.3ds is not a file format that can be opened directly, it can only be imported. Only .max files can be opened directly. All other formats should be imported, including OBJ, which requires an additional plugin (OBJ2MAX). Max6 can import any .3ds file, regardless of what program it was created in originally, so long as it was exported correctly, and the file doesn't contain errors. You might want to ask him what exactly he gets when he tries to import the file (ie. an error message, a blank scene, or an abrupt program failure). This could better pinpoint the problem.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Also keep in mind that .3ds file fomat has a size limitation of 65535 polygons, vertices or texture coordinates per object. This means if any one object exceeds that amount, your file will be bad, and the import will fail. So, if you have a 3ds file you cannot import, this is usually the cause, and it has nothing to do with Max itself.

Message edited on: 08/11/2004 17:34