Overview
Connecter uses separate services dedicated (dedicated service) to each host software like 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, and Revit to run their instances and open assets in native file formats (e.g., *.mat, *.rfa, etc.) to execute various automated tasks like generating previews, extracting metadata and others. These processes get completed in the background without interfering with the user's work. Each dedicated service can operate multiple dedicated instances of the host software to execute different or multiple tasks in parallel.
Dedicated Instances
When the user selects an asset in a file format supported by one of the Connecter dedicated services, the service will use a separate instance of the host software (dedicated instance) to open the asset content in the background and gather and generate various metadata to show to the user in Connecter. This data gets stored in the user's local cache so that the next time the user selects or interacts with the same asset, all metadata displays instantly. The services also use dedicated instances to perform other actions with the assets, like generating custom previews and operations with materials in 3ds Max material libraries.
Based on the user's interaction, the service automatically starts a new instance if no one is active. To be able to use dedicated instances, each service requires the following:
- The host software is fully functional (e.g. initialization and licensing, addons and plugins, etc.).
- The user must do the initial setup about which host software version to use as a dedicated instance.
When the user selects an asset for which there's no cached metadata available, the 3ds Max Dedicated Service checks whether a dedicated global instance is running:
- If it's running, the service instructs the instance to open the asset and provide its metadata or execute the required operations.
- If it is not running, the service checks if the user has already successfully set up the dedicated instance (which version of the host software to use):
- If the dedicated instance is already set up, Connecter starts a new instance;
- If the dedicated instance needs to be set up, an interface with the available options appears, and the user must finalize the setup.
3ds Max Dedicated Service
The 3ds Max Dedicated Service utilizes two types of dedicated instances of the host software - Global and Custom Preview Generator- each dedicated to specific tasks. The dedicated service can operate with both instance types simultaneously.
Global
The 3ds Max Dedicated Service uses a separate instance of the host software to process 3ds Max material library assets (*.mat) to:
- Show names and generated preview thumbnails of all materials stored in a material library asset.
- Allow the user to rename or delete materials in a material library asset or copy or move material from one library asset to another.
Custom Preview Generator
The 3ds Max Dedicated Service uses a separate instance of the host software to generate custom previews of 3ds Max native assets. Learn more about the generating custom previews feature.
Cinema 4d Dedicated Service
The Generate Custom Previews feature utilizes the Cinema 4D Dedicated Service and uses a separate ”Global” instance of the host software to process Cinema4D assets (*.c4d) to:
- Generate custom previews by opening the assets in predefined “preview studio” scenes and rendering the previews. Learn more about the generating custom previews feature.
Revit Dedicated Service
The Revit Dedicated Service uses an instance of the host software to process Revit family assets (*.rfa) to:
- Show names and generated preview thumbnails of all family types in a Revit family asset.
- Show parameters of all family types in a Revit family.
Using multiple dedicated instances
Connecter may start and manage multiple instances of one or multiple host apps simultaneously depending on the current assets flow that needs to be processed.
IMPORTANT: The use of dedicated instances requires a lot of processing power. Ensure your system has an adequate hardware setup to handle this feature’s high demand.
Metadata Dedicated Services and Hybrid DAM
Connecter also uses the Metadata Dedicated Services in the Hybrid DAM feature context. When new assets get added or updated to the Hybrid DAM, the dedicated services utilize instances of the host software to harvest assets' content metadata that also gets stored with the Hybrid DAM.
Metadata Dedicated Services and Shared Content Metadata
Connecter also uses the Metadata Dedicated Services in the Shared Content Metadata feature context. The Metadata Harvester tool relies on those dedicated metadata services to harvest metadata from asset types like 3ds Max material libraries (*.mat), Revit families and others.