Complex productions can involve numerous individual projects. Some projects may be relevant to your work, and others not. Project lists let you access the projects you need with the click of a mouse.
Project lists are text-based files with a .xsiprojects file name extension. They can be located in the Data subdirectory of the user, workgroup, or factory path. Softimage collects all the .xsiprojects files found in these locations and merges them together. In the Project Manager, labels identify the location of the .xsiprojects file containing each entry:
[U] indicates that the project is listed in the project file in the user location.
[W] indicates that the project is listed in the project file in the workgroup location.
[F] indicates that the project is listed in the project file in the factory location.
You can sort projects in the list by Name, Origin (factory, user, and workgroup), or none (no sorting).
The advantage of project lists is that for a given production you can define projects located on shared network drives. Then you can export the list and have all members of the workgroup import the list of projects.
Preferences, then click Data Management and set Add new projects to the projects list to the desired value: Always Ask, Always Add New Projects, or Never Add New Projects.
To build and maintain project lists
In the Project List controls, click one of the following:
Remove from List removes a project from the project list. This does not delete the project from the hard disk.
Scan Disk opens a browser that lets you search the specified folders and add all projects found to the list.
Clear List removes all projects from the list. This does not delete the project from the hard disk. Use this command if you want to switch to another list.
Import List opens a browser that lets you search for a project list file containing a list of projects and their associated paths. These project names are added to any existing projects in the project list.
Export List creates a file that contains the path and name of each project currently displayed in the project list. You can then use Import List to access and display these projects.
You can export the project list and have all members of the workgroup import the current list of projects. This can all be done automatically using the auto–import and auto–export preferences for project lists.
To automatically export a project list
Build projects for your current production (click the New Project button) and add them to the project list (click the Add Project button.)
Export the project list (click the Export List button) and save it to a shared location for the workgroup (see Workgroups for how to create a workgroup path). Close the Project Manager.
Choose File Preferences from the main menu to open the Preferences window.
Click the browse button (…) next to the Auto Import/Export file text box.
In the browser, navigate to the location where the project list was exported. Select the file and click Open.
This option automatically overwrites the project list text file each time you save changes to the project list in the Project Manager.
Workgroup members must now set their Project Manager to automatically import the most current project list whenever they start Softimage.
To automatically import a project list
Click the browse button (…) next to the Auto Import/Export file text box.
In the browser, navigate to the location where the project list was exported. Select the file and click Open.
This option automatically imports the project list text file and displays the most up-to-date list of projects in the Project Manager.
A project can become invalid if it is moved to another location, if its hidden system sub-folder is deleted or altered, or if the project folder is renamed. In these cases, the Project Manager can no longer identify the project from the path information specified in its project list.
The Project Manager does not automatically remove an invalid project from its project list. Instead, the project is labelled as Invalid and you can choose to delete the project or rescan to locate it and add it back to the project list.
