Working
with Catalogs and Elements
This tutorial will teach you how to use and manage the catalogs of 3D elements in the program. Specifically, you can learn about:
The Catalog Panel
How Catalogs Work
Opening Other Catalogs
Saving Customized Elements to the Master Catalog
Managing your Catalogs with the Catalog Manager
Importing Content from Other Catalogs
Creating New Elements and Importing from the Web
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Category Name - displays the name of the catalog category open currently. When you choose a tool from the insert toolbar - Building, Interiors, Landscape, or Terrain - the catalog opens to that category. Type or Group Selection - displays the types of elements available in the current category. When you pick a type or group in this window, the individual elements in that group are displayed below. Element Selection - displays the 3D objects or elements available in the selected group. When you click on an element in this window, a preview is displayed below and the element is attached to your cursor, ready to insert. The currently selected element is highlighted with a green dot. Element Preview - Shows the currently selected element. Click and drag inside this window to view the element from another angle. Right-click to view the element in another viewing or display mode, such as 2D Plan view. |
Catalogs contain 3D elements to insert in your drawings. Catalogs are divided into categories like Doors, Walls, Furniture, etc. Categories are further divided into types or groups, which makes it easier to find the element you want.
Your main catalog open in the program is the Master Catalog. It comes with a complete set of elements with pre-defined properties. You can open other catalogs in the program also. Generally, you should insert elements into the program before modifying them, but if you want, you can make permanent changes to the catalog through the Catalog Manager.
When you create a
project, all the elements you have inserted and customized are saved with
your project. This allows your project to be opened on a computer other
than the one you used to create it. Elements you edit in your project
are changed in this internal catalog only, not the Master catalog. However,
you can save elements you have customized in your project to the Master
catalog for use in other projects if you like.
The program comes with two master catalogs, one in Imperial measurements (feet and inches), onE in Metric measurements. Other catalogs, like bonus content or catalogs from leading manufacturers, may be available online to use in your program. You can open one of them instead of the Master Catalog you currently have displayed. Whenever you launch the program, it will always open the catalog you had open last.
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open another catalog: 1. Select the File menu. 2. Point to Catalogs and select Open Catalog. 3. In the Open Catalog dialog, locate the catalog you want to open. The file type for 3DHA catalogs is .bdb. 4. Click Open. The catalog you opened becomes the active catalog. |
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Note: The Master Catalog contains elements in all categories, but other catalogs may not. For example, a catalog from a cabinet manufacturer would only contain content in that category. If you clicked on the Doors tool with a catalog like this open, you wouldn't find any Door elements.
Saving Customized Elements to Your Master Catalog
If you've customized elements in your project that you'd like to use in future projects, you can easily save them to your Master Catalog.
To save customized
elements to the Catalog:
1. Select the File menu.
2. Point to Catalogs and select Save Element to the Catalog.
3. Click on the element you want to save. It will be saved to the open
catalog in the appropriate category and group. For example, a sofa will
be saved to the Furniture category in the Living Room Furniture group.
You can find the saved element at the bottom of the list.
Tip: You might want to give your customized element a special name so it's easy to find in the catalog. To do this, double click on the element in your project and edit the name at the top of the properties window.
Managing your Catalogs with the Catalog Manager
Making changes to a catalog can be done through the Catalog Manager. You can add, edit, delete, rename, or reorganize groups and elements, create elements or import elements from other catalogs or 3D blocks you download from the internet.
To access the Catalog
Manager:
1. Select the File menu.
2. Point to Catalogs and select Catalog Manager.
The Catalog Manager looks basically the same as the Catalog panel in the sidebar, except for a few differences. The top of the dialog offers information and options for the currently open catalog.
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Menus - provides access to editing functions and other areas of the catalog. |
| Catalog Category - shows the name of the current category. Click the pulldown to select another category. | |
| Current Catalog - displays the filename of the current catalog. |
Catalog Manager
Menus
The File menu
gives you access to basic functions like opening, closing, saving, or
creating a new blank catalog.
The Catalog menu holds most of the commands you need to edit the contents of the catalog.
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Add Group - adds a new group above the currently selected group. |
| Delete Group - deletes the currently selected group. | |
| Rename Group - allows you to edit the name of the currently selected group. | |
| Add Element - allows you to add an element in the currently selected group. | |
| Delete Element - deletes the currently selected element. | |
| Element Properties - displays properties for the currently selected element, allowing you to customize that element. |
Tip: You can access these same commands by right-clicking in the group or element window. For example, to edit the name of a group, right-click on the one you want to change and select Rename Group.
The Libraries menu allows you to access and edit the libraries which are components of the catalog. Libraries include the list of Materials you see when you access the Materials Paintbrush and the Text styles that define how text is displayed in the program. For more information on any one of these libraries, see the program's Help file.
Reorganizing your
Catalog Contents
The catalog groups and elements can be reorganized simply by moving them
around. If you want to move an element from one group to another - a side
table in Bedroom Furniture, for example - drag and drop it on to the name
of the group in which you want it to appear - Living Room Furniture, for
example. You can use this same method to move elements in your list. For
example, if there's an element at the bottom of a group that you are frequently
inserting, drag and drop it on the top of your list.
Importing
Content from Other Catalogs
If you plan
on inserting elements into your project from a catalog other than the
Master Catalog, you can simply open that catalog in the program. You also
have the option of moving elements into your Master Catalog so you can
avoid switching back and forth between multiple catalogs.
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import the contents of a catalog into the Master Catalog: 1. In the Catalog Manager, click the Expand button to expand the dialog. 2. Next to Other, which displays the name of the target catalog, click the browse button. |
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| 3. In the dialog that appears, navigate to the catalog you want to import from, and click Open. | ||
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The contents of the target catalog will appear in the list, but only
for the category selected in the category pulldown - Walls, for example. |
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Note:
Depending on the catalog you choose, you may not see anything in
the list. That's because certain catalogs only have elements in
selected categories, like Furniture. |
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To import a single item into your catalog, select that item from the
catalog on the right and click the Import Item button. -OR- To import the entire contents of the target catalog, click on the Import All button. |
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| All the contents of the catalog will be copied into your Master Catalog in the appropriate categories and groups. | ||
Creating
New Elements and Importing from the Web
You can create new elements out of the element types in the program
or you can import 3D objects you find elsewhere. You can only add new
elements through the Catalog Manager by choosing the Add Element
command, either from the Catalog menu or by right-clicking in the
group where you want the new element to be created.
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For most element types, the Properties dialog will open for your new element. Type in a new name and edit the specifications as you wish. For elements like furniture and accessories, a Define Element dialog will appear. This dialog allows you to choose from a selection of templates. Select an element type and click OK. A Properties dialog will open for your new element. Type in a new name and edit the specifications as you wish. |
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Advanced users may be interested in importing additional 3D elements from other sources. There is a large 3D rendering community online. Numerous sites offer 3D elements you can use in the program. Just search on the web for "Free .3DS".
Note: If you choose to download new 3D elements for use, remember only those in the .3DS file format can be used in the program.
To import a .3DS
object:
1. First download a .3DS element and remember where you saved it.
2. Make sure the catalog where you want the new element to be located
is open in the program. Most likely, this is your Master Catalog.
3. Follow the instructions provided above for creating
a new element.
4. When the Define Elements dialog appears, select Import geometry from
file.
5. An Open dialog will appear. Navigate to the .3DS file and click Open.
6. The Properties dialog will open for your new element. Type in a name
and edit the specifications as you wish.
7. Click OK, then close the Catalog Manager. Your new element is
now available to insert in your project.
Tip: Because the textures are not exactly the same as those available in the program, you will have to reapply them to all your surfaces after you import the element. If the imported element came with a folder of textures, save them to the program's Textures folder for easy reference.
For more detailed information on importing and optimizing .3DS files in the program, refer to the program's User's guide.