Appearance Browser dialog box

Provides access to the appearance assets in the current document and in the accessible libraries, as defined in the project file.

Access

Quick Access Toolbar:

Tools tab Material and Appearance panel Appearance

Search

Searches for appearances in multiple libraries. Available libraries are defined in the project file.

Document Appearances pane

Displays the list of Appearances in the active document.

Appearance context menu commands:

Assign to Selection
Edit Displays the selected appearance in the Appearance Editor, where you can enter changes.
Duplicate Adds a duplicate appearance in the document.
Rename Enables edit mode so that you can enter a new name.
Delete
Add to
- Favorites
- Libraries list

Document Appearances menu

Show All Displays all appearances in the current document. (Default)
Show Used Displays only the appearances being used in the current document.
Show Unused Displays only the appearances that are not used in the current document.

View Type

Controls the details view display of the library content.

Thumbnail View A thumbnail and its name represents all appearances. (Default)
List View All appearances are displayed in a grid with thumbnail, name, type, and category in columns.
Text View All appearances are displayed in a grid with name.

Sort

Controls how document appearances display.

By Name Lists appearances alphabetically by name. (Default option)
By Type Lists appearances according to the type of appearance that it was created from.
By Appearance Color Lists appearances by their assigned color. The color sometimes differs from the color in the appearance thumbnail preview.

Thumbnail Size

Controls the size of the thumbnails.

Library pane

Displays the library tree and the categories of appearances in each available library.

Left side

Displays a list of libraries assigned to the project.

Context menu commands:

Create Category Adds a category to the selected library.
Locate Library Indicates that a referenced library is moved. To reattach it, navigate to the library.
Remove Library Removes library from the list for the session.

Right Side

Displays the list of appearances in the selected library or category.

Context menu commands:

Assign to Selection
Rename Enables edit mode so that you can enter a new name.
Delete
Note: The option to delete disabled on an asset that is shared with one or more materials in a library. You can now find out where the asset is being used by selecting the new Where Used from the context menu in the Appearance Browser.
Where Used Displays the name of Materials that reference the selected asset.
Add to
- Document Materials
- Favorites
- Libraries list

Library pane menu

Favorites A library of materials you frequently use and want available
Autodesk Material Library A standard system library that includes the Autodesk Manufacturing Materials, and materials that other Autodesk products commonly use.
Autodesk Appearance Library A library of appearances such as paint, polished, and textured.
Inventor Material Library A manufacturing materials library containing the default Inventor materials.

Show/Hide Library Tree

Controls the visibility of the library tree.

View Type

Controls the details view display of the library content.

Thumbnail View Represents appearances with a thumbnail and the name of the appearance following. (Default)
List View Displays appearances in a grid with columns for thumbnail, name, type, and category.

Sort

Controls the order in which document appearances display.

Name Lists appearances alphabetically by name. (Default)
Type Lists appearances according to the type of material that it was created from.
Material Color Lists appearances by their assigned color. The color sometimes differs from the color in the material thumbnail preview.
Category Lists appearances in the selected library according to the category of material it was added to. (Default)

Manage

Includes commands for managing libraries.

Open Existing Library Navigate to and select the library to open. The addition is for the session only. For continuous access to the library, add it to the project file.
Create New Library Add a custom library. Then populate it with appearances.
Remove Library Removes the selected library from the list.
Create Category Adds a category to the selected library.
Delete Category Deletes the selected category from the library.
Migrate Inventor Styles Displays the migration dialog box. See Migrating Inventor Legacy Material and Color Styles.
Set Default Units Choose from Metric or English units.

Note: Set units from either Material or Appearance Browser. Settings for units apply to both.

Add to Document

Adds an appearance in the document, and opens it in the Appearance Editor so that you can complete the definition.