LNK2019 unresolved external symbol _imp__GetCOREInterface12 when building 3ds Max SDK plug‑in

Determine whether to link against the static maxapi.lib import library or the DLL import library when configuring a repeatable development environment for Autodesk 3ds Max plug‑in projects that use the SDK.

The SDK version must exactly match the target 3ds Max release, the platform toolset must be compatible with the Visual Studio version, and the build must target x64. Static linking removes the need for the runtime DLL but increases the plug‑in’s file size and can lead to load‑time failures if the plug‑in is executed with a different 3ds Max version. DLL import keeps the plug‑in smaller but requires the exact 3ds Max runtime to be present on every machine that runs the plug‑in.

Which linking strategy provides the most reproducible builds across developer workstations? How does static linking affect plug‑in size and the risk of version‑specific load failures? What are the runtime compatibility implications of relying on the DLL import library?