Freexporter - Frequently asked questions

1) What is Freexporter?
2) How can I use it?
3) Why C++ and where can I find more information?
4) Under which license is it released?
5) What is the purpose of Freexporter?
6) How can I help freexporter?

1) What is Freexporter?

Freexporter is a simple and easy to use set of c++ sources to be used as base to build more complex plugins to export meshes (and others) in 3ds max.

2) How can I use it?

You can find all required information about how create a new plugin in your max SDK.
Briefly, you need to build it as DLL and place the file in the proper folder of the application.

In its first shape, Freexporter doesn't produce any output since the purpose of this program is locate information and pass it to a specific set of virtual functions. E.g. there are functions for lights, faces and materials. The idea is that in the most of cases you simply need to locate the interested portion of source and place your own code to produce the desired output as you planned. Freexporter doesn't impose any particular file format because it doesn't save any data to file, it just locates it so you can do what you want.

Owing to the object oriented design it's not difficult locate and specialize functions, anyway please consider that freexporter is at its early version and there are many things still unprovided; if you have the knowledge and you are interested improve it, read the fourth question for further elucidations.

3) Why C++ and where can I find more information?

3ds comes with a sophisticated object oriented design, then to develop plugins you need to know C++. If you don't know C++ but you still want to develop a plugin you need to learn it, you may visit mindview's site and search for the book "Thinking in C++": it's freely readable and very complete.

4) Under which license is it released?

The license for this software (Freexporter) is GPL. Please, visit the GNU project site and read it carefully searching for a copy of the GPL license. Anyway you may find one in the Freexporter package.

5) What is the purpose of Freexporter?

Freexporter is shared as open source but it's not for commercial purposes.
The philosophy of this project is share a set of sources just for mutual experiencing and didactic aims. So you cannot include freexporter (or sell it) in a commercial project but you can use it as a personal tool.

6) How can I help Freexporter?

Please, visit the project page at sourceforge.net. If you are interested you can modify sources and continue them (following the GNU GPL). Bug reports and corrections are always welcome.