Animating a line

[Caradoc]

How can I animate line shapes in max ... like rops, chains, cylinders, ... etc. Is it done by rig the shape and making controlers , or there is anotherway ... Any suggestions?

[Aurelius]

Try to use the linkedXform modifier to link vertices of splines to whatever object you want, dummies for instance which you can animate.
Or
You can do a bone chain with SpileIKsolver and then delete the bones. The result is about the same would be same as said above method but faster to set up. You'll get dummy in every knot the spline. Then just make the spline renderable.
Cheers!