General Preferences

Startup

Launch Netview on Startup

Automatically opens a Netview window every time Softimage starts.

This preference does not affect the Mod Tool, which always opens a Netview at startup.

Check for Announcements and Updates

Displays announcements and updates in the default Netview page. If this option is off, you can still click a link in the default Netview page to display them. If this option is on but Launch Netview on Startup is off, high-priority messages will still force Netview to open on startup.

Alternatively, you can subscribe to the RSS feed at http://softimage.wiki.softimage.com/motd/rss_en.xml using an RSS-aware browser.

Undo

Number of Undo Levels

Sets the number of commands that you can undo and redo. The Undo and Redo commands are available in the Edit menu and as keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Y.

The higher the number of levels you set, the more memory is required (which can slow down performance) but the further you can backtrack. The maximum number of levels is determined by the available hard disk space.

Language

Default Language

Specifies the language used to display buttons, menus, parameter names, and so on. The drop-down list includes the languages installed on your machine. After changing this value, you must exit and restart Softimage before the change comes into effect.

You can also specify the language of the Softimage user interface from the command line. In a Softimage command prompt, type:

xsi -uilang <languageid>

Where languageid is en for English or jp for Japanese.

User's Guide Help Language

Specifies the language used to display the online user's guide. The drop-down list includes the languages installed on your machine. After changing this value, you must exit and restart Softimage before the change comes into effect.

You can also specify the language for the online help from the command line. In a Softimage command prompt, type:

xsi -helplang <languageid>

Where languageid is en for English or jp for Japanese.

SDK Guide Help Language

Specifies the language used to display the online SDK guide. The drop-down list includes the languages installed on your machine. After changing this value, you must exit and restart Softimage before the change comes into effect.

Help Location

Specifies the location of the Softimage help files.

Autodesk Web Site

Uses the help files on the Autodesk web site. This option requires an internet connection.

Local Computer/Network

Uses the help files installed at the default location, or the location specified by the HelpLocation.txt file in your user settings. That file is normally created when you install the documentation to a location other than the default. You can download the help installers from:

www.autodesk.com/softimage-helpdownload-enu (English)
www.autodesk.com/softimage-helpdownload-jpn (Japanese)

Custom

Uses the help files installed at the specified path, which should be the root of the sdkguide and userguide folders. If you are using a web server, specify the http: protocol.

Misc

Use Classical Scaling for Newly Created Objects

Controls the scaling mode for new objects created in Softimage:

If this option is off, new objects use Hierarchical (Softimage) Scaling by default. Scaling a parent in branch mode scales the children along their own axes with no shearing.
If this option is on, new objects use Classical Scaling by default. Scaling a parent in branch mode scales the children along the parent's axes, possibly resulting in shearing. This mode is recommended if you are exchanging data with other applications, such as game engines or other 3D programs that do not understand hierarchical scaling.

The scaling mode is set for each object in its SRT so you can change it for individual objects after they have been created.

Check All Models for First Field When Using Wildcard(s)

Checks all models for first field when using wildcards to search for components (e.g., "MyModel.cone*" will match "cone*").

Licensing

Check Interval

The interval in minutes between checks for the license time-out feature. If Softimage has been completely idle since the last check, it temporarily stops communicating with the license server. When activity resumes, Softimage starts communicating again.

If there has been no communication for a certain period of time (configured on the server), the server reclaims the license and makes it available for other users.

If the license has been lost when activity resumes, Softimage attempts to get another license from the server. If none are available, you are given an opportunity to save your work before exiting.

Softimage is not considered idle if there been any mouse or keyboard interaction, command or script running, or progress bar during the last check interval. Softimage is never idle in batch mode.

To disable the license time-out feature, set this value to 0.