8

432 Chapter 20: Managing Scenes and Projects
You can establish, refresh, and break links to any
number of linked files. You can also edit out
unnecessar y information by using layers and
other filters. The File Link Manager defines which
geometr y is included in the 3ds Max scene from
the linked file, how the geometry is organized, and
when it’s regenerated.
The objects that you bring in from linked fi les
behave just like any other object created i n
3ds Max. You can scale, rotate, and move them, as
well as attach modifiers and materials.
You can also refresh or break links to linked files.
When you refresh a linked file, any changes youve
madetothelinkedfileareappliedtogeometryin
your scene. Note, however, that 3ds Max won’t edit
or change your original linked file. The integrit y
of your other softwares design database is never
compromised with the File Link M anager.
Finally, if you decide to break a link to a linked file,
you can either keep the objects from the linked file
inyoursceneorhavethemremovedalongwith
the link.
See also
File Link Basics (page 3–426)
File Link Tips (page 3–428)
Working with AutoCAD, Architectural Desktop,
and Revit Files (page 3–446)
Pr ocedur es
To link a drawing f ile:
You can link drawings in the form of DWG or DXF
files.ADWGisthenativefileformatforAutoCAD
and Architectural Desktop, but you must first
export a DWG when working from a Revit project.
The File Link Manager does not recognize RVT
files.
1. Choose File menu > File Link Manager.
2. On the Attach panel, click Files to select a file
from the appropriate directory on either y our
local or network system, and click O pen.
3. Choose a Preset f rom the pull-down list, if you
have one defined.
Tip: If this is your first File Link ing, and you
havenotdefinedanypresets,youmaywantto
create one on the
Presets panel (page 3–443)
of the dialog.
4. Tu r n on t he Rescale s w itch a nd a djust t he
Incoming File Units, if necessary.
5. Click Attach This File.
To reload a drawing:
Reload is most often used when your
drawingorprojecthasbeenchangedin
AutoCAD, Architectural D esktop, or Revit, or if
the linked d rawing file has been moved and you
have to tell the File Link Manager where to find
the drawing.
Note: If your Revit project has been updated,
remember to export a new DWG file that can be
reloaded.
1. On the Files panel of the File link Manager,
click the file name in the Linked Files list and
click Reload.
Linked files that have b een changed are prefaced
w ith the
symbol.
Tip: Tur n on the Show Relo ad Options sw itch
ifyouwanttomakechangestothesettings
used to link the dr awing. Otherwise, the reload
process w i l l use the same sett ings you originally
used when creating the link.
2. IfShowReloadOptionsisturnedon,the
File
Link Sett ings dialog (page 3–435)
is displayed
whereyoucanchangeyoursettingsintheBasic
and Advanced panels.
Note: You cannot change the sorting or layer
options when reloading a drawing.