> > 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!

i don't think there is any info of the max file format anywhere. there is on 3ds though. all the 3ds info i used i got from http://www.wotsit.org/ . there is lightwave info also but i think it's too hard to understand. i managed to understand almost everything in the 3ds format excpet for one major thing that causes some models to have meshes in the wrong place. you should try out my program exe 3ds2vxl to see how much success you might expect from programming for 3ds.