Saving scenes in older versions of 3ds Max — one at a time or in batches, up to 3ds Max 2009.
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How it saves:
• For 1–3 versions back — usual Save As, without losses.
• For 4 versions back and older — two methods to choose from:
1. Rebuild (default). The scene is rebuilt in the installed old version of 3ds Max. Geometry, UVs, materials, lights and cameras, hierarchy, groups, instances, layers (with nesting and state), freezing and object properties, selection sets, render settings, environment, and Render Elements are transferred. Modifiers are collapsed, except for TurboSmooth at the top of the stack: it is transferred with all settings. Animation is not transferred, proxies become regular objects.
2. Keep modifiers. The scene is saved step by step using the usual Save As through the installed versions of 3ds Max, for example, 2027 → 2024 → 2021. Nothing is collapsed: modifiers, materials, and everything that the old version supports remains as is.
Corona and V-Ray materials and lights are transferred if this plugin is installed in the old version of 3ds Max.
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What you need:
• For rebuilding, 3ds Max of the selected version or 1–3 years newer must be installed on the computer. Example: you are working in 3ds Max 2027 and want to save to 2013 — installed 3ds Max 2013, 2014, 2015, or 2016 will work.
• For Keep modifiers, installed versions must be no more than 3 years apart. The script will automatically choose the shortest path and indicate which version is missing.
• If the suitable version is not available, SaveBack will save the scene as a script (.ms + .bwd), which can be opened in the required version via MAXScript → Run Script.
• It is better not to use Cyrillic in names and paths.
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Capabilities:
• Batch conversion: separate files, folders with subfolders, open scene
• Saving only selected objects from the open scene
• The list shows which version of 3ds Max each file is saved in
• Version in the file name, common folder for results or next to the source
• Same-named files from different folders do not overwrite each other: the folder name is added to the name
• Skipping already converted files
• Sources can be sent to the Recycle Bin after saving
• Report: what has been saved, what has been skipped and why
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Installation: MAXScript → Run Script → SaveBack for 3ds Max.ms
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Compatibility: Saves in versions from 2009 to current.
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3DDD is not responsible for this extension. All risks associated with the use of this extension are borne by the users.