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hide materials from linked blocks in manager
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 12:34 am
by Wynott
My model has a LOT of linked blocks. Is there any way to hide the materials the linked blocks are using from the scene manager?
Re: hide materials from linked blocks in manager
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:19 am
by JDHill
Sorry, but no, there's no way to do that. I've been working on some internal changes that should make it possible, but it would be an all-or-nothing global setting, where you would be able to prevent them from loading -- not something where you'd be able to load/unload them at will.
Re: hide materials from linked blocks in manager
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:54 am
by Wynott
I'd have no problem with switching them all off globally for the session. We're talking about almost 300 blocks here. Makes the materials panel very difficult to use with it flooded with all this junk from all the other files.
Re: hide materials from linked blocks in manager
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 3:28 pm
by kami
Why don't you work with MXS references for that?
I really prefer that workflow (not only for having a clean material list)
Re: hide materials from linked blocks in manager
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 5:57 pm
by Wynott
Sorry this is probably a dumb question but anyway... It seems clear to me how to export the MXS file but how to I import them into the model in Rhino?
Re: hide materials from linked blocks in manager
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:09 pm
by Wynott
nevermind got it.
Re: hide materials from linked blocks in manager
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:12 pm
by JDHill
(I see you posted as I was writing; I'll post this anyway)
In the plugin's Functions toolbar, you'll find a Create MXS Reference button, which prompts you to select an MXS file. Selecting the resulting MXS Reference (which is a block instance with some custom data attached), you can then set it to display as a point could, with a variable percentage of points generated from meshes in the MXS, as wireframe box, or as a NURBS box.
Re: hide materials from linked blocks in manager
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:28 pm
by Wynott
Yeah it was a language thing I think. I was looking for something called insert or import or the like.
Re: hide materials from linked blocks in manager
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 11:17 am
by AlexP
Mxs references are a lot easier to work with then linked blocks and load very fast.
Re: hide materials from linked blocks in manager
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 1:34 pm
by Polyxo
AlexP wrote:Mxs references are a lot easier to work with then linked blocks and load very fast.
I'd not at all say that mxs references are the superior way of dealing with externally referenced content.
It depends on your needs.
If one deals with reusable static external elements regularly, mxs-references may be a convient and high performance choice.
Probably great for professional visualizers with libraries of proven scene-members... But other users may have other fish to fry.
In case one needs to change referenced geometry, blocks are FAR more flexible, hands down.