3ds Max Object completely messed up after saving and opening the next day

[Lunaley]

Hello community,

for my company I´m currently working on a new project. Yesterday evening I was finally able to finish the most complex part of the object so I saved, saved a copy under a different name and because it was the end of my working day I manually did 2 backups to our company's server. When I opened the file again I saw that a big part of the geometry was demolished and the rest of the object was still okay but not perfect. So what I tried was opening the backup files and even they didn´t work! So my question is: How can this happen? I made these backups in case anything goes wrong and now I can´t even use these backup files to restore my project... It´s the second time in one month now where exactly this happens. Last time I had to redo the whole project cause repairing the model would´ve probably taken longer than remodeling it. I attach 3 screenshots where you can see what happened. One is with opensubdiv enabled, for the second screenshot I turned the modifier off and the last one is from yesterday where the file was still working. My boss is already a bit upset cause, like I mentioned, it´s the second time now where this happens and it´s kinda wasted time to redo most of the project and he keeps asking me how this can happen even when I regularly do my backups... Is there anything I´m doing wrong? I rlly hope someone here can help me with this! 

Kind regards,

Maximilian

[kgokhangurbuz]

Hello @Lunaley ;

Can you please provide the information about your 3ds Max version andwhich update (Service pack / Build)?

I usually save my back-up files with another versions compability. For instance, when using 3ds Max 2018, i also save a 2017 version too.

I have no specific idea about what causes this, but let's try to find out.

Kind regards;

Edit: Typo

[Lunaley]

Hello kgokhangurbuz and thanks for your fast response!

I´m running 3ds Max 2020.1 Update. The build should be 22,0 - 22.1.0.1249 (if that´s the build below the product version). 

Are there any disadvantages when saving with older versions compatibility? Like for example: Could there be any issues that some modifiers or settings in general don´t work anymore when I make a backup with 3ds max 2018 compatibility?

Kind regards

[kgokhangurbuz]

Hello @Lunaley ;

If your model is completed, and converted to Editable Poly, there should be no errors for saving for an older version. If your modifier stack has modifiers that are not supported by an older version, there might be problems too. So the best way is to finish your model, collapse all stacks as an Editable Poly / Mesh, etc. then save it.

However, If you have used any kind of 3ds Max native maps / materials which are not available in older version, might end up with a missing material / map error.

Can you try to share your file with me (you can send it as a private message or just send as a reply to this post), saving as 3ds max 2017?

Kind regards;

[Lunaley]

Hello @kgokhangurbuz 

do you always collapse your model to Editable Poly? Cause I´m always trying to at least leave modifiers like CreaseSet or OpenSubdiv on top of the modifier stack just in case I decide later that I´d like to have a different creasing of my edges. Or do you just collapse for saving as ".max 2018" for example?

Fortunately I haven´t had any issues with materials / maps so far but unfortunately I´m not able to share the file with you.. I asked my boss and he didn´t allow me to provide these files to anyone cause it "contains sensitive data from our company" (that´s what he said at least). 

Kind regards

[kgokhangurbuz]

Hello @Lunaley ;

Yes, i save my finished models collapsed, if you leave modifiers on them, it's not finished for me at least 🙂

Since creaseset / opensubdiv are supported by 2018, you can save them with the stacks on. At least, give it a try, and let me know how it opens back.

[Lunaley]

Hello @kgokhangurbuz ,

Alright! I´ll keep that in mind 🙂 

I´ll definitely give it a try! But I guess I can´t try it out now cause the object is broken now and I need to repair it first cause my boss wants progress. But as soon as I´ve finished it I´ll try that! Thanks already in advance for your help!!

[kgokhangurbuz]

You are very welcome!

Please update me with your status so we can identify the problem for you and everyone else!

Have a nice day

Kind regards;

[Lunaley]

I will definitely! But it may take some days/weeks. But I´ll keep you up to date! 🙂

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

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@Lunaley wrote:

I will definitely! But it may take some days/weeks. But I´ll keep you up to date! 🙂

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It seems that editPoly modifier in 2020.1 is buggy(again) . It has been said that the dev-team is looking into this issue.So far i woudn't keep editPoly Modifiers in the stack when using 2020

See if your problem is releate to this topic:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/3ds-max-forum/bug-some-files-made-in-previous-versions-of-max-will-no...