HELP > USER REFERENCE > INDEX
Type the words below into the help index to find usefull suggestions for using basic functions in 3dsMax7. Work through the list below and you'll have a reasonable understanding of the basics.
CREATE MENU > CREATE MENU
PAN > PANNING VIEWS (hotkey, MIDDLE MOUSE and ALT + MIDDLE MOUSE to rotate)
SELECT AND MOVE (hotkey W)
SELECT AND ROTATE (hotkey E)
SELECT AND UNIFORM SCALE (hotkey R)
ALIGN > OBJECTS
FFDs > FFD 2x2x2
CLONING, OBJECTS > TECHNIQUES FOR CLONEING OBJECTS
DIFFUSE, DIFFUSE MAPPING (adding a custom texture to your object)
SHOW, SHOW MAP IN VIEWPORT (MATERIAL EDITOR) (so that your custom texture shows in the viewport)
UVW, MAP MODIFIER (for controlling the texture application)
COLLAPSE, STACK > EDITING THE STACK (it's good to do this after you have applied a UVW map modifier to your geometry)
POLYGON COUNTER > POLYGON COUNTER DIALOGUE
BONES > BONES SYSTEM (alot of information but this tells you where to find them, and gives good background)
SKIN MODIFIER (as above)