Import reference data

To open the Reference Manager

Choose File > Reference Manager.

To convert an existing file to a reference file

Choose File > Translate from the Reference Manager window.
Set the translation options in the option box then click Go.
Select the geometry file in the browser and click Open.
The translated file is placed in the reference sub-folder under the current project and has a .wref extension. It also appears in the Reference Manager window.

NoteYou can translate several files at a time by selecting them in the browser. A progress bar is displayed over each file name in the Reference Manager window as it is translated. To cancel the process, right-click the file name.

To import a reference file

Choose File > Import from the Reference Manager window.
Select the .wref file in the browser and click Open.
The reference data appears in blue in the view windows.

To create Alternatives

Select one or more files in the Reference Manager window. (You can use the (Windows) or (Mac), or key to add to the selection.)
Do one of the following:
- Choose Edit > New Alternative.
- With the middle mouse button, click and drag the selected file(s) to the right hand side of the Reference Manager window, and drop in an empty location.
NoteYou may have to choose View > Both to see both sides of the window.

Copies of the reference files are created and appear on the right side of the Reference Manager window under an Alternatives group. Alternatives are labeled Alternative, Alternative #1, Alternative #2, and so on. If no reference files were selected, the Alternative will be empty.

The new alternative is selected in the view windows. You can transform it, shade it, and hide/show some of its files of file layers. This allows you, for example, to display different versions of a part located in separate layers of a reference file by creating three alternatives of it and showing/hiding different layers in each.

To rename an Alternative

Double-click the Alternative’s name.
Type the new name and press (Windows) or (Mac).

To add a reference file to an Alternative

With the middle mouse button, click the reference file in the left side of the window, and drag it to the Alternative label on the right side of the window.
A red outline appears around the Alternative label.
Drop the file by releasing the mouse button.
The reference file is added to the Alternative.

To delete a reference file from an Alternative

Right-click the file under the Alternative.
Choose Remove File From Alternative from the drop-down menu.
The reference file is removed from the Alternative.

To delete a whole Alternative

Right-click the Alternative
Choose Remove Alternative from the drop-down menu.

NoteTo delete several alternatives at once, select them in the Reference Manager then choose Edit > Remove Alternative in the window’s tool bar.

To select reference data and Alternatives

To select a whole reference file, alternative, or layer, click it in the Reference Manager window.
To select individual objects, choose Pick > Pick Reference and pick the objects in the view windows. The Pick Reference option box lets you pick the reference data at different levels: File, Alternative, Layer, or Component. For Components you can choose to pick Curves, Surfaces, Shells, and/or Meshes.
You can diagnostic shade individual objects from reference data but you can only transform entire Alternatives.

To promote reference data to real geometry

Choose Pick > Pick Reference.
Select the individual objects in the view windows.
Choose Edit > Promote Geometry
The reference data you selected is copied as real geometry and appears in the DAG.

To promote a reference shader to the Multi-Lister

Shaders on reference objects do not appear in the Multi-Lister. To be able to use such a shader on regular data or other reference data, you must first be able to see it in the Multi-Lister by promoting it.

Choose Pick > Pick Reference.
Select a reference object which is assigned the desired shader.
Choose Edit > Promote Shader
The shader of the reference object you selected is copied into the Multi-Lister. You can then modify the shader and apply it to other objects without affecting the original shader.

To pack reference data

A saved wire file only contains pointers to any reference data, not the data itself. The Pack functionality allows you to get all your data in one place for easy transfer.

Choose File > Pack from the Reference Manager window
In the Pack window, browse to the location where you want the information to be stored, and enter a name for the new pack folder in the Object name field.
Click Select
The wire file and all reference files are saved in the specified folder. You now have all your data in one location for easy transfer.

To see different views of the Reference Manager window

In the View menu, choose Reference Files to see only the left side of the window, Alternatives to see only the right side, or Both. You can also resize the window by dragging a corner.

To modify the appearance of reference data

To make it visible or invisible – Click the small square (with the double border) to the left of the data with the left mouse button. You can also right-click the reference file or Alternative and choose Visible from the menu.
To change its color – Click and hold on the small square (with the double border) to the left of the file name with the right mouse button, and select a color from the lister.
To change its transparency – Use the Reference Files Transparency slider in the Control Panel. This affects all reference data.