3ds max : bones and objects

I think im just being really stupid here but how do you attach your objects to your bones, im just generally very confused about bones and rigging, can anyone post a scene with a charachter with bones which worls so i can see how it works. do you need skin i dont want to use skin, i just need some help to understand

thanks,

( a very confused) Mike

how do you make the objects move with the bones when you move the bones

not to worry i think ive got it i think you just have to link the object to the bone

or apply the skin modifier if you want to attach a deformable mesh.