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416 Chapter 20: Managing Scenes and Projects
Fi le L i n k
Data synchronization between drawing files
created with AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, or
Revit and 3ds Max is implemented using the File
Link Manager, which keeps drawing data linked
to the scenes. It is best understood through a few
simple principles:
• Changes in AutoCAD, AutoCAD
Architecture, or Revit can change the data
viewed in 3ds Max, but changes in 3ds Max
never cha ng e the data i n Aut oCA D, AutoCAD
Architecture or Revit .
Creating a file link is a one-way process
that supports the central role of AutoCAD,
AutoCAD Architecture or Revit in developing
and keeping a record of your core design
database. Many changes made in AutoCAD,
AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit will appear in
3ds Max after a file link reload. These include
adding or removing objects, moving objects,
changing material assignments (specific to
ADT and Revit drawings), and enabling Live
Section objects (specific to ADT drawings).
Changes made in 3ds Max, such as moving
objects, changing material assignments,
andaddinglights,willneverappearinyour
AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit
drawing.
• Change s you can make in AutoCAD,
AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit shou ld be
made in AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture,
or Revi t.
Changes that you make in AutoCAD, AutoCAD
Architecture, or Revit become part of that
database, whereas changes you make in
3ds Max appear only in the renderings you
produce.
• Changes in AutoCAD, AutoCAD
Architecture, or Revit a ren’t ref lected in
3ds Max un less you choose them to b e.
When you make changes to drawing files,
those changes w ill not appear in 3 ds Max
unless you use the Reload command (page
3–422) on the File Link Manager. When you
reloadalinkin3dsMax,youcanchooseto
update just the geometry from AutoCAD,
AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit, you can
reload only spe cific object s, or (with AutoCAD
Architecture and Revit drawings) you can
choose to update both the geometry and the
material assignments.
Note: AfterchangingyourRevitproject,you
must export a new DWG file and then reload
that file into 3ds Max. 3ds Max cannot link a
native Rev it project, RVT file, directly.
You can tr ansform (move, rotate, or scale)
AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit
objectsandblocksthatappearin3dsMax,
and these ty pes of changes are not lost upon
reload. If you have moved, rotated, or scaled
linked objects a nd want the objects to resume
thepositionandscaletheyhaveintheoriginal
drawing file, use the Reset Position function
(page 3–442).
• 3ds Ma x integr ates lin ked AutoCAD,
AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit data with
non-AutoCAD, AutoCAD A rch itectur e , or
Revit data.
In addition to the linked AutoCAD, AutoCAD
Architecture, or Revit geometr y and material
assignments, 3ds Max allows you to create or
merge into your scene many types of data from
other sources, including:
• Lighting objects for simulat ing lig ht fixtures
and daylight conditions.
• Entourage objects such as surrounding
buildings, terrain, trees, cars, and people.