Replacing Scene Objects

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The Replace workflow makes it easy to replace objects (target objects) in your 3d scene with assets you add from Connecter. 

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The most straightforward way to replace an object is:

  1. Select an asset in Connecter, drag it into the viewport of your 3ds Max scene, and hover over the object you want to replace. 3ds Max should highlight that object to help you make sure this is the right target.
    NOTE: You can also drag from Connecter multiple assets simultaneously and use the workflow to replace an object in the scene with all the assets’ content.  
  2. Release your left mouse button while hovering over the target object. Choose the desired “Replace” option in the Integration contextual menu, which appears. Refer to the below sections for more details on the different “Replace” options.
  3. Click the OK button in the “Connecter | Align” dialog that appears. Refer to the below sections for more details on the “Connecter | Align” dialog.   
  4. The Integration will delete the target object and place the merged asset in its place.
    NOTE: You can undo this operation with the standard Ctrl+Z shortcut.

Aligning the merged assets with target objects

When an object or selection in your scene is replaced, the “Connecter | Align” dialog appears, helping you position the merged objects relative to the replaced (target) objects. You can align the objects using their bounding boxes or pivot points.

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By default, the merged asset gets aligned to the target object by positioning the center of its bounding box’ bottom plane (Minimum) at the center of the target object bounding box’ bottom plane (Minimum). Use the other options to change the alignment as follows:

  • New Object (the merged asset):
    • Minimum (default option): uses the center of the bounding box’ bottom plane (the lowest point of the object along the Z coordinate axis).
    • Center: uses the geometric center of the bounding box (center of the object).
    • Pivot Point: uses the object’s pivot point; the bounding box is not relevant.
    • Maximum: uses the center of the bounding box’ top plane (highest point of the object along the Z coordinate axis).
  • Target Object (the scene object being replaced): Has the same options as the “New Object” described above.

replace_align.png

Aligning the objects with additional transformations

When replacing the target object, you can use the following options to apply additional transformations to the merged asset.

Rotate: Applies rotation along the X, Y, and Z axes. The transformation uses the world coordinate axes or the local pivot point’s orientation of the target object when the “Inherit Target Rotation” option is selected.

Move: Moves the merged asset along the X, Y, and Z axes. The transformation uses the world coordinate axes or the local pivot point’s orientation of the target object when the “Inherit Target Rotation” option is selected. 

Scale: Scales the merged asset along the X, Y, and Z axes. The transformation uses the world coordinate axes or the local pivot point’s orientation of the target object when the “Inherit Target Rotation” option is selected.

Inherit Target Rotation: When selected, this option rotates the merged asset to align with the target object’s local XYZ axes. NOTE: This option does not affect the position of the merged asset but only its rotation related to the target object’s local XYZ axes.

Inherit Target Scale: When selected, this option applies to the merged asset any scale transformation of the target object.

Replace as xRef object 

Like the “Merge and Place”, the “Replace” workflow allows you to add the merged asset as an xRef object. Refer to the “Merge and Place as xRef object” section for more details.

Replace as proxy

Like the “Merge and Place”, the “Replace” workflow allows you to add the merged asset as a proxy. Refer to the “Merge and Place as Proxy” section for more details.