Yes, you’ll always have to do some manual configuration… like where are your header and library files… and with all the options in 3dsmax (release,deb…

Oh, and since you want to build the samples, you can create a template CMakeLists.txt file and add it to the files you move from the maxsdk and maxdeb…

I suggest you to use CMake for building your 3dsmax plug-ins. With CMake your code will be in one directory, and your vs solutions in a different one…