8

414 Chapter 20: Managing Scenes and Projects
File Submenu
Open—Opens the source file. If you have not
saved changes to the current, target file, 3ds Max
prompts you to do so.
Browse—Displays a file dialog that lets you browse
for a new source file. The file you choose
replaces
theselectedfilerecordintheXRefObjectsdialog.
Rev eal Location in Ex plor er—Launches an instance
of Windows Explorer , open to the folder in which
theselectedsourcefileresides.
Strip Path—Removes path information from the
file name, saving only the file name itself. The
source file location is saved relative to the target
file location.
Wa rn in g: If you strip the path before you have saved the
target file, the record’s XRefs can become unresolved.
This is because there is no location for the
Untitled,
unsaved MAX scene.
Resolve Path to UNC Location—
If the record’s file
name has had its path stripped, this option restores
the full path name.
Co mbine XRef Re cords— Click to combine the
contents of more than one XRef record into one
record. This is useful when you want to clean up
the organization of your XRef records. Rather
than having multiple entries of the same file, you
cangroupalloftheobjectsandmaterialsfrom
that file under the same record. This option is
available only when you highlight two records
that refer to the same file; both records must have
identical settings. XRef records must refer to the
same file with the same XRef entities. Combine
XRefRecordsonlyallowsyoutoconsolidateallof
theentitiesofonefileintooneXRefrecordentry.
It does not allow you to combine the contents of
different files, even if the files have the same name.
Update—Refreshes the contents of a ll XRefs. If
the objects, materials, or manipulators referenced
have changed i n the source scene, you will see
these changes in your target scene.
Note: The changes must be saved in the source file
before you see them in the t arget file.
Wa rn in g: IfyouupdateanXRefinascenewith radiosity
(page 3–50)
, probably this will invalidate the radiosity
solution. After you update the XRef, reset the radiosity
solution and then recalculate it.
Select—
Selects all of the objects that belong to the
currently highlighted XRef record.
Select by Name—Opens the Select Objects dia log ,
which lists all objects and highlights those
belonging to the currently highlig hted XRef
Record. Use this dialog to select specific XRef
objects.
Highli ght S elected Object ’s XR efs Records—In the
XRef Entities list, highlights the entries for objects
that are selected in the scene.
Highlight All—Selects all records in the list.
Highlight Inverse—Invertsthecurrentlistselection.
Highlight None—Deselectsallrecordsinthelist.
Merge in Scene—Converts all objects for the
highlighted record into native objectsin your target
scene. The objects, materials, and manipulators
are no longer referenced from the source file
but become part of your target scene. A prompt
appears so you can confirm the action. Since a
merged XRef object becomes part of the scene and
is no longer an XRef, its name is removed from t he