Few things are more aggravating when attempting to open a scene then encountering an Assertion Failed error, File Open Failed error, or perhaps no error at all. The file just does not load. This typically occurs when the file is corrupt. A number of factors can cause file corruption, including the following:
The assertion failed error occurs commonly when you try to load a corrupt file. The error gives you a line number and file name where the corruption occurred. You are then left with the options to retry or cancel.
Unfortunately, the line number and file often don't help because that isn't necessarily where the error is actually occurring. Most people click the Retry option a couple of times then give up, fearing they've lost many hours of work. Don't panic yet. There are a number of things you can try before you have to start rebuilding.
The first thing to try is keep clicking the Retry button. If there is a corruption to the vertices of an object, you might have to parse through each vertex until you bypass the object completely. For example, Autodesk Product Support once received a file that returned an Assertion Failed error referencing a tab.h file. The scene recently had an AutoCAD component imported that 3ds Max couldn't understand. However, after the support technician clicked the Retry button 88 times, the scene finally opened. After resaving the scene, it opened without incident.
If normal attempts to open a scene fail, another thing you can try is merging the scene. If the file is not too corrupted, you would be able to access the Merge dialog which shows a list of the components in the scene. This is a good sign because, with a little effort, you can fix the file yourself. You now need to narrow down which object, or objects, are causing the load failure.
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Browse to the folder containing the model, select the model and click the Open button.
The Merge dialog is displayed, showing all the components in the scene.
You'll start by seeing if any of the objects or shapes in the scene are corrupt.
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In the List Types group, on the right, turn off everything except Geometry, Shapes, and Groups/Assemblies.
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Click the All button at the lower left, and then click OK.
If the objects appear in the viewports, you know the scene components are fine and you'll have to repeat these steps with other List Types turned on.
If the objects merge successfully, and you have to try merging in other objects, be sure to first save what you've just merged as a basis for rebuilding the scene.
If you receive an error message, you know one of the objects is the offending item. Then, do as follows.
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You now have to narrow down exactly which object in the previous list is corrupt.
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Once again, choose File > Merge and turn off everything except Geometry, Shapes, and Groups/Assemblies.
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Select the first ten objects in the list of components and click OK.
If those ten objects merge successfully, save the scene and repeat the Merge operation with the next set of ten objects. Eventually, one of the sets of objects you try to merge will report the error message.
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Keep refining the number of objects you are merging until you have singled out the object that reports the error.
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Once you've found the corrupt object, reset 3ds Max and merge all the objects and components except for the object you've singled out.
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After everything is merged, save the scene and rebuild the object that was corrupt.
Granted, this can be a long process, but it's well worth it if you can salvage a majority of the model.
By default, the 3ds Max automatic backup feature is turned on. It is set to store three backup files that are saved every five minutes. The files are stored in the \autoback folder (see Auto Backup group). By default, this folder is stored in \My Documents\3dsmax\. Using backup files is especially helpful if your file became corrupt due to a system crash or power outage.
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Start by highlighting AutoBackup01.max and make a copy of it.
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Browse to the \scenes folder, found in \My Documents\3dsmax\ or in the program install folder, and paste the file.
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In 3ds Max, choose File > Open and try loading the file you just copied from the \autoback folder.
If it opens, save the scene and rebuild what you lost in the last five minutes.
You can adjust the Auto Backup settings, located on the File Preferences tab of the Preferences Settings dialog found on the Customize menu.