File link & layers in Max

[Devin Johnston]

I haven't used file link in a while and i never use layers due to the way I have to import models into Max. I'm trying to come up with a new work flow for importing models, I'm converting them from .3ds to .dwg and then file linking them into Max. The problem with that is I can't seem to change any materials, even selecting a layer and applying a material to it doesn't change it. All I'm able to do is apply one material to the entire object, is this just the way file link works?

[Justin Hunt]

No its not, Where are the models first coming from?

 

In the file linking presets there are options to control how models and materials are treated, have you tried those?

 

jhv

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Maybe this is to obvious, but you don't have this dialog set to one object do you? This is part of the presets that Justin was talking about.

[Devin Johnston]

Well the "Derive AutoCAD primitives by:" menu selections are all grayed out so I can't select anything.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

I would then go back to Justin's original question of where this geometry is coming from? ...I am guessing it is frozen as one object coming out of whatever software it is being exported from.

 

Can you open the DWG in Autocad, or some other app and see what happens then? ...or what if you import it into Max instead of Linking it? ....try both the Legacy DWG and the DWG importer. Is it still one object?