The Component Menu

The Component popup menu is displayed when you right-click on the scene. It provides a number of functions relating to camera position, editing, component properties etc.

Operation Shortcuts

If you right-click on an object you will be provided with shortcuts to common operations in addition to the standard menu items. The operations provided will depend on the clicked upon item. See Applying Operations for more information on operations.

Selection Options

If you right-click on an object you will be provided with a list of selection options. This list will vary depending on the tool you are using. If you are using the Component Selection Tool you will be given the option to select a group or a group hierarchy. if you are using the Point and Face Selection Tool you will be provided with options to grow your selection, select by direction, select by material etc.

The Edge Loop option is available when you right click on an edge. It attempts to select a group of linked edges that travel around the selected object. It will stop if it sees a Y junction, or an angle of 90 degrees or higher between edges.

Look

At Scene

Positions the view camera so that it looks at the scene.

At Selection

Positions the view camera so that it looks at the selected component.

With Selection

Positions the view camera so that it looks from the position of the selected component along its orientation.

View

Allows you to select either Perspective or Orthographic for the selected view panel.

Camera

Allows you to select whether the scene is viewed through the Animation Camera which is used to record animations or the Layout Camera which is used for scene layout.

Grouping

Ungroup

Moves the selected scene component to its own group in the scene hierarchy.

Make Sibling

Moves the selected scene component up one level in the scene hierarchy, making it a sibling of any components in its new group.

Make Child

Moves the selected scene component to a new group that is a child of the selected component's group.

Edit

Copy

Copies the selected scene component to the clipboard.

Cut

Cuts the selected scene component to the clipboard.

Paste

Pastes the scene component currently in the clipboard onto the scene. If a component is active, this new component will become a child of the selected component.

Delete

Deletes the selected scene component.

Add to Object Library

Adds the selected object to the object library. All animation information will be included in the object library if the object has been selected using this menu's Select Group or Select Hierarchy.

Export Selection

Exports the selected object to a 3D Canvas Object File (3DO).

Users of 3D Canvas Plus/Pro can also export the selected object to a DirectX file (X).

IK Joint

Allows you to enable/disable Inverse Kinematics for the active group. You can specify more Inverse Kinematics properties by selecting Properties.

Show Shadow/Cast Shadow

Allows you to show/hide the shadow for the current object. Or, in the case of a light, specify whether it should cast shadows or not.

Visible

Allows you to show/hide a scene component.

Show Only

Hides all scene objects, bones, and skins, except those currently selected.

Open

Component Script (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Opens the animation script for the selected scene component. See Scripting for more information on 3D Canvas scripting.

Group Script (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

Opens the animation script for the parent group of the selected scene component. See Scripting for more information on 3D Canvas scripting.

Source/Skeletal Range Effect

Opens the source of the current object/Opens the Bone Effect window for the selected bone.

Properties