Every plug-in must be linked with at least two 3ds Max libraries: MAXUTIL.LIB and CORE.LIB. The following table describes the library files shipped with 3ds Max SDK:
| Library File | Description |
| ACAP.LIB | The call attributed profiler library. When a plug-in is using the profiler to test performance, this library is required. |
| AMODELER.LIB | The Facetted Solid Modeler library. |
| ASSETMANAGMENT.LIB | |
| ATSCore.LIB |
Contains many of the classes required to interact with the Asset Tracking System (ATS). See IATSMax.h, IATSProvider.h, and IATSNotifications.h. |
| BIPED.LIB | The Library for Character Studio Biped. |
| BMM.LIB | Bitmap manager library. Image loader/saver plug-ins, and those that deal with bitmaps require this library. |
| COMPOSITE.LIB | A library used for filelink with Autocad geometry, and for a general 'composite object.' |
| CORE.LIB | Functions exported from 3ds Max. All plug-ins use this library.* |
| CROWD.LIB | The library for Character Studio's Crowd functionality. |
| CUSTDLG.LIB | The library for custom dialogs. |
| DATABRIDGE.LIB | Used by plug-ins to display themselves in the Nitrous viewport and render with Quicksilver. |
| EDMODEL.LIB |
The NURBS library. |
| EXPR.LIB |
Expression library. Plug-ins that use the mathematical expression parser (Class Expr) require this library. |
| FLT.LIB | Filters library. Image filter plug-ins use this library. |
| GEOM.LIB |
Geometry library. Procedural objects, modifiers, controllers, and utility plug-in use this library. |
| GEOMIMP.LIB | The geometry importer library |
| GFX.LIB |
Graphics library. Plug-ins that use GraphicsWindow require this library. |
| GRAPHICSDRIVER.LIB | Used by plug-ins to display themselves in the Nitrous viewport and render with Quicksilver. |
| GUP.LIB | The library for Global Utility Plug-in's. |
| IGAME.LIB | The library for the 3ds Max Data Exchange Interface. |
| IMAGEVIEWERS.LIB | The Image viewer library. |
| MANIPSYS.LIB | The library that deals with the graphics manipulators. |
| MAXNET.LIB | The library used for the networking features. |
| MAXSCRPT.LIB | Plug-ins for MAXScript require this library. |
| MAXUTIL.LIB | Utility library. All plug-ins use this library.* |
| MENUMAN.LIB | The library for the Menu Manager. |
| MENUS.LIB | The Menu library. |
| MESH.LIB |
Mesh library. Plug-ins that use Class Mesh require this library. |
| MNMATH.LIB | The 'Minnesota Math' library. Plug-ins that use Class MNMesh and related classes require this library. |
| PARAMBLK2.LIB | The Parameter Block 2 library. Plug-ins that use parameter blocks require this library. |
| PARTICLE.LIB |
Particles library. Plug-ins that relate to particle systems require this library. |
| PARTICLEFLOW.LIB | The library for Particle flow. |
| PHYSIQUE.LIB | The library for Character Studio's Physique. |
| POLY.LIB | The Polygon Mesh Object library. |
| RENDERUTIL.LIB | Render utilities library. It includes the implementation of methods for Class Quantizer and Class ColorPacker. |
| RTMAX.LIB | Used for the real time rendering system. |
| SPRINGSYS.LIB | The Spring controller library. |
| TESSINT.LIB |
Tesselation library. Plug-ins that deal with the tessellation of NURBS or patches use this library. |
| VIEWFILE.LIB | This is the file viewer library used by VIEWFILE.DLL. |
| ZLIBDLL.LIB | The 'zlib' compression library. |
* However MAXScript plug-ins usually do not use anything in these lib files.
