CompuServe Messages

It sounds to me that your light problem may be similar to copying 3D entities. Sometimes the HANDLES get lost, or messed with. When you do an ARRAY on meshed objects, things will get screwy. An ARRAY on wireframe objects works well. Don't know if that'll help you. Did you discover whether or not freezing Layer 0 prevents exporting? I like your idea about the XDATA being common. I work with a friend of mine who is a BETA site for McNeel's ACCU-RENDER. It's an ADS app that sits on top of ACAD and uses XDATA for rendering. Does a damn good job too! I have talked with the developer about transfering 3DS files via Visual Link to him to see if he can read my XDATA. He says he can't use it now, but will consider coding an interpreter into his product. =D]