• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

This file uses the same futuristic man model used in the preceding example.

2. With the Perspective viewport maximized, select Tools⇒Grab Viewport. Give the viewport the name of futuristic man–front view, and click the Grab button.

The viewport image opens the Rendered Frame Window.

3. Click the Save Bitmap button in the upper-left corner. Save the image as Futuristic man–front view. Then close the Rendered Frame Window.

4. Select Graph Editors⇒New Schematic View to open a Schematic View window, and name the view Background. Click the Preferences button on the Schematic View toolbar, and click the File button in the Background Image section.

5. Locate the saved image, and open it. Select the Show Image option in the Schematic View Preferences dialog box, and click OK.

You can perform this step using the image file saved in the Chap 25 directory on the CD, if you so choose.

6. Select the View⇒Show Grid menu command (or press the G key) to turn off the grid. Drag the corner of the Schematic View interface to increase the size of the window so the whole background image is visible.

7. Before moving any of the nodes, enable the Lock Zoom/Pan option in the Schematic View Preferences dialog box so the image resizes with the nodes. Then select each of the nodes, and drag them so they are roughly positioned on top of the part they represent. Start by moving the parent objects first, and then work to their children.

Figure 25.21 shows all the nodes aligned over their respective parts. From this arrangement, you can clearly see how the links are organized.

FIGURE 25.21

Using a background image, you can see how the links relate to the model.

Using List Views

One of the last uses of the Schematic View is to list all nodes that have things in common. Using the List Views menu, you can select to see All Relationships, Selected Relationships, All Instances, Selected Instances, Show Occurrences, and All Animated Controllers.

The List Views⇒All Relationships menu command displays a separate dialog box, shown in Figure 25.22, containing a list of nodes and their relationships. The Selected Relationships menu command limits the list to only selected objects with relationships. The List Views dialog box also includes a Detach button to remove the relationships if desired. Double-clicking a relationship in the list opens its dialog box, where you can edit the relationship.

Tip

You can click each column head to sort the entries. •

The List Views⇒All Instances menu command displays all the instances found in the scene. This includes all types of instances, including geometry, modifiers, controllers, and so on. For the Instances list view, the Detach button is replaced with a Make Unique button.

FIGURE 25.22

The List Views dialog box includes a list of nodes with relationships.

Note

Another way to identify instances is to look for bold text in the node. All label text for all instanced nodes is displayed in bold. •

If a node is selected and you want to see all other nodes that share the same type of relationship or share a property, the List Views⇒Show Occurrences menu command displays them. The final list view shows All Animated Controllers.

Summary

Working with containers and XRefs lets you combine the work of several users and creatively collaborate across teams. Some tasks in the viewport, such as linking objects into a hierarchy, can be difficult. The Schematic View represents all data as simple rectangular nodes. These nodes make easy work of accomplishing a variety of tasks.

This chapter covered the following topics:

• Using containers and externally referenced scenes and objects to work on the same project at the same time as your fellow team members without interfering with their work (or they with yours)

• Configuring XRef paths to help Max track your XRef Scenes and Objects

• Viewing all objects as nodes using the Schematic View window

• Learning the Schematic View interface

• Using the Schematic View window to select, delete, and