File Submenu

Open

Opens the source file. If you have not saved changes to the (current) master file, 3ds Max prompts you to do so.

Browse

Displays the Open File dialog that enables you to browse for a new source file. The file you choose replaces the highlighted XRef record in the XRef Objects dialog. Available only when a single file is highlighted.

Reveal Location in Explorer

Launches Windows Explorer, open to the folder in which the highlighted source file resides with the source file highlighted. Available only when a single file is highlighted.

Strip Path

Removes path information from the file name, saving only the file name. The source file location is saved relative to the master file location.

WarningIf you strip the path before you have saved the master file, the record's XRefs can become unresolved. This is because there is no location for the Untitled, unsaved MAX scene.

Resolve Path to UNC Location

If the record's file name has had its path stripped, this option restores the full path name.

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Combine XRef Records

Click to combine the contents of more than one XRef record from the same source file into one record. This is useful when you want to clean up the organization of your XRef records. Rather than having multiple records of the same file, you can group all of the objects, controllers, and materials from that file under the same record. This option is available only when you highlight two records that refer to the same file name and path; both records must have identical settings. XRef records must refer to the same file with the same XRef entities. Combine XRef Records only allows you to consolidate all of the entities of one file into one XRef record entry. It does not allow you to combine the contents of different files, even if the files have the same name.

NoteNested externally referenced records cannot be combined.

Update

Refreshes the contents of the selected XRef record. If the objects, controllers, materials, or manipulators referenced have changed in the source scene, you will see these changes in your master scene.

NoteThe changes must be saved in the source file before you see them in the master file. If you remove externally referenced entities from the master file using the Delete XRef Entity button, these entities will not be externally referenced when you update the XRef record, even though they continue to exist in the source scene.

WarningIf you update an XRef in a scene with radiosity, probably this will invalidate the radiosity solution. After you update the XRef, reset the radiosity solution and then recalculate it.

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Select

Selects the entities that belong to the currently highlighted XRef record.

Select by Name

Opens the Select Objects dialog, which lists all objects and highlights those belonging to the currently highlighted XRef record. Use this dialog to select XRef objects.

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Highlight Selected Objects' XRefs Records

Based on the object(s) selected in the scene, the corresponding record(s) that contain these objects are highlighted in the XRef Objects dialog.

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Highlight All

Highlights all XRef records in the XRef Record list.

Highlight Inverse

Highlights all XRef records in the XRef Record list except the currently highlighted record(s).

Highlight None

Turns off highlighting for any XRef records currently highlighted in the XRef Records list.

Hide All Unresolved

Hides all unresolved XRef records in the XRef Record list.

Select All Unresolved

Highlights all unresolved XRef records in the XRef Record list.

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Merge In Scene

Converts all XRef entities of the highlighted record into native (local) entities in your master scene. The objects, controllers, materials, and manipulators are no longer referenced from the source file but become part of your master scene. A prompt appears so you can confirm the action. Since a merged XRef entity becomes part of the scene and is no longer an XRef entity, its name is removed from the XRef Entities list. This works on a XRef record basis, so all entities belonging to the highlighted XRef record are converted. The contents of the source file are not affected by this option.

Merging an XRef object loads the full modifier stack of the original object into the master scene (your current scene), while maintaining any additional stack items that were added while the object was an external reference. Thus, you can use Merge In Scene to update an object that has been modified as an external reference. Similarly, merging an XRef controller into the master scene maintains any offset transformation you might have applied to the controller in the master scene.

Convert Selected Object(s) to XRefs

Creates a source file for the currently selected objects. This means that you can select objects in the current scene, including their transform controllers and materials, and then save them to a separate scene file. This file is then listed as an XRef record that contains the entities you selected.

NoteThis option can be used on both—native (local) objects or externally referenced objects. If you use it for an object that is already an XRef object, it creates a nested XRef. Nested XRefs still behave as you expect, but they can reduce performance when you open a scene or render it.