I have the problem of trying to move many many vertices to a specific configuration.  Is it possible to edit the coords of the vertices in a table or some text form (without doing it individually)?  I would like to export a list of all vertices and their coords, edit the z-coord based on the x,y location, and copy the coords back into 3ds max.  Is that possible?

This sounds like a job for Maxscript!  Assuming you want to derive a new z coord from a mathematical formula based on the x and y it should be quite straightforward.  If this is the case, one of the script experts in the Maxscript forum can probably help you.

However if you are wanting to manually enter new z values, you may need to export to an [x,y,z] text file which you could then edit in Excel or something?....

--3ds Max Design 2009 64bit, Direct3D 9, Win Vista Premium 64, 3ghz quadcore Xeon, Quadro FX1700--

Export to a file to edit in Excel.  That’s what I want to do!  How do you do that?  and how do you import the coords back?

I am trying to make one surface change/morph into another, and I know that I need to keep the mesh and vertex numbering consistent to do that.  I have way too many vertices to change by hand in 3ds max, but I already have a map in excel that I could easily use to come up with my target z-values.

Well there’s ASCII export format (.ase)...I just did a quick test using Export Selected, and it opened quite easily in Excel.
There must be other formats....I seem to recall one called “.xyz”...I imported a huge terrain file a couple of years ago but I can’t recall exactly what format I used.

--3ds Max Design 2009 64bit, Direct3D 9, Win Vista Premium 64, 3ghz quadcore Xeon, Quadro FX1700--

oh great thanks!  But how do I import it once I have made my changes?

Oops...sorry, looks like I steered you into a dead end.
I am trying to remember how I did that terrain...’DEM Import’ or something like that.  I think it was a free plugin but that would have been Max 7 or 8 version.  It is hard to find Max 9 versions of these things.  Anyone else have an idea?

--3ds Max Design 2009 64bit, Direct3D 9, Win Vista Premium 64, 3ghz quadcore Xeon, Quadro FX1700--

I appreciate the help!  I did not know of maxscript until you mentioned it.  turns out there is a tutorial preloaded that will move an object along the z-axis until it intersects with another object.  That should work.

Maxscript is an absolutely wonderful tool to have at your disposal.  If you are already familiar with another scripting language such as Javascript, it is fairly easy to learn.  And if you use Max a lot and often find yourself thinking “I wish I could automatically do this to 300 different objects” it may be worth the time!

--3ds Max Design 2009 64bit, Direct3D 9, Win Vista Premium 64, 3ghz quadcore Xeon, Quadro FX1700--

I once made a script - to flatten a shape

http://www.orvatsel.com/flattenshp.zip

Actually I tool the code from the tutorials and packed it into a MCR file.

It only deals with whole shapes - no partial and off course - no polys.

NIR