export_3ds.py

    # Give all objects a unique ID and build a dictionary from object name to object id:
    """
    name_to_id = {}
    for ob, data in mesh_objects:
        name_to_id[ob.name]= len(name_to_id)
    #for ob in empty_objects:
    #	name_to_id[ob.name]= len(name_to_id)
    """

    # Create object chunks for all meshes:
    i = 0
    for ob, blender_mesh, matrix in mesh_objects:
        # create a new object chunk
        object_chunk = _3ds_chunk(OBJECT)

        # set the object name
        object_chunk.add_variable("name", _3ds_string(sane_name(ob.name)))

        # make a mesh chunk out of the mesh:
        object_chunk.add_subchunk(make_mesh_chunk(blender_mesh, matrix, materialDict))

        # ensure the mesh has no over sized arrays
        # skip ones that do!, otherwise we cant write since the array size wont
        # fit into USHORT.
        if object_chunk.validate():
            object_info.add_subchunk(object_chunk)
        else:
            operator.report({'WARNING'}, "Object %r can't be written into a 3DS file")

        ''' # COMMENTED OUT FOR 2.42 RELEASE!! CRASHES 3DS MAX
        # make a kf object node for the object:
        kfdata.add_subchunk(make_kf_obj_node(ob, name_to_id))
        '''
        if not blender_mesh.users:
            bpy.data.meshes.remove(blender_mesh)
# 		blender_mesh.vertices = None

        i += i

    # Create chunks for all empties:
    ''' # COMMENTED OUT FOR 2.42 RELEASE!! CRASHES 3DS MAX
    for ob in empty_objects:
        # Empties only require a kf object node:
        kfdata.add_subchunk(make_kf_obj_node(ob, name_to_id))
        pass
    '''

    # Add main object info chunk to primary chunk:
    primary.add_subchunk(object_info)

    ''' # COMMENTED OUT FOR 2.42 RELEASE!! CRASHES 3DS MAX
    # Add main keyframe data chunk to primary chunk:
    primary.add_subchunk(kfdata)
    '''

    # At this point, the chunk hierarchy is completely built.

    # Check the size:
    primary.get_size()
    # Open the file for writing:
    file = open(filepath, 'wb')

    # Recursively write the chunks to file:
    primary.write(file)

    # Close the file:
    file.close()

    # Clear name mapping vars, could make locals too
    name_unique[:] = []
    name_mapping.clear()

    # Debugging only: report the exporting time:
# 	Blender.Window.WaitCursor(0)
    print("3ds export time: %.2f" % (time.clock() - time1))

    # Debugging only: dump the chunk hierarchy:
    #primary.dump()

    return {'FINISHED'}