At least in 3ds Max 2016, it is necessary to select the skin node before being able to use any of the skin operations.
@@ -1303,6 +1303,7 @@ rollout ThreeJSExporter "ThreeJSExporter"
max modify mode
+ modPanel.setCurrentObject node.modifiers[#skin]
total_bones = skinops.getnumberbones node.modifiers[#skin]
vertex_count = getNumverts node