Can the FBX exporter plugin be updated (3ds Max 2020)

[awhiteTSF9N]

Hello- at my work we use 3Ds Max 2020. When I attempt to export a FBX file, I see that the FBX Plug-in version is 2020.0 Release (6dea16853). As I understand it, this version is not capable of embedding Max's physical material type, which is necessary for our workflow, but newer versions of the FBX exporter can handle it.

We have a single copy of Max 2024, with a plug-in version of 2020.3.2, which successfully exported the embedded physical material. Given that the plugin says '2020', I was hoping that would be compatible with my version of Max 2020. So is it possible to update my exporter?

[VincentSheehan]

Will this help?

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fbx/overview 

[awhiteTSF9N]

I had downloaded that SDK, and tried to find the information I needed in its documentation, but it appears as though that SDK is for people who want to author their own plugins related to FBX files. I was unable to find any way of using that SDK to update the FBX importer inside of 3Ds Max. If I am mistaken, please let me know.

[spacefrog_]

IF there is no binary build of the 3ds Max 2020 FBX plugins released, matching that exact FBX version number, i guess you are out of luck
You cannot load plugins build for newer 3ds Max versions in older 3ds Max version

Having said that , on what exact 3ds Max version are you ? FBX plugin versions are often updated with new 3ds Max version updates,
The latest 3ds Max 2020 update that was released is V2020.3.8 and i see the FBX version in that release reads 2020.3.1 ( higher than your mentioned version )

So there is a good chance that if you update your 3ds Max 2020 version, you will gain a new FBX version too