Design Resources Palette

From the Design Resources palette, you can drag and drop drawing contents, copy and paste them, and add, attach, or insert them.

To open the Design Resources palette, do one of the following:

  • Click Tools > Design Resources or type DesignResources in the Command window.
  • Press Ctrl + 2.

To hide the Design Resources pallete, do one of the following:

  • Click Tools > Design Resources or type HideDesignResources in the Command window.
  • Press Ctrl + 2.

Folders tree view

The Folders tree view lets you navigate to folders and files on your computer, network places you are connected to, and your system Desktop.

The following file types are listed in the tree view:

  • Drawing file (*.dwg)
  • Drawing exchange file (*.dxf)
  • Drawing template file (*.dwt)
  • Drawing standards file (*.dws)

If the folder you select contains image files, these are listed in the Contents list.

Hidden folders or files are not displayed in the Design Resources palette.

Contents list

The Contents list area displays the contents of the item you select in the Folders tree view.

  • If you selected a folder, Content displays drawings and images contained in the folder and subfolders.

    Image files can be of type *.bmp, *.gif, *.png, and *.tif.

  • If you select a drawing file, Contents displays a list of all categories of named objects that are contained in a drawing:
    • Blocks
    • Reference drawings
    • Layers
    • LineStyles
    • DimensionStyles
    • TextStyles
    • TableStyles
    • Sheets
    You can also show these categories in the Folders tree view by clicking the plus sign (+) in front of a drawing file. This expands the categories list.

Preview area

The Preview area displays previews of drawings files, Blocks, References, and images.

Toolbar

Use the bottons in the toolbar at the top of the Design Resources paletter for navigation and access options.

Open OPens a drawing or image file, sets the Folders tree view to the folder of that file, and highlights the name in the Contents list.
Home Displays the default folder or file you selected in the Folders tree view.

To set the Home position, in the Folders tree view, right-click an item and click Set as Home.
Favorites Displays your favorite resources in the Favorites folder. You can bookmark resources you use often or want to quickly find.

To add folders or files to the Favorites folder, in the Contents list, right-click an item and click Add to Favorites.

To remove folders or files from the Favorites folder, in the Contents list, right-click an item and click Remove from Favorites.

The Favorites folder is not a physical folder on your hard drive. It is a list of links to folders and files on your system.
Back Displays the previously viewed folder or file.

Click the arrow to show a list of recently browsed folders and files.
Forward Displays the previously viewed folder or file if you have clicked Back.

Click the arrow to show a list of folders and files from which you have stepped back using the Back button.
Up Moves one level up in the Folders tree hierarchy.
View Changes the display mode of the Contents list.

Click the arrow to select Thumbnails, Icons, List, or Details as the display mode.
Tree View Toggle Shows or hides the Folders tree view.
Refresh Refreshes the Folder tree, Contents list, and Preview area if changes are made externally to the selected folder.
Preview Toggle Shows or hides the Previews area.
3D Content Central Opens the 3D ContentCentral® website, where you can browse and download free 3D and 2D CAD models of user-contributed and supplier-certified parts, assemblies and more.

Status bar

The status bar displays the full folder and file names of the selected item in the Folders tree view and the number of applicable items that are listed in the Contents list.