XrefObject and IncludeLists bug?

[theAndreas]

Hello guys, XrefObject and IncludeLists (nodearray?) have a problem. The includelists inside the xreffed objects lose their references after saving and re-opening the assembly scene.

I recorded a quick and dirty screengrab to show you the issue.

This isn't just a light issue either. It seems to be all includelists (Nodearrays?). Vol.Select, Boolean, VrayDecals, VrayDistanceTex etc.

TySelect and TyBoolean seem to work properly. Not sure if they use the same classes or if Tyson has built his own things...

Is this a bug?

3dsmax 2024.2

/Andreas

[theAndreas]

the screencapture...

[MartinBeh]

Could you also share the .max files? This would make it easier/faster to follow your steps.

[theAndreas]

Sure thing. 

So if you reference this file using XrefObject into a clean scene, everything works as expected.

But if you save and re-open that newly saved file (assembly-scene) the includelists are empty.

[MartinBeh]

Thanks for the .max file - this is a Vray scene (which I do not use).

Is the issue you are seeing specific to Vray, or do you get the same with one of the built-in renderers?

[theAndreas]

There is an standard omni light in there as well. It has the same issue.

[MartinBeh]

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@theAndreas wrote:

There is an standard omni light in there as well. It has the same issue.

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OK, I can repro this with the Scanline renderer. Looks like a Object Xref bug to me!

You initially mentioned "Vol.Select" - that one does not have a list of objects but only pickbuttons for individual objects - do they also loose their target nodes?

[theAndreas]

Yes, I think everything that has target nodes gets lost. I haven't checked that thoroughly but it seems like that is the case.

Off the top of my head I would say Boolean, Conform, Vol.Select maybe some texture maps as well?

[theAndreas]

Like I mentioned the modifiers included in TyFlow such as TySelect and TyBoolean works. Haven't tested TyConform but I'm guessing that works as well. No clue why though, maybe Tyson built some custom stuff...

[MartinBeh]

So far I can repro this issue with Target_light > Exclude, with Vol.Select > Mesh Object -- but NOT with Conform > Shrink Wrap or with Morpher modifier.

Which of the many Boolean tools in 3ds Max are you referring to?

[theAndreas]

I was thinking of the boolean modifier.

[MartinBeh]

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@theAndreas wrote:

I was thinking of the boolean modifier.

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A very basic test seemed ok here. Could you post another .max file that shows the issues with Xref Objects and Boolean modifier?

Edit: Never mind, as soon as I turn on "Use Live References" I can repro the missing references after saving and reloading the assembly scene...

[theAndreas]

Oh, sorry I was a bit vague. Yes, the "Use Live References" is key here.

[MartinBeh · Accepted solution]

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@theAndreas wrote:

Oh, sorry I was a bit vague. Yes, the "Use Live References" is key here.

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Also reported to the dev team... 

[theAndreas]

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Also reported to the dev team...  

Nice, hopefully they can iron it out. Thank you! 

[MartinBeh]

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@theAndreas wrote:

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Also reported to the dev team...  

Nice, hopefully they can iron it out. Thank you! 

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You are welcome. But I am not sure they will release any more bug fixes for 3ds Max 2024...

[theAndreas]

As long as it gets fixed. We are moving to v2026.x this year anyway. Did you try this on 2024 or on a newer release?

[MartinBeh]

I tested on the latest version - so there definitely is something to fix.