Greebler Library ManagementBesides the stock greeble extrusion shapes and in-document objects, one can include custom ones as well. Custom shapes and objects must exist in the document for the Greebler Object and Tags to reference. If you use particular shapes and objects often then the Greebler Library Manager provides a one-stop place for saving, organizing, and using them. The Greebler Library Management window can be found in and launched from the KuroyumeDZ>>Greebler plugins menu. You can also launch it using the Library button to the left of the Custom Greebles and Nurnies library reference. It is dockable and can be included in a layout for restoration between Cinema 4D sessions. At the top is the Greebler banner button which, when clicked, opens the Greebler HTML Help window if it is not already opened. Library Folder Below that is a text field which shows the storage location for Greebler preferences, custom shapes, and custom objects. This is available mainly for reference but can also be used to temporarily or permanently change the location of the library. You may want to change the location temporarily if, say, a client sends you a set of custom shapes and objects that you do not want to be combined with your own library. Custom Shapes, Custom Objects tabs While Custom Shapes and Custom Objects are discussed in more detail on separate pages, some facets are the same between them. Double-clicking a list item will open a dialog for renaming. Names must be unique. Lists are always sorted alphanumerically. The information below pertains to both as well. Collections Custom Shapes and Custom Objects items can be grouped into Collections. You can group items for easier categorization or as a quicker way to insert them into a scene for use. In the library folder on disk, collections are represented simply as folders with empty files named to match the items included within the collection. Collection and item names must therefore be unique. This is enforced to avoid duplicate names. The Master Collection for each contains all Shape or Object items and always exists (it cannot be renamed or deleted). While you can only drop a new shape or object into the Shapes or Objects list from the Object Manager, it can be automatically added to a collection by having that collection selected during the drop. The same behavior is implemented for the item New button. Show All For now, to keep the library interface simple, the pool of items and the list of items are displayed in the same items list. When you select a collection besides the Master Collection, normally only the items in that collection would be displayed. Since this type of list interface does not support drag-and-drop of list items, one cannot simply drag an item over a collection to add it to it. So, how do you add other items to a collection? Show All is a workaround which displays all items despite the selected collection. You can then select the items to add to the currently selected collection and hit the arrow button between the collection and items lists. Hopefully, as the plugin gains usership, augmentation of the interface will be justified. New For collections, this creates a new uniquely-named collection into which you can add items. For items, this expects that one or more polygon objects are selected in the active scene as candidates to be added to the particular library. The objects can also be drag-and-dropped from the Object Managers onto the items list to create a new library item. Limitations and expectations for shapes and objects are discussed in more detail on the individual pages. Each item is stored on disk individually as a Cinema 4D document file (.c4d). Delete For collections, this removes the collection from the list and deletes the folder on disk. None of the actual items it references are deleted. For items, this removes the item from the list and deletes the Cinema 4D document file on disk. Also, it is removed from any collections referencing it. This has no effect on collections and items previously added to documents. Rename For both collections and items, this is simply another way to change the name of the selected collection or item. Add To Document The Greebler Object and Tag can only reference custom shapes and objects that exist in the scene. The library acts solely as a repository of items from which you can select to use in the scene. This button adds either the selected collection or the selected items to the currently active scene. Item Details This displays information about the currently selected Shape or Object item. The image is the icon used by the Greebler Object and Tag and may help you remember what the shape or object looks like. If an image doesn't exist then a default icon is used. Name displays the name of the item. File shows the full path to the Cinema 4D document containing the item. |