Directory Structure

 
 
 

You can click Install Tools & Utilities in the 3ds Max Installation window to install the SDK. By default, the SDK is installed in the 3ds Max 2014 SDK folder, which is located outside the 3ds Max 2014 installation folder. The 3ds Max 2014 SDK folder contains the following:

\assemblies This folder contains the 64-bit .NET assembly (.DLL) files.
\help This folder contains the gencid.exe file, which is a program that generates a random Class ID for your plug-in. See the topic about Generating Class IDs for more information.
\howto This folder contains the explanatory sample code for the 3ds Max plug-ins. Each sample plug-in consists of a Visual Studio project and all of its code. These sample plug-ins are helpful for getting started because they are smaller and easier to understand than the sample plug-ins in the \samples folder.
\include This folder contains the header files for the core of 3ds Max, as well as separate folders for the following 3ds Max plug-in systems:
  • \AssetManagement – Asset management classes
  • \ATS – Asset tracking system headers
  • \containers – Container class declarations
  • \CS – Character studio
  • \Graphics – APIs for using the Nitrous viewport display mode and the Quicksilver renderer
  • \IGame – 3ds Max data exchange interface
  • \maxscript – MAXScript SDK and implementation files
  • \ManagedServices – Headers for performing string conversion in C++/CLI
  • \mentalray – Mental ray related headers
  • \network – Network rendering related headers
  • \ParticleFlow – Particle flow system headers
  • \XRef – xref system related headers
  • \Util – Utility headers that are part of maxutil.lib
\ProjectSettings This folder contains the compiler and linker settings in the form of property sheets.
\samples This folder contains the complete code for some of the 3ds Max standard plug-ins and the corresponding Visual Studio project file for each plug-in.
\plugin The plug-ins in the \howto folder put their 64-bit binaries after compilation and linking in this folder.
\pdb The symbols are generated to this folder.
\lib This folder contains the library files (.LIB) needed for the 64-bit plug-ins.
\tools It contains a tool that extracts resources into a .mui file (related to language pack ) automatically. This tool is invoked when third party plug-ins use 3ds Max property sheets.