"I Know What You Did Last Summer"
a.k.a. max4 project manager

Project Manager  provides integrated tools for project data management. It will let the user:

• Define Projects with localized paths for all Assets including Scenes, Images, Sounds, Scripts etc. to bring order to your working HDD and allow for easy navigating, synchronizing between machines and archiving.
• Force 3ds max 4 to load/save data into the specified directories by redirecting the System Paths to Project Presets.
• Quickly browse Assets by Project with detailed file information (thumbnail, scene details, file size, modification/creation date etc.) and load them from a single MODELESS dialog.
• Perform context-sensitive file operations on multiple files from the Project Manager dialog without navigating deep menus, for example browse/listen to sound files and load a WAV as a Scene SoundTracks with a single click.
• Archive all or some of the Project Assets using MaxZip.
• Generate a HTML Catalog to overview or take an indexed snapshot of the state of all Project Assets.

• Project Manager defines Projects by storing a set of customized system paths to a .PMN text file in a \ProjectManager subdirectory of the 3ds max 4 root directory.
• The Project's Asset directories can be defined specially for the Project (usually as a main directory with the project name and assets sub-directories bellow it) or can be any existing paths on the local or mapped network drives.
• To define a Project, set up the directories in the "Project Setup and Directories Management" rollout, enter a project name and press the [CREATE] button - the specified paths will be created in case they do not exist and will be set as the current MAX system paths.
• To browse existing Projects and their Assets, select a Project Name from the list in the "Browse Projects" rollout and use the Project Assets buttons to list available resources like .MAX scenes, meshes, images, scripts etc.
• Any file stored on a Project's path will be displayed as part of the Project's assets.
• Because a project definition sets the system paths to the new directories, 3ds max will store the current project paths in its 3DSMAX.INI file.
• To activate a Project manually, just open the Project Manager Floater and select a name from the Project List while having the [Change Paths] button checked (or check the button afterwards).
• Loading MAX scene files from existing Project directories can activate the respective Project automatically (confirmation option also available)

• Project Manager has been developed based on ideas by veteran MAX users. It fills in some holes in MAX's data and directory management, and makes certain existing functions even easier.
• Project Manager does NOT dictate a certain predefined Project Structure, it is flexible enough to fit existing workflows. For example, it is possible to have multiple Projects sharing directories, the Assets of a single project could be split into mutiple Project definitions to make data access quicker etc. Just think of the utility as a quick way to switch between combinations of Max Paths without ever seeing the Customize>Configure Paths dialog... Once set up, the Paths can be activated in a matter of seconds. Even better, MAX files loaded from a Scenes directory of a predefined Project could optionally activate all Project settings automagically...
• You are not forced to use Project Manager for project management at all - it would be the perfect interface to browse your default MAX paths for certain files, for example Project Manager could be used as a modeless tool to quickly browse and run multiple script files... The scripts browser shows info about all the functions, rollouts and comments found in the script sources WITHOUT opening them!
• Project Manager provides some features that could be seen as separate scripts - for example the Catalog function or the Archive function.
• Project Manager provides scene info like Vertex and Poly Counts, Object Counts, Scene Author, MAX Version etc. during browsing WITHOUT opening the scene files! Most file related commands are also always a click away - opening Asset Browser or Windows Explorer at the desired location is as easy as 1-2-3.
• Importing dozens of files quickly by just double-clicking them in the File Browser of Project Manager is another big time-saver.
• Finding the correct Audio file and placing it in the TrackView/TrackBar has never been so easy - just double-click the files to play them, and click a single command to load the file in the scene...
• Project Manager will keep an eye at your scenes and stores the original name and path in the files when MAX creates backups. Reviving a backup after a crash is a perfectly easy task now - the autoback file will "find the way home" and will be saved to its original path automatically...
• All in one, Project Manager is an integrated tool that tries to put almost every file-related option found in MAX plus some more under your fingertips. It looks complicated at first glance, but could save much time when working on complex projects once you learn how to use it. Have fun!

Download Project Manager.MZP Package

(since my server does not support the MZP extension, please right-click the link and Save As... in a temp. directory)
 

NOTE:  3ds max 4 introduced a new script file format called MZP (Maxscript Zip Package), It allows the distribution and automated installation of complex scripts without manual copying of files to specific directories by the user. The MZP package is actually a renamed .ZIP file (as created by WinZip) which can contain an installation control file MZP.RUN describing the installation procedure. Project Manager ships as MZP and will install itself automatically if you RUN it as a script file. (Alternatively, download the ZIP version and unzip to the directories described bellow, then restart MAX to activate the scripts)

Go to Main Toolbar>MAXScript>Run Script and select Project Manager.MZP from the temp. directory you stored it in

(The MZP Package will be unzipped automatically: Project Manager-ProMan.mcr will be copied to \Ui\Macroscripts, ProMan_Monitor.ms to \StdPlugs\StdScripts)

Right-click a toolbar, Customize..., Find "Project Manager" category, drag "Project Manager" item to the toolbar - a new button [ProMan] should appear.

(Alternatively, assign to a Shortcut or place on a Menu or QuadMenu).

Start Project Manager by pressing the button (or using the Shortcut/Menu/QuadMenu)

• FEATURES AND USAGE
• HOW TO... (under construction)