Importing Objects

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I have recently got 3Ds Max 2020, and I'm working with ART Render to design a building. I am having a struggle trying to import furniture from downloadable sites. (I'm just importing couches, tables, plants and chairs) I have used this exact program at my university, where I have been able to download objects, pieces of furniture etc from 3D Warehouse online and has always worked successfully. Now that I am working from home with the exact same program and using the same site to download from, nothing from any site will download or even open up into 3Ds Max 2020. I've tried dragging it from my files and importing it through 3Ds Max and it continues to come up with errors.

Can anyone suggest anything that could allow me or is stopping me from being able to import things?

Thank You.

[10DSpace]

@Anonymous 

The Skecthup 2020 file format version does not import into Max 2020 for me either.  Try downloading and importing the Sketchup 2019 format instead.  This works for me in max 2020.

If that is not your issue then please clarify the following: 

"nothing from any site will download or even open up into 3Ds Max 2020"

If you cannot download from the internet, that is a windows issue, not a max issue.  Maybe you mean something else, but please clarify.     Regarding once you have downloaded a file, opening it up into max 2020 via drag and drop, like I say, the Sketchup 2020 version does not work, but the 2019 version does import into Max 2020.

I've tried dragging it from my files and importing it through 3Ds Max and it continues to come up with errors.

If you are still getting errors, then please post exactly what errors you are getting

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your response!

I have tried to download from 3D Warehouse using the Sketch Up 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 formats and none work. They simply drag across, 'import' for a spilt second and then disappear completely. They don't even show up on the object list on the side that depicts what is exactly on the model. It simply disappears as if nothing has even changed. 

I have been downloading off of multiple sites such as 3D warehouse, and Turbo squid specifically and nothing will download successfully or (like I said) even open. Some do download but then they appear in my files as a 'movie' file, not an image or anything. I've attached an image to show my next point, this 'stool' is from Turbo Squid and it did come up on the model but with no colour. Its meant to be a wooden stool and obviously that's a material issue but I have never had issues with importing the material of an object. Let alone, I haven't even used Turbo Squid really for any of my 3Ds Max modelling assignments. I have tested it out on our university computers and they too worked successfully. 

The errors didn't occur with the Sketch up 2019 or the Turbo Squid file I tested out before but they commonly appear with turbo squid ones. ( I did try to grab a screenshot but of course when I attempted to grab one it wouldn't come up) They usually say "32x has quit unexpectedly" (I cannot remember the EXACT wording). So unless this means the object I'm trying to import quit(??), I'm not sure what that means because 3Ds Max doesn't quit and nothing shuts down....

Hopefully this helps a little more for you to understand my issue.

Thanks.

[10DSpace]

Hi @Anonymous 

Thanks for the following up . I always like it when the original poster puts some effort into trying to clarify the issue and respond to questions.  It shows a collaborative attitude.👍 

OK, to troubleshoot this, let's separate and try to eliminate the following potential sources of error:

1. Drag and drop functionality with different versions of Max and different computer configurations (which have been reported).  I could not tell from your response whether you have already tried not using Drag and Drop for import, so please bear with me in the suggested tests below.  

2. Your home computer configuration (software and hardware) vs the configuration you had no problems with in school. ( Was it the same version of Windows, the same Graphics Card, both had Max 2020.3, etc? )

3. Differences in downloading different file formats from various sites and the import dialogue settings that you might use to import the downloaded file format.  

To test the above, try the following;

Test A (basic local machine Max installation functionality).  Create a simple object in max with anything you like, a box,  a sphere or whatever.  Covert it to an editable poly, UV unwrap it (nothing fancy, just flatten it out) and apply a texture.  Save the max file and then export it as an .fbx.   Reset max and then import this .fbx via the import dialogue with the default settings (i.e., Do Not Use Drag and Drop).  Capture a screenshot of the result and describe any differences from the original scene.

Test B (Local Drag & Drop import functionality). If Test A produced the expected result, then reset your Max scene and this time,  drag and drop the same .fbx into the viewport and again describe what happens.  If Test A worked but Test B did not,  then Drag & Drop has some issues with your configuration.  

Test C.  If you haven't already tried this, use the import dialogue to import one of the separately downloaded models that you could not import via drag and drop. 

Test D. Post a .zip of a file (Not all file types can be posted here, so to be safe, make it a .zip) that you have downloaded that you were unable to import into max on your computer and I will check to see if I can import it and see if there are any issues with it. 

Test E:  Attached is a .skp file (in .zip format) of a circuit board I downloaded from Google Warehouse in Sketchup 2019 format and was able to import without any difficulty.   Try to first import it via the import dialogue and then via drag and drop and advise results. 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Firstly, I have managed to grab a screenshot of the message I receive in error to the opening of files on my 3Ds Max assignment. 

Secondly, I have been using the windows 10 which was installed at my university and which I was able to install at home. I wouldn't know if its the same "graphics card"  but I believe they were both 3Ds Max 2020. 

I tried to do do a couple of the tests you suggested I should try. Test A I couldn't quite grasp, I think that is literally just a skill issue of mine and I haven't quite learnt how to flatten it out (and by adding a texture, were you suggesting a material). I did try to import your 'circuito+electronico' file and again, nothing opened. It did say 'importing' and then just disappeared. Here is a zip file of mine, as the title explains, its just a couch, nothing fancy - however I cannot get it or anything to import onto my assignment. I think Google Warehouse might the exact same site as my 3D warehouse as it's the only site it will suggest for me too.

I will keep trying out the Tests you have sent me in order to try and get some objects imported.

If you have any more advice or even solutions that would be extremely helpful.

Thank you!!!

[10DSpace]

@Anonymous 

The x 32 error with .skp import is a known issue:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Error-...

According to the above link you need to download the Sketchup 2015 version of the model to be imported into recent versions of Max.  Unfortunately, it appears that 3D warehouse no longer has the 2015 version available for download.  A workaround described in the above link is to import the model directly into the Google Sketchup application (don't know if you have this installed or not, but there is a free version and a student version; google it) and then export it to the .3ds format.  Then you can import the .3ds model into max.  Some extra steps, but worth a try if nothing else is working.   

I downloaded the couch .skp model you attached, but had no problem importing it (via drag and drop) into 3DS max 2020.3.   I am using Windows 7 however, so it may be that this is a Windows 10 issue, but I really don't know.   Nevertheless, do make sure that you are using Max 2020.3 which is the most updated version of Max 2020 (check Help Menu>Autodesk Product Information > About 3ds Max.   It should say "2020.3 Update" for your Product Version ).

You can also try holding down the Ctrl key while doing the drag and drop into max.  This is supposed to bring up the import dialogue, but for me it doesn't always open the dialogue, but does import correctly into max. 

"I did try to import your 'circuito+electronico' file and again, nothing opened. It did say 'importing' and then just disappeared."

Could you please clarify how you tried to import this, ie.  both via the import menu and drag and drop both did not work?

Lastly, there is a (strange) solution that worked for some people described in post 11 of the following link:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/3ds-max-forum/drag-and-drop-max-2019-doesn-t-work/td-p/8563112

Also, maybe someone from Autodesk like @jon.bell can provide additional insight/update  into whether this .skp import issue is a Windows 10 issue since my functionality with Windows 7 is just fine. 

 Post back the results of your tests and these suggestions.  Hope something here works for you. 

[10DSpace]

@Anonymous 

Also, in case you didn't notice there should be 2 different sketchup importers available in the import dialogue.  make sure you are using the newer one (see below:)

This is explained here: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2021/ENU/3DSMa...

[Anonymous]

Hi!

So I have attempted to download the Google Sketch Up application as suggested and it wouldn't even download. It 'opened' as such on the internet and I was able to move things and zoom in and out but as soon as I tried to actually download the application, it comes up reading for "Visual C++ "14" Runtime Libraries (x64)". We (me and my dad) have been open to downloading it and accepting everything it needs to download, however it the comes up with ANOTHER error saying another similar program has installed, ie the online copy (I assume?) 

The control key doesn't work either. I tried it on a couple different files (such as zip files (opened and unopened), just plain downloads from 3d Warehouse and Turbo Squid etc). The screenshot you also attached did nothing for me swell. It did the 'importing' bit and then disappeared again, and then receive the "x32" error. 

The "x32" error seems to occur when "Newer versions of SketchUp files (SKP) are currently incompatible with versions of 3ds Max prior to version 2019.3" , which is strange because even the 2020 Sketch Up objects won't import to 3Ds Max 2020...(?)

(from https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Error-...)

""I did try to import your 'circuito+electronico' file and again, nothing opened. It did say 'importing' and then just disappeared." - Could you please clarify how you tried to import this, ie.  both via the import menu and drag and drop both did not work?" 

Just to answer your question, I tried it both ways of drag and drop, as well as the import through menu, and nothing opened. 

I am going to try and export the settings from my university computer to see if I can see if I can figure out what's not linking and what's different, do you have any advice on how I can do that? Or even where the "menu of the FBX Plug-in “Presets” section" is?

If you have any other info or advice please let me know!

Thanks.

[10DSpace]

@Anonymous 

Sorry to hear that you are having multiple difficulties with your home computer.   I believe the issues you are having all point to the specific max installation on your home computer.   To that end, did you confirm that you have Max version 2020.3 per my earlier post?  This could be relevant to your difficulties with .skp import.

I am going to try and export the settings from my university computer to see if I can see if I can figure out what's not linking and what's different, do you have any advice on how I can do that?

Each installation of Max has multiple files in which the user settings and preferences are stored and paths to these files can vary in each system.  There is no single file encompassing all max settings that I know of that you could export settings from 1 computer and apply them to another with potentially different file paths.    But if you do have access to your university computer, then check to see which version of Max 2020 is installed on it and advise.   

Or even where the "menu of the FBX Plug-in “Presets” section" is?

The .fbx plug-in has nothing to do with importing .skp files.    If you have an .fbx file that you cannot import on your home computer post an example, and I will check it out.    

The reason I suggested Test A in my post above was to see if the basic functionality in your home computer installation of max  allowed you to simply export and import on your computer with the .fbx format.  Forget the UV Unwrap step if  you don't know how to do it.  Just create a box and export it to .fbx format with the default settings and then import that box into a fresh Max scene with the default settings settings in the .fbx .

 It won't answer the question about .skp import, but might point to an installation issue in your home computer.