Work with proxy references

The table below outlines procedures for common tasks you can perform when working with proxy references using the Reference Editor. As proxy references are associated with file references, you may want to additionally refer to the Related Topics below.

Tip:

Some of the Reference Editor’s menu operations are also available when working within the Maya scene by right-clicking on a referenced object and choosing from the menu.

To... Do this

Add a proxy reference to an existing file reference in the scene.

  1. Select File > Reference Editor.
  2. In the Reference Editor, select the existing file reference you want to add the proxy reference and select Proxy > Add Proxy > .
  3. In the Proxy Options window, set the Proxy Tag Options by either typing a text string that you want as the label/tag for the proxy reference or choose an existing tag from the text string drop-down menu, then click the Proxy button.
  4. In the file browser, navigate to the file you want as the proxy reference, click its name, and click Reference.

The proxy file is added to the list of available proxies within the proxy set. In the Reference Editor, the file reference that contains the new proxy displays with an icon to indicate one or more proxy references exist for the file reference.

Load or switch between one or more existing proxy references.

  1. Select File > Reference Editor.
  2. In the Reference Editor, select the file reference(s) that corresponds to the proxy reference(s) you want to load into the scene.
  3. In the Reference Editor menu, select Proxy > Reload Proxy As, and select the desired proxy file(s) from the list of proxy tags that appear in the drop-down list.

The selected file references update by loading the proxy reference files associated with the proxy tags you selected.

Remove a proxy reference from the scene.

  1. Select File > Reference Editor.
  2. In the Reference Editor, select the file reference you want to remove from the scene.
  3. In the Reference Editor menu, select Proxy > Remove Proxy, and select the desired proxy file from the list of proxy tags that appear in the drop-down list.

Selectively preload a proxy reference.

  1. Select File > Open Scene > .
  2. In the Referencing section, turn on Selective Preload, then click Open.
  3. In the file browser, select the file that contains the file and proxy references you want to load, then click Open.
  4. In the Preload Reference Editor, do one of the following:
    • Click the checkbox next to a reference to indicate that you wish the reference to be loaded.
    • Right-click an item and select Bring in Reference Loaded or Bring in Reference Unloaded from the menu that appears.
    • Right-click an item and select Set Active Proxy To from the menu that appears and select the proxy you want loaded from the submenu that appears.

Save reference edits to the referenced file.

  1. Select File > Reference Editor.
  2. In the Reference Editor, click the referenced file then select File > Save Reference Edits.

Create a proxy set with shared edits.

  1. Select an existing file reference from the Reference Editor.
  2. From the Reference Editor, select Proxy > Add Proxy > .
  3. In the Proxy Options window, turn on Shared Edits.
  4. Click the Proxy button.

    The file browser appears.

  5. Select a file and click Proxy to add the file as a proxy reference to the existing file reference.

Rename a proxy tag.

  1. In the Reference Editor, click the proxy reference whose proxy tag you want to rename so it appears highlighted.
  2. In the Reference Editor, select Proxy > Switch Tag for Proxy.
  3. Select the proxy or reference whose proxy tag you want to rename and select Define New Tag.
  4. The Define New Proxy Tag window appears.
  5. Type the name of the new proxy tag in the field and click OK.

Reuse a proxy tag.

  1. In the Reference Editor, click to highlight the proxy reference whose proxy tag you want to rename.
  2. In the Reference Editor, select Proxy > Switch Tag for Proxy.
  3. Select the proxy or reference whose proxy tag you want to rename and select the proxy tag you want to reuse.
  4. The Define New Proxy Tag window appears, followed by a list of available tags (if any). Tags already in use for the proxy set are grayed out and appear at the end of this list. Select an available proxy tag.

Related topics

Parent topic: Proxy References