Expert Mode is designed to streamline adding assets from Connecter into supported host applications. It allows advanced users to predefine how assets are handled, reducing prompts and enabling faster, more consistent workflows across different integration environments.
Overview
When Expert Mode is enabled, Connecter uses your predefined settings to manage how assets are sent into the 3ds Max scene. Instead of showing a merge dialog every time, Expert Mode follows your configured rules for merging, placement, instancing, and material handling.
👉 NOTE: Expert Mode currently supports the 3ds Max integration only. Future versions may support other host apps.
Enabling Expert Mode
You can toggle Expert Mode from the dedicated element in Connecter’s header. When active:
- A dedicated “Expert Mode Settings” panel opens where you can configure all available options.
- The panel can be freely repositioned and will remember its last position when closed.
- Closing the panel manually will keep Expert Mode active.
- You can reopen the panel using the button next to the Expert Mode toggle.
If the 3ds Max integration isn’t installed, Connecter will show a message and prevent Expert Mode from being turned on.
3ds Max Integration Settings
Once the 3ds Max integration is installed and Expert Mode is enabled, these options are available in the Expert Mode Settings panel.
Merge as
- It is – Merges the asset as it is.
- XRef Object – Adds the asset as a reference to the original .max file.
- Proxy – Merges the asset as a proxy object.
To customize proxy behavior (e.g., naming, preview density, renderer settings), go to: 3ds Max > Connecter > Connecter Preferences > Merge as Proxy Settings
Placement
- Drag and Place (default) – Freely place the asset by dragging with the mouse.
- Place as Saved – Positions the asset using the original coordinates from the saved file.
- Place at Scene Origin – Places the asset at the center of the scene (0,0,0), aligning the base of its bounding box to the ground plane.
For more control over merge behavior, use: 3ds Max > Connecter > Connecter Preferences > Merge and Place Settings.
Add as
- Instance (default) – The merged asset is added as an instance.
- Copy – Adds a fully independent copy of the asset.
Replace
Enabled by holding Ctrl + Alt while dragging and dropping an asset.
- Object (default) – Replaces the object under the cursor.
- Selection – Replaces all selected objects in the scene.
- Replace Instances (selected by default) – Replaces all instances of the object being replaced.
Materials in Expert Mode
Apply Materials
You can drag a single material from a .mat material library or a .max asset in Connecter and drop it onto an object in the 3ds Max scene. When Expert Mode is enabled, the material is applied based on your selected settings – either to a specific sub-material slot or to the whole object.
- Sub-material ID (default) – If the target object uses a multi-sub material, a dialog will appear prompting you to select which material to replace. If the object doesn’t have a multi-sub material, the material is applied directly.
- Object – Replaces all materials on the object with the new material.
Additional Options
- xRef Materials – Adds the material as a reference from the source .max asset.
- Replace Material Instances – If enabled, the new material is applied to all instances of the object. This behavior is similar to the “Propagate Materials to Instances” option in 3ds Max’s Material Editor.