File Lists

You can use the File lists to perform a number of actions. These include displaying the contents of the folder one level up from the current folder, generating thumbnails, and arranging and sorting the list. You can also create folders, merge files, refine searches, and drag textures onto models. Additionally, many folder and file functions use standard Windows conventions, and as such aren’t described in detail. For example, cutting, pasting, and deleting.

Features

The File lists contain a number of items. The My 3D Models, Materials, Textures, Symbols, and Environment Map lists are all automatically created when you install SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Author.

File Lists Tabs
Tab	Functional Description
Files List	Displays all files and folders contained within the current folder
My 3D Models	Models and scenes that have been saved to your 'My 3D Models' folder
Materials	Displays all the sample material files that are delivered with the application and contained within this folder.
Textures	Displays all the sample texture files that are delivered with the application and contained within this folder
Symbols	Displays all the sample symbol files that are delivered with the application and contained within this folder. Using this list, you can drag symbols onto models.
Environment Maps	A list of available environment maps. An Environment Map is a 360-degree image that is used for lighting a scene. The environment map is dragged onto the scene, and the scene then uses the environment map to recalculate the appropriate lighting for the scene, based upon the environment map. Note Environment maps are only visually available with the HDR Real-time renderer.
Backplates	A list of available backplates. You can add a backplate to the scene. Backplates are 2D images that serve as a background to the scene, and can be saved with the file. The backplate is placed in the 2D layer in the scene tree.

Whenever you perform a search, a 'Search' tab is displayed listing all the files that match the search criteria. Search tabs can be used to refine your search further.

The File lists can be displayed in differing views and sorted in ascending or descending order. You can change the way items are arranged, similar to the functionality in most Windows applications. Lists can be resized, moved, floated, docked, and closed to place the most frequently used list close to hand. They can also be grouped together in a tabbed format.

All the lists can be made visible and hidden as required. Files and folders can be dragged between the Folders panel and the File list to move them to other folders.

The File lists include a toolbar that can be used to display files with different layouts, and to cut, copy, paste, move, rename, delete, and search for files and folders. Context-sensitive right-click menus are available. You can open selected drives and folders in separate windows, determine how file information is displayed, enter descriptions for individual files, arrange the icons, and add selected files to the Favorites list. All your File list settings are automatically preserved between sessions.