Organize and Access 3D Assets using Directories, Virtual Catalogs and Categories

Working with Directories, Virtual Catalogs, and Categories
Search and Filter Assets

For effective asset cataloging in Project Manager, you have the option to use several types of directories: adding existing folders from Windows Explorer, creating virtual catalogs, and categories.

Standart System Directory

Catalog – Virtual Directory that can contain the system directories and other catalogs

Categories – Virtual Directory that can contain links to 3D assets, materials from different libraries, and other categories

Catalogs

Catalogs serve as virtual folders that allow you to combine directories from various locations, including system and network drives, without the need to duplicate folders. This significantly simplifies access to resources, keeping them in a single virtual space.

Filtering and Search

The filtering and search functionality in Project Manager allows you to effectively manage a large number of assets.
You can display assets from several directories or categories simultaneously, using the “Show File in Subfolders” function

Filtering

Asset filtering is also supported, allowing you to quickly find the necessary assets among those displayed in the list.

TIP: Another option for selecting assets is the ability to choose by the first letters – just activate the list and type on keyboard one or several first letters of the asset you need – all assets whose name starts with the typed letters will be selected in the list

Search

Of course, an important part of working with assets is the ability to search.
Project Manager supports several search options.
You can search for assets in combinations – by name, by comment to the asset, or in categories.

AND – add search words separated by commas – and the system will find only those assets in the name or description of which ALL these words are present.
Example: (chair, black) – search for black chairs
OR – assets that use ANY of the words specified in the search field through a comma will be searched.
Example: (chair, sofa) – search for chair or sofa

ADVANCED – this option will help find assets using a more flexible search scheme for example if you want to find models Chair Giorgetti and Table Smania – enter in the search field
“Chair+Giorgetti|Table+Smania“.
You can also exclude words from the search using the minus sign:
For example, use the words “chair-classic” to search all models, containing the word “chair” in the name, but at the same time exclude all models containing the word “classic”.
REGEX – is the most flexible search option, but also the most complex. This option supports search using regex.
You can read about how to use regex here: About Regex on Wikipedia

It is also important to note that by default, the search is performed in selected directories. Remember that the utility supports working with multiple directories simultaneously.
To select multiple directories, use the CTRL or SHIFT key.

Advanced Features for Categories

Categories offer advanced filtering capabilities, for example, filtering categories by name.

Also, you can specify what files are to be displayed when you select multiple categories simultaneously.
Thus, you can display all files from the selected categories
or the files with multiple categories assigned to them at the same time
Let us say you want to show only office chairs.
To do so, switch to the option and select two categories: Office and Chairs.
Only files assigned to the both selected categories will be shown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y70Dh29_IBc

New Features for Categories (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y70Dh29_IBc)

Adding and Organizing Catalogs

To add new folders to Project Manager, use the “Add Folder” menu option or drag them from Windows Explorer.
Several methods of removing folders are also supported.
To delete a folder from the disk, use the “Delete from Disk” function.
Using the “Remove from Category” option, the folder will not be deleted from the disk or network storage.
The folder will only be removed from the Project Manager tree.
If you only want to hide a folder, use the Hide function. For example, you can hide Preview or Maps folders for models.

For ease of folder identification, the ability to color directories is supported

Team Collaboration

Project Manager supports team collaboration, synchronizing the settings of the structure of directories, categories, and asset descriptions for all users.
However, the settings for hiding folders are stored individually for each user, allowing you to configure a personalized workspace.

Improving Productivity

The use of virtual catalogs and categories significantly increases productivity when working with assets, allowing you to quickly find the necessary files and organize them as needed. Filtering and search functions help to effectively manage large volumes of data, ensuring easy access to the required resources.