Application Plug-in Package Format Changes

AMG and OSL shaders support

AMG and OSL shaders are now supported as new component types of the plugin package format. AMG components are identified by the "amg folder parts" description, while OSL shaders by specifying "osl folder parts" as a description.

For more information, see the "Component Description" section of the Autodesk Application Plug-in Package Format Specification topic.

Scene Converter extension and preset support

Scene Converter presets and scene conversion (extensions) can now be part of plugin packages.

There are two types of Scene Converter scripts that are supported by the Plugin Package Format:

1. Preset files: these are found in the subdirectory ConversionPresets of the directory specified as ModuleName attribute of the component, and are named XXXX_preset.ms
2. Conversions files: these are found in the subdirectory called ConversionScripts of the directory specified as the ModuleName attribute of the component.

For more information, see the "Component Description" section of the Autodesk Application Plug-in Package Format Specification topic.

Change in behavior loading plug-ins compiled for a compatible release of 3ds Max

3ds Max 2021 will not automatically load binary plugin dlls whose run-time requirements specify 2020 as SeriesMax, even though 3ds Max 2021 is binary compatible with 3ds Max 2020. Plugin developers will have to re-publish their plugins with the SeriesMax run-time requirement attribute set to 2021, once they have verified that their plugins built against the 3ds Max 2020 SDK work properly in 3ds Max 2021.

See the "<RuntimeRequirements> Attributes" section of the Autodesk Application Plug-in Package Format Specification topic.