By Renu Muthoo
I would like to thank everyone that joined me for my latest webcast on March 6, 2014. The webcast was about linking files from other applications (specifically Autodesk Revit) into the 3ds Max Design software. For those of you who could not join me during the live session, here is the link to the recording that you can watch.
I took the majority of information from the Chapter 3: Assembling Project Files of the Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2014 Fundamentals training guide. Many great questions came up at the end of the session and I am sharing them here in this blog.
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Q. If you have linked a Revit file into another Revit file that you want to link into 3DS Max, will the linked Revit file that is linked within the source Revit File be brought in as well?
A. Yes the linked file within the source file that we are linking into 3ds Max will be brought in as well, although you need to have that linked file in the same folder as the source linked file. Also ensure that the linked file has Relative path set as the type of path in Autodesk Revit. In the example below (see Figure), the Revit Building-1.rvt is to be linked into 3ds max scene but it has the Revit Building-Site.rvt already linked into it in the Revit software. Both the files are in the same folder. This is required as the 3ds Max software should be able to access the linked file that is within the file that is to be linked. This links the source Revit file including the already linked file geometry.
If the linked file is not located in the same folder or has been assigned an Absolute path while linking in Revit, a warning icon ( ) is displayed in the Manage Links dialog box. If you click on this warning icon or click Attach this file button, the missing external references message is displayed in the Link Revit View dialog box (shown below). It still links the source Revit file but without the pre-linked geometry.
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Q. What is the difference between the Detach and the Bind options in the Manage Links dialog box?
A. The Bind option removes the link with the source file but the linked objects stay in the current max scene. In other words, the 3ds max scene loses any connection with the source file and any changes made to the source file cannot be loaded into the 3ds Max scene. The Detach option removes the link with the source file and also removes all the linked objects from the current 3ds Max scene.
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Q. If you modify the linked geometry in the current max scene, can you update those changes in the source file in the originating software?
A. No, any changes made to the linked file in the 3ds Max scene cannot be updated into the source file in the originating software. Linking is a uni-directional (one way) process with the changes made to the source file being reloaded into the 3ds Max scene.
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Q. Is there an option for a relative path when linking?
A. There is no such thing as absolute path and relative path in 3ds Max like the way you can set the type of path (Absolute or Relative) in Revit.
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Q. If you have a cropped 3D view in Revit and you select that during the link process, does that mean that only the geometry that shows up in the Revit 3d view will be linked into 3DS?
A. This is dependent on how the cropped 3D view was created in Revit. If you crop a 3D view using a section box and save the view, then only the geometry that shows up in the Revit 3D view will be linked into 3ds Max. Keep in mind that at the time of linking you will have to select this saved view in the Select Revit View dialog box in 3ds max. If you have created the cropped 3D view using a crop window and saved the view, even though you choose this saved view in the Select Revit View dialog box in 3ds max, it does not impact the model that is linked in i.e. the cropping is ignored and the complete model is linked.
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Q. Is there a higher level of control with native 3ds lights as opposed to what may have been brought in from the Revit file?
A. Technically no. The lights that are linked into the 3ds Max scene are brought in as a kind of photometric light. It contains the photometric web and so you can control them in the same way as you would control the lights created in the 3ds Max software.
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Q. Which is typically better -- fbx or rvt?
A. It is personal preference. But if you want to link the lights as well, then you should keep the following in mind: While exporting rvt to fbx, the multiple instances of a light type are converted to individual, unique light objects. This can dramatically reduce 3ds Max performance. If you use fbx, it is recommended to not link lights and add lighting in 3ds max.
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Q. Are there specific 'families' or components that do NOT link/import into 3DS well? (In other words, what elements might not be wise to use in Revit model in order to transfer cleanly to 3DS.)
A. There are no specific families or components that cannot be linked into 3ds max. Having said so, there are certain best practices that should be considered while linking to get a clean geometry in 3ds Max. Some of those are:
To get a clean import you should try to apply a proMaterial to each object in Revit. ProMaterials are handled properly in 3ds Max.
The best workflow is to bring in a smaller Revit file and keep your file clean. In Revit try to hide what you do not need to display in 3ds Max. e.g. if you do not see the structural components (like pipes and fittings) do not link them into Max.
If you have to edit the materials then it might be better to apply them in Max but if you just have to leave them alone and no modifications are required then you can apply them in Revit.
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Q. What is the best practice for applying materials. In the linked file or within 3DS?
A. You can apply materials in either software application. If you want to apply materials in Revit, this might be useful to keep in mind: To get a clean import you should try to apply a proMaterial to each object in Revit. ProMaterials are handled properly in 3ds Max. Having said so, you will most probably need to reapply some materials in max and also will need to reapply UVW mapping because the materials might be out of scale. If you have to do some editing to the materials then it might be better to apply them in Max but if you just have to leave them alone and no modifications are required then you can apply them in Revit, although materials are better in 3ds max.
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In the past couple of years, a lot of work has been put in by Autodesk into making Autodesk Revit and Autodesk 3ds Max software work better together. I hope this webcast has helped you in understanding the interoperability of other Autodesk software products especially Revit with 3ds Max.
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