Managing your catalog

The catalog is a set of parts files that are available to you when you create comics. These files are listed in two tabs at the bottom of the comic window: Central Casting and Scenery. Initially, the catalog only contains files that are built into the program, but you can add your own by creating them yourself, copying existing ones and editing them, or getting them from other Comic Strip Factory users. Using the catalog as a source for art for your comics is described in Importing characters and Adding backgrounds . This chapter describes how to manage the files in your catalog.

Part of the catalog as seen at the bottom of a comic window.

Creating a parts file in the catalog

If you create a new parts file using New Parts from the File menu, then choose Save to Central Casting or Save to Scenery from the File menu, the file will be saved to your catalog. The menu item that is available and the tab it will go into depend on your selection of Character or Background as the type of parts file. The file name that will be used for the file is based on the name you entered for the parts document.

If you have gotten a parts file from another user, or created one and previously saved it the traditional way, you can also add it to the catalog by opening it and choosing Save to Central Casting or Save to Scenery . In this case, it will be saved with the same file name as it has in its original location on disk. But it will still be displayed in the catalog under the name in the file, not the file name.

Adding a file to the catalog puts it in a section called the User Catalog. Parts files that come with the program are in a section called the Bundled Catalog.

The parts files in the Bundled Catalog are not editable, but they can be copied if you want to make your own version of them. You might want to do this to add parts, or to create a version with customized colors. To do this, right-click on the bundled catalog item to bring up a contextual menu and choose Make an Editable Copy . If you would rather make a copy that you can manage in the traditional way (keeping track of it with the Finder), you can choose Save a Copy instead. ( Save a Copy can be used with files in the Bundled Catalog or the User Catalog.)

Editing a parts file in the catalog

You can edit any parts file in your User Catalog. To do this, right-click it and choose Edit from the contextual menu. If you have opened an editable parts file in the library of a comic, you can also edit it by clicking the Edit button in its tab. Edited catalog files are opened into their own window. Using the Save command in these windows will save the updated version over the original in the catalog.

If you want to delete a parts file in the User Catalog, choose Delete… from the contextual menu. You will be given the option of deleting it outright, moving it to the Trash, or canceling.

Copying a parts file in the catalog

In addition to the Save a Copy command, you can copy parts files in the catalog by dragging their thumbnails out of the comic window to a Finder window. Some other applications may accept drag and drop of these files in this way as well. For example, if you want to mail someone a file from the catalog, you can drag its thumbnail right into a message you are composing in the Mail application.

Choosing the thumbnail image

You can choose the thumbnail image for your user catalog files. To do this, you must edit the file, then choose Thumbnail Editor from the View menu. The file will be displayed with all of its contents grayed out except for the current thumbnail bounds. You can move that bounds around the file by dragging it, or you can resize it by grabbing it at an edge or corner. The thumbnail bounds will always maintain the same aspect ratio. Exit the thumbnail editor with the editing level control and save the file. If the file is in your catalog, its thumbnail will be replaced with the new one you have chosen.