Develop 3Ds Max 9 plugin using Visual studio C++ Express Edition(转载自我的Space)

It has been a long time since I wrote my last technical passage. Well, sinice the work in company always comes to my weekend, I have no time and energy to dig in the new tech stuff. And I promise I will write one technical passage in English per week and another in Chinese for my life from this weekend. Let save some space for the real stuff...

 

Due to the work need and my engine developement, I install Visual Studio C++ Express Edition and 3Ds Max 9 in my laptop.

The problem is how I can develop plugin in Max using just a free edition for C++.Okay, I will show u the entire process now:

 

1, First thing first, pls go to microsoft website for downloading the Visual Studio C++ Express Editon, which it is free even for developing commercial product.the address is: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/. And u will need to download the PlatformSDK for windows also: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=A55B6B43-E24F-4EA3-A93E-40C0EC4F68E5&displaylang=en. And pls check this passage which told u how to config the two damn thing(pls allow me to say that coz I waste so much time to make them works): http://www.garagegames.com/index.php?sec=mg&mod=resource&page=view&qid=5957

 

2, If u are smart enough or having fun about writing the plugin project template eveytime u create a plugin project, then u can skip this part. However, most of developers are lazy (That's humanity!) and so am I. I suggest u go and check in http://sparks.discreet.com/ and download the 3dsmaxPluginWizard for Visual Stuidio 2003(yep, I have no choice and that's what autodesk got).

 

3, Unzip the package and check the readme.txt inside, then do exactly what it says.

 

4, Okay, open the 3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsz and modified the Wizard to VsWizard.VsWizardEngine.8.0, like that

 

 

5, Open the 3dsmaxPluginWizard.vcproj and .\Templates\1033\root.vcproj in 3dsmaxPluginWizard folder which VC Express, do the convertion and save the project file.

 

6, Try it now. In the new project, u will find it looks like that:

then it will pop up the warning, just select "yes" and IE will block the page then select "allow". U can choose the type of ur plugin and setting the path according to ur machine setting, click ok then eveything is fine.

 

7, If u need to make a user interface, that will be a problem coz there is no Resource Editor comes with VC Express which means u have no way to make a interface. Well, if micro$oft dont provide u stuff, u always can download the same functional tool for free and that's case. U can go to google and search "ResEdit" and u will get a editor for free.

The newest version is 1.3.4.

 

8, okay, by now u already have everything u need to develop a plugin in 3Ds Max 9 so dont make any excuses for urself and start to develop cool stuffs. The image shows the demo of the first plugin of mine:

 

 Now, I need a cup of coffee and try to convert my previous preoject to 3Ds Max 9.