Utilities panel > Utilities rollout > gmax File Finder
Run maxfind.exe in the gmax root directory.
The gmax File Finder utility lets you search for .gmax files containing specific properties, for example:
Search the hard drive for all .gmax files containing the "Pink Carpet" material.
Search the c:\gmax directory and below for all .gmax files using the raymtl.dlt plug-in.
The utility comes in two formats: a standard gmax utility, and a stand-alone executable. Both work identically.
gmax File Finder demonstrates how to read a .gmax file's properties from an external application. These properties include predetermined data such as object and plug-in names, plus information you provide via the File menu > Properties dialog. You can also view this data from outside the software with Windows Explorer or an equivalent program by viewing a file's properties.
Tip: You can combine this tool with the powers of the Properties dialogs. If you have a team of animators, you can have the individual animators use the File menu > Properties dialog to create Categories, Keywords and Comments that you can search for using gmax File Finder. They can also use the Contents and Custom Tabs as well. All are searchable using the Finder.
You can also create similar structures at the Object level. The Object Properties dialog has a User Defined tab to enter any properties you like, and use that to organize your projects.
Interface
File menu
Reset: Clears the list box of any files previously found.
Exit: Exits the application
Help menu
About: Displays something fun to play with while Finder is searching for files. The search continues in the background while this dialog is active.
Program window
Search Text: Specifies the text to search for. If you leave the field empty, all gmax files that contain the specified property will be found.
File Spec: Specifies which file types to search through. The predefined file type is *.gmax. You can enter a different file type, such as *.dxf. To search through all files, use *.*.
The currently selected item in this list is restored the next time you run Finder.
Property: Specifies the property you want to search for. Use All to search for any property.
Start: Activates the search. During a search, the button title switches to Cancel. Click Cancel to abort the search.
Browse: Specifies the directory for the search, using the standard Windows Browse for Folder dialog.
Include Subfolders: When on, Finder searches the current directory and all subdirectories. When off, only the current directory is searched.
File List: Lists all files that were found and match the current search criteria.
Double-click a found file in this list to display the property viewer for the file. The information presented in this dialog is the same that is displayed with File > Properties inside the software. Use the << and >> buttons to step to the previous or the next file in the found list.
While in the property viewer, the search continues in the background.