How to Create Custom Toolbars in 3ds Max

Introduction

Custom toolbars are one of the easiest ways to make 3ds Max feel faster and more personal.

Instead of searching through menus every time, you can place your most used tools and scripts in one small toolbar. This is especially useful if you use script collections often, like Soulburn Scripts or copy and paste tools.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a toolbar, add buttons to it, organize those buttons, and save the interface.

Open the Toolbar Customization Window

To create a new toolbar, start from the existing 3ds Max interface.

1. Move your mouse near an existing toolbar.
2. Right-click in the toolbar area.
3. Go to Customize.

This opens the Customize User Interface window.

3ds Max will take you directly to the toolbar customization area, where you can create and edit toolbars.

Create a New Toolbar

Inside the toolbar customization window, click New.

Give your toolbar a name. The name can be anything that makes sense for your workflow.

For example:

• Soulburn
• Scripts
• Modeling Tools
• Daily Tools
• Copy Paste

After creating it, 3ds Max will open a small floating toolbar.

Tip: If you do not see the new toolbar, it may be hidden behind the Customize User Interface window. Move the window aside and check again. If you use more than one monitor, also check your second screen.

Rename or Delete a Toolbar

You can manage your toolbar from the same customization window.

Rename a Toolbar

Use Rename if you want to change the toolbar name later.

This is useful when the toolbar starts with one purpose, but you slowly add more tools to it.

Delete a Toolbar

Use Delete if you no longer need it.

Be careful when deleting custom toolbars, especially if you spent time organizing script buttons.

Add Tools and Scripts to the Toolbar

Once the toolbar exists, you can add commands to it.

In the transcript example, the toolbar is used for script buttons, including:

• Soulburn Script Listener
• Soulburn UI tools
• Object Attacher
• Object Detacher
• Object Dropper
• Copy and paste tools from CE Tools

The workflow is simple:

1. Find the command or script in the customization window.
2. Drag it onto your custom toolbar.
3. Drop it where you want the button to appear.

You can repeat this for as many tools as you need.

Good to know: This is especially helpful for scripts with user interfaces. If a script has a UI version, adding that button gives you quick access to the script window.

Why Custom Toolbars Are Useful

A custom toolbar is not just about making the interface look different.

It helps you build a workflow around the tools you actually use.

For archviz work, this can save time when you often repeat actions like:

• Attaching objects
• Detaching objects
• Dropping objects onto surfaces
• Opening script interfaces
• Copying and pasting object data
• Running small utility scripts

Instead of digging through menus, you keep your important buttons visible.

Save Your Custom Interface

After creating and organizing the toolbar, save your interface.

In the customization window, use Save.

You can save it in the default location, or choose another folder.

The transcript recommends saving in the default location and also keeping a separate backup copy of your UI files somewhere else.

Important: If you spend time customizing your interface, keep a backup. This makes it easier to restore your toolbars later if 3ds Max resets, updates, or you move to another workstation.

Move Buttons with Alt

You can rearrange buttons directly on the toolbar.

Hold Alt, then drag a button to a new position.

This lets you organize the toolbar after adding everything.

For example, you might keep related tools together:

• Script listener tools on one side
• Object attach and detach tools together
• Copy and paste tools together

A clean toolbar is easier to use than a toolbar full of random buttons.

Copy Buttons with Ctrl

Hold Ctrl and drag a button if you want to copy it.

This creates another copy of the same button.

This can be useful if you want the same tool to appear in more than one place, or if you are reorganizing a toolbar and do not want to remove the original button yet.

Delete a Button

To remove a button from a toolbar:

1. Right-click the button.
2. Choose the delete option.

This removes the button from the toolbar, but it does not delete the script or command from 3ds Max.

It only removes the shortcut button.

Edit Button Appearance

You can also edit how a button looks.

Right-click a button and choose Edit Button.

From there, you can change:

• Tooltip
• Label
• Button image

This is useful when a script button has a long name.

For example, if a copy and paste tool creates buttons with long labels, you can shorten them to:

• Copy
• Paste

This makes the toolbar cleaner and easier to read.

Tip: Short labels work better on compact toolbars. Use clear names that you can understand quickly while working.

Keep the Toolbar Organized

After adding your buttons, use Alt + drag to place them in a better order.

A practical layout might be:

1. Main script launcher
2. UI tools
3. Object attach and detach tools
4. Object dropper
5. Copy and paste tools

There is no perfect order. The best layout is the one that matches how you work every day.

Hide or Show the Toolbar

You can hide and show your custom toolbar at any time.

Right-click in the toolbar area and look for the name you gave your toolbar.

Click the toolbar name to toggle it on or off.

This is useful if you only need certain tools for specific tasks and want to keep the interface clean the rest of the time.

Useful Toolbar Shortcuts

Common Beginner Issues

The New Toolbar Is Missing

The toolbar may be behind the customization window.

Move the window aside and check your screen. If you use multiple monitors, check the other monitor too.

Button Names Are Too Long

Right-click the button and edit the label.

Short names like Copy, Paste, or Drop are easier to read.

The Toolbar Disappears Later

Make sure you save the interface after creating it.

It is also a good idea to keep a backup copy of your UI setup.

Summary

Custom toolbars in 3ds Max are simple but very useful.

The basic workflow is:

1. Right-click near an existing toolbar.
2. Open Customize.
3. Create a new toolbar.
4. Drag commands or scripts onto it.
5. Organize buttons with Alt + drag.
6. Copy buttons with Ctrl + drag.
7. Edit long labels when needed.
8. Save your interface.
9. Keep a backup of your UI files.

Conclusion

Custom toolbars are a small setup step that can make 3ds Max much faster to use.

They are especially helpful when you rely on scripts and repeat the same tools every day. Once your toolbar is organized and saved, you can keep your most important commands close and avoid searching through menus while working.