ShadeExplorer

From ShadeCamp

ShadeExplorer creates and displays catalogs of Shade scene (object) files (file extension: .shd), surface files (file extension: .shdsfc or .sfc), and image files (BMP / PICT / JPEG / TGA file).

Catalogs show thumbnail images of rendered images and surface attribute windows. Using catalogs, you can manage a large number of Shade files efficiently, including opening and importing files, and displaying and saving rendered images, while viewing the thumbnails.

Contents 1 Using Catalogs 2 Opening Object Files 3 Importing Object Files 4 Loading Surface Attribute Settings 5 Loading Images 6 Drag and Drop Operations 7 Creating and Deleting Catalogs 8 The ShadeExplorer Window 8.1 Show/Hide Options Triangle 8.2 Create Catalog Button 8.3 Delete Catalog Button 8.4 Import Button 8.5 Export Button 8.6 Change Catalog Path Button 8.7 Catalog Directory Text 8.8 SEC File Text 8.9 Catalog Pull-down Menu 8.10 Open Button 8.11 Insert Button 8.12 Update Button 8.13 Size Pull-down Menu 8.14 Catalog Tab 8.15 Preset Object Tab 8.16 Preset Surface Tab 8.17 Preset Image Tab

Using Catalogs

The ShadeExplorer window is displayed by choosing ShadeExplorer from the View menu. No catalogs are loaded by default.

Use the tabs at the top of the window to choose what to display. Choosing the Catalog tab will show the specified catalog, while Preset Object, Preset Surface, and Preset Image tabs are used to display data contained in the folders “Object,” “Surface,” and “Image” respectively, all of which are located in the same hierarchy as the Shade program.

Opening Object Files

Choose an object file in ShadeExplorer and click the Open button to open that file in a new window. Files can also be opened by double-clicking a thumbnail.

Importing Object Files

Choose an object file in ShadeExplorer and click the Import button to load that object into the active file. You can also drag the item from ShadeExplorer to the Figure window of the target file.

Loading Surface Attribute Settings

Choose a surface file in ShadeExplorer and click the Open button to load the file into the surface attribute settings of the selected objects or parts. Files can also be loaded by double-clicking a thumbnail.

Loading Images

Choose an image file in ShadeExplorer and click the Open button to automatically switch on the mapping settings of the surface attributes for the selected objects or parts, and load that image into the Picture Box. Images can also be loaded by double-clicking a thumbnail.

Drag and Drop Operations

You can use drag-and-drop operations with ShadeExplorer. Objects can be imported simply by drag-and-drop a Shade object data thumbnail from ShadeExplorer into the Figure window.

Dragging surface attribute settings from ShadeExplorer will load those settings as the surface attributes of the selected objects or parts, just like using the Open button.

Image files can be dragged-and-dropped directly into the Picture Boxes provided in the Surface window and Background window, as well as the Picture Box in the Image tab of the rendering options Image Window.

Creating and Deleting Catalogs

To create or delete catalogs, click the show/hide triangle at the upper left corner of the ShadeExplorer window to display the options window.

Use the Create Catalog button to create a new catalog, and the Delete Catalog button to delete a catalog. The catalog to be deleted must first be chosen from the Catalog pull-down menu.

Clicking the Create Catalog button will display the Create Catalog dialog. Use the pull-down menu to choose the type of catalog to create from Shade Catalog, Surface Catalog, and Image Catalog, and enter a name for the catalog in the Catalog Name text box. Clicking the OK button will display the Browse window, where you can choose a folder containing the appropriate files. A checkbox “Look in subfolders” provides an option whether to search the files in the sub folder or not.

For a Shade Catalog, Shade object data files will be the target files; the target files for a Surface Catalog are Shade surface files; and, the target files for an Image Catalog are BMP / PICT / JPEG / TGA format.

The ShadeExplorer Window

We will now take a closer look at each feature of ShadeExplorer.

Show/Hide Options Triangle

This triangle is used to show/hide the options used to create and delete catalogs. Activating a catalog is also performed here.

Create Catalog Button

Use this button to create a new catalog. For more details, refer to the “Creating and deleting catalogs” section.

Delete Catalog Button

Use this button to delete the catalog chosen in the Catalog pull-down menu. An alert will be displayed before deleting the catalog. Please pay attention when deleting catalogs.

Import Button

This button opens a ShadeExplorer catalog file, and loads the data for that catalog into ShadeExplorer.

Export Button

This button is used to export the current catalog settings as a ShadeExplorer catalog file. The catalog to be exported is chosen from the Catalog pull-down menu.

Change Catalog Path Button

This button provides a way to change the current file directory of the selected catalog. When you click this button, a browse dialog will shown and allows selecting a new file directory that the catalog can be reference.

Catalog Directory Text

This shows the current catalog directory of the selected catalog that.

SEC File Text

This shows the location of the catalog file where it has been saved.

Catalog Pull-down Menu

The catalog to be activated in the Catalog tab of ShadeExplorer is chosen from this pull-down menu. The chosen catalog will also be the target of the “delete”, “export” and “Change Catalog Path” operations.

Open Button

This button is used to open an item selected in ShadeExplorer. Shade object data is opened as a new file. Surface files are loaded as the surface attributes of the selected objects or parts. Image data is loaded as the mapping image for the surface attributes of the selected objects or parts.

Insert Button

The Shade object data file selected in ShadeExplorer is loaded into the current file.

Update Button

This button will reload the ShadeExplorer display. ShadeExplorer must be updated to reflect changes, such as when a new file is added to or deleted from the folder that the catalog is referring to.

Size Pull-down Menu

The thumbnail size can be Large or Small.

Catalog Tab

This tab shows the catalog file chosen in the Catalog pull-down menu in the ShadeExplorer options.

Preset Object Tab

This tab shows the Shade object data files contained in the “Object” folder located in the same folder as the Shade program.

Preset Surface Tab

This tab shows the Shade surface files contained in the “Surface” folder located in the same folder as the Shade program.

Preset Image Tab

This tab shows the image files contained in the “Image” folder located in the same folder as the Shade program.