Main Toolbar > Start Content Browser button
The Content Browser lets you access stored tools and content and it runs independently of Autodesk VIZ. The Content Browser provides quick access to tools such as catalogs, tool palettes, and design content in the form of materials, studios, luminaires, and cameras. The Content Browser is the central location for project-based tools and content, ensuring that every member of your design team has access to the most up-to-date tools.
Note: The Content Browser is populated by the entire collection of materials, studios, luminaires, and cameras while a small subset of this content can be found in the assorted Tool Palette Sets.
The Content Browser lists components in a hierarchy for storing and organizing data. The following table explains the hierarchy from top to bottom.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Library | At the top level, you have a Library. The library is a container for all other components found in the Content Browser. |
| Catalog | A library can contain any number of Catalogs. By default Autodesk VIZ includes three catalogs: Materials, Lights & Cameras, and Studios. Catalogs can contain categories, packages, palettes or tools. |
| Category | A Category is used to help you further organize the content that you might use in your scene. A category can contain other categories (sub-categories), packages, palettes or tools. |
| Package | A Package is a group of tools stored together for distribution. For example, a package might contain a set of productivity tools and utilities. |
| Palette | A Palette is a collection of tools. For example, a palette might contain tools for specific materials that will be used in a scene. Storing a palette in a catalog makes the palette available to multiple users. |
| Tool | A Tool is a general term used for anything you might find in the Content Browser. Technically, a tool can be a material, studio, light, camera or model that is stored in a catalog, category, package or palette. |
The Content Browser enhances data exchange with its use of Autodesk i-drop® Web technology. This functionality allows third parties to embed materials and geometry in their web sites so that you can drag content off the web pages you see in your web browser and drop them directly into your scene.
For example, there are product manufacturers (furnishings, lighting, and other architectural products) that provide 3D models of their products on their web sites in i-drop-enabled form, and you are free to drag these content objects from their web sites to your Autodesk application. When you install Autodesk VIZ, you also receive a free i-drop ActiveX control that facilitates the display of i-drop data in Internet Explorer.
You and your team members can drag standard, project-based, and manufacturer content via your own company intranet or over the web.
For more information on i-drop and for links to i-drop-enabled web sites, refer to the i-drop Indicator.
Assign the Content Browser a Keyboard Shortcut:
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Choose Customize > Customize User Interface to open the Customize User Interface dialog.
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Make sure that you're on the Keyboard panel, that Group is set to Main UI and that the Category is set to All Commands.
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In the Hotkey field, enter a keyboard shortcut that you'd like to use to start the content browser.
Note: If you enter a hotkey that is already assigned to a command, the command name appears in the Assigned To: field. You will see <Not Assigned> if the hotkey you enter is not used by another command.
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Once you've found a hotkey that is not assigned, scroll down the Action list and highlight Start Content Browser.
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Click the Assign button and you'll see your hotkey value appear in the Shortcut list next to the Action.
Add Scene Materials to a Library in the Content Browser:
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Click the Add or Create a Catalog button from the Administrator's Catalog Library display.
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Turn on Create a New Catalog and enter the name of the catalog you want to create.
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Click Tool Palettes - All Palettes in Autodesk VIZ and open the Scene - In Use palette.
This palette contains all the materials that are currently used in your scene.
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Click on the tab where the Scene - In Use label appears and drag the palette over to the Content Browser and release the mouse button.
The materials from the Scene - In Use palette are added to the Content Browser.
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In the Content Browser, right-click Scene - In Use palette and choose Rename.
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Enter a new name for your custom palette and click OK.
Name the palette such that it is associated with the project where the materials were used.
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Double-click the new palette to see a listing of all the materials.