DM Reassign Material IDs for 3ds Max

This 3ds Max script automatically reassigns Material IDs on selected meshes by matching sub-material names between each object’s material and a chosen Multi/Sub-Object material.

Tested in Autodesk 3ds Max 2024

How to use the script

1. Select one or more Editable Poly objects.
2. In the Material Editor, select the Multi/Sub-Object material you want to apply to selected objects.
3. Run the script.
   It will compare material names, reassign the correct IDs, and apply the selected material to the objects.
   If the chosen material is missing any sub-materials, a warning will appear listing them before any changes are made.

Use cases

1. Fixing broken Material IDs after import/export

Assets imported from Maya, Blender, ZBrush, or game engines often have their Material IDs shuffled.
Run the script with the correct Multi/Sub material — it will match materials by name and automatically restore proper IDs.

2. Updating to a new version of a Multi/Sub-Object material

When replacing an old Multi/Sub material with a new one (where sub-material names remain the same but IDs differ), the script remaps all face Material IDs to preserve the model’s appearance.

3. Merging multiple objects under one shared material

If several objects use similar Multi/Sub materials with matching sub-material names, this tool reassigns IDs and applies a single shared material.
Ideal for scene optimization and clean material management.

How to install

Drag and drop the dm_ReassignMatIDs.ms file directly into the 3ds Max viewport.

Go to Customize → Customize User Interface → Category → #DM.

Assign the macro to a toolbar, menu, or hotkey.

License

This script is released under the Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/