Feature demos below. Newer versions may look slightly different.
Merges multiple compressed assets with textures.
Smart Merge 2
24.00 $
Latest version 2.48 – Updated 29/04/2025
We offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the product within 7 days of purchase, no questions asked. Policy ›
Main features
- Merges a compressed asset directly into the scene.
- Merges multiple files into the scene with one click.
- Decompresses archives nested inside archives automatically.
- Cleans layers, lights, shapes, animation, notetracks and more.
- Finds, collects and relinks textures automatically.
- Sets custom pivot, removes smoothing, resets properties.
- Selects, zooms to, groups, colors and layers merged objects.
- Runs a post script, for example to convert assets to Corona.
Smart Merge 2 is version 2 of the original Smart Merge script for 3ds Max. It imports or merges 3ds Max files and downloaded archives from 3D stock or asset library sites. Drag and drop the files to batch load them into the current scene, then select the files to merge from the list.
Requirements
3ds Max 2018 or higher, 2022 or higher recommended. Older versions still run the script, but some options are not available. An internet connection is needed to activate a license key.
How to install
If the download is a ZIP, extract it to get the MZP or MCR installer. Drag and drop the installer into the viewport and click Install if asked, there is no need to remove previous versions. The script button is in Customize User Interface > Toolbar > D95 DESIGN.
How to update
Updates are free. Use Check for Update in the script, or download the latest version from Downloads and install it over the old one. To roll back, uninstall first, then install the older version.
How to uninstall
Drag and drop the MZP installer into the viewport and click Uninstall. Settings can be kept or deleted. Uninstalling does not deactivate the license, so deactivate first to move to another computer.
If the uninstall fails, delete the script folder and its .mcr files in the two folders below, restart 3ds Max, then remove the toolbar buttons with right-click > Delete Button.
%LocalAppData%\Autodesk\3dsMax\20xx - 64bit\ENU\Scripts %LocalAppData%\Autodesk\3dsMax\20xx - 64bit\ENU\usermacros
License key
After purchase you receive an email with a license key. Each key can be activated on 2 computers and includes support and all future updates of this version. It is a one-time payment and the key is permanent.
Activate license
The Activation dialog appears on the first start. Enter the license information from the purchase email and click Active.
Deactivate license
To move to another computer, deactivate on the current one first via About > Deactive License. If the old computer is no longer accessible, use License manager in the Account page to deactivate it remotely.
Troubleshoot
If the script keeps asking for the key or activation fails, check that the computer is online and 3ds Max is not blocked by the firewall. Older versions identify the computer by its MAC address, which antivirus software can randomize, so update to the latest version. If 3ds Max cannot write to disk, run it as administrator and activate again.
2.48 | 29/04/2025
FIX- Fixed the path selection window not appearing when clicking the Select Temporary Path button.
- Fixed Deep Search not working in some cases.
- Fixed some path related bugs.
2.47 | 11/02/2025
IMPROVE- Clean Temporary Data now waits 10 seconds for confirmation before starting, to prevent accidental clicks.
- Added a temporary workaround for the script not displaying because its window drifted to a “non-existent” screen, a common problem with multiple monitors. Enter sm2_va_CenterOpen = true in the Listener to make the script start in the center.
2.45 | 18/08/2024
IMPROVE- Code optimizations to make the script run faster.
2.44 | 07/08/2024
IMPROVE- The license key is corrected automatically when it contains extra spaces, newline characters or special characters.
- Fixed some versions of 3ds Max not executing the script.
- Fixed some potential bugs related to activation.
2.43 | 06/08/2024
IMPROVE- License system updated to v2: fixed deactivation caused by network configuration changes and increased the time the script can run without Internet. The message “License updated successfully!” appears when installing the new version.
- Optimized code: the script starts and loads settings faster.
- Fixed the script slowing down over time while using 3ds Max.
2.38 | 30/07/2024
NEW- Support for RAR archives created by WinRAR 7.00 with a dictionary larger than 4 GB.
- Added a warning icon when clicking Clean Temporary Data.
- The script can now run offline four times longer.
- Updated the built-in 7-zip to version 24.07 with speed optimizations and bug fixes.
- Improved installer.
- Attempted to fix false alarms from some antivirus programs.
- Fixed some tooltips.
2.35 | 05/06/2024
FIX- Fixed icons and buttons not loading after restarting 3ds Max.
- Fixed “First character of token not ” or ~” errors when starting the script.
2.34 | 04/06/2024
FIX- Fixed a critical installation bug that prevented the script from opening and left the buttons without icons.
2.33 | 25/05/2024
IMPROVE- Improved script icon design.
- Fixed the script failing to start the first time it was opened.
- Fixed some tooltips.
2.32 | 23/05/2024
NEW- New High DPI icons for high resolution screens. Supports 3ds Max 2017 and above.
2.31 | 13/05/2024
NEW- License Manager is integrated into Smart Merge. When the activation limit is reached, the License Manager panel appears so you can deactivate one of the old computers. After that, the script activates the license on the current computer automatically.
- The script supports dragging and dropping files from the browser download folder.
- Fixed a minor error in the installer.
2.28 | 29/04/2024
IMPROVE- Improved the installer.
2.27 | 29/04/2024
IMPROVE- The script can work offline without a constant Internet connection.
- Updated the license system to reduce startup time.
- Fixed errors when dragging and dropping multiple file types.
2.25 | 17/03/2024
IMPROVE- Improved the user interface.
- Fixed the script not starting the first time.
- Fixed “Unhandled Exception…” error when installing the script.
- Fixed some titles and tooltips.
2.23 | 08/02/2024
NEW- Added a Distribute option to Move to Origin: spreads models out so they do not overlap when merging multiple files at once.
- Move to Origin is now a separate setting group.
- The interface is now designed for a GetUIScaleFactor value of 1 instead of 1.5. This suits Full HD screens and high resolution screens with High DPI Scaling Override set to System. Interface errors will occur if Scaling Behavior is set to anything else.
- Adjusted some default settings for new installs and settings resets.
- Fixed some titles and tooltips.
2.19 | 25/12/2023
FIX- Fixed “–Type error: DestroyDialog requires RolloutClass, got: undefined” when updating the script.
- Fixed “Starting script…” getting stuck on 3ds Max 2024.
2.17 | 24/12/2023
NEW- New button icon design.
- Improved Check For Update. Clicking “Yes” when a new version is available now updates automatically without showing the installer. All settings are kept by default.
- Updated the integrated 7-zip extractor to version 23.01.
- Redesigned the installer dialog.
- Updated the license server.
2.14 | 17/11/2023
FIX- Fixed Temporary Path not updating correctly after applying and closing System Settings.
2.13 | 23/10/2023
NEW- New option “Using this path for all scenes” for Temporary Path in Script System Settings: Smart Merge always extracts to one place for all scenes instead of creating a Smart Merge folder per 3ds Max file. When enabled, the processing list and history list can no longer be managed per scene.
- Fixed a small license issue.
2.10 | 01/10/2023
IMPROVE- Reduced the script’s first startup time in 3ds Max.
- Fixed some incorrect tooltips and text.
- Improved the installer.
- Fixed “call needs function or class” error when closing 3ds Max.
- Fixed “undefined” error when resetting 3ds Max.
- Fixed some incorrect tooltips and text.
2.09 | 22/09/2023
FIX- Fixed some incorrect tooltips and text.
2.08 | 21/09/2023
NEW- Auto Merge mode, A: files are merged automatically when added by drag and drop or the +Files button.
- Updated the license system for faster startup.
- Refined the interface and tooltips.
- Updated the script document version.
- Fixed the script starting slowly or not at all when the list had many files.
2.05 | 05/07/2023
IMPROVE- Updated the license system for faster startup.
- Fixed the script not starting, or crashing 3ds Max, when Start was pressed multiple times.
- Lite and Pro are now two separate versions. After purchasing a license key, reinstall using the installation file from the email.
2.04 | 07/06/2023
IMPROVE- Brought back the horizontal slider instead of shortening file names.
2.03 | 06/06/2023
FIX- Fixed Select Merge not working when Model Purge was active.
2.02 | 04/06/2023
NEW- GUI Mode: shows the 7-zip extraction progress and output in a graphical user interface when processing files.
2.01 | 02/06/2023
FIX- Fixed the interface displaying incorrectly on some resolutions.
2.00 | 01/06/2023
NEW- Multi Post-Script management.
- Check For Update function and a new Smart License system.
- New Auto Clean History option to save storage space.
- Auto Find Texture option when importing an extracted .max file.
- Redesigned user interface, more compact.
- Increased script performance and fixed bugs from the previous version.
- Extraction progress is shown in a progress bar.
- Updated 7-zip, the default extractor, to version 22.01.
- Replaced Extractor Switches with checkboxes.
- Silent Mode can suppress all missing plugin dialogs.
- Pivot to Center works with Group Merged.
- History and Process List are no longer two separate lists.
- Behavior After Merge, Processing List and Merged List settings are combined into a single checkbox.
- Relink Assets, Deep Extract and Auto Overwrite are enabled by default.
- Reset Display and Reset Rendering are combined into Reset Properties.
- Disable Smooth now also includes Disable NURMS.
- Keep Subgroups is split into a new option, Explode.
- Show Preview now uses Windows Photo to fix the dialog position.
- Fixed Custom Layers sometimes leaving an empty layer.
- Fixed Re-merge crashing the script and making it unresponsive.
User interface
Top Button, file list, Bottom Button with progress bar. The + button shows 3 rollouts: General Settings, Model Optimize, Post Process. The – button hides them. When docked they are always visible.
- â‘ List Mode: Processing List (PRO), files waiting to be merged, or History List (HIS), files already merged. Merge and Delete work in both.
- â‘¡ Auto Merge Mode: merge as soon as files are added.
- â‘¢ Clean Temporary Data: delete all extracted files. Uncollected textures are lost. Use Delete to only clean the list.
- â‘£ Check for Update.
- ⑤ About Smart Merge: version info, activate or deactivate license.
- â‘¥ Script System Settings.
- ⑦ Show Merge Settings.
- ⑧ Dock Script Dialog.
In the list, double-click a file to merge it, hold Ctrl or Shift to select several files at once, and right-click to open the extra menu.
- â‘ + File: import files. Free version: 1 file at a time.
- â‘¡ Delete: remove from the list. Right-click: remove all.
- â‘¢ Merge: merge into the scene. Right-click: merge all, full version only.
Importing
Use + File, drag and drop, or Paste from the right-click menu.
- Archive (.rar, .zip, .7z): extracted, the max file goes to the Processing List. Best option, keep assets archived.
- Preview image (.png, .jpg, .bmp, .jpeg): the archive with the same name in the same folder is processed. Use Deep Search for other folders.
- 3ds Max file (.max): loaded directly. With Auto Collect Textures on, the images in its folder are collected as well.
Merging
Click Merge, double-click the file, or right-click and choose Merge. All included textures are found and relinked automatically after merging.
General Settings
The first rollout, basic options in two groups.
File Process
First group of General Settings, 5 options.
- Super Silent Mode: no dialogs, duplicate names are fixed automatically.
- Auto Collect Textures: copy every image in the folder and subfolders of the max file to the temporary folder. Keep only related files in that folder.
- Process Relate Files: after merging one max file of an archive, the others move to the History List too.
- Delete Relate File: same logic for Delete. Off by default.
- Auto Clear History: clear history after merging.
Deep Search
Second group of General Settings.
If no archive matches the preview image, subfolders and the Custom Search Path are searched. Prompt asks first. Select Folder sets the Custom Search Path, for example E:/LIBRARY. If nothing is found, the script asks to pick the path manually. Keep paths short and without special characters.
Model Optimize
The second rollout, options applied after merging.
Model Purge
First group of Model Optimize.
Removes animation keys, cameras, lights and more after merging. Purge Settings chooses what to remove. The M button asks before removing that element. Show Statistics reports what was removed.
Custom Pivot
Second group of Model Optimize.
Moves the pivot to Top, Middle or Bottom Center. Applies to Geometry, Groups or Everything. If the pivot resets when moving a group, enable Reset, or toggle Affect Pivot Only in Hierarchy once.
Move to Origin
Third group of Model Optimize.
Moves merged objects to [0, 0, 0] using their middle center, regardless of Custom Pivot. Distribute spaces several models apart, 50 mm by default, so they do not overlap.
Miscellaneous
Last group of Model Optimize, 3 options.
- Disable Smooth: turn off TurboSmooth, MeshSmooth, OpenSubdiv and NURMS on merged objects. Before â‘ , after â‘¡.
- Reset Properties: reset Display Properties and Rendering Control of the merged objects. Before â‘ , after â‘¡.
Post Process
The third rollout, actions after merging.
Post Action
First group of Post Process, 4 options.
- Select: select the merged nodes.
- Zoom: zoom extents to them.
- Group: group them, one group per max file, named after the file.
- Explode: explode their groups, then regroup if Group is on.
Post Script
Second group of Post Process.
Runs every script in the Post Scripts folder after merging, in name order. Manage Post Script opens the folder. Only .ms or .mse, not .mcr. Prompt asks before running. Corona Quick Convert is a common post script.
Custom Color
Third group of Post Process.
Wirecolor of merged objects, cameras and lights. Before â‘ , after â‘¡.
Custom Layer
Last group of Post Process.
Moves merged objects to a layer. Force, on by default, removes empty layers left behind. Avoid special characters in layer names.
Script System Settings
Changes here need a restart. OK restarts the script automatically.
Script Extractor
First group of System Settings.
7-Zip extracts in the background. GUI Mode shows the 7-Zip window, needed for password-protected archives. Overwrite replaces files with the same name.
Temporary Path
Second group of System Settings.
A saved scene extracts to a Smart Merge folder next to the scene file. An unsaved scene extracts to this path. Using this path for all scenes makes every scene share one list. The Smart Merge folder is always created, so C:\ means C:\Smart Merge.
Extract Folder
Third group of System Settings.
- Custom Name: rename the Smart Merge folder.
- Limit Size (MB): prompt to clean when the folder exceeds the limit.
Dialog Settings
Last group of System Settings, 4 options.
- Quick Close: pressing the toolbar button again closes the script.
- Dark Mode: dark list. Off shown below.
- Save State: remembers the rollout state. Off: opens collapsed.
- Save Position: reopen where it was closed, else at screen center.
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