"Send To" in 3ds Max does not work with Maya, Motionbuilder or Mudbox

Autodesk Support

Oct 8, 2023

Products and versions covered

Issue:

The Send To Maya, Motionbuilder and Mudbox features are not working in 3ds Max 2019.3 and more recent versions.

User-added image

The following behavior may occur when attempting to Send To another program:

Options may appear grayed out when trying to make a selection.
After choosing a selection, the corresponding program will open to transfer the data but nothing appears in the Viewport when the transfer completes.

Environment:

3ds Max Update 2019.3 and more recent versions.

Solution:

To work with the Send To feature in 3ds Max 2020:

Update 3ds Max and edit the .SYNCFG file

Download and install Update 2020.3 from your Autodesk Account.
After installation, go to the folder location: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Synergy.

Note: This location may be hidden in Windows Explorer.

Open the Max2020.22.0.64.syncfg file in a text editor.
In the Synergy Configuration file, ensure the content listed there is the same as shown below in bold text. If not, make changes as necessary:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SynHubConfig SchemaVersion="1.0">
  <Application Name="3ds Max" StringVersion="3ds Max 2020" NumericVersion="2020" ExecutablePath="C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2020\3dsmax.exe" Architecture="x86_64" />
</SynHubConfig>

Export to .FBX

To allow Maya, Mudbox or Motionbuilder to import 3ds Max files directly, export the scene to .FBX format.

Navigate to the File menu.
Choose Export, and then the second Export option.
From the "Save as type" drop-down list, select .FBX.
Import the file into the desired software.

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Products:

3ds Max; Maya; MotionBuilder; Mudbox;

Versions:

2019; 2020;

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