3Ds max - Recovering the original instance from a reference

CastorPT

Really frustrating question.

I made one mesh and decided to made 5 references of it. Each reference has its own unique modifiers and changes.

Now I stupidly decided to delete the original mesh but I realized I need one more reference and can't figure out how to do it...

renderhjs

I remember some maxscripts that would select or highlight for you the origin instance model that you were referencing your reference or instance of.

Have a look at script spot.
http://www.scriptspot.com/search/apachesolr_search/instance

Personally I keep reference models in a area of max scene e.g. in a rectangle area - and the models I am focusing on at 0,0,0 in the center of the scene.

CastorPT

But my original reference mesh doesnt exist anymore so its not a matter of finding where it is.

As for scriptspot I found someone asking for a solution for it too!
http://www.scriptspot.com/forums/3ds-max/scripts-wanted/clone-reference-script

renderhjs

Yes but if your reference node is gone , usually the reference gets converted to a independent node as well - no more referencing.
You could perhaps recreate the scenario where you create a copy of your result node, remove all modifiers and changes to its transform and then start over. But to make things easier you can select multiple modifiers e.g. and copy them (right click copy) and then paste them on your new construct.

CastorPT

No, when you delete the original mesh that you created references from the connection remains between the references.

Also each reference has its own stack of modifiers affecting them independently so having to recreate the whole thing would be very time consuming.