dcc-mcp-3dsmax-setup

name	dcc-mcp-3dsmax-setup
description	Set up dcc-mcp-3dsmax for an agent or operator: install 3ds Max Python dependencies with 3dsmaxpy, generate MCP host configuration, guide the user through starting the runtime inside 3ds Max, and run a first live-tool smoke prompt.
license	MIT
allowed-tools	Bash Read
metadata	{"dcc-mcp":{"dcc":"3dsmax","layer":"operator","stage":"bootstrap","version":"1.0.0","tags":["3dsmax","mcp","setup","3dsmaxpy","sidecar"]}}

dcc-mcp-3dsmax setup

Use this skill when a user wants an agent to prepare a machine so any MCP host can use dcc-mcp-3dsmax with Autodesk 3ds Max.

This is an operator skill, not a 3ds Max runtime skill. Do not load it through the 3ds Max MCP server. Run it from the repository checkout or copy its steps into another agent's instructions.

3ds Max is Windows-only, so discovery and paths below assume Windows.

If the user asks an agent to install dcc-mcp/dcc-mcp-3dsmax, first clone or locate the repository and resolve its absolute path as REPO_ROOT. Read <REPO_ROOT>\install.md and this skill at <REPO_ROOT>\skills\dcc-mcp-3dsmax-setup\SKILL.md, then follow the workflow below.

Goal

End with:

• dcc-mcp-3dsmax and its pip dependencies installed into the target 3ds Max 3dsmaxpy environment.
• A 3ds Max startup hook installed into userStartupScripts when the directory can be resolved, so opening or restarting 3ds Max starts the runtime automatically.
• An MCP host config snippet that points to the 3ds Max gateway.
• A generated fallback startup script under .dcc-mcp/agent-setup/ for machines where the startup directory cannot be auto-detected.
• A live smoke prompt that proves the agent can discover and call 3ds Max tools.

Fast Path

From the absolute repository root (REPO_ROOT), run:

python skills/dcc-mcp-3dsmax-setup/scripts/setup_dcc_mcp_3dsmax.py

The script:

1. Finds 3dsmaxpy.exe from --maxpy, MAX_PY, DCC_MCP_3DSMAX_PYTHON, DCC_MCP_3DSMAX_MAXPY, PATH, or common Autodesk install locations.
2. Installs this checkout into 3ds Max: 3dsmaxpy -m pip install -e ..
3. Verifies import dcc_mcp_3dsmax.
4. Installs a small 3ds Max startup hook that calls dcc_mcp_3dsmax.main() when the user opens or restarts 3ds Max.
5. Writes a reusable MCP JSON snippet, fallback startup script, and smoke prompt under .dcc-mcp/agent-setup/.

Use PyPI instead of the local checkout when setting up an end-user machine:

python skills/dcc-mcp-3dsmax-setup/scripts/setup_dcc_mcp_3dsmax.py --source pypi

If discovery fails, ask the user for the full 3dsmaxpy.exe path and re-run:

python skills/dcc-mcp-3dsmax-setup/scripts/setup_dcc_mcp_3dsmax.py --maxpy "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2025\3dsmaxpy.exe"

If the machine has a non-standard 3ds Max profile path, pass the startup directory explicitly:

python skills/dcc-mcp-3dsmax-setup/scripts/setup_dcc_mcp_3dsmax.py --startup-dir "C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2025 - 64bit\ENU\scripts\startup"

Use --no-startup-hook only when the user wants to start the runtime manually.

MCP Configuration

The shared gateway is the preferred default. Configure the MCP host with:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "3dsmax": {
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:9765/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Each 3ds Max instance also listens on its own random localhost port; connect hosts to the gateway URL rather than the ephemeral per-instance port.

When editing an existing MCP config, preserve unrelated servers. Merge only the 3dsmax server entry unless the user asks for a different server name.

User Hand-Off: Start the Runtime in 3ds Max

After setup, tell the user to open or restart 3ds Max. The installed startup hook should start the runtime automatically, install the DCC MCP menu, and register the instance with the shared gateway.

If startup-dir detection failed or --no-startup-hook was used, tell the user to run the generated startup script once from the MAXScript Listener:

python.ExecuteFile @"C:\path\to\dcc-mcp-3dsmax\.dcc-mcp\agent-setup\dcc_mcp_3dsmax_startup.ms"

Once the runtime has started once, the installed DCC MCP menu offers a Start Server command. Both call dcc_mcp_3dsmax.main() and register the instance with the gateway at http://127.0.0.1:9765/mcp.

First Live Smoke Prompt

Ask the MCP host to run this prompt after 3ds Max is open and the runtime is started:

Use the 3ds Max MCP server. First call dcc_capability_manifest with loaded_only=false.
Then load the 3dsmax-modeling skill, create a sphere named mcp_setup_smoke_sphere
with radius 50, and tell me the MCP URL and created node name.
Use typed tools where available and avoid execute_python unless no typed tool fits.

Expected behavior:

• The agent discovers capabilities without dumping every schema.
• The agent loads 3dsmax-modeling.
• The agent calls 3dsmax_modeling__create_sphere.
• The new node appears in the 3ds Max scene.

Troubleshooting

• 3dsmaxpy not found: ask for the exact 3ds Max version and the full 3dsmaxpy.exe path (e.g. C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2025\3dsmaxpy.exe).
• Pip bootstrap fails: run 3dsmaxpy -m ensurepip --upgrade, then repeat install.
• MCP connection refused: 3ds Max is not running, the runtime is not started, or the host is not pointing at the gateway URL http://127.0.0.1:9765/mcp.
• Tool missing: call dcc_capability_manifest or search_skills, then load_skill("<skill-name>").
• Runtime started but hangs: check the MAXScript Listener output, firewall / localhost rules, and whether a blocking 3ds Max dialog is open.