The Smart Object Palette is a powerful tool enabling you to create and manage Smart Object libraries. In the installation folder a "SO_libraries" subfolder is available. It contains a set of subfolders, each of which corresponds to a tab displayed in the Palette.
Any of the actions you can perform on Smart Objects can be executed by selecting a Smart Object in the Palette, right-clicking and selecting one of the commands in the shortcut menu.
When you right-click on an object in the palette:
To add a Smart Object to the model. Once the Insert command is started, you can proceed as described in Inserting Smart Objects.
If you have selected a Smart Shape or a Smart Profile, select the insertion mode in the Insertion mode drop-down list in the Parameter Area:
Add to add the Smart Object to the model Subtract to subtract the Smart Object from the model New object to add the Smart Object to the model as a new object Please note that if you have associated a DLL with a Smart Object using the Custom Insertion DLL
Insert command (see below), the insertion method may differ from the one described above.
to view the mandatory geometric references which will be required at insertion time. See Viewing geometric references for details.
Bitmaps
Assign To change the default bitmaps (the one used by the palette and the preview one). The required format is ".gif" or ".bmp"; allowed sizes are 64x64 and 128x128. See Assigning Bitmaps for a detailed description.
Export
Preview/ThumbnailEach of the two bitmaps (the Thumbnail one and the Preview one) can be saved to an external file (for a detailed description, see Exporting Bitmaps). You can then modify the bitmaps with an image editor and assign them to the Smart Object again using Assign.
Message File Extract
/Insert
To localize the message files automatically associated with the Smart Objects when they are saved. For a detailed description, see Localizing prompts.
Custom Insertion DLL
Extract To export the DLL used to control the insertion method to an external file. A file selection box is displayed to save the DLL to the desired file. Once you have saved the DLL, you can modify it and associate it again to the Smart Object using Insert. Insert To associate a customized DLL (created using the API COM set) with the Smart Object, in order to control its insertion method. The DLL must have the same name as the Smart Object. As soon as the command is selected, a file selection box is displayed to enable you to select the DLL to be associated with the Smart Object. Remove To remove a customized DLL previously associated with the Smart Object. If you remove the DLL, at insertion time you will have to proceed as described in Inserting Smart Objects.
Cut Selection
To cut the Smart Object from the current tab of the palette. Cut objects can be pasted using Paste.
Copy Selection
To copy the Smart Object from the current tab of the palette. Copied objects can be pasted using Paste.
Delete Selection
To delete the Smart Object from the Palette.
Rename
To rename the Smart Object.
Properties
To display information about the properties of the selected Smart Object. See Displaying the properties of a selected Smart Object for a detailed description. Using the Properties command, you can also attach files to a Smart Object, as described in Attaching files to a Smart Object.
When you right-click on an empty area in the palette:
Refresh
To update the palette once you have saved a new Smart Object to the library, so that the new object is displayed in the list.
View
Bitmaps/Icons
To display the Smart Objects in the palette either as:
| Icons |  |
| Bitmaps |  |
Arrange Tabs Right/Down
To position the palette either to the right or onto the lower portion of the graphics area.
Paste
To paste objects you previously cut or copied