The ASBD Window

The Advanced Scene Block Diagram (ASBD) window lets you view a complex scene as a hierarchical block diagram, annotate the diagram, and arrange the nodes in a way that is meaningful to you.

Summary

• Overview on page 350

• Special Features on page 351

• How to Use on page 351

• Using the ASBD Workspace on page 352

• Navigating in the ASBD Workspace on page 355

• Picking CVs on page 356

• ASBD Window Layout on page 356

• Tabs on page 356

• Information Line on page 360

• Menus on page 361

• Marking Menus in the ASBD window on page 375

• Button Bar on page 376

Overview

The ASBD window is a hierarchical representation of the objects, lights, textures, and cameras that make up a scene. It provides a convenient way to change specific attributes of a complex scene.

DAG nodes positioned in the ASBD workspace appear differently according to what they represent. They represent, in one compressed node, both transformation of the node and the geometry, spline, surface, and so on.

For example, a sphere primitive is composed of geometry and a surface. However, it is displayed as one node in the ASBD window:

Special Features

• A layout you can customize.

• View-dependent relationships.

• Grouping and ungrouping using the mouse.

• You can pick and change the display mode without modifying the pick list.

• Annotate the representation in the ASBD window using the pencil tool.

• Move the ASBD window anywhere on the screen and resize it.

How to Use

1

To open the ASBD window, select Windows > ASBD or click the ASBD icon.

2

The following window is displayed:

The workspace area is empty if there is no model or window layout.

3

Select a window layout. (For example Layouts > All windows > Default windows.) The default camera is displayed in the ASBD window.

4

Place a few primitives and curves in any modeling window.

The ASBD window is automatically updated to show the objects in a graphical representation.

Using the ASBD Workspace

The workspace is the open area in the middle of the ASBD window where nodes are placed.

This space has two modes: select and edit. To switch between these two modes, press the Tab key.

Select Mode

When you are in select mode, the workspace has a normal border around it (as opposed to a red border).

In this mode, you can:

• change layouts

• create new tabs

• pick nodes using any of the pick tools

• move nodes in Freeform layout using Xform > Move

• move nodes using the swap button

• make annotations on any of the character pages

• erase annotations from any of the character pages

• change node or page tab names

• use any of the Filter menu commands

Note the following limitations

• You cannot edit the Freeform layout unless you use one of the pick tools and then Xform > Move.

• You cannot move nodes into new pages.

Edit Mode

When the workspace is in edit mode, it has a red border around it.

In edit mode, you can:

• change layouts

• edit the Freeform layout

• use any of the Filter menu commands

• create new tabs

• move nodes into other pages

• pick nodes using any of the pick tools

• move nodes using the Swap button

• make annotations on any of the character pages

• erase annotations from any of the character pages

• change node or page tab names

• use any of the commands in the hidden node menu

• compress and uncompress hierarchies using the buttons beside each node

• group and ungroup nodes using the mouse

Using the mouse buttons in select and edit modes

You can use the mouse buttons to perform functions interactively in the ASBD window.

• To toggle the pick mode, use the left mouse button.

• To replace the picked DAG node, use the middle mouse button.

• To remove the picked DAG node from the pick list, use the right mouse button.

In edit mode:

• To toggle the pick mode or position the DAG node, use the left mouse button:

• To pick the node, hold the left mouse button while the cursor is positioned on a node and let go.

• If the window is in Freeform layout you can move the whole DAG node by moving the cursor while holding the left mouse button.

• To move a DAG node independently, hold the Shift key during this operation.

• To drag and drop DAG nodes to create a copy of the DAG representation in the tab layout, use the middle mouse button:

• When you click and drag, a red line is displayed. When you release the mouse button, the drop target is established and a line extends with the cursor. Valid targets are displayed as yellow boxes as you drag the cursor over nodes.

• When you release the middle mouse button while on a page's tab, a copy of the representation of the DAG node is created in the page. The page name is highlighted in yellow indicating that it is a valid drop target.

Using this method, you can place specific elements of your scene on a different page for future reference.

• To control display modes, use the right mouse button.

If you click and hold the right mouse button while on a DAG node, a pop-up menu appears where you can control display modes for the DAG node. These modes are consistent with the SBD window.

You can also use the items in this menu to remove hierarchies from additional pages. See Hidden Node Menu on page 372 for information about these menu items.

Grouping and ungrouping

Group and ungroup using the middle mouse button. If you also press the Shift key, preserve position is turned OFF and the grouped object will move as well. If you do not press the Shift key, then preserve position is kept ON. This is the default setting.

Navigating in the ASBD Workspace

To move around in the ASBD workspace, you can use the track and dolly buttons on the title bar of the ASBD window, or keyboard shortcuts:

Tracking

Press and hold the Alt and Shift keys together and then use the middle mouse button to move around.

This is like using the left mouse button with the track button.

Dollying

Press and hold the Alt and Shift keys together and then use the right mouse button in a sideways movement. Move the mouse to the left to dolly out and to the right to dolly in.

Sliding on Lines

Sometimes you cannot see the destination node in the workspace. In this situation, you can move along a hierarchy line from one DAG node to another by pressing the Ctrl key and the left mouse button at the same time. Then move the cursor on the line in the direction of the node you want to move to.

The line turns red and the workspace automatically moves so that the node at the end of the line is visible. The destination node is also zoomed to the maximum size.

Picking CVs

To pick CVs, set the pick mode appropriately and pick the DAG. A pick highlight of only the text representing picked CVs is displayed.

ASBD Window Layout

The default ASBD window is displayed as follows:

Tabs

Tabs represent the different character pages in the ASBD window. You can use the character pages to organize the information in your scene. For example, you can put the character in one page, the cameras in another, and the lights in a third as shown in the following:

The default tab, Universe , represents all the items in the modeling windows. When you move parts of the scene from the Universe page to another page, the Universe page still shows all the elements in the scene in their former locations.

Creating a New Tab

You can create a maximum of 10 new tabs.

1

To create a new tab, select Layouts > New page . A new tab called new page is displayed:

The default layout of a new tab is Freeform .

2

To rename the tab, press Ctrl and double-click with the left mouse button on the tab name. The name changes to an edit field:

Highlight the text you want to change by click-dragging with the mouse, then type the new tab name and press Enter.

The new tab name appears in the tab space:

Copying Objects to Another Tab

To organize your models, you can copy nodes from one tab to another. Although the geometry appears in two places, you have not duplicated it.

To copy an object to another tab:

1

Make sure there is a red outline around the workspace, indicating you are in Edit mode.

(If necessary, press the Tab key to change from Select mode to Edit mode.)

2

Click the node or parent node of the hierarchy you want to move with the middle mouse button. Drag the node to the tab you want to move the node to.

A red line is displayed as you drag to connect the node to the tab. The tab name is highlighted in yellow when the red line reaches it.

3

Release the mouse when the tab is highlighted. The object remains in its original location. However, if you click the tab you moved the object to, the object is also there.

Example of Copying an Object in the ASBD window

Deleting an object from a tab

If you move an object to a tab and then decide you do not want it there, you can delete it.

1

Make sure that you are in edit mode, indicated by a red outline around the workspace.

2

Click the right mouse button while the cursor is over the node you want to delete, or over the parent node of the hierarchy you want to delete.

A pop-up menu appears.

3

Select Remove Node from the menu. The node or hierarchy disappears from only that page. The node does not disappear from the modeling windows.

Deleting a tab

To delete an existing tab, click on the tab to highlight it. Select Layouts > Delete page. The tab disappears.

You cannot delete the default page, Universe.

Information Line

The information line in the ASBD window changes as you move the cursor over elements in the ASBD window. If the cursor is over a DAG node, the name of the node is displayed.

This feature is useful if you are zoomed out to view many DAG nodes at once and cannot see their names.

If the cursor is directly over a connecting line between two nodes (a branch line), the relationship between the nodes is displayed:

In the example above, the information faceE: parent: cube indicates that the node faceE is a child of the parent node cube.

Menus

The ASBD window provides the following menus:

• Two menus in the menu bar - Layouts and Filter

• A hidden node menu in the workspace

• Marking menus.

Layouts Menu

This menu controls the arrangement of the nodes in the ASBD window and contains tools to help you organize your model.

The selected layout option is indicated by a check mark. You can only choose one of the layout options at a time.

Lookat

If you have a complex model and pick something in a modeling window, but can't immediately see it in the ASBD window, select Lookat . The picked node zooms to an easily readable size and comes into view.

For example, if you have picked the toe of the robot in the modeling window, and you really want to pick the robot's surface at that area, it is much easier to do in the ASBD window. However, you are zoomed out and looking at lights on the other side of the ASBD window.

To quickly see the picked toe, select Layouts > Lookat. The view immediately changes to the following:

Default

Arranges single nodes and parent nodes in a horizontal line. Child nodes are arranged below their parent nodes.

This arrangement is useful for large models.

The following example shows the arrangement:

Down

Places all nodes in a vertical line. Child nodes are placed slightly to the right of the parent nodes.

The following example shows the arrangement:

Across

Places all nodes of an equal level in the hierarchy parallel on a horizontal line. The child nodes are placed directly under their parent nodes.

This arrangement requires the most space and is therefore most suitable for small models.

The following example shows the arrangement:

Freeform

When you select this choice, it appears to do nothing; the nodes remain in their last position. However, you can move any of the nodes into any position that makes sense to you.

To create a freeform layout:

• Select Layouts > Freeform.

• Make sure you are in edit mode. Press the Tab key to switch to the edit mode if necessary.

• Click-drag the nodes to locations you find useful. For example, place the head of a character at the top, the left limbs on the left, and the right limbs on the right:

Now you can switch to another layout and then back to Freeform and the model is still in the arrangement you created.

New page

Creates a new tab called new page.

To rename a tab, press Ctrl and double-click with the left mouse button on the tab name, then type the new tab name and press Enter.

Delete page

Deletes an existing tab. Click the tab to highlight it, and select this choice.

A dialog box appear asking if you want to delete the pages. If you are sure you want to delete the page, click OK and the tab disappears. (If you do not want to delete the page, click CANCEL.)

Note that you cannot delete the default page, Universe.

Reset Freeform

Lets you change the freeform arrangement of the DAG nodes to one of the standard layouts.

This option is useful if you have rearranged the nodes extensively and then decide that you don't like the new appearance and want to return to a standard layout.

To use this choice:

• Select one of the standard layout such as Layouts > Default. The nodes move into the default arrangement.

• Select Layouts > Reset Freeform. A confirmation box is displayed asking if you want to reset all freeform origins. If you like the arrangement of the nodes, click OK and the arrangement is saved as the Freeform layout.

Filter Menu

The Filter menu lets you turn off the display of certain elements in the ASBD window.

This is useful if you are working on a very complex model and want to simplify its appearance to make picking easier.

Selected options are indicated by a checkmark. You can choose as many of the options as you want.

Cluster Relations

All clusters in the ASBD window lose the green relationship lines that join the cluster node and the nodes that form the cluster. By default, cluster relationship lines are turned OFF.

Constraint Relations

All constraints in the ASBD window lose the blue relationship lines that join the objects that are constrained to each other.

By default, constraint relationship lines are turned OFF.

Expression Relations

All expressions in the ASBD window lose the brown relationship lines that join the objects that are affected by the expression relationships.

By default, expression relationship lines are turned OFF.

Lights

All light nodes in the ASBD window are simplified to small squares. By default, light nodes are turned ON.

Skeletons

All skeleton nodes in the ASBD window are simplified to small squares. By default, skeleton nodes are turned ON.

Curves

All curve nodes in the ASBD window are simplified to small squares. By default, curve nodes are turned ON.

Surfaces

All surface nodes in the ASBD window are simplified to small squares. By default, surface nodes are turned ON.

Hidden Node Menu

The hidden node menu contains tools to help you manage DAG nodes in the ASBD window and to control the display of individual nodes in the modeling windows.

You can only use these functions while in edit mode.

To display the hidden node menu, position the cursor over the node you want to affect and click the right mouse button.

The selected display option is indicated by a check mark.

Collapse

All child nodes below a selected parent node are collapsed into the parent node.

The following example shows a robot head expanded and collapsed:

Alternatively to selecting Collapse, you can click the small box containing a minus sign (-).

When you have collapsed a section of the hierarchy, the hidden menu for the collapsed node is displayed. Select its Expand choice to return the hierarchy to its previous appearance.

Alternatively to selecting Expand, you can click the small box containing a plus sign (+ ).

Tgl Invisible

Alternatively, select ObjectDisplay > Invisible or ObjectDisplay > Visible.

The selected node and all child nodes under it change appearance and the corresponding part of the model becomes either invisible or visible.

The appearance of the node change is displayed in the following example:

Tgl BBox

Tip: Displaying some of the geometry as bounding boxes speeds up modeling operations and makes a significant difference for complex models.

The portion of the model represented by the selected node and all child nodes under it are replaced by a bounding box.

For example, the turret part at the top of a robot can be replaced by a bounding box:

Alternatively, select ObjectDisplay >
Tgl bounding box.

Tgl Template

The node and all child nodes under it change appearance and the corresponding part of the model becomes templated so you cannot make any changes to it.

Alternatively, select ObjectDisplay > Invisible or ObjectDisplay > Visible.

This choice is useful when you have a complex scene that contains many objects. You can alternately manipulate all objects distinctly, or only one at a time. Objects that are templated are still visible, but will not be pickable using the standard pick operations.

The appearance of the node change is shown in the following example:

Tgl Wire

This option is useful for protecting sections of the model from changes and for increasing the refresh rate.

The node changes appearance and the corresponding part of the model is simplified.

When you change the appearance of a model to the wire format:

• all CVs and edit points disappear

• all curve on surface elements disappear

Alternatively, select ObjectDisplay > Tgl quick wire.

• it is displayed in a lighter color in the modeling windows

• you cannot move CVs, hulls, or edit points while in this mode.

The appearance of the node change is displayed in the following example:

Remove Node

Deletes a node or hierarchy from a tab or character page. The Universe tab is not affected by this choice.

To use this choice:

• Make sure that you are in edit mode, indicated by a red outline around the workspace.

• Click the right mouse button while the cursor is over the node you want to delete or the parent node of the hierarchy you want to delete.

• Then select Remove Node. The node or hierarchy disappears from only that page. (It does not disappear from the modeling windows.)

Marking Menus in the ASBD window

For more information about using and customizing marking menus, see Using Marking Menus on page 34.

The ASBD window has three marking menus which each correspond to a mouse button.

To use the marking menus, press the Shift and Ctrl keys simultaneously and then press and hold one of the mouse buttons.

To select a command, while still holding the mouse button, drag in the direction of the command. As you drag, a rubber band line is drawn from the center of the menu that follows the cursor. Release the mouse button over the option you want to select.

Button Bar

The button bar is to the right of the menus in the upper right corner of the ASBD window:

Online Help Button

For more information about using online documentation, see Getting Help on page 59.

Displays a window that describes the ASBD window and all its functions.

Swap Nodes Button

Lets you rearrange the order of the nodes in the ASBD window.

This re-arrangement is only for organizational purposes and does not affect the geometry in the modeling windows.

To swap nodes, pick the DAG node you want to move and make sure that one of the following layouts is selected: Default , Down , Across . (This button has no effect in the Freeform layout.) Then:

Alternatively, press and hold the Alt key and use the left or right arrow keys to swap the picked DAG nodes with their left or right siblings respectively.

• To swap the node with its left or (for the Down layout) its upper sibling, click on the Swap Nodes button with the left mouse button.

• To swap the node with its right or lower sibling, click on the Swap Nodes button with the right mouse button.

Eraser Button

The eraser button deletes any annotations you have made on a character page.

When you click on the eraser button, the cursor changes to a black circle.To use the eraser, swipe over the area you want to erase. The annotations are erased one complete stroke at a time.

To deselect the eraser, click the button again.

The following example shows the effect of this button:

Pencil Button

Lets you make annotations on character pages. You can make sketches of what a character is going to look like, make notes about what shaders you want to use later, or type any information you find helpful.

When you select the pencil button, the cursor changes to a pencil shape. Click and drag with the left mouse button to make your annotations.

(If you are making a lot of annotations or doing extensive drawing, you may prefer to use a stylus.)

To deselect the pencil, click the button again.

Track Button

Lets you track around the ASBD window.

Alternatively, press and hold the Alt and Shift keys together and then use the middle mouse button to track. (This is like using the left mouse button with the Track button.)

To use the track button, point the cursor over it and click and hold down one of the mouse buttons. Any movement of the mouse then manipulates the view in the ASBD window for as long as you hold down the mouse button.

Each mouse button provides specific movement control:

• The left mouse button allows free view manipulation along both the horizontal and vertical axes.

• The middle mouse button constrains view manipulation to the horizontal axis.

• The right mouse button constrains view manipulation to the vertical axis.

Dolly Button

Lets you dolly into and out of the ASBD window.

To use the dolly button, point the cursor over it and click and hold down any of the mouse buttons. It doesn't matter which mouse button you use with this button.

Alternatively, press and hold the Alt and Shift keys together and then use the right mouse button in a sideways movement. Move the mouse to the left to dolly out and right to dolly in.

Minimize Button

Minimizes the ASBD window into an icon at the top of your screen.

Click this icon with the left mouse button to have the ASBD window reappear.

Expand Button

Expands the ASBD window to fill the entire screen. This function is useful if you are trying to organize a very complex model and need to see more of it.

To return the ASBD window to its former size and location, click the Expand window button again.