Use the to remap and collect the textures into a shallow directory as well.
Go to the (the hammer icon on the right side menu). Click the More... button. Select Resource Collector from the list and click OK . In the Resource Collector parameters: Specify an Output Path (a new, empty folder). Check Collect Bitmaps / Photometric Files . Check Include MAX File . Check Copy (this keeps your original files safe). Click Begin .
If the standard File > Archive protocol still fails, utilize these alternative asset collection methods: Core Function Best Used For 3ds max file archive failed code 4
Click . Manually zip this folder using a standalone application like WinRAR or 7-Zip.
The "File archive failed (code 4)" error in 3ds Max typically signals an issue with file permissions, path length, or asset organization that prevents the built-in archiver from packaging your scene into a ZIP file. 🛠️ Essential Fixes Try these immediate steps to resolve the failure: Use the to remap and collect the textures
Often, Code 4 is triggered because 3ds Max doesn't have the necessary Windows permissions to write to your chosen folder or trigger the command-line utility used for compression.
The Resource Collector copies all external bitmaps, photometric webs, and utilities into one flat folder without compressing them into a messy path hierarchy. button
: Do not use temporary directories as your save location, as 3ds Max may lack necessary write permissions.
If two different texture files in separate folders have the exact same name (e.g., D:\Project\wood.jpg and D:\Library\wood.jpg ), the MAXZIP archiver may fail when it tries to include both duplicates in the same ZIP file. This is a known limitation of the format.