Reference for the Material Browser

Provides library navigation and management for materials.

Access

Quick Access Toolbar

Tools tab Material and Appearance panel Material

Is the main point of access for managing materials, and provides access to the Materials Editor dialog box.

Search
Searches for materials in multiple libraries. Available libraries are defined in the project file.
Document Materials pane
Displays the list of Materials in the active document.
Material context menu commands:
  • Assign to Selection
  • Edit Opens the selected material in the Material Editor.
  • Duplicate Adds a duplicate document material.
  • Rename Puts name in edit mode. Change name.
  • Delete
  • Add to
    • Favorites
    • Libraries list
Show/Hide Library tree
Controls the visibility of the library tree.
View type
To filter which materials display in the list, use the drop-down list on the right. The following filters and options are available:

  • Show All Displays all materials in the current document. (Default option)

  • Show Used Displays only the materials used in the current document.

  • Show Unused Displays only the materials not used in the current document.

View Type
Controls browser display of the library content. The following view options are available:

  • Thumbnail View A thumbnail image with the name following represents materials. (Default)

  • List View Materials are displayed in a grid with thumbnail, name, type, and category in columns.

  • Text View All materials are displayed in a grid with name.

Sort
The Sort drop-down controls the order in which document materials are displayed. The following sort options are available:
  • Name Lists materials alphabetically by name. (Default)
  • Material Color Lists materials by their assigned color. The color is not always the same as what displays in the material thumbnail preview.

Thumbnail Size
Select any thumbnail size.
Library pane
The library tree displays the libraries and the categories of materials in each available library.

Left side Displays list of libraries assigned to the project.

Context menu commands include:
  • Create Category Adds a new category to the selected library.
  • Locate Library
  • Remove Library Removes library from the list for the session.

Right side Displays the list of materials in the selected library or category.

Context menu commands include:
  • Assign to Selection
  • Rename Puts name in edit mode. Change to new name.
  • Delete
  • Add to
    • Document Materials
    • Favorites
    • Libraries list
House pane
Displays available Libraries. Select a library from the drop-down list.
  • Favorites A library of materials you frequently use and want available.
  • Autodesk Material Library A standard system library which contains the Autodesk Manufacturing Materials and materials commonly used by other Autodesk products.
  • 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.
  • Custom Libraries, if any.
Show/Hide Library Tree
Controls the visibility of the library tree.
View Type
Controls the details view display of the library content. The following view options are available:
  • Thumbnail Represents materials by a thumbnail and the name of the material following. (Default)
  • List Displays materials in a grid with columns for thumbnail, name, type, and category.
  • Text Displays materials in a grid with name.
Sort
Controls the order in which document materials are displayed. The options are:
  • Name Lists materials alphabetically by name. (Default option)
  • Material color Lists materials by their assigned color. Color and thumbnail do not always match.
  • Category Lists selected library materials according to the assigned material category. (Default)

Toolbar

Manage
Includes commands for managing libraries:
  • Open Existing Library Navigate to and select a library to open. The addition is for the session only. For continuous access to the library, it must be added 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 new 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 Display Units Choose from Metric or English units.
Note: Units can be set from either Material or Appearance browsers and are applicable to both.
Add to Document

Adds a document material, and opens it in the Material Editor.