• Switching the feature on and off
• 2 functions of the Picking Button
• Example 1
• Example 2

Switching the feature on and off.

To switch the feature of the Picking Button on or off, simply click on the Button shortly.

switched off - Button appears unpressed. The Picking feature is switched off and nothing happens when clicking on an object on the stage.

switched on - Button appears pressed. The Picking feature is enabled.

Please Note: If the Picking feature is switched on, the feature even works while "Pause when deactive" is selected in the 3DPI preferences and while the 3DPI window is inactive.

2 functions of the Picking Button.

 
The Picking Button also offers two functions, which can be switched by a PopUp that opens when clicking on the Button and keeping the mouse Button pressed.

1. Pick Model - the clicked model will always be selected. Regardless which TAB is currently active, the 3DPI navigates to the Model-Tab and selects the model, that was clicked on.
   This function is selected by default.
   
   
2. Pick TAB specific object - depending which TAB in the 3DPI is currently selected, the 3DPI selects the specific item:
   
• Sprite-Tab: the sprite, that was clicked on, will be selected.
• Member-Tab: the member of the sprite, that was clicked on, will be selected.
• Model-Tab: the model, that was clicked on, will be selected.
• ModelResource-Tab: the modelResource of the model, that was clicked on, will be selected.
• Shader-Tab: the shader, which belongs to the models mesh ID, which was clicked on, will be selected.
• Texture-Tab: the texture of the first layer of the shader, which belongs to the models mesh ID, which was clicked on, will be selected (as long as one exists).
• Camera-Tab: the camera of the sprite will be selected. If more than one camera exists in the sprite, the rect of the camera determines the selection.
• RigidBody part in the Havok-Tab: the RigidBody, that has the same name as the model, that was clicked on, will be selected.

  All other TABs are not affected by the "Pick TAB specific object" function.

Example 1

A 3d scene is displaying alot of spheres, placed in a nice order, but one sphere is stepped out of line. How do you find the headstrong model in the 3DPI most quickly to correct its position?

1. Activate the Picking Button .
   
   Additionally also check that the function of the Picking Button is set to "Pick Model".
   
   
2. And then simply click on the headstrong model itself, directly on the stage.

You dont have to care about which 3DPI Tab is currently active, or which member or model is selected, the Picking feature automatically selects the correct member, switches to the Model-Tab and selects the model.

In the bottom part of the 3DPI window all the properties of this model are displayed and you can now correct its position.

Example 2

The "dummy.dir" file from the Intel 3D Examples on the Director CD shows a nice guy, but you would like to change the color of his tie.
After activating the Shader-Tab you find a list of shaders, that are used in this scene, but not all of their names are self explainatory. So the quickest way to find the ties shader is by working with the Picking Button:

1. Because the Shader-Tab is already active and you want to find a shader, switch the function of the Picking-Button to "Pick TAB specific object".
   After switching the function, the Button automatically remains pressed, the Picking feature is active.
   
   
2. And then simply click on the tie itself, directly on the stage.

The 3DPI automatically selects the shader, that is used for the tie, and in the bottom part of the 3DPI window all the shaders properties are displayed.

You can now change the shaders color.