topic Re: Open .drf file? in 3ds Max Forum

Open .drf file?

rmacan — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 19:17:05 GMT

I have some older .drf files from a coworker and he asked me to open them up so he could share with the team. I thought 3ds Max was supposed to do this easily but the format doesn't seem readable. Is there something else I need to do to open, import, or view these .drf formatted files? I attached a screenshot showing the extensions I have as an option to open these with. At least, I thought this is what the help menu was saying to do in order to open them in 3ds Max. What could I be missing here?

Thanks,

Randy

Re: Open .drf file?

CiroCardoso3v — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 08:06:12 GMT

You need to use the import option, but I don't see any .drf here

Which software was used to create these files?

Re: Open .drf file?

rmacan — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 15:53:25 GMT

Hi, thanks for your reply. I don't know what they were created in. They were given to me and was told they are old graphic images of a similar project that we are getting ready to start. I did a search and read that 3ds Max was capable of doing that, but there doesn't seem to be any support or info in doing it. Do you have any idea how I can view it?

Re: Open .drf file?

CiroCardoso3v — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 16:59:54 GMT

Seems it needs to be saved as max file

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2022/ENU/3DSMax-Data-Exchange/files/GUID-CAEFA579-8070-4505-A507-536BC3CC957E-htm.html

It seems this is a file exported from AutoCad, so it could be the case you can open the file again in AutoCAD and export it as a max file.

Re: Open .drf file?

rmacan — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 17:28:19 GMT

Right...I saw that. So how do I save it in 3ds Max to a .max file?
There is another portion of the Help menu too on drf files and it says:

Note: You can open DRF files using drag-and-drop functionality.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2022/ENU/3DSMax-Data-Exchange/files/GUID-D6442E00-DF02-4409-BE5B-5183E3441B90-htm.html

I don't know what the obvious thing I am missing here is, but the Help menu isn't much help.

Re: Open .drf file?

CiroCardoso3v — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 07:51:34 GMT

You need to try and open these files in AutoCAD.

Likewise, DRF files cannot be imported or merged into 3ds Max scenes.

Re: Open .drf file?

rmacan — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 15:15:47 GMT

This is beyond ridiculous. What opens a drf file? That is all I want to do, see it on my computer screen. Evidently an Autodesk package isn't the way to do this. So what does work? I've been trying to do this for days now with zero success. I can't believe this is so difficult.

Re: Open .drf file?

CAMedeck — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 19:16:54 GMT

Have you tried a drag and drop into 3ds Max? I found the below text in the online Max 2023 Help.

"DRF is the file format for VIZ Render, a rendering tool formerly included with AutoCAD Architecture. The DRF file type is similar to MAX files from previous versions of Autodesk VIZ.

This file format is available only when you use the File menu

Open command. All DRF files must be saved as MAX files in 3ds Max. Likewise, DRF files cannot be imported or merged into 3ds Max scenes.

Note: You can open DRF files using drag-and-drop functionality."

Here's a link to the page: https://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2023/ENU/?guid=GUID-D6442E00-DF02-4409-BE5B-5183E3441B90