Editing the hierarchy
Scene editing happens in the sidebar's Hierarchy mode. What the hierarchy allows depends on the format: glTF has the fullest support, FBX accepts most structural changes, OBJ has geometry partitions rather than a scene graph, and USD is read-only.
| Operation | glTF / GLB | FBX | OBJ | USD | STL / PLY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rename | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Duplicate | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Delete | Yes | Yes | Yes, without subtrees | — | — |
| Visibility | Yes | — | — | — | — |
| Reparent and reorder | Yes | Yes | — | — | — |
| Add nodes, lights, cameras | Yes | Yes | — | — | — |
| Add and delete scenes | Yes | — | — | — | — |
| Combine another model | Yes | — | — | — | — |
An OBJ row is a geometry partition rather than a scene node, so it has no children and therefore no subtree to delete. A rename maps back to the matching g or o statement when the file is saved.
Adding
The + button at the top of the sidebar opens a menu whose contents follow the format.
For glTF and GLB:
- Add Scene
- Add Node: Empty Node, Directional Light, Point Light, Spot Light, Perspective Camera, Orthographic Camera
- Combine glTF Model…
For FBX, the menu is grouped into Nodes, Lights, and Cameras, offering an empty node, the three punctual light types, and the two camera types. FBX area and volume lights that a file already declares are read and described, but are not offered here.
A new node is added under the current selection, or as a new root when nothing is selected.
Renaming, duplicating, and deleting
Right-clicking a hierarchy row offers Rename, Add Child Node, Duplicate Node, Delete Node, and Delete Node and Children. A scene row offers Rename Scene and Delete Scene.
The shortcut ⌘⌫ acts on whatever is selected, and its label in the Edit menu states what it will do:
| Selection | Command |
|---|---|
| An instanced copy | Delete Instance, which removes that one placement |
| A scene, with no node selected | Delete Scene |
| An OBJ hierarchy row | Delete Node, which removes that geometry partition |
| Anything else | Delete Node and Children |
Reparenting and reordering
Rows can be dragged within the hierarchy to change their parent or their position among siblings. Several selected rows move together. Scenes can be reordered the same way, and a node can be dragged onto a scene to move it there.
Combining models
Combine glTF Model… picks another glTF or GLB file and grafts its scene under the selected node, or as new roots when nothing is selected. It is the way to assemble several files into one model. The result becomes part of the host model and is written when the host is saved.
Because combining introduces geometry that did not come from the original file, saving afterwards routes through the full glTF writer. If the host file was compressed, Solidly re-applies its original compression to the result; see Saving and exporting.
Undo
Every hierarchy edit, material change, and committed metadata edit is undoable. ⌘Z steps back through your changes and ⇧⌘Z steps forward.