> hmm
> I'm working on programming a 3D graphics library in C++
without using any graphics libraries (just headers like
stdio, stdlib, dos, etc.)

> We're getting to the point that we'd like to be able to
import 3DSMax models (I'm doing this with someone else at
school.) Is this the file type that would be best to have
for importing? Would there be a better, more simple 3D
file format that we could support instead? And how hard is
it to import/read/draw all the triangles, etc. etc. once
we have all the graphics functions in there from a 3DSMax
file? Thanks :)

3ds is the best, because it is very widely supported by
the many 3D art programs you might want to import models
from.

Look at the page:

http://www.programmersheaven.com/

and maybe use the code in the file '3dsco20.zip' -
it is very simple, easy to use and I recommend it.

A search there for '3ds' will give you lots of info,
including other example sources to examine or use.

Good luck!