Data synchronization between DWG/DXF files created with AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit and 3ds Max is implemented using the File Link Manager, which keeps drawing data linked to the scenes.
You can attach any DWG file (or DXF file) with the File Link Manager. This feature allows you to work in another design software's environment, such as AutoCAD ® , Autodesk ® AutoCAD Architecture, or Autodesk Revit ® while maintaining a single design database.
This topic offers some tips for choosing File Linking options and avoiding common pitfalls.
3ds Max has its own Layer system that looks and operates like a simplified version of the system you are familiar with from AutoCAD or AutoCAD Architecture. As in AutoCAD or AutoCAD Architecture, you can hide and unhide layers, freeze and unfreeze them, and change the display color for all objects on the layer.
3ds Max automatically manages the scale conversion on linked geometry and materials. 3ds Max has its own system unit for internal representation of geometrical scale.
3ds Max produces rich visualizations based on your drawing design data. In order to produce high-quality visualizations, you need to add and adjust many design variables that affect the visual impact of your design, but don't really belong in your core AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit data. You might want to test your design under different lighting conditions, experiment with different texture and material effects, animate components, or move through a space. 3ds Max allows you to enhance your design with this “extra” data while maintaining the integrity of the underlying AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit design.
The primary structural entities you will find in a model or project that is linked/imported to 3ds Max from AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, or Revit are style-based objects (in ADT models), family elements (in Revit projects) or blocks (in both ADT and AutoCAD files). Each style-based object, family element, or block will most likely have many instances in the 3ds Max scene.
