Content Browser

To open the Content Browser

• From the main menu bar: Windows > General Editors > Content Browser
• In a panel: Panels > Panel > Content Browser

The Content Browser is your one-stop center for finding examples, scenes, and other content used to build your scenes. You can navigate for files in your project, local and network directories, or the Examples folders, then drag and drop them into a view.

Element in Content Browser	Lets you do this
1: Path bar	Select or enter an absolute path to find files - see Find and import files from the Content Browser.
2: Browsing panel	Click the four tabs at the top of the browsing panel to find content, then expand the folder structure and select a folder to display its contents in the Content panel - see Find and import files from the Content Browser. See Customize the Content Browser for information about adding to the Favorites tab and creating your own folders there.
3: Content panel	Display the files in the selected folder - see Find and import files from the Content Browser for information. Click the icons above this panel (4) to manage its contents.
4: Icons	Manage the files in the Content panel with these icons: displays files in the Content panel in a list view with their file name and information. This icon toggles to which displays files as thumbnails. Drag the Size slider above the Content panel to resize the thumbnails. Go up one directory level. Create a new folder in the current location. Add selected file(s) to the Favorites list - see Customize the Content Browser. Sort files in the Content panel using these standard options. Toggle the visibility of each panel in the Content Browser. The menu stays open while you toggle the options: click the icon again to close it.
5: Search field	Search the files that are currently displayed in the Content panel - Find and import files from the Content Browser.
6: Size slider	Drag the slider to resize the file thumbnails in the Content panel when Thumbnail view is on.
7: Metadata	Select a file to display its Metadata information.
8: Preview image	Select a file to preview its contents, which is especially useful if List view is on instead of Thumbnail, or if the thumbnails are very small. File formats currently supported for the preview include: .ma, .mel, .png, .tif, .jpg, .bmp, .icon, .iff, .dds, and .psd.

Maya example library in context

The Maya example library content is available on the Examples tab. If you choose any of the following commands, the Content Browser opens to the corresponding example content folder on the Examples tab:

• nParticles > Get nParticle Example in the FX menu set
• Fluids > Get Example > Fluid or Ocean/Pond in the FX menu set
• Fluids > Add/Edit Contents > Initial States in the FX menu set
• nCloth > Get nCloth Example in the FX menu set
• nHair > Get Hair Example in the FX menu set
• Effects > Get Effects Asset in the FX menu set
• Bifrost > Get Example in the FX menu set
• Generate > (Paint Effects) Get Brush in the Modeling menu set
• Brush > Get Brush in the Paint Effects panel
• Toon > Get Toon Example in the Rendering menu set
• Texturing > 3D Paint Tool in the Rendering menu set
• Open Content Browser for Sculpting Base Meshes icon on the Sculpting shelf
• Stamp > Pick Stamp button in Tool Settings for the Sculpt Tool
Note: The MASH Examples folder contains several scenes with preset MASH effects.