The Project Structure
 
 
 

A project is a system of folders that store and organize the different elements of your work. You can view the project structure from the Softimage browser.

A set of subfolders are created in every new project. The browser opens by default to these folders when opening, saving, importing or exporting specific scene elements. The table below describes how these folders are used:

Project folder

Type of files stored

Actions

External action sources saved in either ASCII or binary dotXSI format (*.xsi) or native Softimage binary format (*.eani). See Creating External Action Sources [Nonlinear Animation in the Animation Mixer].

Audio

Audio clips used for synchronizing with animation. See Audio and Animation [Nonlinear Animation in the Animation Mixer].

Backup

Backed up scene files with the backup version appended to the file name. See Backing Up and Recovering Your Work.

Composites

Rendered images and sequences output from the File Output operator in the FX Tree. See The FxTree [Compositing and Effects].

dotXSI

Exported ASCII or binary format dotXSI files (*.xsi). See Importing and Exporting dotXSI Files.

Expressions

Expression text files (*.expr2). See Saving and Loading Expressions [Animation].

FCurves

Raw function curve files saved from the animation editor or the expressions editor (*.fraw2) or exported from SOFTIMAGE|3D (*.fraw). See Saving and Loading Function Curves [Animation].

MatLib

External material library files saved in either ASCII or binary dotXSI format (*.xsi).

Models

Exported models (*.emdl).

Pictures

Texture images and sequences.

Queries

Custom queries for the spreadsheet.

Render_Archives

Exported render archives (*.mi2) and object render archives (*.mia). See mi Archives and Stand-ins [Rendering].

Render_Pictures

Rendered frames.

Scenes

Softimage scene files (*.scn). See Scenes.

Scripts

Scripts specific to a particular project or scene. This is a good location if you want to make sure that the correct version of a script is stored with a project for the purpose of archiving.

Although you can save script files anywhere, it is recommended that you use a standard location. The default location is the Data\Scripts subdirectory of your user path.

Synoptic

Synoptic files (*.htm, *.html) and associated graphics used to build synoptic views. Although you can save synoptic files anywhere, this is the default location. See Managing Synoptic Files [Customization].

Thumbnails

Thumbnail images associated to elements in the project. See Thumbnails for Scene Elements.

System

Hidden system folder used to identify the project. If this folder is remove or modified, the project will be invalid. See Managing Invalid Projects.