[3DSMAX] Problems with XRef (suddenly re-positioned after saving and opening file)

OccultMonk

I know there are tree main solutions for external references in 3dsmax: XRef Files, XRef Scenes and Containers. Using Containers was buggy a few years and probably still is? XRef Scenes are not really suited for character design. So only XRef Objects remain.

But XRef Objects seem to suddenly (randomly) move in the scene.  The transforms gets changed or reset? This mainly happens after saving and reopening the containing 3dsmax file. This is even worse when I try to add them to groups or Linkt them to objects. They than move/translate to s seemingly randomly location.

codyaq2

Try enabling this before you import a xref.
The transforms need to be merged before you save the scene, or they will randomly move pos when you open after.

OccultMonk

Thanks! But my XREF Dialog in 3DSMAX 2016 Looks Different and does not have that option. 

OccultMonk

This is what the Xref objects winow looks like for me in 3dmsax 2016:

Shive

Try changing the setting in the Tracks dropdownlist. You can set it either so that you get the transforms from the xref file or so that they are persistent in your file (merged).That's what you want.

Anthonyy

There is a know issue with groups in 3dsmax 2016 SP2
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/3ds-max-3ds-max-design-general/3ds-max-2016-sp2-bug-with-group-ungroup-and-link-unlink/td-p/5956081

Service pack 3 does fix it maybe this is the problem? 

codyaq2

Interesting, you may be able to find a script on the internet to delete xref controllers based off selected objects.
Or try this below....

OccultMonk

Shive said:

Try changing the setting in the Tracks dropdownlist. You can set it either so that you get the transforms from the xref file or so that they are persistent in your file (merged).That's what you want.

Does this work on existing XREF Objects or only on the objects you import while this setting is on?

OccultMonk

Anthonyy said:

There is a know issue with groups in 3dsmax 2016 SP2
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/3ds-max-3ds-max-design-general/3ds-max-2016-sp2-bug-with-group-ungroup-and-link-unlink/td-p/5956081

Service pack 3 does fix it maybe this is the problem? 

Thanks but, I already have Service pack 3 installed.


Does anyone know how to change the Tracks setting in Maxscript?

Shive

Does anyone know how to change the Tracks setting in Maxscript?

This accesses the tracks setting via maxscript (the dropdownlist in the dialog):

objXRefMgr.mergeTransforms : bool

Does this work on existing XREF Objects or only on the objects you import while this setting is on?

I think only on a "fresh" import, but i didn't check. What i would recommend is just filter for only controllers and then merge them. SHouldn't take too long, I'm doing that the same way from time to time.

Warning potato image incoming.

OccultMonk

Great, Thanks!