Setting up a 3DSMax plugin project in VS for both win32/x64 platforms

Pre-requisites

!! Visual Studio doesn't install x64 compilers by default, make sure they are available

3ds Max Version	Target Operating System	Binary compatible 3ds Max SDK versions	Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler Version
2011	- Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit) - Windows Vista (32 and 64 bit) - Windows XP Pro SP2 (32 and 64 bit)	2011, 2010	Visual C++ 9.0 (Visual Studio 2008) Service Pack 1 with the July 28, 2009 security patch installed.

Environment Variables

User Environment variables to set up under Windows 7 x64:

3DSMAX_2011_PATH      C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\3ds Max 2011
3DSMAX_2011x64_PATH   C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2011
3DSMAX_2011_SDK_PATH  C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\Autodesk 3ds Max 2011 SDK

3DSMax wizard for VS

To make the wizard available in VS IDE:

Give the absolute path of the wizard directory in the 3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsz file located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\3ds Max 2011 SDK\maxsdk\howto\3dsmaxPluginWizard
```
Param="ABSOLUTE_PATH = C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\3ds Max 2011 SDK\maxsdk\
                       howto\3dsmaxPluginWizard"
```
(on only one line)

!!!! Rights are a bit weird under Windows 7. Even if you belong to the administrators group, you don't have right to modify this file.
Solution is to open this file properties and in Secutrity tab:
- Groups and Users names => Modify
- Groups and Users names => Add
- Enter your name (your account on the machine), then Check name, then OK
- Select your name and check total Control in your authorizations, then OK
- OK to close file properties window
Copy the following files from the 3dsmaxPluginWizard root to the 'VC\VCProjects' directory (C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\VCProjects)
```
3dsmaxPluginWizard.ico
3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsdir
3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsz
```
!!!! Once again you may experience rights problems and will have to grant yourself rights on the VS directories (dirty but ...)

Project Creation

File |> New |> Project
In Visual C++ choose 3DSMax Wizard Plugin
Fill its name, location (give the directory above as a new directory will be created with the project name inside this location), UNcheck Create directory for this solution
Fill the info through the wizard, giving the followings pathes
- SDK root :
```
$(3DSMAX_2011_SDK_PATH)\maxsdk
```
- ouput file directory:
```
$(3DSMAX_2011_PATH)\plugins
```
- 3dsmax.exe:
```
$(3DSMAX_2011_PATH)
```
Once done it may say "Permission denied", Click OK
Click Cancel in the New Project window, and if you look in your directory the project directory has been created and you can open the .vcproj: MAGIC!

Project Settings

Right click on project name |> Properties

Highlighted cells show the values you have to set, the others are automatically set the right way by the wizard

Configuration	Debug
Platform	Win32	x64
Configuration Properties
C/C++ General	Additional Include: $(3DSMAX_2011_SDK_PATH) \maxsdk\include	Additional Include: $(3DSMAX_2011_SDK_PATH) \maxsdk\include
Output Files	Program Database Filename: .\Debug\name.pdb	Program Database Filename: .\x64\Debug\name.pdb
Command Line	Additional Options: /LD "@$(3DSMAX_2011_SDK_PATH) \maxsdk\ProjectSettings \AdditionalCompilerOptions.txt"	Additional Options: /LD "@$(3DSMAX_2011_SDK_PATH) \maxsdk\ProjectSettings \AdditionalCompilerOptions64.txt"
Linker General	Output File: $(3DSMAX_2011_PATH) \plugins\name	Output File: $(3DSMAX_2011x64_PATH) \plugins\name
Linker General	Additional Library: $(3DSMAX_2011_SDK_PATH) \maxsdk\lib	Additional Library: $(3DSMAX_2011_SDK_PATH) \maxsdk\x64\lib
Debugging	Generate Program Database File: .\Debug\name.pdb	Generate Program Database File: .\x64\Debug\name.pdb