The workaround? File > Import > Merge . While functional, merging is slow. It requires navigating through dialog boxes, searching through object lists, and manually selecting what you need. If you need to copy-paste thirty times in an hour, Merge kills your creative flow.
Look for a file named CopyPaste.mcr or CopyPaste.ms . ( .mcr is a macro file; .ms is a raw MAXScript file). 3ds max copy and paste script
This script fails if you close the original Max session. The variable clipboard_obj is stored in RAM, not the hard drive. For a true "Copy and Paste Script" that survives a program restart, you would need to write to a .dat file using saveTempObject . The Robust Version (File-Based) Replace the copyScript function with file I/O: The workaround
What happens when you have two Max files open? What if you want to move a complicated lighting setup, a rigged character, or a detailed V-Ray material network from Scene A to Scene B without merging entire files? You need the . a rigged character
fn pasteScript = ( if clipboard_obj != undefined do ( new_obj = copy clipboard_obj -- Creates a deep copy new_obj.name = clipboard_obj.name + "_Pasted" select new_obj format "Pasted: %\n" new_obj.name ) ) macroScript PasteButton category:"My Tools" buttonText:"PasteObj" ( pasteScript() )
fn robustCopy = ( local tempFile = (getDir #temp) + "\\max_copy_temp.max" saveNodes selection tempFile --Saves selected objects to a temp .max file print "Saved to temp file. Ready to paste anywhere." ) fn robustPaste = ( local tempFile = (getDir #temp) + "\max_copy_temp.max" if doesFileExist tempFile do ( mergeMAXFile tempFile #select #promptDups #useMergedMaterialDups ) )
Do you have a favorite variation of this script? Have you optimized the code for a specific render engine? Share your experiences in the 3ds Max community forums to help others master their workflow.