Layer management for 3dsMax, any alternatives ?

[Juraj]

Let's say I dislike everything about it, esp. in latest releases.

Is there currently any alternative that you guys use ? I see Outliner but that is not exactly what I am after and seem like rather abandonware.

[racoonart]

Unfortunately not. My solution is: using max 2014. The layer manager of 2015+ is simply a no go. We will not upgrade as long as this crap is not working properly. I have no idea how people actually work in those releases.

[Juraj]

I have no idea either : /

[Nejc Kilar]

As a Cinema 4D user I sometimes marvel at how people can work in 3ds Max. I am proficient in it but the layer system is not looking too "friendly" to me personally, especially since the object manager is a such strong suit of c4d. Then again, once you learn it and accept the methodology it seems quite ok - I mean each software has its pros and cons right?

Anyway, that didn't have anything to do with you question Juraj but maybe this might help you - http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/nested-layer-manager-2-for-3ds-max

Seems like an interesting addon to the existing layer manager. Didn't try it out but since not even DeadClown knows an alternative...

[Juraj]

Actually, those features are already in 2015+, but he has another version, http://www.timsportfolio.co.uk/tools/nested-layer-manager-3/

Which seems good, but it's in beta...and also look bit like abandoware : /

[romullus]

Would like to know what's wrong with layer manager in max2015/2016? I was under impression that this area was significantly improved since max2014 and thus planned to try max2016, mainly because of layer manager and of couple new modifiers. Now, i'm not so sure anymore :/

[antanas]

Hmm I haven't used it myself but I hear mostly positive feedback from those who did - http://ephere.com/plugins/autodesk/max/zookeeper/ for me it is too pricey for what it does and honestly I can tolerate if not appreciate the Layer Manager of 2015+ versions well it could be faster, yeah, but it's slowness is mostly apparent on some really heavy scenes with thousands of different individual objects and 3ds max itself isn't and never was too good with large object counts.

 It's the new select by name\material\etc is what I hate with a passion because of it's totally intolerable sluggishness with the abovementioned large object counts, yet it is fixable by simple config tweak http://www.jamesshaw.co.nz/blog/?p=422 (c:\Users\Antanas\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2016 - 64bit\ENU\en-US\defaults\DesignVIZ.mentalray\CurrentDefaults.ini in my case) still it is not just 2015+ ver. specific and was present from I don't remember which max versions, only thing different in post 2015 ver. is just what autodesk made it totally and completely intolerable by using sluggish scene explorer for the picking\selecting job.

[Nejc Kilar]

Actually, those features are already in 2015+, but he has another version, http://www.timsportfolio.co.uk/tools/nested-layer-manager-3/

Which seems good, but it's in beta...and also look bit like abandoware : /

Now that you mention it, he just made NLM open source :) Maybe someone picks it up and finishes the job.

[Juraj]

Would like to know what's wrong with layer manager in max2015/2016? I was under impression that this area was significantly improved since max2014 and thus planned to try max2016, mainly because of layer manager and of couple new modifiers. Now, i'm not so sure anymore :/

The thing is...yes, they fixed lot of issues the 2015 had in 2016. But the whole new manager is something like pure reinvention of wheel.

[Juraj]

Hmm I haven't used it myself but I hear mostly positive feedback from those who did - http://ephere.com/plugins/autodesk/max/zookeeper/

That's ridiculous plugin :- ) Is that even aimed at regular production artists ? Or specially for someone more technically oriented. Because 99perc. of those features I would never use, and it's just over-flowing with robustness I don't need.

[antanas]

Well same for me and I'm mostly content with the default one.
Anyways the only one which I use most frequently is the Archicad's one and I love it, especially for it's savable layer view\representation combinations - it's like the 3ds max's scene states minus all unnecessary bullshit - simple and effective that one, - if only 3ds max would have a layer system like that or even better but less realistic - if only Archicad could model and render like 3ds max ))

[arqrenderz]

I use outliner http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/outliner its super easy and works on 2016 (dont use the 3.0, it crashes max)

[Attila Cselovszki]

There is a new tool for scene / layer management: Pulze Scene Manager. Visit: http://pulze.io/ and download the beta version of the plugin for free.
This one is a simple and easy to use tool rather for artists than for geeks ;)

[NicolasC]

Actually, those features are already in 2015+, but he has another version, http://www.timsportfolio.co.uk/tools/nested-layer-manager-3/

Which seems good, but it's in beta...and also look bit like abandoware : /

Hi Juraj,

Actually, Tim Hawker now works at Weta for several years, and has totally given up NLM dev :(
However, we still keep on using the previous v2.2.6, very reliable, we use it everyday with 3dsmax 2018. Little bugs here and there, but really rare, and if it crashes, only NLM does but not 3dsmax.
FYI, the v3 was a complete rebuild from scratch, using C#, but isn't complete at all features-wise. That really is a pity no one wants to continue his work, because he gave everything on Github ... any C# coder around ?? :P

[gandhics]

Since 3dsMax 2017, not many artists complain about the Layer Explorer anymore at work.
Any specific problem?