First things first. I am using a Student copy of the software, though I gather that has nothing to do with the problem since the computers at my school had the Student copy as well. Also, I have browsed through here and found a topic that has to do with my problem, but despite trying the information it didn’t help my problem.

With that said, I have no files what soever in my material library and I had done the standard install. I already tried Customize<Configure User Paths<External Files and adding the maps thusly to no avail.

Is there anyone here who would be able to help me with the problem? I’m anxious to continue with my studies, but I feel incomplete without having an aray of sample materials to slap onto my models.

Search your hard-drive for *.mat

Locate the directory for the material library files.
The attached image shows the location of mine, which is dependent upon the installation path you chose.
Once you know where the *.mat files are, open the Material Editor:
1. Click the Get Material button (blue ball to the far left under the sample slots)
2.In the Material/Map Browser, set Browse From: to Mtl Library
3. In the File group (lower left) click on Open
4. Browse to the location of your material libraries and open. Make sure you are going to the exact same path where you found the *.mat files in the search.

Does that work?

Tim Wilbers [FA]

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Visual Arts
University of Dayton
http://www.udayton.edu/
3ds Max: 7.5, 8, 9, 2008, 2009, 2010

	Attachment

Come to think of it I actually tried this already. The problem is that my 3dsmax.mat is completely missing. Infact I don’t have any of the files you have in your screen shot there. The only file that comes up is Medit and when I ran the path for this through Max it turned out to be nothing more than the blank grey spheres that are already present in the materials pallet.

I purchased the Perpetual Student copy from AcademicSuperstore. It had two discs. One being the software and one being one that installed Autodesk Vault Explorer. That disc also said something about samples, but quite frankly when I opened the application it was devoid of anything whatsoever, making wonder what its purpose is to begin with.

I know my school uses the same exact software and it had everything. What file would it be on the disc itself? Also, could this be a Vista issue? I’m using Vista Home Premium (which actually defaults to Basic whenever I start Max).

I just read some replies on another post I had replied to. They mentioned about the Samples folder which I just found on the second disc I had mentioned. It actually has a number of folders. I’m guessing I want to drop Matlib where my material library should be. What of the others though? Should I worry about anything in Images, LandXML, Motion, Movies, Scenes, or Scripts?

Also, I still lack 3dsmax.mtl. I have: Backgrounds, Bricks, Concrete, Fabric, Ground, Metal, RayTraced_01, RayTraced_02, RelectionMaps, Skys, Space, Stones, Wood. Is that all I need?

Did you do a complete Search (Windows: Start > Search) for *.mat, of all your drives?
If you do the standard install, the program is installed under \Programs, but your default project directory is under C:\Documents and Settings\[user name]\My Documents\3dsmax\

If after a complete Search, and make sure in the Search Results dialog, you expand the “More advanced options” and check:
Search system folders
Search hidden files and folders
Search subfolders

If it still does not appear, then uninstall, delete the 3dsmax install folder under \Programs and try a reinstall.

Tim Wilbers [FA]

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Visual Arts
University of Dayton
http://www.udayton.edu/
3ds Max: 7.5, 8, 9, 2008, 2009, 2010

Hi, I downloaded the *.mat files from website, and I put everything under C:\Arquivos de programas\Autodesk\3ds Max 2008\materiallibraries but when I open “Get Material"> “Mtl Library” I doesn’ t show me *.mat, I went to Customize > Configure User Path> Exeternal Files and there I put the path up. So, I didn’t show me the *.mat

What Can I do?
I’m using WinXP Professional and 3ds Max 2008.
Thanks

The default library is 3dsmax.mat - that is the only one which will load automatically. If you want one of the others select “material library” in the browser, then click Open and navigate to where you put them. The default path, as Tim pointed out, is in Docs & settings - copy 3dsmax.mat from the program files directory to the materiallibraries directory under docs & settings.

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

I think I had a similar issue in a prior release, the default useful Mat Libraries were nested in the Samples Matlibs folder, and not installed by default.  I don’t remember when that was but I suspect it was Max9 maybe.

Maneswar Cheemalapati [FA]