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18 Chapter 1: Getting Started with 3ds M ax
Youcanloadthepresetdefaultsthatshipwith
3ds Max, or you can create your own.
In general, you don’t need to work directly with the
auxiliary files, but it’s good to know about them.
Among the auxiliary files the program uses are:
•
3dsm ax.ini : This file gets updated w hen you
start and exit 3ds Max, as well as when you
change most Pref erences settings. It contains
values relating to program defaults, including
the graphics driver, directories used to access
externalfilessuchassoundsandimages,preset
render sizes, dialog positions, snap settings,
and other preferences and default settings. If
you edit this file, be sure to make a copy first, so
you can return to the original if anything goes
wrong.
Note: In 3ds Max , many of the program defaults
are set in
currentdefaults.ini ,foundinthe
\defaults directory. For more information on
this file, see
Market-Specific Defaults (page
3–834)
.
•
maxstart.max :Atstartupandwhenyoureset
theprogram,3dsMaxlooksforthisfileinthe
MaxStart folder specified in Configure User
Paths >
File I/O p anel (page 3–856) ,andif
found, loads it. This allows you to specify the
default state of the workspace whenever you
start or reset the program. For example, if you
always use a ground plane, you can make it the
default setup by creating one, and then saving it
as
maxstart.max .
Ifyousaveadifferentfileover
maxstart.max ,
you can return to program defaults by deleting
the
maxstart.max file, and then resetting the
program.
•
maxstart.cui :Thisisthedefaultcustomuser
int erface file. You can load and save CUI files,
and set the program to use a different default
CUI file. See
Customize Menu (page 3–731) .
•
plugin.ini : This file contains director y paths
for plug-ins. Most other paths are kept in the
program INI file, but
plugin.ini is maintained
as a separate file b ecause third-par ty plug-ins
often add entries to the list at installation.
Note: It is possible to use multiple plug-in
configuration files by nesting additional paths
in your
plugin.ini file. This can be very usef ul
for a llowing an entire network of users to share
one
plugin.ini file, making the system easier
to maintain for the network administrator.
For more information, see
Network Plug-In
Configuration (p age 3–858)
.
•
startup.ms : A MAXScript file that automatically
executes at startup time. For more information,
see
Startup Scr ipt (page 3–1109) .
•
splash.bmp : To substitute a custom splash
screen (startup screen) for the defau lt image,
copy any Windows Bitmap (
.bmp )fileinto
the program root directory and rename it
splash.bmp .Theprogramwillthereafteruse
this image at s tartup.
3dsmax.ini File
The fi le 3ds Max uses to store settings b etween
sessions is named
3dsmax.ini .Itcanbefoundin
the root directory of the 3ds Max installation.
Tip: If you encounter unusual and unexplained
user-interface problems us ing 3ds Max, try
deleting the
3dsmax.ini file and restarting.
3ds Max wr ites a new
3dsmax.ini file to replace the
deleted one. O ften this will fix problems related to
the st ate of the user interface.
You can make changes to 3ds Max startup
conditions by directly editing the
3dsmax.ini file
in a text editor such as Notepad. If you do try
and edit the file by hand, be sure to maintain the
structure and syntax of the original file.