Major XRef Issue

[Dave Buckley]

I have a few scenes setup in Max 2013. In the scene file are a number of lights and a camera.

 

I then have a number of buildings XRef's in.

 

For some reason when I open the file, certain layers are missing from the XRef's. Well the layer name is there, but Max thinks there is nothing on that layer. I know the object is there because I can see it, but turning the layer it belongs to, on and off, doesn't do anything.

 

If I press 'Update Now' on the Xref, everything returns to normal, Max recognises that the layer does actually have something on it and I can now turn the object on and off using the layer manager.

 

I then save the file, now that everything is working correctly. Reset Max and immediately open that very same file. The layers are once again messed up, certain ones showing as containing no geometry etc, until I press Update Now again.

 

I shouldn't have to press update now, as the xref hasn't changed and it was working when I pressed save?

 

This has only just started happening too, I've been working with these files for the past 4 months with no issues.

 

Anyone any ideas?

[cg_Butler]

Hi Dave,

 

The only thing i can think of is regarding groups. Are the problematic objects part of groups? If so, make sure the group header is on the same layer as all of the objects in that group. I've had similar problems in the past and

 

I'd also go in to each XREF and make sure that no layers or objects are hidden off before re-saving it with every object and every layer turned on. I hope that helps a little. If not, I'll think of something else!

Edited April 22, 2013 by cg_Butler

[Dave Buckley]

I'll check but as I say it's only just started happening today. Nothing has changed in the XRef file

[cg_Butler]

Hmmm. Odd one!

 

Do you use RPManager?

[Dave Buckley]

Yeh

[cg_Butler]

Are you using RPM to control XREF's? You haven't got Restore for renders only ticked in the XRef's tab have you? Or possibly have a look at the RPM preferences and see if either of the Layer vis Controlled by head only tick boxes are on.

 

The former has caught me out before, especially if I've been away and someone has turned it on to only restore for rendering!

[Dave Buckley]

Will have a look now but I think it's just Max playing silly buggers. Even though the layer says it contains no objects, the so called missing objects are still rendering fine etc

[Dave Buckley]

Or possibly have a look at the RPM preferences and see if either of the Layer vis Controlled by head only tick boxes are on.

 

These are both on, however, I've never manually turned these on before and to be honest never even been into the RP preferences

[cg_Butler]

Max does this sometimes, although I personally think 99% of the time there is a reason, like some naughty person fiddling with tick boxes!

 

It's odd that the layer editor shows no objects but they render fine. I've unfortunately not come across this before. What max and RPM versions are you using?

[alias_marks]

I've found some odd behavior when I'm using xref's as well lately.. In particular when I first open a file and am using nitrous. Sometimes I find that if some strange geometry is displaying and/or not displaying I can do a shift G off and on a couple times to have the geomerty show up/turn off according to my layers on/off status.

 

Another fix that works for me sometimes is to change the viewport mode from 'textured -show maps' to 'wirecolor' and toggle them back and forth sometimes.

 

Not sure why or how this works, but maybe worth a shot.

[cg_Butler]

Checking to see if your using Nitrous is a really good idea! I've had some problems when using Vray ies lights when having nitrous as the graphics driver. Every time i open the maxfile, if the lights were visible in a viewport, max just crashed out.

 

Good idea Michael.