Roadmap

The Documentation CD contains the SOFTIMAGE|XSI and mental ray documentation in electronic formats. You can also browse the New Features Tour from this CD.

To access the online documentation

Insert the Documentation CD in your disk drive.

Open one of the following documents:

mainmenu.pdf (start page for PDF documents)

mainmenu.htm (start page for HTML documents)

For full-text searching and printing, we recommend PDF format. If you do not have Acrobat Reader installed on your system, you can install it from the Documentation CD.

Document Conventions

The following are ways that information is displayed in the SOFTIMAGE|XSI documentation.

Typography Conventions


Type style	Usage
Bold	Menu commands, dialog-box and property-editor options, and file and directory names.
Italics	Definitions and emphasis.
`Courier`	Text that you must type exactly as it appears. For example, if you are asked to type `mkdir style`, you would type these characters and the spacing between words exactly as they are appear in this book.
>	The arrow (>) indicates menu commands (and subcommands) in the order that you choose them: Menu name > Command name. For example, when you see File > Open, it means to open the File menu and then choose the Open command.

Visual Identifiers


	Notes are used for information that is an aside to the text. Notes are reminders or important information.


	Tips are useful tidbits of information, workarounds, and shortcuts that you might find helpful in a particular situation.


	The 3D icon indicates information about differences in workflow or concepts between SOFTIMAGE\|3D and SOFTIMAGE\|XSI. You’ll find these very helpful when working with the two products.


	Warnings are used when you can lose or damage information, such as deleting data or not being able to easily undo an action. Warnings always appear before you are about to do such an action!

Keyboard and Mouse Conventions

SOFTIMAGE|XSI uses a three-button mouse for most operations. These are referred to as the left, middle, and right mouse buttons. In many cases, you will use the different buttons to perform different operations; always use the left mouse button unless otherwise stated.

	The two-button mouse is not supported in SOFTIMAGE\|XSI.


When this term is used...	...it means this
Click	Quickly press and release the left mouse button. Always use the left mouse button unless otherwise stated.
Middle-click	Quickly press and release the middle mouse button of a three-button mouse.
Right-click	Quickly press and release the right mouse button.
Double-click	Quickly click the left mouse button twice.
Shift–click, Ctrl–click, Alt+click	Hold down the Shift, Ctrl, or Alt key as you click a mouse button.
Drag	Hold down the left mouse button as you move the mouse.
Alt+key, Ctrl+key, Shift+key	Hold down the first key as you press the second key. For example, “Press Alt+Enter” means to hold down the Alt key as you press the Enter key.

Softimage Customer Service

Technical support in North America for SOFTIMAGE|XSI is provided directly from Softimage Customer Service. Immediate assistance for any technical issue is available through hotline, and through electronic and web support services.

Softimage resellers working together with Softimage Customer Service provide support worldwide.

Licensing Support

You must contact your reseller to request a license for SOFTIMAGE|XSI. This can be done either directly or through the license request form provided at softimage.com/licensing.

Training Support

If you’re interested in SOFTIMAGE|XSI training, you’ll find a complete overview of courses, education centers, and training programs at softimage.com/education.

Hotline Support

If you’ve purchased a maintenance contract to receive support directly from your Softimage reseller, you’ll find assistance for contacting your reseller at softimage.com/Corporate/Sales/Buy/ In all other cases, contact Softimage Customer Service at the following numbers and during these hours:


World Wide Tel: 1 (514) 845-2199 Fax: 1 (514) 845-8252	Hours 9 am to 7 pm (EST) 2 pm to 12 am (GMT) 1400 to 2400 (UTC)
North America Tel: 1 800 387 2559 Fax: 1 (514) 845-8252	Hours 9 am to 7 pm (EST) 2 pm to 12 am (GMT) 1400 to 2400 (UTC)
UK and International Tel: + 44 1 753 650 670	Hours 9 am to 6 pm (GMT) 0900 to 1800 (UTC) 4 am to 1 pm (EST)

Electronic Support

For general inquiries about Softimage support services, send an email to support@softimage.com.

Web Support

The Support and Download sections of softimage.com provide quick access to a wide range of resources from the SOFTIMAGE|XSI teams and user community. Downloads—including Presets, Scripts, and Quick Fix Engineering (QFEs)—provide the latest solutions for XSI. Online user guides, tutorials, and knowledge-base articles ensure you get the most out of working with XSI. It’s like having a dedicated Softimage Customer Service engineer sitting at your desk!

Mailing Lists

If you have an e-mail account, you can join the worldwide network of SOFTIMAGE|XSI users exchanging ideas. To subscribe to the XSI discussion group, send an e-mail to majordomo@softimage.com with subscribe XSI as the body of your message. Use the message lists for information on related groups. Visit softimage.com/Archives/Help.htm for more information about our discussion groups and mail server.

The discussion groups are provided for technical exchanges between customers. Although customer service is not provided through these discussions, we do contribute.

Student/Teacher Program Support

If you’ve purchased SOFTIMAGE|XSI through the Student/Teacher program, installation support is offered by Softimage (see the support contact information above). For usage support, you are welcome to join the XSI mailing lists.

Softimage Customer Service Addresses

North America

Softimage Customer Service
3510 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Montreal, Quebec
H2X 2V2 Canada

UK and International

Softimage Customer Service Europe
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Road
Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire
SL0 0NH United Kingdom

Comments?

If you have anything you’d like to say or ask about the SOFTIMAGE|XSI documentation, please do not hesitate to e-mail us at editors@softimage.com.