3ds Max - NifTools Plugin

The NifTools Plugin is an extension for 3ds Max and Gmax which adds support for Model Files. This extension currently consists of an exporter, importer, and a utility plugin for read and writing Gamebryo/Netimmerse related Model Files. This extension is part of the NifTools Project.

• 3ds Max: 2012, 2015, and 2016
• Download: https://github.com/figment/max_nif_plugin/releases, or Official
• Source: https://github.com/figment/max_nif_plugin
• Readme: https://github.com/figment/max_nif_plugin/blob/master/README.TXT
• Changelog: https://github.com/figment/max_nif_plugin/blob/master/CHANGELOG.TXT
• Documentation: http://niftools.sourceforge.net/wiki/3ds_Max
• Bug Reports: https://github.com/niftools/max_nif_plugin/issues

Installation

The installer will configure the plugins for whichever releases you have available on your machine. It will also optionally configure Texture File paths for various games that we know there settings for.

1. Copy NifPlugins.dlu, to your 3dsmax\plugins directory.
2. Copy MaxNifTools.ini to the correct plugcfg directory.
   1. For 2013 and later: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\<version>\enu\en-US\plugcfg
   2. For 2012 and less:
      1. Windows Vista and Greater: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\<version>\enu\plugcfg
      2. Windows XP: %APPDATA%\Autodesk\3dsMax\<version>\enu\plugcfg

You can copy MaxNifTools.ini to your 3dsmax\plugcfg directory but the folder may be readonly so is discouraged but might still work. The plugin will search the AppData folder first though as that is the recommended location from Autodesk and Microsoft.

Gmax

1. NifPlugins.dlu goes in gmax\plugin folder.
2. MaxNifTools.ini goes in gmax\plugCFG folder.
3. winmm.dll goes in gmax folder where gmax.exe is located. Do not place it in the windows system folder.

Setup

It is recommended that you edit the MaxNifTools.ini file to adjust paths and other settings to your machine to make it easier to work with.

1. Remove irrelevant applications from the KnownApplications list
2. Fix the RootPaths, TexturePaths and TextureSearchPaths in the Applications for your machine.

Usage

• Collision
  • Add bhkRigidBody from Create | Helpers | Niftools to represent a rigid body in havok.
  • Add bhkCollProxy or bhkRigidBody Modifier to represent shapes and then link them to the bhkRigidBody.
• Exporter: Export files using "File | Export | Netimmerse/Gamebryo (*.NIF, *.KF)".
• Importer Import files using "File | Import | Netimmerse/Gamebryo (*.NIF, *.KF)".

Notes

• If your collision mesh comes out deformed, go to the utilities tab, choose "Reset XForm" and click "Reset Selected". This should fix it.

See Also

• 3ds Max
• Model File
• NifTools Project
• Gmax on Wikipedia