Thank you for the reply! I have been able to figure out how to make (and to close the curve prior to extruding) BUT when I extrude, I get a "tube-like" object with no top surface. I want to make an irregular shaped, solid platform. Is there a way to extrude a curve so the operation behaves much like a polygon cube or cylinder, with the result having a top surface? I've tried converting to a polygon but it still does not create a solid form with a top surface. Thank you SO much for your help and knowledge.You can also use a CV curve or EP curve Under the Create roll out and extrude a shape along the curve.
You don't have to loft to get the same action as in Max.
You can either xtrude as a polygon or nurbs. Either way you can convert each one to the opposite
later using the Modify rollout then use Convert.