ftrack connect 3dsmax¶

3ds Max integration with ftrack.

Installing¶

Installing ftrack connect 3ds max¶

Using ftrack Connect¶

The primary way of installing and launching the 3ds Max integration is through the ftrack Connect package. Go to ftrack Connect package and download it for your platform.

Building from source¶

You can also build manually from the source for more control. First obtain a copy of the source by either downloading the zipball or cloning the public repository:

git clone git@bitbucket.org:ftrack/ftrack-connect-3dsmax.git

Then you can build and install the package into your current Python site-packages folder:

python setup.py build_plugin

The result plugin will then be available under the build folder. Copy or symlink the result plugin folder in your FTRACK_CONNECT_PLUGIN_PATH.

Building documentation from source¶

To build the documentation from source:

python setup.py build_sphinx

Then view in your browser:

file:///path/to/ftrack-connect-3dsmax/build/doc/html/index.html

Dependencies¶

Python >= 2.6, < 3
ftrack connect >= 0.1.2, < 2
3ds Max >= 2016 SP3, <= 2017
Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable

Additional For building¶

Sphinx >= 1.2.2, < 2
sphinx_rtd_theme >= 0.1.6, < 1

Alembic support¶

ftrack connect 3ds max optionally supports publishing and importing Alembic components using the Exocortex Crate for 3ds Max Alembic plugin.

Exocortex Crate for 3ds Max is a free, open source plugin developed by Exocortex.

When the plugin is installed, options to publish and import Alembic components will be enabled.

For convenience, ftrack connect 3ds max includes versions of the plugin for 3ds Max 2016 and 2017. The plugins, documentation and open source license can be found in the resource/ExocortexCrate folder. Please follow the installation section of the plugin documentation to install it.

For more information about Exocortex Crate, please visit: http://exocortex.com/support

Using¶

Find out all information you need to use 3ds Max with ftrack.

Launching¶

The primary way of launching 3ds Max with the ftrack integration is to download and use the ftrack Connect package.

Once installed and running you can start 3ds Max from the Actions tab after browsing to a task.

Note

If the ftrack integration fails to load with a DLL import error when using 3ds Max 2016, please install Microsoft’s Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable.

Publishing asset versions¶

Use the publish asset dialog to publish a new asset version from 3ds Max.

Supported asset types are:

Camera
Geometry
Light rig
Rig
Scene

To publish a new asset or version up an existing, simply select it in your scene and bring up the publish asset dialog from the ftrack menu. Select the task you want to publish to and the type of asset you want to publish. You also need to give the asset a unique name or select the name of an existing asset to version up. A thumbnail can be added manually or as a screenshot of the current viewport.

Importing asset versions¶

To import an existing asset into 3ds Max, open the ImportAsset dialog from the ftrack menu. Browse to an entity that has asset versions and select the version in the list. Components on that version will be shown and can be imported from a location if that location is available to you.

Managing asset versions in the scene¶

The asset manager can be used to track and manage the existing assets that have been imported into the scene. They can easily be versioned up or down using the asset manager. The asset manager can also be used to select assets in the scene to find them more easily.

Developing¶

Discover how to develop and extend the default ftrack integration with 3ds Max.

API reference¶

`ftrack_connect_3dsmax`¶

Glossary¶

Release and migration notes¶

Find out information about what has changed between versions and any important migration notes to be aware of when switching to a new version.

Release Notes¶

0.5.0¶

8 September 2021

changed

ApiUpdate pyside signal signature for pyside2 compatiblity.
changed

InternalRename scene asset option from import to open to match behaviour.
changed

HookUpdate hook for application-launcher.
changed

SetupProvide dependency to ftrack-connector-legacy module.

Warning

From this version the support for ftrack-connect 1.X is dropped, and only ftrack-conenct 2.0 will be supported up to the integration EOL.

0.4.3¶

21 January 2020

0.4.2¶

10 July 2019

fix

Fix QStringListModel compatibility for PySide2 5.9+.

0.4.1¶

17 January 2019

new

Added Exocortex plugin build for Max 2018

0.4.0¶

2 January 2019

changed

InternalConvert code to standalone ftrack-connect plugin.

0.3.1¶

3 May 2018

fixed

3DSMax < 2017 hangs during publish.

0.3.0¶

12 September 2017

new

Added Max 2018 compatibility.
fixed

Fixed Max 2016 hang when starting from ftrack connect.

0.2.11¶

1 December 2016

fixed

PerformanceScanning for new asset versions at scene startup is very slow.

0.2.10¶

23 September 2016

fixed

Environment variables sometimes causes 3DS Max to error when launched with ftrack plugin loaded.

0.2.9¶

16 September 2016

fixed

DLL Loading fails as require to have Vistual Studio redistributable packages.
fixed

Nested assets do not appear in Asset Manager Dialog.
new

Rig assets can now be imported as Object X-Refs.

0.2.8¶

9 August 2016

changed

documentationImproved screenshots in documentation articles.

0.2.7¶

4 August 2016

fixed

Clean up and moved to ftrack repository.

0.2.6¶

19 July 2016

fixed

Scene asset import now uses Open instead of MergeMaxFiles.
fixed

Made scene assets change version consistent with ftrack connect Maya.
fixed

Fixed layout spacing of some ftrack dialogs in 3ds Max 2017.

0.2.5¶

15 July 2016

fixed

Importing scene assets was not clearing the previously open Max scene.
new

Don’t initialize the connector if the 3ds Max version is not supported.

0.2.4¶

1 July 2016

fixed

Fixed bug when versioning up and down some assets.
new

Ftrack helper objects are now frozen and transforms are locked.

0.2.3¶

23 June 2016

fixed

Fixed publishing of Alembic assets when frame steps is not 1.
fixed

Small UI fixes and tweaks.

0.2.2¶

22 June 2016

fixed

Fixed version change of Alembic assets using the Asset Manager dialog.
new

Check for outdated assets when opening scenes and offer the user the option to update them.
new

Added usage tracking on application startup.

0.2.1¶

17 June 2016

new

Initial beta release of ftrack connect 3ds Max plugin.

Exocortex Crate for 3ds Max license¶

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. * Neither the name of Exocortex Technologies, Inc. nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS “AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.