to .\scenes (relative path) and you merge a path configuration file in which the Scenes path is set to the UNC path \\scene_server\max\scenes, the former path is replaced by the latter one.

OK

Exits the dialog and saves any changes.

Cancel

Exits the dialog without saving changes.

Procedures

In general, these procedures are common to all panels on the Configure Project Paths dialog. When you change a setting, it is written to the 3dsmax.ini file, and is effective immediately.

To modify a path:

1. Click a path entry to highlight it.
2. Click Modify.
3. Use the Choose Directory dialog to do one of the following:
   • Enter a path in the Path field.
   • Navigate to locate a path.
4. Optional step (3rd Party Plug-Ins panel only): Edit the description of the path in the Label field.

   This description then appears in the path list.

5. Click Use Path.

   The new path takes effect immediately.

To share project paths with team members:

1. Use the Configure Project Paths dialog to set up all necessary project paths.
2. Click the Save As button and then use the Save Paths To File dialog to save the path configuration as an MXP file.
3. Make the path configuration file available to other team members.
4. Each team member then opens the Configure Project Paths dialog and uses Load or Merge to open the path configuration file.

   The new path configuration is now the same on each team member's machine.

   Note: Using Load eliminates the existing path configuration; using Merge overwrites only paths that exist in both the current configuration and the new one.

To share files with team members using relative paths:

1. Ensure the Convert local file paths to Relative preference is enabled.
2. As you work, all files are saved relative to your project folder.
3. Give your scene to another user.
4. The second user opens the scene on a machine with a different project folder and now 3ds Max searches for all files related to the scene file in the second user's project folder.
   Note: The Convert local file path to Relative preference is set when you create the file. For example, if you load a material into a scene with this preference on, this material is always treated as relative to the project folder.