Creating Local Models

 
 
 

To create a model

  1. Select the objects that you want to include in the model. The objects must be siblings; that is, they must be at the same level and share a parent node in the explorer hierarchy. Any children of the objects you select will automatically become part of the new model.

    If desired, you can also select any groups that you want to include in the model. However, any objects that are members of these groups will not be automatically added to the new model unless they are also added to the selection explicitly.

  2. Click Create Model on the Model toolbar. The Model property editor opens.

  3. Specify a Name for the model.

    A null is added to the scene as the parent of the selected objects. You can add other objects to the model at a later time by using the Parent button on the Constrain panel or by dragging and dropping them onto the model's node in the explorer.

Selecting and Editing Models

To select the model and the hierarchy beneath it

  • Choose Select Select Model from the Select panel or middle-click its node in the explorer.

To select just the model itself

  • Click on its node (name) in the explorer or the schematic view.

To open a model's property editor

  • Click the model's icon in an explorer.

Merging Scenes as Models

When you merge a scene into the current scene, it is automatically made into a model. This ensures that the names of elements are preserved: because each model maintains its own namespace, there is no need to append element names with numbers to make unique names.

To merge a Autodesk Softimage scene into the current scene

  1. From the main menu, choose File Merge.

  2. In the browser that opens, locate and select a scene, then click OK. The Model property editor opens.

  3. Specify a Name for the model.

    If you don't want the elements of the merged scene to be a separate model, you can "unparent" the model's children using either the Cut button on the Constrain panel or by dragging and dropping their nodes in the explorer, then deleting the model node.

Deleting Models

To delete a model

  1. Branch-select the model root.

  2. Press Delete.