3dsMax Tab UI

In an effort to avoid doing homework, I’ve decided to write out a quick explanation of how you can modify 3dsMax to use UI tabs. It seems the usual solution online is to upload your UI scheme without discussion, which usually leads to people saying “Eh, I guess this’ll do.” However, this is a dangerous way of doing things because some UIs may be poorly constructed and over-write access to new features (i.e. using a Max 7 UI set up in Max 9 will deny you access to stuff like paint selection).

Let’s go through and talk about what makes tabs, and how you can make them into whatever you want!

For starters, open your defaultUI.cui or MaxStartUI.cui file in notepad or your favorite text editor. You’ll see a long list of names and values like “WindowCount=8”. Now you don’t have to know what all of these mean; just the important ones like rank, item#, and the stuff in brackets.

To begin, your’s should look something like this:

[CUIData]
WindowCount=9
[CUIWindows]
F000=S:Command Panel
...
[Command Panel]
Rank=0
SubRank=0
Hidden=0
...
[Main Toolbar]
Rank=0
SubRank=0
Hidden=0
...
...

What this file is doing is defining all the buttons, pull-downs, and toggles in your interface setup. What you want to do is define a new bar that will contain your tabs. To do this you would insert the tabs code between the end of [command panel] and the start of [Main Toolbar]. Make sure to change the values in Rank=# so that they are a) in order, and b) give a lower number to the tab panel than to the main toolbar. If the main toolbar is a higher rank, it will appear above the tabs, and vice versa.

Here’s where you would insert it:

[Command Panel]
Rank=0
SubRank=0
Hidden=0
FRect=673 182 865 1089
DRect=1204 39 1388 770
DRectPref=2147483647 2147483647 -2147483648 -2147483648
DPanel=8
Tabbed=0
TabCt=0
CurTab=-1
CurPos=8 1204 39 1388 770
CType=4
[TAB_BAR_STUFF]
Rank=1
SubRank=0
Hidden=0
...
...
[Main Toolbar]
Rank=2
SubRank=0
Hidden=0
FRect=1109 212 1181 271
DRect=0 0 1315 39
DRectPref=2147483647 2147483647 -2147483648 -2147483648
DPanel=1
Tabbed=0
TabCt=0
CurTab=-1
CurPos=1 0 0 1315 39
CType=1
ToolbarRows=1
ToolbarType=3
ItemCount=43
...

Before you proceed, some words of caution!Before you proceed, some words of caution!

• Fudging with this file could wreck your UI. Make sure to back up your UI file before you work on it.
• Make sure there is no space between the blocks: the UI code doesn’t like blank lines!
• This code-block is for 3dsMax 9. Some features will not work for Max 8, and it will not really be suitable for Max2008 or 2009. Remember that this needs to be customized for you!
• Regardless of what 3dsMax does, make sure the UI elements in each tab are in order of item number (i.e. item#=…). Keep things neat and tidy.
• You absolutely, positively, must change the ItemCount variable to the number of items in the tab, or 3dsMax will cut off whatever other UI elements remain after that number. If you find stuff not showing up for some reason, this is a likely culprit.

If you need to add buttons that do not yet exist in the bar, you can do so through [3dsM]>Customize>Customize User Interface. Under the “Toolbars” tab, you can search for functionality (like “create spotlight” or “turbosmooth modifier”) and drag them into the tabs bar. If you need to rearrange items, access features not available through the UI editor, or do deep structural changes (like add tabs) you do so through the .cui file.

Now for the code. What you see below is the block of code to insert into your CUI file. It contains the various tabs (denoted with names like [Tab Panel__0]) and their buttons, images, and some other (irrelevant) data. Take this block and insert it between the two blocks like I described above:

[Tab Panel]
Rank=1
SubRank=0
Hidden=0
FRect=2147483647 2147483647 -2147483648 -2147483648
DRect=0 0 1280 57
DRectPref=2147483647 2147483647 -2147483648 -2147483648
DPanel=1
Tabbed=1
TabCt=10
CurTab=3
CurPos=1 0 0 1280 57
CType=1
[Tab Panel__0]
TabName="Objects"
ToolbarRows=1
ToolbarType=3
ItemCount=30
Item0=3|6|16|31|1
Item1=3|6|16|31|1
Item2=3|6|16|31|1
Item3=3|6|16|31|1
Item4=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Box`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Box"|"Box"|-1|
Item5=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Sphere`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Sphere"|"Sphere"|-1|
Item6=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Cylinder`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Cylinder"|"Cylinder"|-1|
Item7=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Torus`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Torus"|"Torus"|-1|
Item8=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Teapot`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Teapot"|"Teapot"|-1|
Item9=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Cone`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Cone"|"Cone"|-1|
Item10=2|0|0|31|3|647394|GeoSphere`Objects Primitives|0|0|"GeoSphere"|"GeoSphere"|-1|
Item11=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Tube`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Tube"|"Tube"|-1|
Item12=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Pyramid`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Pyramid"|"Pyramid"|-1|
Item13=2|0|0|31|3|647394|plane`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Plane"|"Plane"|-1|
Item14=3|6|16|31|1
Item15=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Hedra`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Hedra"|"Hedra"|-1|
Item16=2|0|0|31|3|647394|ChamferBox`Objects Primitives|0|0|"ChamferBox"|"Chamfer Box"|-1|
Item17=2|0|0|31|3|647394|OilTank`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Oil Tank"|"Oil Tank"|-1|
Item18=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Spindle`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Spindle"|"Spindle"|-1|
Item19=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Gengon`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Gengon"|"Gengon"|-1|
Item20=2|0|0|31|3|647394|RingWave`Objects Primitives|0|0|"RingWave"|"RingWave"|-1|
Item21=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Prism`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Prism"|"Prism"|-1|
Item22=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Torus_Knot`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Torus Knot"|"Torus Knot"|-1|
Item23=2|0|0|31|3|647394|ChamferCyl`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Chamfer Cylinder"|"Chamfer Cylinder"|-1|
Item24=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Capsule`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Capsule"|"Capsule"|-1|
Item25=2|0|0|31|3|647394|L_Ext`Objects Primitives|0|0|"L-Extrusion"|"L-Extrusion"|-1|
Item26=2|0|0|31|3|647394|C_Ext`Objects Primitives|0|0|"C-Extrusion"|"C-Extrusion"|-1|
Item27=2|0|0|31|4|647394|Hose`Objects Primitives|0|0|"Hose"||8|FileLinkActionItems
Item28=3|6|16|31|1
Item29=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Foliage`Objects AEC|0|0|"Foliage"|"Foliage"|-1|
[Tab Panel__1]
TabName="Shapes"
ToolbarRows=1
ToolbarType=3
ItemCount=12
Item0=3|6|16|31|1
Item1=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Lines`Objects Shapes|0|0|"Line Shape"|"Line"|-1|
Item2=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Rectangle`Objects Shapes|0|0|"Rectangle Shape"|"Rectangle"|-1|
Item3=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Circle`Objects Shapes|0|0|"Circle Shape"|"Circle"|-1|
Item4=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Ellipse`Objects Shapes|0|0|"Ellipse Shape"|"Ellipse"|-1|
Item5=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Arc`Objects Shapes|0|0|"Arc Shape"|"Arc"|-1|
Item6=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Donut`Objects Shapes|0|0|"Donut Shape"|"Donut"|-1|
Item7=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Ngon`Objects Shapes|0|0|"NGon Shape"|"NGon"|-1|
Item8=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Star`Objects Shapes|0|0|"Star Shape"|"Star"|-1|
Item9=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Text`Objects Shapes|0|0|"Text Shape"|"Text"|-1|
Item10=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Helix`Objects Shapes|0|0|"Helix Shape"|"Helix"|-1|
Item11=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Section`Objects Shapes|0|0|"Section Shape"|"Section "|-1|
[Tab Panel__2]
TabName="Compounds"
ToolbarRows=1
ToolbarType=3
ItemCount=12
Item0=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Morph`Objects Compounds|0|0|"Morph Compound Object"|"Morph"|-1|
Item1=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Conform`Objects Compounds|0|0|"Conform Compound Object"|"Conform"|-1|
Item2=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Boolean`Objects Compounds|0|0|"Boolean Compound Object"|"Boolean"|-1|
Item3=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Loft`Objects Compounds|0|0|"Loft Compound Object"|"Loft"|-1|
Item4=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Scatter`Objects Compounds|0|0|"Scatter Compound Object"|"Scatter"|-1|
Item5=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Connect`Objects Compounds|0|0|"Connect Compound Object"|"Connect"|-1|
Item6=2|0|0|31|3|647394|ShapeMerge`Objects Compounds|0|0|"ShapeMerge Compound Object"|"ShapeMerge"|-1|
Item7=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Terrain`Objects Compounds|0|0|"Terrain Compound Object"|"Terrain"|-1|
Item8=2|58|0|31|3|647394|BlobMesh`Objects Compounds|0|0|"BlobMesh Compound Object"|"BlobMesh "|-1|
Item9=2|43|0|31|3|647394|Mesher`Objects Compounds|0|0|"MesherCompound Object"|"Mesher"|-1|
Item10=2|0|0|31|3|647394|ProBoolean`Objects Compounds|0|0|"ProBoolean Compound Object"|"ProBoolean"|-1|
Item11=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Procutter`Objects Compounds|0|0|"ProCutter Compound Object"|"ProCutter"|-1|
[Tab Panel__3]
TabName="Lights & Cameras"
ToolbarRows=1
ToolbarType=3
ItemCount=15
Item1=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Target_Spotlight`Lights and Cameras|0|0|||-1|
Item2=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Free_Spotlight`Lights and Cameras|0|0|||-1|
Item3=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Omni_Light`Lights and Cameras|0|0|||-1|
Item4=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Directional_Light`Lights and Cameras|0|0|||-1|
Item5=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Target_Directional_Light`Lights and Cameras|0|0|||-1|
Item6=3|6|16|31|1
Item7=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Light_Include`Lights and Cameras|0|0|||-1|
Item8=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Light_List`Lights and Cameras|0|0|||-1|
Item9=3|6|16|31|1
Item10=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Target_Camera`Lights and Cameras|0|0|||-1|
Item11=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Free_Camera`Lights and Cameras|0|0|||-1|
Item12=3|6|16|31|1
Item13=2|71|0|31|3|647394|AreaOmni`Lights and Cameras|0|0|"mental ray Area Omni"|"mr Area Omni"|-1|
Item14=2|69|0|31|3|647394|AreaSpot`Lights and Cameras|0|0|"mental ray Area Spot"|"mr Area Spot"|-1|
Item15=2|69|0|31|3|647394|AreaSpot`Lights and Cameras|0|0|"mental ray Area Spot"|"mr Area Spot"|-1|
Item0=3|6|16|31|1
[Tab Panel__4]
TabName="Particles"
ToolbarRows=1
ToolbarType=3
ItemCount=8
Item0=2|105|0|31|3|647394|PFSource`Objects Particle Systems|0|0|"Particle Flow Source Particle System"|"Particle Flow Source"|-1|
Item1=3|6|16|31|1
Item2=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Spray`Objects Particle Systems|0|0|"Spray Particle System"|"Spray"|-1|
Item3=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Snow`Objects Particle Systems|0|0|"Snow Particle System"|"Snow"|-1|
Item4=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Blizzard`Objects Particle Systems|0|0|"Blizzard Particle System"|"Blizzard"|-1|
Item5=2|0|0|31|3|647394|PArray`Objects Particle Systems|0|0|"PArray Particle System"|"PArray"|-1|
Item6=2|0|0|31|3|647394|PCloud`Objects Particle Systems|0|0|"PCloud Particle System"|"PCloud"|-1|
Item7=2|0|0|31|3|647394|SuperSpray`Objects Particle Systems|0|0|"Super Spray Particle System"|"Super Spray"|-1|
[Tab Panel__5]
TabName="Helpers"
ToolbarRows=1
ToolbarType=3
ItemCount=12
Item0=3|6|16|31|1
Item1=3|6|16|31|1
Item2=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Dummy`Objects Helpers|0|0|"Dummy"|"Dummy"|-1|
Item3=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Grid`Objects Helpers|0|0|"Grid"|"Grid"|-1|
Item4=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Point`Objects Helpers|0|0|"Point"|"Point"|-1|
Item5=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Tape`Objects Helpers|0|0|"Tape Measure"|"Tape Measure"|-1|
Item6=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Protractor`Objects Helpers|0|0|"Protractor"|"Protractor"|-1|
Item7=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Compass`Objects Helpers|0|0|"Compass"|"Compass"|-1|
Item8=3|6|16|31|1
Item9=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Boxgizmo`Objects Helpers|0|0|"Box Gizmo (Atmospheres)"|"Box Gizmo"|-1|
Item10=2|0|0|31|3|647394|SphereGizmo`Objects Helpers|0|0|"Sphere Gizmo (Atmospheres)"|"Sphere Gizmo"|-1|
Item11=2|0|0|31|3|647394|CylGizmo`Objects Helpers|0|0|"Cylinder Gizmo (Atmospheres)"|"Cylinder Gizmo"|-1|
[Tab Panel__6]
TabName="Space Warps"
ToolbarRows=1
ToolbarType=3
ItemCount=24
Item0=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Motor`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Motor Space Warp"|"Motor"|-1|
Item1=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Push`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Push Space Warp"|"Push"|-1|
Item2=2|38|0|31|3|647394|Vortex`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Vortex Space Warp"|"Vortex"|-1|
Item3=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Drag`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Drag Space Warp"|"Drag"|-1|
Item4=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Path_Follow`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Path Follow Space Warp"|"Path Follow"|-1|
Item5=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Pbomb`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"PBomb Space Warp"|"PBomb"|-1|
Item6=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Displace`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Displace Space Warp"|"Displace"|-1|
Item7=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Gravity`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Gravity Space Warp"|"Gravity"|-1|
Item8=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Wind`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Wind Space Warp"|"Wind"|-1|
Item9=3|6|16|31|1
Item10=2|0|0|31|3|647394|FFD_Box`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"FFD(Box) Space Warp"|"FFD(Box)"|-1|
Item11=2|0|0|31|3|647394|FFD_Cyl`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"FFD(Cyl) Space Warp"|"FFD(Cyl)"|-1|
Item12=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Wave`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Wave Space Warp"|"Wave"|-1|
Item13=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Ripple`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Ripple Space Warp"|"Ripple"|-1|
Item14=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Displace`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Displace Space Warp"|"Displace"|-1|
Item15=2|0|0|31|3|647394|SpaceConform`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Conform Space Warp"|"Conform"|-1|
Item16=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Bomb`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Bomb Space Warp"|"Bomb"|-1|
Item17=3|6|16|31|1
Item18=2|0|0|31|3|647394|SpaceBend`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Bend Space Warp"|"Bend"|-1|
Item19=2|0|0|31|3|647394|SpaceSkew`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Skew Space Warp"|"Skew"|-1|
Item20=2|0|0|31|3|647394|SpaceNoise`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Noise Space Warp"|"Noise"|-1|
Item21=2|0|0|31|3|647394|SpaceTaper`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Taper Space Warp"|"Taper"|-1|
Item22=2|0|0|31|3|647394|SpaceTwist`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Twist Space Warp"|"Twist"|-1|
Item23=2|0|0|31|3|647394|SpaceStretch`Objects Space Warps|0|0|"Stretch Space Warp"|"Stretch"|-1|
[Tab Panel__7]
TabName="Modifiers"
ToolbarRows=1
ToolbarType=3
ItemCount=36
Item0=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Bend`Modifiers|0|0|||0|standard_modifiers
Item1=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Taper`Modifiers|0|0|||1|standard_modifiers
Item2=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Skew`Modifiers|0|0|||2|standard_modifiers
Item3=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Twist`Modifiers|0|0|||3|standard_modifiers
Item4=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Stretch`Modifiers|0|0|||4|standard_modifiers
Item5=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Noise`Modifiers|0|0|||6|standard_modifiers
Item6=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Wave`Modifiers|0|0|||7|standard_modifiers
Item7=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Melt`Modifiers|0|0|||19|standard_modifiers
Item8=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Spherify`Modifiers|0|0|||21|standard_modifiers
Item9=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Ripple`Modifiers|0|0|||8|standard_modifiers
Item10=2|0|0|31|3|647394|FFDBox`Modifiers|0|0|||9|standard_modifiers
Item11=2|0|0|31|3|647394|FFDCyl`Modifiers|0|0|||10|standard_modifiers
Item12=2|0|0|31|3|647394|XForm`Modifiers|0|0|||30|standard_modifiers
Item13=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Flex`Modifiers|0|0|||26|Standard_Modifiers
Item14=3|6|16|31|1
Item15=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Morpher`Modifiers|0|0|||23|standard_modifiers
Item16=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Skin`Modifiers|0|0|||25|standard_modifiers
Item17=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Displace`Modifiers|0|0|||17|standard_modifiers
Item18=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Optimize`Modifiers|0|0|||33|standard_modifiers
Item19=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Smooth`Modifiers|0|0|||22|standard_modifiers
Item20=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Cap_Holes`Modifiers|0|0|||28|standard_modifiers
Item21=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Linked_xform`Modifiers|0|0|||31|standard_modifiers
Item22=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Push`Modifiers|0|0|||35|standard_modifiers
Item23=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Vertex_Paint`Modifiers|0|0|||36|standard_modifiers
Item24=2|0|0|31|3|647394|MeshSmooth`Modifiers|0|0|||18|Standard_Modifiers
Item25=3|6|16|31|1
Item26=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Volumeselect`Modifiers|0|0|||3|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item27=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Mesh_Select`Modifiers|0|0|||2|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item28=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Edit_Mesh`Modifiers|0|0|||0|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item29=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Edit_Patch`Modifiers|0|0|||1|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item30=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Edit_Spline`Modifiers|0|0|||10|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item31=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Spline_Select`Modifiers|0|0|||9|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item32=3|6|16|31|1
Item33=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Uvwmap`Modifiers|0|0|||3|Material_Modifiers
Item34=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Unwrap_UVW`Modifiers|0|0|||5|Material_Modifiers
Item35=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Material_ID`Modifiers|0|0|||1|Material_Modifiers
[Tab Panel__8]
TabName="Modeling"
ToolbarRows=1
ToolbarType=3
ItemCount=23
Item0=3|6|16|31|1
Item1=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Edit_Spline`Modifiers|0|0|||10|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item2=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Extrude`Modifiers|0|0|||12|standard_modifiers
Item3=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Lathe`Modifiers|0|0|||13|standard_modifiers
Item4=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Bevel`Modifiers|0|0|||16|standard_modifiers
Item5=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Bevel_Profile`Modifiers|0|0|||15|Standard_Modifiers
Item6=3|6|16|31|1
Item7=2|0|0|31|3|647394|CrossSection`Modifiers|0|0|||0|surface_tools
Item8=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Surface`Modifiers|0|0|||1|Surface_tools
Item9=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Edit_Patch`Modifiers|0|0|||1|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item10=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Relax`Modifiers|0|0|||20|standard_modifiers
Item11=3|6|16|31|1
Item12=3|6|16|31|1
Item13=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Edit_Mesh`Modifiers|0|0|||0|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item14=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Mesh_Select`Modifiers|0|0|||2|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item15=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Volumeselect`Modifiers|0|0|||3|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item16=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Face_Extrude`Modifiers|0|0|||4|Max_Edit_Modifiers
Item17=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Affect_Region`Modifiers|0|0|||14|standard_modifiers
Item18=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Push`Modifiers|0|0|||35|standard_modifiers
Item19=2|0|0|31|3|647394|MeshSmooth`Modifiers|0|0|||18|standard_modifiers
Item20=2|0|0|31|3|647394|FFDBox`Modifiers|0|0|||9|standard_modifiers
Item21=3|6|16|31|1
Item22=3|6|16|31|1
[Tab Panel__9]
TabName="Rendering"
ToolbarRows=1
ToolbarType=3
ItemCount=16
Item0=3|6|16|31|1
Item1=2|72|0|31|4|0|40029|0|0|"Environment Dialog"|"Environments"|-1|Maintoolbar
Item2=3|6|16|31|1
Item3=2|41|0|31|4|0|40367|0|0|"Render Effects"|"Effects"|-1|Maintoolbar
Item4=3|6|16|31|1
Item5=2|46|0|31|4|0|40033|0|0|"Make Preview"|"Preview"|-1|Maintoolbar
Item6=3|6|16|31|1
Item7=2|64|0|31|4|0|40403|0|0|"RAM Player"|"RAM Player"|-1|Separator
Item8=3|6|16|31|1
Item9=2|0|0|31|4|0|40312|0|0|"Material/Map Browser"||5|Material_Modifiers
Item10=2|0|0|31|4|0|50048|0|0|"Material Editor"||64|Maintoolbar
Item11=3|6|16|31|1
Item12=2|0|0|31|4|0|60010|0|0|"Render Scene"||66|Maintoolbar
Item13=2|0|0|31|4|0|50031|0|0|"Quick Render (Production)"||70|Maintoolbar
Item14=2|0|0|31|4|0|50030|0|0|"Render Last"||68|Maintoolbar
Item15=2|0|0|31|4|0|40701|0|0|"ActiveShade Floater"||8|Render

Text editing provides you with some pretty good control over the interface that you wouldn’t have from within the program. You can change “double-wide” separators to “single-wide”, which you cannot do through the UI editor in 3dsMax. You can also do stuff like change the order of buttons and add new toolbars like tabbed interfaces. However, you cannot easily change a button’s logo from the text side- you should only do that from within 3dsMax.

For the curious, single-wide separator is

Item#=3|6|16|31|1

while double-wide separator is

Item14=2|0|0|31|3|647394|Separator`Separator|0|0|"Separator"|"Separator"|-1|

That’s it for now!  Enjoy!