Export 3D from ArchiCAD to 3dsMAX through .DWG

There is many ways to import your model in 3ds Max. Every way has it's positive and negative parts. In this tutorial I will tel you about importing 3d model from ArchiCAD to 3ds Max trhough a .DWG file
Import 3d model from ArchiCAD with .DWG file is very powerfull method. There are two things i suggest you to do, when you are working in ArchiCAD, is to clasify your objects by layers.

• Work with layers, and place objects to it's relative layer. Place walls to layer "Walls", beams to layer "Beams", stairs to layer "Stairs"... .

This will help you later, when you will edit your model in max, or when you will be asigning materials to the objects.

• Assign correct materials to objects. Don't left object with no materials, if you plan to export model through  a .DWG file. It is better that the Surface color of Internal Engine materials will be different from each other.

Here we go to export the model.

1. The first step is to open your 3D window in ArchiCAD. Verify that you have all materials assigned to the objects.
2. Got to File > Save as. Select in the Save as type filed the DWG File (*.dwg)
3. There will appear an additional field - Translator. In this field select 03 For as is output, and in the right of it enter Settings. In the Layer Methods set the Windows and Doors Layer names. It is useful to have this elements in separate layers, else they will be on the same layer as the walls.  Save settings and close. These settings are saved, so you shouldn't set them every time. 
4. When you get back to Save 3D window, click Save, and Skip All when it asks you to open some files.

This is it. you exported your model to .DWG. Note that when you export it from a 3D View, it is saved as 3d model, and when you save as .DWG from a 2D View, it is saved as 2D. But this is another story ...

So let's go to 3ds Max and import our model.

  First of all I recommend you to activate the Layer toolbar in 3ds Max

1. Open 3ds Max and go to File - Import. Select the .DWG file you have exported from ArchiCAD. OK
2. In "AutoCAD DWG/DXF Import Options" window I use the default settings, because they are set preety. The only thing I change is  the definition of primitives -to Entity. 
   
   
   
   3. Select ALL IMPORTED GEOMETRY and apply the UVW Modifier with Box the Real World Map Size setting checked.

         

          It is very helpful for architectural visualization, especially using tiled materials such as bricks, wood etc. and it does not affect materials with no texture such as glass, or colored materials. Note, that when you use RealWorldMapSize at UVW Modifier, your materials in the scene should also have this setting checked. The except can be the cases when you have to assign special materials with non-tiled textures (e.g. book covers, paintings...)
   
   
   4. Now you can select objects and assign the materials. The selection is easy now because you can select objects 

   By layer  - in the Layer toolbar or the Edit menu

   By color - in the Edit menu
   

   

   
   

   Select All, Select None, and Select Invert are also helpful tools.

   
   

   Select Similar, Select Instances are useful for other objects you create or merge in the scene e.g. created geometry, lights, trees, furniture etc. - objects that has a unique name, a specified class or is a copy/instance of other objects.

   Some useful tools you can find in ZTools - a tools set for 3dsMax that you can download here. It will help you with optimized tools for selection and applying the materials such as Select by Material, Select Objects with no Material, and Random select