8

XRef Objects 407
thesourcefilecancauseXRefsinthetargetfileto
become unresolved.
XRef objects can b e modified or tr ansformed in
your current scene just like any other object. XRef
objects a lso allow the use of proxy objects to stand
in or substitute for geometry. Use XRef objects
to manage the complexity of your scene during
animation by substituting “lightweight” pr oxy
objects for more complex geometry.
Yo u c a n c r e a t e a p r o x y b y s i m p l i f y i n g a c l o n e
of your existing model or you can build simple
substitute objects like boxes or c ylinders, or you
cansaveacopyofthemodelintheearlystagesof
modeling before you add the detail. You can even
use an object from another scene.
A proxy object is substituted in the scene, but the reference
to the real object is always available.
Choosing X Ref Objects displays the XRef Objects
dialog (page 3–408)
,whereyouaddXRefobjects
and materials to your target scene, and control
their visibility, merge states, and other options.
If your XRef object relies on another object in the
source scene, the relationship will be preserved
in the destination file. Examples of this include
objectswithpathconstraints,atmospherics,
particle arrays with object emitters, or space warps
bound to an object.
Note: Render effects such as glow or flare are not
carried in XRefs. To use render effects from the
source file, merge them in using the Merge buttons
found in the Envi ronment And Effects dialog.
Procedures
To add an XRef object:
1.
Choose File > XRef O bjects.
2. Click the Create XRef Record From File
button in the XRef Objects dialog. The Open
File dialog appears. Highlight the file you want
by highlighting it in the list, then click O pen.
The
XRef Merge Dialog (page 3–416) appears.
If the M erge Manipulators toggle is off before
you click Create XRef Record From File,
manipulators applied to XRef objects remain
linked(XRefed)tothesourcefile.Inasimilar
way, the Modifiers drop-down list gives you
threealternativesforhowtohandleobject
modifiers.
Note: IftheMergeMaterialstoggleisoff
before you click Create XRef Record From
File, materials applied to X Ref objects remain
linked(XRefed)tothesourcefile. IfMerge
Materialsison,thematerialsaremergedwith
the target scene (as they always were in versions
of 3ds Max prior to v8).
3. Select the objects that you’d like to appear in
your current scene as XRef objects.
You can choose as many as you want by holding
downtheCTRLkeyandhighlightingthemin
the list. If the source scene has a lot of object
types you don’t need to include, you can filter
the list by using the List Types radio buttons.
UsetheAllbuttontoselectalloftheentries,the
None button to select no entries a nd the Invert
button to highlight the opposite of your current
selection.
Tip: YoucanalsoturnonIncludeAllintheXRef
Objects dialog
before you click Create XRef