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Accessible from the menu bar under "System > Preferences...", the MODO preferences define the default behavior for a variety of options and functions in MODO, further customizing the application to suit the particular tastes, needs and workflow of the individual user. The Preferences are organized into multiple categories that each deal with specific areas of customization for the application. Users can select any of the categories below to display the documentation that relates to that particular corresponding section.

 

 

Tag Defs

Item Tag Definitions--

The 'Item Tag Definitions' editor is used to provide user names, descriptions and tooltips for items, which show up in the 'Tags' subtab in the Item Properties viewport.  The 'Tags' themselves are four-character identifiers associating arbitrary strings.  Each item can have any number of tags, although only one of each type of tag.  The editor also allows the number of lines to be set (for a multi line tags like "Comment") and allows tags to be hidden from the user (for internal tags used by scripts/plug-ins).  The 'Item Tag' Editor (which is actually a viewport embedded into the prefs form) is intended for use mostly by scripting and plug-in developers. They can be helpful to users in that they allow arbitrary information to be associated to specific items layers, such as adding instructions within a scene that applies to a certain item.

 

 

Path Alias

Path Aliases--

Path Aliases provide users a means to easily move MODO scenes between disparate computer hardware. Users can define an Alias that represents an absolute path on the local system. Any files within a scene that contain the defined path will use the Alias instead. When the scene file is moved to the next system, if the same Aliases are defined with appropriate paths, when MODO comes across any Alias in the scene the provided path is used. For example--

Machine 1 path = "C:\Animations\LostSkeleton\Scenes\" This path is defined as an alias called 'LostSkeleton'. When any files are loaded into the scene from this directory, their path will simply be called 'LostSkeleton' internally.

Machine 2 path = "/Users/Lighting/Scenes/LostSkeleton" this path is also defined with the alias 'LostSkeleton'. Users can copy the files from Machine 1 into this directory. When MODO opens the scene, when it comes across images saved in the folder 'LostSkeleton' the path alias defined on machine 2 is used to search for the images for loading. Only the Alias itself needs to be identical, the paths do not. Of course the content will need to exist within each locale as well.

There are also options available by RMB+clicking on the Alias and Path to 'Rename' an alias, to 'Change Path'. Users can also 'Duplicate' and 'Delete' aliases.

 

 

Markup

Preset Markup Definitions--

The Preset Markup Definitions are definitions assigned to assets within the 'Preset Browser' for the purpose of adding metadata to the individual files. Adjustments to these setting will appear when the 'Edit Markup' popup panel is opened.

 

 

Referencing

Referencing--

These options define the default Referencing behavior of imported References. These behaviors can be modified on a per-scene basis in the 'Reference Override Settings' dialog box. For additional information visit the Import Reference page of the documentation. The operations include--
Allow Channel Overrides: Changes made to any of the associated attributes of the item itself, such as changes to the transform values or item specific changes such as changing a mesh items subdivision level.
Allow Name Overrides: Changes to the referenced items names (overrides are tracked by an internal ID assigned when the items are imported).
Allow Structural Overrides: Changes to the hierarchies of the referenced elements, meaning their ordering in parent child relationships can be changed and/or their positions within the Items lists.
Allow Deletions: Control whether or not referenced Items can be removed from the master scene.
Allow 3D Selections: Controls the selectability of the referenced elements in the 3D viewports.

Each of these operations have four possible states governing it-
Always Allowed: Override changes can always be made of the designated type.
Never Allowed: Overrides cannot be assigned, editing of the referenced items is locked.
If Allowed by Item: Overrides cannot be applied unless explicitly set as 'Enabled' by the reference item setting.
Unless Dis-allowed by Item: Overrides can always be applied unless explicitly set as 'Disabled' by the reference item setting.
The latter two settings can be defined directly on the items, either within their source scenes, or as referenced items within the master scene. This is assigned by selecting the target element to control, and then selecting the menu bar command "Items > References > Item Override Settings", which opens the following dialog box-

 

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