Clicking on the Catalog’s utilities icon opens a menu giving access to the following features:
q Toggle Directory
The Catalog always displays the thumbnail images of the files contained in the current Directory.
1. Click on the “Utilities” icon of the Catalog.
2. Select “Toggle Directory”.
3. Select another directory.
4. Click on the “OK” button to validate the selection.
There are other ways to change current Directory: selecting the “Directory” command of the “File” menu (see chapter User Manual/File/Directory); through a keyboard shortcut (PC: Ctrl+K; Mac: Command+K) (see chapter User Manual/File/Directory); or pressing spacebar when the Catalog is open (see chapter User Manual/File/Directory).
q Rebuild the Catalog
This creates a new Catalog that will include the content of the selected directories and the corresponding thumbnails. This is useful when you want to import a whole project coming from a different system or when you wish to update a directory where you have added new file.
Amapi 3D uses a file called CAT.LIST to determine which files are present in the Catalog as well as their locations. If this CAT.LIST is not present in the open folder, no icon will be displayed in the Catalog (you might have moved some files from one folder to another using the file manager of your system, for instance). To have the thumbnails of all the files of your folder displayed in the Catalog, click on “Rebuild Catalog” in the Utilities menu of the Catalog.
q Verify the Catalog
This operation updates the Catalog so that it takes into account any changes in the file organization in the hard drive. Indeed, if you manage files through the Amapi 3D Catalog, this update is automatic (verifying it is therefore unnecessary). But if you have used another file manager, you need to verify the Catalog to be sure you’re working with an up-to-date file manager. When updating the Catalog, Amapi 3D will erase the references to scene files that are no longer on the hard drive and add the new ones into the Catalog.
q Network preferences
Gives access to the parameters setting communications with remote hosts. (See chapter User Manual/Edit/Preferences/Network.)