3dsmax7_ig

Transcription

3dsmax7_ig

installation
and support guide
3ds max 7
®
www.discreet.com
12810-010000-5000A
BACK COVER
DISCREET
PART NO: 12810-01000-5000A
DATE: 12/09/04
DESCRIPTION:
MAN:3DS MAX 7 INSTALL/SUPPORT GD
SIZE: 4.88" wide x 7.25" high
FRONT COVER
COLORS: 1C
Black
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
ig_max7.book Page ii Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM
ii
Copyright © 2004 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
This publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose. AUTODESK, INC.,
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DesignServer, Design Web Format, DWF, DWFit, DWG Linking, DXF, Extending the Design Team,GDX Driver, gmax (logo),
gmax ready (logo),Heads-up Design, jobnet, lustre, ObjectDBX, onscreen onair online, Plans & Specs, Plasma, PolarSnap,
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Autodesk Canada Inc. Trademarks
The following are registered trademarks of Autodesk Canada Inc. in the USA and/or Canada, and/or other countries: discreet, fire, flame, flint, flint RT, frost, glass, inferno, MountStone, riot, river, smoke, sparks, stone, stream, vapour, wire. The following are trademarks of Autodesk Canada Inc., in the USA, Canada, and/or other countries: backburner, Multi-Master
Editing. The following are trademarks of Autodesk Canada Inc., in the USA, Canada, and/or other countries: backburner,
Multi-Master Editing.
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All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
Third-Party Software Program Credits
© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
ACIS © 1989–2005, Spatial Corp.
AddFlow Copyright © 1997–2005 Lassalle Technologies.
Certain patents licensed from Viewpoint Corporation.
InstallShield™ Copyrighted © 2005 InstallShield Software Corporation. All rights reserved.
Licensing Technology Copyright © Macrovision Corp. 1996–2005.
Portions Copyrighted © 1989–2005 mental images GmbH & Co. KG Berlin, Germany.
Portions Copyrighted © 2000–2005 Telekinesys Research Limited.
Portions Copyrighted © 2005 Blur Studio, Inc.
Portions Copyrighted © 2005 Intel Corporation.
Portions developed by Digimation, Inc. for the exclusive use of Autodesk, Inc.
Portions developed by Lyric Media, Inc. for the exclusive use of Autodesk, Inc.
Portions of this software are based on the copyrighted work of the Independent JPEG Group.
JSR-184 Exporter Copyright (c) 2004 Digital Element, Inc.
QuickTime © 1992–2005, Apple Computer, Inc.
REALVIZ Copyright © 2005 REALVIZ S.A. All rights reserved.
This product includes Radiance software (http://radsite.lbl.gov/radiance) developed by the Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory (http://www.lbl.gov). Copyright © 1990–2005 The Regents of the University of California, through Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory. All rights reserved. Wise Installation System for Windows Installer © 2004 Wise Solutions, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in FAR 12.212
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Software), as applicable.
ig_max7.book Page iii Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM
iii
toc
Contents
Introduction .........................................................................1
System Requirements .........................................................2
Installing 3ds max 7 ............................................................4
Before You Begin ..........................................................................4
Begin the Install ............................................................................8
3ds max Install Panel....................................................................9
backburner 2.3.............................................................................10
mental ray Shaders Environment Variable.............................11
Network-Licensed Version .......................................................11
Starting and Activating the Software ......................................12
Operation in Trial Mode ............................................................13
Activating 3ds max.....................................................................14
Configuring Display Drivers.............................................. 16
Your 3ds max License ...................................................... 18
License Folder .............................................................................18
Portable License Utility..............................................................19
ig_max7.book Page iv Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM
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3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide
Installing Supplemental Tools .......................................... 20
Microsoft DirectX 9.0c ............................................................... 21
Apple QuickTime 6.5................................................................. 22
3ds max 7 Software Development Kit..................................... 22
Stand-Alone Backburner ........................................................... 22
Documentation................................................................. 23
Upgrading/Updating Your Software ............................... 24
Upgrading from a Previous Version ....................................... 24
Adding, Removing or Repairing Components .............. 24
Adding Components ................................................................. 26
Removing Components............................................................. 27
Program Maintenance..................................................... 28
Repairing Components ............................................................. 29
3ds max 7 Online Documentation .................................. 30
User Reference ............................................................................ 30
Tutorials....................................................................................... 30
MAXScript Reference ................................................................ 31
3ds max Sample Files and Partner Resources CD......... 31
Combustion Trial Version......................................................... 32
Partners........................................................................................ 33
Discreet Certified Plug-Ins........................................................ 34
Samples........................................................................................ 35
What's in the Box............................................................... 36
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v
Installation Troubleshooting ............................................. 37
Adding a Command-Line Switch to the Executable Line ....37
Calculating the Appropriate Swap-File Setting .....................38
Possible Error Messages at Startup ..........................................38
Support............................................................................... 39
Reseller Support..........................................................................39
Discreet Support Resources ......................................................40
Discussion Forums .....................................................................40
Discreet Education......................................................................40
Discreet Authorized Training Centers (DTC) ................... 40
Discreet Learning Tools (In English Only): ............................41
Frequently Asked Questions ............................................ 41
Installation Questions ................................................................41
Activation Questions..................................................................42
General Questions ......................................................................43
License and Portable License Utility Questions.....................44
ig_max7.book Page vi Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM
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ig_max7.book Page 1 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM
Introduction
install
3ds max Installation and Support Guide
Introduction
Welcome to 3ds max® 7 - the landmark new version of Discreet's
comprehensive solution for advanced 3D modeling, animation,
and rendering. With an extensive new feature set designed to
increase performance and boost productivity, 3ds max 7 offers
animators powerful new creative workflow tools, including the
most comprehensive advanced character animation toolset
currently available, acclaimed visual effects tools, and support
for next generation production environments.
This guide provides information for installing and starting
3ds max 7. In addition to describing steps to install the program
quickly, it includes information about system requirements and
troubleshooting. It also tells you how to uninstall the program.
See “Frequently Asked Questions” on page 41 to address many
common questions about, and issues with, the installation and
use of 3ds max 7.
Important: This guide covers only installation of the 3ds max 7
software for single users (standalone licenses). For information about
installation and registration or activation of network floatinglicensed versions of the software, see the Network Licensing Guide.
You can view this file from the 3ds max 7 Installer main panel by
1
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choosing Network Deployment or from the program CD, navigate to
the \manuals folder, and open adsk_nlg.chm.
System Requirements
Before you begin the install process, make sure your system meets
the minimum operating requirements for 3ds max 7.
• Computer—Intel® PIII or later processor or AMD® processor,
running at 500 megahertz or better. 3ds max takes advantage of
multiple processors.
Recommended is a system running dual Intel Xeon™ or dual
AMD Athlon™ processors.
• RAM—Minimum 512 MB and 500 MB swap file size.
Recommended is 1 GB RAM and 2 GB swap file size. The
complexity of your scene impacts the amount of RAM you need
to maintain performance.
• Display—Graphics card supporting a minimum resolution of
1024 x 768 x 16-bit color.
Recommended is a 3D graphics accelerator, configured for
DirectX® 9 or OpenGL®, with resolution set to
1280 x 1024 x 64MB of RAM.
OpenGL and Direct3D hardware acceleration is supported; 3D
graphics accelerator, 1280 X 1024 32-bit color with 256MB RAM
is recommended.
Note: 256-color mode is not supported.
• DirectX 9.0c—is on the 3ds max 7 Installation CD and can be
accessed from the main install panel.
System Requirements
• Primary Operating System—Microsoft® Windows® 2000
(Service Pack 4), Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 1) or
Windows XP Home (Service Pack 1).
Important: You must have administrative permissions to install
the 3ds max software.
Note: Windows 98 and Windows ME are not supported
operating systems.
• Free Hard Disk Space—Typically 650 MB of free hard disk
space for installation. This varies according to the custom
components you choose to install.
Important: The Windows swap-file size should be a minimum of
300 MB. Recommended swap file size is three times the
amount of physical RAM on your computer. Depending on
scene complexity, more Windows swap space might be
desirable.
• CD-ROM—Required for loading software, and needed for
access to tutorial and sample files.
• Sound card and speakers—Required for listening to sound
tracks.
• Pointing device—Microsoft-compatible pointing device or
Wacom® tablet. 3ds max has special optimizations for a threebutton mouse or Microsoft Intellimouse® and has support for
the scroll wheel. Recommended is a Microsoft-compatible
three-button scroll mouse.
Make sure you are using the most current driver for your
pointing device. The best method to obtain the most current
driver for any peripheral you are using is to download it from
the manufacturer's Web site.
• Network (Optional)—A TCP/IP-configured network for use
in network rendering.
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• Other—To activate and register 3ds max and to view the online
Help systems, you must have Internet Explorer® 6 (or later).
You can download Internet Explorer from the Microsoft Web
site: www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/.
You also need QuickTime® 5 (or later) to run the QuickTime
plug-in and Panorama Exporter. QuickTime 6.5 is on the
3ds max 7 Installation CD and can be accessed under
Supplemental Tools on the main panel of the installer.
See “Apple QuickTime 6.5” on page 22 for more information.
Installing 3ds max 7
Before You Begin
To start the installation, you'll need the serial number (XXXXXXXXXXX) located on a sticker on the 3ds max packaging. Your
product serial number is essential for installation, registration, and
activation.
Please make sure to record and keep this information; for example,
you can peel the sticker and put it on your CD case. Your serial
number will also be required for your next upgrade and if you ever
have to reinstall or reactivate the software, or if you ever need to
contact Discreet Product Support.
The readme.rtf file contains late-breaking information about your
product and its behavior on certain hardware and operating
systems. This file is available from the Documentation panel of the
3ds max 7 installer.
Additionally, you will need administrative permissions for the
following operations:
• Installing the 3ds max 7 package, including the User Reference
and Tutorials, and the MAXScript Reference (online Help files).
• Loading and registering files that let you view FLC, FLI™, and
CEL files.
• Installing network-rendering services.
• Removing 3ds max 7 or any of its components.
• Importing and exporting your 3ds max 7 license with the
“Portable License Utility” on page 19.
Important: Ensure that you have sufficient free space on your
hard drive for the 3ds max 7 temporary installation files
(approximately 650 MB for a normal install).
The installation is divided among three CDs that contain the
following:
• 3ds max 7 Installation CD contains the 3ds max 7, backburner
2.3, and character studio components, stored as compressed
files.
• 3ds max 7 Sample files and Partners CD contains additional
plug-ins developed by Discreet® plug-in partners.
• 3ds max 7 Tutorials CD contains the tutorial sample files. The
tutorials are installed with the documentation component. See
“3ds max 7 Online Documentation” on page 30 for details
about the tutorials.
To install 3ds max, you must be logged into the system with
administrator permissions. If you're not logged into the system
as the Administrator, do so before beginning the installation.
5
6
The 3ds max 7 Install Panel
When you insert the first 3ds max install CD, you're presented
with the 3ds max 7 Installer home panel. This initial dialog lets you
choose to install 3ds max, install supplemental tools, and review
documentation.
There are four panels available at the top of the dialog:
• Install—This is the main welcome panel with installation steps.
• Documentation—Provides access to additional
documentation other than the user reference and tutorials. See
“Documentation” on page 23.
• Support—Displays links to Reseller Support, Discreet support
resources, discussion forums, and Discreet Education. See
“Support” on page 39 for more information.
• Network Deployment—Provides step-by-step instructions
for network deployment of 3ds max. See “Network-Licensed
Version” on page 11.
There are five steps in the installation process, each with links to
related components:
• Step 1: Review Product Documentation— Displays links to
documentation about system requirements, the Installation
and Support guide, and the readme file.
• Step 2: Install 3ds max 7—Leads to the install panel that lets
you choose which components of 3ds max you want to install.
• Step 3: Learn about Product Registration—Leads to a page
with information about 3ds max product registration.
• Step 4: Install Supplemental Tools—Displays links to install
supplemental tools. See “Installing Supplemental Tools” on
page 20.
• Step 5: View Supplemental Resources—Links to
information about CD# 2: Sample Files and Partner Resources
and CD#3: Tutorials.
See “3ds max Sample Files and Partner Resources CD” on
page 31 for more information regarding plug-in content and
“Tutorials” on page 30 for more information about tutorial
files.
• Network Deployment—Gives you more information about
installing and configuring a network-licensed version of
3ds max or installing standalone licensed versions of 3ds max
on multiple systems. See “Network-Licensed Version” on
page 11.
• Support—Takes you to the Support panel. See “Support” on
page 39.
7
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Begin the Install
Close all open programs, and insert the 3ds max 7 Installation CD
into the CD–ROM drive.
If Autorun does not start the 3ds max 7 Installer, open the
Windows taskbar, choose Start, then Run. Enter the CD–ROM
drive letter, followed by:\Setup.exe (for example: d:\Setup.exe), and
then press ENTER.
You can also run the Setup program from My Computer or
Windows Explorer by navigating to the CD–ROM drive and
double-clicking Setup.exe.
The 3ds max 7 Install Panel is displayed.
Note: DirectX 9.0c is a requirement for installing 3ds max 7.
DirectX 9.0c is included in Windows XP SP2; if you have upgraded
to this service pack, you do not need to install it from the
3ds max 7 installer. See “Microsoft DirectX 9.0c” on page 21 for
more information.
3ds max Install Panel
When you click Install on the 3ds max 7 Install Panel, you can
choose from a list of 3ds max components you want to install.
Important: The 3ds max Software Developer Kit (SDK) is not installed,
by default. To install the SDK, go to “Installing Supplemental Tools” on
page 20.
By default, the standard set of components that are added during
an install are the core applications (3ds max 7, backburner 2.3 and
character studio), the reference and tutorial documentation,
architectural materials, and additional maps and materials.
To the right of each component, checkmarks indicate which
features will be installed. Links to recommended components
and support installs are also displayed to the right of the selected
installation components.
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Install the components:
1. Choose the components you want to install.
2. Click Install at the bottom of the screen. The 3ds max 7 Setup
dialog appears. To abort the installation, click Cancel.
backburner 2.3
backburner™ is the 3ds max 7 network-rendering management
software, also used by combustion®.
On a system where 3ds max has never been installed, backburner is
installed into a shared folder; c:\program files\backburner 2\. This
is done so you can use the network rendering and command-line
rendering features of 3ds max and so other programs, like
combustion, can take advantage of backburner as well.
If you're installing 3ds max 7 on a system that had installations of
3ds max 6 or combustion, an older version of backburner is already
installed on the system. In this case, the newer version of
backburner will install into the same path used by the previous
version. This is done so the older version of 3ds max or combustion
will still be able to use the newer version of backburner. It also
means that any 3ds max 6 or combustion network-rendering jobs
that are still in the queue will not be lost. They can still be assigned
and rendered using the new version of backburner.
3ds max 7 can use the newer version of backburner, but cannot use
the older version of backburner.
For more information on backburner, see the Network Rendering
topics in the 3ds max 7 User Reference.
mental ray Shaders Environment Variable
The MAX7_MI_ROOT environment variable allows you to
remap the location of your mental ray shaders. You can modify
the path in Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced Tab >
Environment Variables.
Network-Licensed Version
If you're planning to install 3ds max on multiple networked
systems, such as a render farm or a classroom environment, you
now have several options that can greatly expedite the
installation process.
Choosing Network activates the Network License Server field,
where you can specify a license server. If you've purchased a
network-licensed version of 3ds max, network administrators
can perform a network installation by installing the Autodesk
License Manager tools. Refer to the Network Licensing Guide
available from the main 3ds max 7 installer panel. You can also
find this document located in the \manuals folder on the product
CD.
Network-licensed versions of 3ds max obtain activation from a
network-license server. Before activating the network-license
server, you must upgrade to or purchase the network-enabled
version of 3ds max. A standalone licensed version can be
converted to a network-licensed version. Check with your
Authorized Autodesk Reseller for further information.
11
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Starting and Activating the Software
To start 3ds max for the first time:
• Start 3ds max from Start > Programs > discreet > 3dsmax 7 or
from a shortcut on your desktop.
You can also start the program by navigating to the install folder
with My Computer or Windows Explorer and then doubleclicking 3dsmax.exe.
While administrative permissions are required to install 3ds max,
you can log on to the system as a regular user to run 3ds max.
The first time you start 3ds max, the Activation Code dialog is
displayed. This dialog allows you to proceed with your activation,
or start using 3ds max.
The Activation Code dialog continues to appear when you start
3ds max until you have activated the product. You can also start
the Activation Wizard while running 3ds max by choosing
Help > Activate 3ds max.
If you encounter a licensing error that requires you to reactivate
your copy of 3ds max, you will be able to choose only the Activate
3ds max option from the Activation Code dialog. The other
options are unavailable.
Operation in Trial Mode
If you don't want to activate the software at this point, you can
choose Run The Product. You are given a 30-day trial period
during which you can use 3ds max. The trial period starts from
the time you first start the program. During this trial-mode
period, you can use the software; however, you cannot export the
license to another system.
Network floating licenses are an option that allows
3ds max licenses to be accessible across a network. No activation
grace period is given for network licenses. The System
Administrator must enter a valid activation code in order to run
network-licensing versions of 3ds max. If installing a floatinglicensed version on a laptop, you can use the License Borrowing
Utility to check out a license when you are away from the
docking station. Please review the documentation available from
the main 3ds max 7 installer panel. You can also find this
documentation in the \manuals folder (adsk_brw.chm) on your
3ds max 7 installation CD.
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Activating 3ds max
For your convenience, 3ds max provides the Activation Wizard for
electronic registration and quick access to your activation code.
The Activation Wizard appears after you install 3ds max and run
it for the first time. It steps you through all the information needed
for registering your product and for providing you with an
activation code.
You can obtain your activation code directly on the Web, by fax,
email, or postal mail. You can also immediately enter your
activation code if you already have one.
To obtain a 3ds max activation code using the Activation
Wizard:
1. Start 3ds max.
2. If you have not yet activated your copy of 3ds max, the
Activation Wizard appears.
3. Choose Activate 3ds max 7, and click Next.
4. Choose Register And Activate, and click Next.
5. If you already have an activation code, choose Enter Activation
Code, and click Next.
6. Enter the requested registration information, and click Next.
7. Enter your personal information, and click Next.
8. Confirm your personal information, and click Next.
9. Choose a registration method. You can choose Connect Directly
Via The Web, Fax Request, Email Request, or Mail Request to
register and obtain your activation code.
Each registration method walks you through the procedure for
activating 3ds max, depending on your geographic location.
Until you properly activate the program, the Activation Wizard
appears each time you start 3ds max.
If you are unable to complete the activation process online, you
can use the phone or fax numbers below:
United States, Canada, and Latin America
•Fax: 800.225.6490 or 415.507.4937
•Phone: 800.551.1490 or 415.507.4690
Europe, Middle East and Africa
•e-mail: [email protected]
•Fax: +41 (32) 7239169
Asia Pacific
•Fax: +65.6735.4857
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Configuring Display Drivers
The first time you start 3ds max, and have either run or bypassed
the Activation Wizard, the Graphics Driver Setup dialog is
displayed. Some options on the dialog are unavailable if the
appropriate hardware and drivers are not installed. Choose
Software, the default driver, unless you want to use a different
option supported by your video card.
Software—This is the default driver. It works with any graphics
card meeting the minimum requirements.
OpenGL—Many graphics cards now support hardwareaccelerated OpenGL. This selection often gives you the best
graphics performance. If your graphics card does not support
OpenGL, the current Windows OpenGL driver will be used. The
graphics-card manufacturer's OpenGL driver gives better
performance than the stock Windows OpenGL driver.
To check the OpenGL driver, you can start 3ds max and go to
Help > About 3ds max. The About 3ds max dialog shows you what
driver is configured. If you see OpenGL, followed by the card
manufacturer's name, your card has specific OpenGL support.
Configuring Display Drivers
Direct3D—Uses a driver from the hardware manufacturer
designed to work with hardware accelerators. This works only if
DirectX 9 is installed and your display driver for your graphics
card supports it. In addition, this option works only with cards
having at least 32 MB of memory.
Note: You must have DirectX 9.0c installed to use the Direct3D
display driver. DirectX 9.0c is included on the 3ds max 7
Installation CD, and is now a mandatory requirement for
3ds max 7.
Clicking the Advanced Direct3D button opens the Direct3D
Driver Setup dialog, where you can choose the Direct3D version
and device. To exit this dialog and select a different graphic
driver, click Revert From Direct3D.
Custom—Uses a driver that has been supplied by the graphicscard manufacturer. The file must first be copied into the \drivers
folder under \3dsmax7.
Configuring for a Custom driver may result in an error message:
“Interactive 3D Renderer Failed”. This usually means the
graphics card does not support a custom driver; you should try
configuring for OpenGL or Direct3D.
If you're not sure which option gives you the best performance,
try different graphics configurations by starting 3ds max from
Windows Start > Programs > discreet > 3ds max 7 > Change
Graphics Mode. Once you find a driver that gives you the best
performance, start 3ds max using your normal shortcut.
After you choose the display driver, 3ds max starts and is ready
to use.
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Your 3ds max License
When you activate 3ds max, only the computer you activated it on
is licensed to run that copy of the program. The licensing software
uses the following components of the computer to identify the
license rights:
• Hard disk where the operating system resides
• Files in the license folder
• System date and time
Making changes to any of these components can cause a license
error that requires you to reactivate your copy of 3ds max. Several
recommendations to avoid breaking your license are listed below.
For additional information, see “Frequently Asked Questions” on
page 41.
License Folder
When you install 3ds max, the installer adds a hidden license
folder named c:\documents and settings\all users.winnt\application
data\macrovision\safecast\product licenses.
Do not tamper with the license folder or any files within the folder.
System Date and Time
Once you have activated your software, the 3ds max license allows
for time changes within two days of the current time on your
system clock. If you set the system clock back more than two days,
the next time you start 3ds max, you're given the option of
correcting the system clock. If you do not correct the system clock,
a license error is generated, and you must reactivate the software.
For security reasons, you can only set your clock back twice, at
which point you will need to reactivate your copy of the software.
Your 3ds max License
Updating System Components
If you make changes to your computer, or if you install 3ds max
on a new computer, you need to take steps to ensure that you do
not receive license errors.
Before making changes to your system, you should export the
license from your system. For more information, see “Portable
License Utility” on page 19.
Uninstalling 3ds max
The license information is not removed when you uninstall the
software. If you reinstall on the same system, the 3ds max license
information is still valid. You do not have to reactivate.
License Errors
If you do receive a license error, you will need to reactivate your
copy of 3ds max. You can use the Activation Wizard to complete
your request. Depending on the error, you may have a seven-day
grace period, from the time of your license error, before you must
reactivate the product. After the seven-day grace period, you will
not be able to use the software again until you have entered a
new activation code. In certain cases, there is no grace period.
If a new activation code is needed, the Activation Code dialog
will appear when you start 3ds max. You can only choose to
activate the product if you encounter a licensing error.
Portable License Utility
Your 3ds max license is valid on only one computer at a time.
With the Portable License Utility (PLU), you can transfer the
license to another computer or transfer it back to the original
computer.
You must have administrative permissions to use the PLU.
19
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To use the Portable License Utility:
From the Windows Start menu > Programs > discreet > 3ds max 7,
run the Portable License Utility.
For more information about using the PLU, click Help on the PLU
dialog. Or open the adsk_plu.chm file in the \manuals folder.
Grace Period for an Emergency License
After the license has been moved to another computer, the Portable
License utility has a twenty-four-hour grace period, during which
time you can run 3ds max on the source computer. When the grace
period expires, however, the source computer cannot run 3ds max
again until you complete a “round trip” of the license: once you
have moved the license to the target computer, you need to move
it back to the source computer. The grace period may not be
available if you have recently used the emergency license on the
source computer.
Installing Supplemental Tools
The fourth step on the 3ds max 7 Install panel allows you to install
additional tools required by some 3ds max features. You have six
choices: Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0c, Apple® QuickTime 6.5, 3ds max
7 SDK, Stand-Alone BackBurner 2.3, Java™ Runtime Environment
1.4.2, and Adobe® Reader® 6.0.
To install any one of them, click the name to start the installation
process for that tool.
Installing Supplemental Tools
Microsoft DirectX 9.0c
DirectX 9.0c is a minimum requirement for 3ds max 7 and is used
for graphic display. In addition, some 3ds max 7 plug-ins link to
DirectX runtimes.
DirectX 9.0c is included in Window XP SP2; if you have
upgraded to this service pack, you do not need to install it from
the 3ds max 7 installer.
If you are installing 3ds max 7 through a script or using some
other mass-deployment method, the dxsetup.exe file supports a
switch for unattended installation (/silent).
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Apple QuickTime 6.5
Apple QuickTime 6.5 is required to run the 3ds max QuickTime
plug-in. 3ds max software has the ability to read and write
QuickTime MOV files only if the QuickTime software is installed
on your computer. Choose this option to install QuickTime
support.
During the QuickTime installation, choose the “Recommended”
install in order to have read-and-write functionality of QuickTime
files.
3ds max 7 Software Development Kit
Information on the 3ds max Software Development Kit (SDK) is
available on our peer-to-peer SDK Forum on the World Wide Web.
To visit the SDK Forum, use the Discreet Online Forum Web site at:
http://support.discreet.com/.
Dedicated SDK marketing and development support for thirdparty developers is available from the Discreet Sparks program
Web site at: http://sparks.discreet.com.
Updated 3ds max SDK documentation will be available on the
Discreet Sparks site.
Stand-Alone Backburner
The stand-alone version of backburner provides a browse button
that allows you to select your install location. It will also change
the registries and move folders if backburner was previously
installed.
Documentation
Documentation
The Documentation panel of the 3ds max 7 Installer gives you
access to documents that are separate from the 3ds max online
References and Tutorials.
From this panel, you can access the following:
• 3ds max 7 Product Readme
• 3ds max 7 New Features Guide
• Installation and Support Guide (an electronic version of this
document)
• Stand-Alone Licensing Guide
• Network Licensing Guide
• SAMreport-Lite User's Guide
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Upgrading/Updating Your Software
To find out about what's new for this version of the software, refer
to the 3ds max 7 New Features Guide, included in the box or
accessible from the 3ds max Help menu. Additional information is
available in the online User Reference (“What's New in 3ds max 7”)
and Tutorials (“New Features and Improvements”).
Note: If you have purchased an upgrade version, printed tutorials
are not included in the box. If you wish to have the printed version,
fill in the request card included in the box, or go to
www.autodeskbookrequest.com to complete the form online.
Upgrading from a Previous Version
If you are upgrading 3ds max, you do not need the previous
version of 3ds max installed on your system. However, you will
need your previous serial number to obtain a new activation code.
Adding, Removing or Repairing Components
Once you have installed 3ds max software on your system, you
cannot install a second copy. You can only install components that
were not previously installed or you can uninstall components.
To add or remove 3ds max or any of the components, you have
to restart the 3ds max 7 Installer and choose to add or remove
them from the 3ds max 7 install panel.
When you restart the 3ds max 7 Installer, the installer checks for
an existing installation of 3ds max. You will notice a subtle
difference to the 3ds max 7 Install panel. The action list, at the
right, shows you what components can be repaired or removed.
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Adding Components
To add a component after 3ds max has been installed, do the
following:
1. Insert the 3ds max 7 Installation CD.
If Autorun does not start the 3ds max 7 Installer, browse the CD
and double-click the Setup.exe file.
2. Click Install under Install 3ds max 7.
3. In the Component list, click a checkmark in the Add box next to
the components.
Note: Unless you want to uninstall components, do not change
the state of components that are already installed.
4. Click Modify. The selected component will be installed and
available for your next design session.
Removing Components
Uninstalling components is similar to adding them. There are
two ways of correctly uninstalling 3ds max 7 or any of its
components, either through the 3ds max Installer or by using
Add/Remove Programs.
Removing 3ds max uninstalls the components from your system,
removing most files and Windows registry entries from your
hard drive. If you simply delete the 3ds max folders, you will not
remove all program components.
Using the 3ds max 7 Installer
1. Insert the 3ds max 7 Installation CD.
2. If Autorun does not start the 3ds max 7 Installer, browse the
CD and double click the Setup.exe file.
3. Click 3ds max 7 Install.
4. In the Component list, click the Remove button next to the
components you want to uninstall.
5. Click Modify. The selected components will be removed from
the system.
Using Add/Remove Programs
1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs. You'll see an entry for
each 3ds max 7 component that is currently installed.
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3. Highlight the Component you want to remove and click the
Remove button.
4. Click Yes when you are asked if you are sure you want to
remove the component. The selected components will be
removed from the system.
Special Considerations when Uninstalling Components
Neither method of uninstalling components for 3ds max will
delete files that you have created. Therefore, any scene that you
store in the \3dsmax7\scenes or \3dsmax7\autoback folders, for
example, remains on the system. Likewise, files that contain
customized settings or configuration data will not be removed.
These types of files include the 3dsmax.ini, plugin.ini and
network.log files.
The software license manager will be removed during an uninstall
of 3ds max.
If you remove 3ds max from your system and reinstall it later, you
will not have to reactivate it. This is because the data file
containing the activation code is safely stored on your local drive.
Program Maintenance
If you ever encounter a problem that prevents 3ds max 7 or any of
its components from running, you can attempt to repair the
problem without uninstalling and reinstalling the software. You
should try to repair your software if you suspect some sort of file
corruption, missing files, or corrupted registry entries.
Program Maintenance
Repairing Components
There are two ways of correctly repairing 3ds max 7 or any of its
components, either through the 3ds max Installer or by using
Add/Remove Programs.
• From the 3ds max Installer, select Repair next to the
component name, and click Modify, or,
• Open the Windows Control Panel and choose Add/Remove
Programs. From Add/Remove Programs, select any of the
3ds max 7 components, and click the Change button.
Repair reinstalls the component (based on your current
installation configuration), in order to replace any files,
registry keys, or shortcuts that might have been damaged.
Note: If you repair components using Add/Remove
Programs, you may be required to insert the 3ds max 7
installation CD.
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If an existing file is newer than a file normally used to repair it, the
existing file isn't changed. In other words, if you've applied a
patch, a repair will not restore the system to an earlier state.
Preferences stored in the registry might be reset to default values.
3ds max 7 Online Documentation
You can access the online documentation from within 3ds max
using commands on the Help menu. If, for some reason, you want
to view the online documentation from outside the program, you
can open the files from Windows Start > Programs > discreet
group. Internet Explorer 6 is needed to view the files. However, an
Internet connection is not required.
These files are installed along with the core 3ds max software, and
have a .chm file-name extension. The online documentation is
located in the \3dsmax7\help folder.
User Reference
The 3ds max 7 User Reference documents the program. Once you
have the program running, choose Help menu > User Reference.
The User Reference was updated for this version of the software.
Tutorials
The third disk included in the 3ds max 7 box contains all of the
tutorial sample files, as well as additional scenes, images, material
libraries, maps, and sound files for you to use while learning and
experimenting with 3ds max.
To view the 3ds max 7 Tutorials online while you are using the
program, choose Help menu > Tutorials. The Tutorials were
updated for this version of the software.
3ds max Sample Files and Partner Resources CD
The 3ds max 7 Installer does not install any of the tutorial sample
files to your system. As you need them, copy the files to your
hard disk. Suggested location: \3dsmax7\tutorials.
For your convenience, a slightly smaller subset of the 3ds max 7
Tutorials topics is provided in a single printed volume that you
can read offline.
MAXScript Reference
To see complete information about MAXScript, choose Help
menu > MAXScript Reference. The MAXScript Reference is
provided online only, as a compiled HTML Help file.
The MAXScript Reference was updated for the most recent
versions of the 3ds max software.
3ds max Sample Files and Partner Resources
CD
The 3ds max 7 Sample Files and Partner Resources CD gives you
access to plug-ins and tools developed by some of the key
Discreet third-party partners. These plug-ins offer you the latest
technologies a 3ds max artist would need, from detailing a scene,
or importing a model from another program.
If you are currently performing an installation of 3ds max 7 and
want to install plug-ins contained on the 3ds max 7 Sample Files
and Partner Resources CD, you first have to exit the 3ds max 7
Installer and put the 3ds max 7 Sample Files and Partner
Resources CD in the drive.
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To use any of the files on this CD, simply copy or drag them to your
own computer. Files from the Sample Files and Partners CD are
uncompressed and are not installed when you run the 3ds max 7
Installer.
The 3ds max 7 Partners and Samples main screen is where you can
choose to install plug-ins from Discreet Third-Party Plug-in
Partners or plug-ins from the Discreet Certified Plug-ins program.
You can also choose to manually browse the CD.
Combustion Trial Version
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animation, editing and 3D compositing are combined in an
integrated environment based on Discreet's legendary user
interface.
Your creativity knows no bounds; nor does combustion. Together
you can enrich content created with 3ds max beyond your clients'
wildest dreams - and still have time and money to enjoy life!
Get a taste of combustion with a free trial by visiting: http://
www4.discreet.com/combustion/trial.html
Partners
This release of 3ds max includes some fully-functional plug-ins
that add specific value for games, design, visualization, and
visual simulation customers.
• RPC™ Plug-ins from ArchVision™, Inc.: Lets you add
photorealistic objects (such as cars, people, etc.) from the
included ArchVision sample CD to your renderings.
• PolyTrans™ from Okino Computer Graphics, Inc.: A demo
version of PolyTrans, from Okino Computer Graphics, lets
you evaluate dozens of CAD, DCC and VisSim data
converters directly within 3ds max.
• OpenFlight® Geometry Converter from Okino Computer
Graphics, Inc.: Lets you import and export OpenFlight data
without any restrictions.
• Okino Super Installer from Okino Computer Graphics, Inc.
This program allows you to directly import and export all of
the PolyTrans supported 3D file formats from a custom user
interface directly inside these programs.
• EASYnat™ from Bionatics® s.a.: Offers a lifelike plant
modeling solution that allows you to drop virtual seeds from
the included samples and “grow” them in your model.
• Turbo Squid™ from Turbo Squid: Is free software you can
use to buy and sell digital assets. It provides access to a strong
community of graphics professional and a growing library of
over 70,000 models, motion capture files, maps, sounds, plug-
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ins and more. For more information, visit the Turbo Squid Web
site at http://www.turbosquid.com.
Discreet Certified Plug-Ins
The 3ds max 7 Sample Files and Partner Resources CD also
contains evaluation versions of some of the Discreet Certified
3ds max Plug-Ins that are designed to bring you some of the most
advanced plug-in solutions for the software.
The following can be found and installed from Sample Files and
Partner Resources CD:
• AfterBurn 3 from Sitni Sati: AfterBurn 3 is a productionproven volumetric particle effects engine that has been used in
producing effects for top rated cinematic productions and
games.
• Absolute Character Tools 1.6 Pro from Snoswell Design:
Absolute Character Tools 1.6 Pro (or “ACT” for short) is a
sophisticated musculature system for 3ds max that helps you
add extra realism and believability to characters that you create
and animate.
• clothfx from Size8 Software, Inc.: clothfx is a production
proven cloth simulation system for 3ds max that provides users
with the advanced tools necessary to create realistic fabrics and
tailor-made clothing for their characters and creatures.
• DreamScape 2 from Sitni Sati: DreamScape 2 is unique plug-in
tool for creating and rendering realistic landscapes, seascapes,
skies, clouds, outdoor lighting and more.
• finaRender Stage-1 from cebas Computer GmbH:
finalRender® Stage-1 represents the next generation of robust
raytracing and Global Illumination rendering systems for
3ds max and Autodesk VIZ
• finalToon from cebas Computer GmbH: finalToon is a fully
featured True Line Renderer (TLR), with unparalleled line
quality and rendering speed. Cartoon or line rendering scenes
that take a long time to render are lightning fast in finalToon!
• Flight Studio from Bluerock Technologies: Flight Studio is a
sophisticated suite of OpenFlight importing, editing, and
exporting tools for 3ds max.
• Kaldera from Mankua: Kaldera is a powerful texturing plugin that gives users the ability to render full scene information
into special texture maps based on your object's appearance
and relationship to other objects or elements within your
scene
• Particle Flow Tools™: Box 1 from Orbaz Technologies:
Particle Flow Tools: Box 1 is a set of Particle Flow operators
designed to extend Particle Flow's inherent capabilities.
• rtre from Cubicspace: rtre real time rendering allows you to
instantly explore or present any 3D model, however complex
- from quick interactive studies to full multimedia
presentations of major structures.
• Texture Layers 2 from Manku: Texture Layers 2 offers
powerful procedural mapping types, including Spline
Mapping, Free form Mapping and much more.
Samples
The total collection of sample files on the Sample Files and
Partners CD is quite large and you can manually copy them to
your hard drive. The samples include maps and material library
files. Sample files have their file attributes set to Read-only, even
if you copy them to your local drive. Attempting to save a sample
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file using the same name will result in an error unless you change
the file attribute to Archive. Refer to your operating system
documentation to learn how to change file attributes, if necessary.
What's in the Box
The new and update units of 3ds max typically contain the
components listed in this section. If you believe any items are
missing, please contact your Authorized Discreet Reseller
immediately. This list is subject to change without notice, and
collateral material might be different.
A media folder containing:
• 3ds max Installation CD
• 3ds max Sample Files and Partners CD
• 3ds max Tutorial Files CD
Printed manuals and documentation included:
• 3ds max 7 New Features Guide
• 3ds max Installation and Support Guide
• 3ds max Tutorials
Printable PDF files, in the \manuals folder:
• 3ds max Installation and Support Guide
• 3ds max New Features Guide
• 3ds max Networking Documentation (See “Documentation” on page
23 for more information)
Installation Troubleshooting
Also refer to the 3ds max Documentation Set topic in the online
User Reference file for details regarding the documentation
included with 3ds max. You can access the online references by
clicking User Reference from the Help menu.
Note: If you have purchased an upgrade version, printed
tutorials are not included in the box. If you wish to have the
printed version, fill in the request card included in the box, or go
to www.autodeskbookrequest.com to complete the form online.
Installation Troubleshooting
Adding a Command-Line Switch to the Executable
Line
1. From within Explorer, My Computer, or the Desktop, right-
click the icon for 3ds max 7 or its shortcut.
A shortcut menu appears.
2. Choose Properties. The Properties dialog appears.
3. In the Target text box, add the command-line switch after the
program path and executable file name. For example:
c:\3dsmax7\3dsmax.exe -h.
4. Click OK.
The command-line switch takes effect the next time you run the
program from the shortcut.
To see a complete list of command-line switches and their
functions, see “Starting 3ds max from the Command Line” in the
User Reference.
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Calculating the Appropriate Swap-File Setting
A good rule of thumb for configuring your Windows swap file is
three times the amount of physical memory (RAM) on your system.
When you output to high-resolution film or print work, the
demands will be much higher than for video resolutions. This is
especially true when using Image Motion Blur.
Many users dedicate entire hard drives or partitions as swap files.
Setting swap files in this manner avoids any fragmentation of the
swap file.
It is very important that you have sufficient swap space set aside.
A common cause of system instability is an improperly sized swap
file.
Possible Error Messages at Startup
Error: “Interactive 3D Renderer initialization failed. Please
check your device settings by using the –H command line
option.”
This error indicates that the video setting is incorrect. To fix this, do
one of the following:
1. Go to Windows Start > Programs > discreet > 3ds max and
choose Change Video Mode.
2. Go to Windows Start > Run > Browse and choose
\3dsmax7\3dsmax.exe.
3. In the Run dialog, add -h to change the command to
\3dsmax7\3dsmax.exe -h, and click OK to start the program.
Choose Software when prompted. Also see “Adding a
Command-Line Switch to the Executable Line,” above.
Support
Additional troubleshooting documentation is available in
“Diagnosing the Interactive 3D Renderer initialization failed
error” at http://www.discreet.com/support/max. Search the
knowledgebase for “454” (without the quotation marks; this is
the number of that document).
Error: “TCP/IP error or Transport error – The network protocol
TCP/IP is not configured properly.”
This error indicates an issue with your computer's network
configuration. Refer to the “Setting Up TCP/IP” topic in the User
Reference for help, or http://www.discreet.com/support/max. Search
the knowledgebase for “470” (without the quotation marks; this
is the number of that document).
For addition FAQ information, see “Frequently Asked
Questions” on page 41.
Support
If you need assistance with your installation, contact your
Authorized Discreet Reseller, or use any of the following support
options.
Reseller Support
Authorized Discreet Resellers provide first-level support and
front-line technical assistance. Be sure to inquire about product
integration and installation, on-site services as well as training
options from your local Reseller.
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Discreet Support Resources
The Discreet web site offers access to a wide range of product
information and support resources such as the Knowledge Base,
FAQs, technical bulletins and product downloads.
Discussion Forums
Information and peer-to-peer assistance is available on the
Discreet Forums.
Discreet Education
Links to training, courseware and other useful materials are
available on the Discreet Education site.
Discreet Authorized Training Centers (DTC)
It’s proven that instructor led training is one of the most effective
ways to learn. Learn from the best. We have authorized over 100
DTCs in over 30 countries to serve you. DTCs deliver professional
training for web content creation, desktop video production,
character animation, visual effects production, design
visualization, and more.
Whether you are an advanced user working in the industry or a
beginner who wants to learn the basics, DTCs offer intensive
courses with flexible schedules to meet your needs. Only DTCs
offer Discreet authorized training. To search for a DTC near you,
check our Web site at: http://www.discreet.com/education/
training_centers.php
Frequently Asked Questions
Discreet Learning Tools (In English Only):
Courses that come to you: Discreet produces a series of training
tools to help you get the most of your investment in Discreet
software. Created by professional digital artists, trainers and
courseware developers, Discreet now offers:
• Discreet Official Training Courseware—DOTC allows you to
learn wherever you are, whenever you want.
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commuting behind? Discreet e-Learning brings the classroom
to you.
• Discreet DVD Training—Relax, kick back, and learn, Discreet
has created training DVDs on our most popular products.
How about learning Discreet products from the comfort of
your favorite chair at home?
More information is available at: www.discreet.com/courseware,
www.discreet.com/elearning. Learning tools can be purchased
online from www.discreet.com/store. Learning materials are
available in the US & Canada and some international locations.
Installation Questions
Q. Does 3ds max have to be installed on my c: drive?
No. By default, 3ds max will install to the drive containing the
most free disk space. If that drive happens to be c:, then the
installer assumes you want to install to a folder named
c:\3dsmax7.
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You are given the opportunity to change drive location and folder
name. If you choose to change drive location, be sure that you also
have a folder name specified. If the installer recognizes d: as having
the most space, but you want the software installed on c:, make
sure an entire path to c:\3dsmax7 is specified. If you simply type c:,
you run the risk of installing the program directly into your
system's root folder.
Activation Questions
Q. Will 3ds max 7 work without activation, when first installed?
Yes, however, the product will only work without activation
during the initial 30-day trial period, which begins when you first
start the program.
Q. Does an uninstall/reinstall require a new activation code?
No. The license rights to the application are contained in locations
that are not removed in a standard uninstall process. When
reinstallation happens, the previous license rights to the
application are restored.
Q. Will I have to reactivate my third-party applications
whenever I reactivate
3ds max?
No. Once activated, third-party applications shouldn't need
reactivation. If, for some reason, you need to reactivate your
license of 3ds max, third-party applications will operate correctly
once 3ds max is running again.
Q. Will a reinstall of the product provide a new 30-day trial
period?
No.
Q. What if I need to get activation for my product during
non-business hours?
3ds max includes an electronic registration and activation feature
that allows users (in some geographic locations) to obtain an
activation code at any time.
Q. In case I need to reactivate my copy of 3ds max, can I
use the original activation code?
No. The activation code is unique in every instance and cannot be
used more than once.
General Questions
Q. Can a file created in 3ds max 7 be opened with an
earlier version of 3ds max?
Not directly. Files saved in the .max format are only upwardly
compatible. You can try File > Export from 3ds max 7 and use File
> Import in an earlier version of 3ds max, but some data may be
lost.
Q. How do I verify my display configuration?
There are two ways to check your current display configuration.
You can start 3ds max and open Help > About 3ds max. The
About 3ds max dialog displays driver information. You can also
check the current configuration by starting 3ds max and opening
Customize > Preferences > Viewports tab. Display Driver
information is shown at the bottom of the dialog. If you want,
you can click Choose Driver to change graphic drivers. The
change will take place the next time you start the program.
You can also quickly change drivers by starting 3ds max from
Windows Start > Programs > discreet > 3ds max 7 > Change
Graphics Mode.
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Q. My graphic card supports DirectX. How do I check the
version of my DirectX drivers?
If your graphic card supports DirectX and you have drivers
loaded, you can run a utility that loads with the DirectX drivers.
From the Windows Start menu choose Run. In the Open field, type
dxdiag.exe. This utility will display a dialog showing you which
version of DirectX you've currently got installed.
If it's an older version, you can install DirectX 9 drivers from the
3ds max 7 main install panel under Supplemental Tools.
DirectX 9 is a minimum requirement for 3ds max 7.
Q. Why do I receive an I/O error when I try to save one of the
sample files?
The sample files are saved in an uncompressed format which
allows you to copy them easily to your local drive. This requires
that they are saved with Read-only attributes. There are two ways
to solve this:
Change the file attributes to Archive. To learn how to change
attributes, refer to your operating system manual.
Do not attempt to save over the original file. Use File > Save As
instead, and specify a different file name or click the '+' button to
increment the name of the file.
License and Portable License Utility Questions
Q. How can I find out what type of license I own?
The standalone version of 3ds max can be activated using several
types of software license. 3ds max can be activated with a
permanent or non-permanent license. The type of license you have
is displayed in the title bar of 3ds max. You can also click Help >
About 3ds max. The About 3ds max dialog shows you information
about your software and license expiration.
Most Commercial versions of 3ds max are activated as
“Permanent” while Educational versions are typically activated
with a “Term Limit”.
Q. How do I move my license from one machine to
another?
The Portable License Utility (PLU) facilitates this. (If you are
familiar with the old hardware lock, you can think of this as
moving the hardware lock from one machine to another.)
To see how the PLU works, export to another computer and then
import it back again! Follow these steps:
1. Start the PLU, go to the Licenses page and click Export
License.
2. Click Add to add the other Computer name and Identification
code, then click Ok. The Export License dialog opens.
3. A license transfer file must be used the first time a license is
exported. Click Transfer License.
4. From the other computer, run the PLU, and click Import
License then browse to import the file you just created.
Q. I export back and forth from home all the time, and I'm
tired of writing floppy disks. Is there another way?
Yes. The first time you export to another PC, you have to write
the file (and it can be anywhere, on a floppy, or shared network
drive). But after that, you can use the Transfer Code instead.
Export normally, but instead of entering a file name, on the
Export Type Selection dialog, choose the Transfer Code option.
Write down the code and click Transfer. On the other PC, choose
Transfer Code again on the Import page, and enter the code.
Transfer codes can't be reused; you'll get a new one each time.
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Q. I exported my license, writing the file on a floppy disk, and
now I lost the floppy disk (or it's unreadable), and I can't run
on either PC.
On the PC where you last worked, run the PLU and export the
license again, and make a new floppy. This works because it
remembers which PC you exported it to. You can only re-export to
the same PC.
Q. I exported my license by mistake to a PC that no longer
exists, or to a PC that was lost or stolen, and can't run. My
computer had a serious hard-disk or BIOS failure. What should
I do?
Contact the Autodesk registration center directly by phone, fax,
email, or online. A technician will help you re-initiate your 3ds
max license.
Q. Importing a license file, I get error 1291, “The supplied
import data is now obsolete. A more up-to-date version
probably exists.” What do I do?
The license file is continuously updated every time it's exported,
imported, or the product is run. You have to be using the very
latest version of the license file at all times.
Let's say on PC1 you export to a floppy. Now the floppy has the
latest version. When you import that on PC2, the license on PC2 is
now the latest version. If you tried to import that same floppy
again, you'd get a 1291 error, because it's now obsolete. Otherwise,
you could export to PC3, and then re-import from this floppy
again: trying to make two licenses where you only have one.
Q. On import, I get error 1290, “The supplied data is not
destined for this machine. Please check that the file has
been transferred to the correct machine.”
Here's how this can happen. On PC1, you select PC2 and export
to it, creating a floppy. You take that floppy to PC3 and try to
import. Sorry: it wasn't intended to go to PC3. This restriction is
necessary for security reasons. If you want the license on PC3,
you'll have to import on PC2, and then export it, selecting PC3 as
the destination.
Q. I'm going to make a major hardware modification to my
PC, such as changing the main hard disk, the motherboard,
or upgrading the BIOS. (Making a more serious change
than just adding memory or changing the video card,
which doesn't require reactivation). How can I avoid
breaking my license and having to reactivate it?
Use the PLU (Portable License Utility) to transfer your license to
yourself by parking it on an external device (e.g.: floppy). This
will store the license until you transfer the license back into the
original system.
Q. My system had a major failure that required me to reload
the operating system. There was no chance to “park” the
license. What are my options for recovering my license?
If the hard drive is damaged beyond recovery, it is unlikely the
license will still be retrievable. You will have to resubmit to get a
new activation code after the operating system is reloaded.
Q. Does the PLU work with third-party applications?
If you use the PLU to transfer your 3ds max license, the ability to
run the plug-ins is also transferred. This means that if the plugins are installed on the transferred machine, they can be made
functional by using the same plug-in activation as the original
machine. Only the plug-in information is transferred. Not the
actual license.
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