3ds Max for VS Code

Send MaxScript and Python code from VS Code to Autodesk 3ds Max, with full MaxScript language support.

Features

Send File to 3ds Max — Execute the current MaxScript (.ms, .mcr, .mse, .mzp) or Python (.py) file directly in 3ds Max
Send Selection to 3ds Max — Execute selected code or the current line
Select 3ds Max Instance — Choose which running instance receives your code
MaxScript Syntax Highlighting — Full TextMate grammar for MaxScript
Code Snippets — 12 snippets for common MaxScript patterns
Language Configuration — Comment toggling, bracket matching, auto-closing pairs, and code folding

Requirements

Windows only (uses the Windows API to communicate with 3ds Max)
Autodesk 3ds Max must be running
The MAXScript Listener must be accessible in 3ds Max (open via MAXScript > MAXScript Listener or press F11)

Installation

From VS Code Marketplace

Open VS Code
Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X)
Search for "3ds Max"
Click Install

From `.vsix` File

Download the .vsix from the Releases page
In VS Code: Ctrl+Shift+P > "Extensions: Install from VSIX..."
Select the downloaded file

From Source

git clone https://github.com/your-username/3dsmax-vscode.git
cd 3dsmax-vscode
npm install
npm run compile

Then press F5 in VS Code to launch the Extension Development Host with the extension loaded.

Usage

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Command	Context
`Shift+Enter`	Send File	MaxScript or Python file
`Alt+Shift+E`	Send Selection	Any editor
`Alt+Shift+I`	Select Instance	Any context

Sending Code

Open a MaxScript (.ms) or Python (.py) file in VS Code
Press Shift+Enter to send the entire file, or select code and press Alt+Shift+E to send the selection
If no 3ds Max instance is selected, you will be prompted to choose one automatically

Status Bar

The status bar at the bottom shows the current connection state:

3ds Max: Not Connected — click to select an instance
3ds Max: 2025 — connected to 3ds Max 2025 (shows the version year)

How It Works

The extension communicates with 3ds Max using the Windows API:

Finds running 3ds Max windows via EnumWindows
Locates the MAXScript mini listener window (class MXS_Scintilla)
Sends commands via WM_SETTEXT and simulates pressing Enter via WM_CHAR

For MaxScript files, it sends: fileIn @"C:\path\to\file.ms" For Python files, it sends: python.executeFile @"C:\path\to\file.py"

Selections are written to a temp file first, then executed via the same mechanism.

Settings

Setting	Default	Description
`3dsmax-vscode.extendSelectionToFullLines`	`true`	Extend selection to cover full lines before sending
`3dsmax-vscode.wrapSelectionInParentheses`	`true`	Wrap MaxScript selection in `()` for local variable scope

Snippets

Trigger	Description
`fn`	Function definition (short form)
`function`	Function definition (long form)
`ifdo`	If-Do block
`ite`	If-Then-Else block
`struct`	Struct definition
`structgui`	Struct with GUI rollout
`structmod`	Struct module pattern
`rollout`	Rollout dialog
`group`	Rollout group
`on`	Event handler
`for`	For loop
`forcollect`	For-collect expression

Troubleshooting

"No running 3ds Max instances found"

Make sure 3ds Max is running
The window title must contain "Autodesk 3ds Max"

"MAXScript Listener not found"

Open the MAXScript Listener in 3ds Max: MAXScript > MAXScript Listener or press F11
Make sure the mini macro recorder is visible (bottom-left status area of the 3ds Max window)

Code doesn't execute

Click in the mini listener in 3ds Max to make sure it's active, then try sending again
Check the MAXScript Listener output for error messages

Shift+Enter doesn't send the file

The keybinding only activates when the file language is maxscript or python
For .ms files, the language should be auto-detected. If not, click the language indicator in the VS Code status bar and select "MaxScript"

Development

This section covers how to work on the extension locally, build it, and publish it.

Prerequisites

Node.js (v18 or later)
VS Code
Git

Local Setup

git clone https://github.com/your-username/3dsmax-vscode.git
cd 3dsmax-vscode
npm install

Running Locally (Testing)

Open the project folder in VS Code
Press F5 — this compiles the extension and launches a new VS Code window (Extension Development Host) with the extension loaded
In the Extension Development Host, open a .ms or .py file
Test the commands via the keyboard shortcuts or Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P > "3ds Max:")

Watch mode for iterative development — auto-recompiles on file changes:

npm run watch

Then press F5. Any changes you make to TypeScript files are recompiled automatically. Reload the Extension Development Host (Ctrl+R) to pick up changes.

Build Commands

Command	Description
`npm run compile`	Type-check and build once
`npm run watch`	Watch mode (auto-rebuild on changes)
`npm run package`	Production build (minified)

Project Structure

3dsmax-vscode/
├── src/
│   ├── extension.ts          # Entry point — registers commands
│   ├── winapi.ts             # Windows API wrapper (koffi + user32.dll)
│   ├── maxConnection.ts      # Connection state and status bar
│   └── commands.ts           # sendFile, sendSelection logic
├── syntaxes/
│   └── maxscript.tmLanguage.json   # MaxScript syntax grammar
├── snippets/
│   └── maxscript.json        # MaxScript code snippets
├── language-configuration.json     # Comment, bracket, folding rules
├── package.json              # Extension manifest
├── tsconfig.json             # TypeScript config
└── esbuild.js                # Bundler config

Publishing

One-Time Setup

Create an Azure DevOps organization at https://dev.azure.com (free)
Create a Personal Access Token (PAT):
- Go to your Azure DevOps organization
- Click your profile icon > Personal Access Tokens > New Token
- Name: VS Code Marketplace
- Organization: All accessible organizations
- Scopes: check Marketplace > Manage
- Click Create and copy the token (you won't see it again)
Create a publisher at https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/manage:
- Choose a unique publisher ID (e.g., your GitHub username)
- Set a display name
Update package.json: replace "publisher": "your-publisher-id" with your actual publisher ID

Login with vsce:

npx @vscode/vsce login <your-publisher-id>
# Paste your PAT when prompted

You can upload it manually at https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/manage by clicking your publisher > New Extension > VS Code > drag/drop the .vsix file.

Building a `.vsix` Package

npx @vscode/vsce package --target win32-x64

This creates a .vsix file you can share directly or install via "Install from VSIX..." in VS Code.

The --target win32-x64 flag is required because the extension includes a native module (koffi) with platform-specific binaries.

Publishing to the Marketplace

# Publish for Windows x64
npx @vscode/vsce publish --target win32-x64

# Or publish for multiple Windows architectures
npx @vscode/vsce publish --target win32-x64 win32-arm64

Version Bumping

npx @vscode/vsce publish patch   # 0.1.0 → 0.1.1
npx @vscode/vsce publish minor   # 0.1.0 → 0.2.0
npx @vscode/vsce publish major   # 0.1.0 → 1.0.0

If you just want to share the extension via GitHub without publishing to the marketplace:

Push your code to GitHub:

git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit: 3dsmax-vscode extension"
git remote add origin https://github.com/your-username/3dsmax-vscode.git
git branch -M main
git push -u origin main

Build a .vsix package:

npx @vscode/vsce package --target win32-x64

Create a GitHub Release and attach the .vsix file
Others can install it via: Ctrl+Shift+P > "Extensions: Install from VSIX..."

Credits

MaxScript syntax grammar based on sublime3dsmax by Christoph Buelter and Rogier van Etten
Communication approach inspired by VSCode-SendTo3dsMax
Uses koffi for Windows API integration

License

MIT

3ds Max

JokerMartini