Hierarchy Overview

A 3D Canvas scene is made up of a hierarchy of groups. Groups in 3D Canvas are much like folders are in Windows. They are used to organize a scene, as folders are used to organize a hard drive in Windows. A group can contain scene components and other groups just as a Windows folder can contain files and other folders. Groups and components can be moved within the Scene Hierarchy much like you would move folders and files with Windows.

When you select and drag a scene component, you are not dragging the component, but its group. This results in any groups or components contained within the group being moved also. If you rotate a component, you are not rotating the component itself, but its group. This behavior of groups is very useful since it permits the creation of complex objects made up of many parts that behave as a single object.

When you select an object does its axis, displayed as a small yellow box, becomes visible.

If you need to adjust the position of an object within its group rather than the group itself, the Shift tool is provided. This tool is often used to produce objects that rotate about a point other than the object's center.

The Hierarchy Panel

The Hierarchy Panel displays the scene hierarchy. It also permits the hierarchy of the scene to be modified.

As with all of the Construction Panels (Material, Component, Operation and Hierarchy) there are two ways to view the Hierarchy Panel, in a fully expanded state by choosing the Hierarchy Tab or in a customizable state by selecting Customize Panels .

Groups are represented within the scene hierarchy as yellow boxes. 

Groups and Scene components may be moved within the hierarchy by dragging and dropping them onto a new group. They may also be renamed as appropriate.

Clicking on an Object, Light, or Camera in the hierarchy results in that item being selected with the scene. Conversely, clicking on an item within the scene will select that item in the Hierarchy.

3D Canvas's drag and drop features apply to the Scene Hierarchy as well as the Scene. If you want, you can drag and drop a primitive, light, or other object directly on to the Scene Hierarchy Panel.

The Components menu is available by right-clicking on a scene component.

Group

A group may contain an object and any number of other groups. If a group is moved, all of its child groups are moved also.

Object

An object created from primitives, the object building tools, or a predefined object.

Bone

A Bone component.

Skin

An object that has been attached to bones as a skin.

Light

A Light component.

Camera