Hi,
>> will a 3ds file open in auto cad w texture mapping ?
Not really, especially the larger file you have shown will have issues with 3DS-format as this can not handle that large objects in one mesh (too many vertices).
I have tried to use 3DS-Max to read the FBX and convert it to 3DS, that is the result:
Internal error number 8 - 3D Studio file import terminated
At least the 3DS-format is too old for current geometry complexity, I would not spent too much time with that.
>> does potential client need to switch to auto cad 3d or auto cad civil.
AutoCAD (Vanilla) and AutoCAD Civil 3D do all have the same basic AutoCAD as product. So Civil 3D will not import an FBX better.
>> is there any file i can bring into auto cad starting w those files
AutoCAD has general issues with importing uv-mapping-coords as well as handling them (which also can be surprising with some models), so I guess it will be hard to work with that files and get them into AutoCAD as the number of file-formats AutoCAD supports - file-formats that can handle texture-mapping - is quite limited (DWG, DXF, FBX, 3DS)
One additional sample of how hard it is to get texture-mapping working ==> even if you use 3DS-Max with a model and perfect texture mapping ==> when saving the model to DWG all materials are lost and not visible when you open that in AutoCAD.
May be we can start here:
What is your partner doing with that file? I know that it sounds great to have such a file as background, for visualization, but it's more a help for orientation as the meshes are not fine enough to really use that coordinates for e.g. object-snap. If there are object snaps needed I would prefer to work with point-clouds instead of meshed/triangulated geometry because that can be handled much faster on the display than compared to a high amount of textured 3d-faces.
Describe how that data is used in the workflow, maybe we can find some ways for you and your partner to come around the FBX xxxx.
- alfred -
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Alfred NESWADBA
ISH-Solutions GmbH / Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS
www.ish-solutions.at ...
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CDay 2026------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(not an Autodesk consultant)