The Library of Objects

The Object Library Panel

To open the Library panel when it is hidden, click the Library button in the toolbar.

Objects in the library are grouped in categories by types. To select a category, use the drop-down menu at the top of the panel. The Favorites category can be used to gather objects you are currently working with.

To search for objects, click on the magnifying glass icon and type in what you are looking for.

Object's Context Menu

To open the context menu, select an object and right-click on it. A second way is to select an object and click on a gear icon at the top of the panel. The second method gives you access to extra commands related to managing categories. This will be explained later.

The context menu includes these commands:

• Substitute with Selection in Project – replace an object selected in the library with an object selected in the project.
• Substitute Selection in Project – replace an object selected in the project with an object selected in the library.
• Object Details – display details of an object selected in the library. This dialog is described in the Object Information in the Library section.
• Add to Favorites – add a copy of an object to the Favorites category.
• Export Library Archive – export selected object(s).
• Import Library Archive – import objects from a package created by the Export command.
• Cut – remove a selected object and place its copy to the Clipboard.
• Copy – copy a selected object to the Clipboard.
• Paste – paste an object from the Clipboard into the open category.
• Delete – delete a selected object.
• Undo and Redo – cancel or redo the last operation you performed in the object library.

Customizing the Object Library

You can use the New Category…, New Nested Category… and Remove Current Category commands from the drop-down menu to add and remove object categories. The standard categories cannot be removed.

The commands from the object's context menu let you work with individual objects. Using the Cut, Copy and Paste commands, you can duplicate objects or move them from one category to another. The Delete command can remove the user's objects. Any standard object cannot be deleted or moved to another category.

Adding New Objects to the Library

Objects imported into your project can be stored in the library. To add an object from your project to the library:

1. Open a category in the library where you would like the object to be stored. It is recommended that you add new objects to a custom category.
2. Right-click on an object in your project and choose Add to Library from the context menu.

You can use the Object Details dialog to customize the object name.

Updating an Object in the Library

After editing an object in your project, or after applying new materials to it, you may want to replace the old object in the library with its new version. In fact, you can replace an object with an absolutely different one. The standard objects cannot be updated in this way.

To replace an object in the library with an object in the project, select the object in your project. Then right-click on the object in the library and choose Substitute with Selection in Project from the context menu.

Exporting and Importing User's Objects

One or multiple objects, that you added to the library, can be exported as a *.lhzl file. This file can be imported on the same or another computer in order to add items, that are inside it, to the library.

To export, select one or multiple objects in the library. Then bring up the context menu and choose Export Library Archive.

You cannot export objects of the standard or any additional library.

To import, open the context menu and choose Import Library Archive. After that, select a *.lhzl file.

Imported objects will be added to a category with the same name as one in which those objects were originally located. The respective category will be created automatically if it is not present in your library.