3dsmax7_ig
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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., MAKES NO WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS, AND MAKES SUCH MATERIALS AVAILABLE SOLELY ON AN "AS-IS" BASIS. IN NO EVENT SHALL AUTODESK, INC., BE LIABLE TO ANYONE FOR SPECIAL, COLLATERAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF PURCHASE OR USE OF THESE MATERIALS. THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE LIABILITY TO AUTODESK, INC., REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE MATERIALS DESCRIBED HEREIN. Autodesk, Inc., reserves the right to revise and improve its products as it sees fit. This publication describes the state of this product at the time of its publication, and may not reflect the product at all times in the future. Autodesk Trademarks The following are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries: 3D Props, 3D Studio, 3D Studio MAX, 3D Studio VIZ, 3DSurfer, 3ds max, ActiveShapes, ActiveShapes (logo), Actrix, ADI, AEC Authority (logo), AEC-X, Animator Pro, Animator Studio, ATC, AUGI, AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Map, Autodesk, Autodesk Envision, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk (logo), Autodesk Map, Autodesk MapGuide, Autodesk Streamline, Autodesk University (logo), Autodesk View, Autodesk WalkThrough, Autodesk World, AutoLISP, AutoSketch, backdraft, Biped, bringing information down to earth, Buzzsaw, CAD Overlay, Character Studio, Cinepak, Cinepak (logo), cleaner, Codec Central, combustion, Design Your World, Design Your World (logo), EditDV, Education by Design, FLEXlm, gmax, Heidi, HOOPS, Hyperwire, i-drop, Inside Track, IntroDV, Kinetix, MaterialSpec, Mechanical Desktop, NAAUG, ObjectARX, PeopleTracker, Physique, Planix, Powered with Autodesk Technology (logo), ProjectPoint, RadioRay, Reactor, Revit, Softdesk, Texture Universe, The AEC Authority, The Auto Architect, VISION*, Visual, Visual Construction, Visual Drainage, Visual Hydro, Visual Landscape, Visual Roads, Visual Survey, Visual Toolbox, Visual Tugboat, Visual LISP, Volo, WHIP!, and WHIP! (logo). The following are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries: AutoCAD Learning Assistance, AutoCAD LT Learning Assistance, AutoCAD Simulator, AutoCAD SQL Extension, AutoCAD SQL Interface, AutoSnap, AutoTrack, Built with ObjectARX (logo), burn, Buzzsaw.com, CAiCE, Cinestream, Civil 3D, cleaner central,ClearScale, Colour Warper, Content Explorer, Dancing Baby (image), DesignCenter, Design Doctor, Designer’s Toolkit, DesignProf, 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, Productstream, Real-time Roto, Render Queue, Visual Bridge, Visual Syllabus, and Where Design Connects 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. Third-Party Trademarks 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. GOVERNMENT USE Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in FAR 12.212 (Commercial Computer Software-Restricted Rights) and DFAR 227.7202 (Rights in Technical Data and Computer 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 iv 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 ig_max7.book Page v Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 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 vi 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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 ig_max7.book Page 2 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 2 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 3 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 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. 3 ig_max7.book Page 4 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 4 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide • 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: ig_max7.book Page 5 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM Installing 3ds max 7 • 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 ig_max7.book Page 6 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 6 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 7 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM Installing 3ds max 7 • 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 ig_max7.book Page 8 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 8 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 9 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM Installing 3ds max 7 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. 9 ig_max7.book Page 10 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 10 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 11 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM Installing 3ds max 7 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 ig_max7.book Page 12 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 12 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 13 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM Installing 3ds max 7 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. 13 ig_max7.book Page 14 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 14 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 15 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM Installing 3ds max 7 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: authcodes.neu@eur.autodesk.com •Fax: +41 (32) 7239169 Asia Pacific •Fax: +65.6735.4857 15 ig_max7.book Page 16 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 16 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 17 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 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. 17 ig_max7.book Page 18 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 18 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 19 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 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 ig_max7.book Page 20 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 20 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 21 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 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). 21 ig_max7.book Page 22 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 22 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 23 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 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 23 ig_max7.book Page 24 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 24 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 25 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM Adding, Removing or Repairing 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. 25 ig_max7.book Page 26 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 26 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 27 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM Adding, Removing or Repairing Components 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. 27 ig_max7.book Page 28 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 28 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 29 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 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. 29 ig_max7.book Page 30 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 30 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 31 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 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. 31 ig_max7.book Page 32 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 32 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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 Discreet combustion 3 offers the creative tools, speed and interactivity that professionals need and artists crave. Paint, animation, editing and 3D compositing are combined in an integrated environment based on Discreet's legendary user interface. ig_max7.book Page 33 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 3ds max Sample Files and Partner Resources CD 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- 33 ig_max7.book Page 34 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 34 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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 ig_max7.book Page 35 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 3ds max Sample Files and Partner Resources CD • 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 35 ig_max7.book Page 36 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 36 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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) ig_max7.book Page 37 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 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. 37 ig_max7.book Page 38 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 38 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 39 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 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. 39 ig_max7.book Page 40 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 40 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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 ig_max7.book Page 41 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 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. • Discreet e-Learning—Want to get ahead but leave the 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. Frequently Asked Questions 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. 41 ig_max7.book Page 42 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 42 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 43 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM Frequently Asked Questions 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. 43 ig_max7.book Page 44 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 44 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 45 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM Frequently Asked Questions 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. 45 ig_max7.book Page 46 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 46 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide 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. ig_max7.book Page 47 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM Frequently Asked Questions 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. 47 ig_max7.book Page 48 Wednesday, September 22, 2004 3:38 PM 48 3ds max 7 Installation and Support Guide