The Library is located in the Panel. It contains templates, items, plants and trees, and vendor products. The seven Tabs at the top of the library are Design, Items, Landscaping, Favorites, Currently Used, New Items Added, and Search. There are two ways to view the library, Tab View and Outline View.

Tab View: Tab View is the default view for the library. You can switch into Tab View by pressing the "1" button located under the library. In this view, items are sorted under Type bars which can be collapsed and expanded as necessary. The items are represented by pictures under each bar.

You can right click on each picture for an enlarged image of the item.

Outline View: You can switch into Outline View by clicking on the "2" button located under the library.

Design Tab: The Design Tab contains templates and items for use during the Design Phase.

The Design Tab contains a row of Category buttons. Left clicking on a Category button will bring up pictures of the templates and items organized by type.

Library items under the Design Tab may be selected by left clicking on the item picture. The item may be inserted by double left clicking on the picture or using the Insert or Insert One buttons below. Items can be edited or deleted by using the Edit and Delete buttons.

The Design tab contains templates such as house and pool shapes as well as design items such as house decor items and drains. This tab also contains products from vendors and manufacturers.

Items Tab: The Items Tab contains templates and items for use during the Yard Accessories Stage.

The Items Tab contains a row of Category buttons. Left clicking on a Category button will bring up pictures of the items and templates organized by type.

Library items under the Items Tab may be selected by left clicking on the item picture. The item may be inserted by double left clicking on the picture or using the Insert or Insert One buttons below. Items can be edited or deleted by using the Edit and Delete buttons.

The Items tab contains accessories, equipment, furniture and other items for use during the Yard Accessories Stage. This tab also contains many products from vendors and manufacturers.

Landscaping Tab: The Landscaping Tab contains plants and trees for use in landscaping.

The Landscaping Tab contains a row of Category buttons. Left clicking on a Category button will bring up pictures of the plants and trees organized by type.

Plants and trees under the Landscaping Tab may be selected by left clicking on the picture. The plant or tree may be inserted by double left clicking on the picture or using the Insert or Insert One buttons below.

Favorites Tab: The Favorites Tab allows you to create a list of items you commonly use for quick access. This makes it easy to find and insert the items you use most often into your designs.

Items in the Favorites list may be selected by left clicking on the picture. The item may be inserted by double left clicking on the picture or using the Insert or Insert One buttons below.

Items in the Favorites list are listed alphabetically by item name. The location of the item in the Library is displayed underneath the Tab row. The Tab, Category, Type, and Name of the item is listed.

Adding Items to Favorites: Any item in the library may be added to this list by selecting the item in the library and clicking on the Favorites Button located beneath the library list.

Removing Items from Favorites: When viewing the favorites list under the Favorites Tab you may remove any item by selecting the item in the list and clicking on the Favorites Button located beneath the library list.

Favorites Button: The Favorites Button is the star button located underneath the library list.

Currently Used Tab: The Currently Used Tab displays a list of all the library items currently inserted into the design. This makes it easy to see which items have been inserted into the design and insert additional copies.

Items in the Currently Used list may be selected by left clicking on the picture. The item may be inserted by double left clicking on the picture or using the Insert or Insert One buttons below.

Items in the Currently Used list are listed alphabetically by item name. The location of the item in the Library is displayed underneath the Tab row. The Tab, Category, Type, and Name of the item is listed.

As with other items in the Library, items in the Currently Used list may be added to Favorites by selecting the item and clicking on the Favorites button.

New Items Added Tab: The New Items Added Tab displays a list of all the new library items added in the most recent update to the program. This makes it easy to see all the new items and start using them in designs.

Items in the New Items Added list may be selected by left clicking on the picture. The item may be inserted by double left clicking on the picture or using the Insert or Insert One buttons below.

Items in the New Items Added list are listed alphabetically by item name. The location of the item in the Library is displayed underneath the Tab row. The Tab, Category, Type, and Name of the item is listed.

As with other items in the Library, items in the New Items Added list may be added to Favorites by selecting the item and clicking on the Favorites button.

Search Tab: This tab allows you to search for items in the Library by name. This is the fastest way to find an item and insert it into the design.

Searching for Items: To search for an item, simply type the name of the item into the Search bar and press the Search button. The results of the search will appear below. Single words or groups of words may be entered into the Search bar. You may type in a specific item name such as Gas Meter or type in a category name such as Groundcovers. The search feature will search item names, categories, types, and subtypes.

Search Options: The drop down box to the left of the Search bar allows you to choose from three different search options, All Words, Any Words, and Exact Phrase. All Words will return items that that match all of the words typed into the Search bar. Any Words will return items that match any of the words typed into the Search bar. Exact Phrase will only return items that exactly match the words typed into the search bar.

Items Found by the Search: Items found by the search may be selected by left clicking on the picture. The item may be inserted by double left clicking on the picture or using the Insert or Insert One buttons below.

Items found by the search are listed alphabetically by item name. The location of the item in the Library is displayed underneath the Tab row. The Tab, Category, Type, and Name of the item is listed.

As with other items in the Library, items found by the search may be added to Favorites by selecting the item and clicking on the Favorites button.

Library Buttons: The Library Buttons allow you to perform many different actions with the library. We will consider each of the different buttons and their functions.

Tab View: The "1" button will switch the library into Tab View.

Outline View: The "2" button will switch the library into Outline View.

Favorites Button: The star button allows you to add the item currently selected in the library to your Favorites list. All Favorites are listed under the Favorites Tab. Any item in the library including items in the Currently Used and New Items lists as well as Search results can be added to Favorites. Pressing this button with an item selected in the Favorites list will remove the item from Favorites.

Replace Selected: The button replaces the item or items you currently have selected in the design with the item you have selected in the library. This command works well when combined with Select Matching found under Parameters. For example, combining both commands allows you to quickly exchange all the maple trees in your design for cedar trees.

Insert: Insert will insert the currently selected item into the project. It allows you to insert as many copies of the item as you wish. Each time you left click, the currently selected item will be inserted. To stop inserting copies of the item, right click or switch to the Move tool to reset your cursor. Insert is perfect for adding multiple plants and trees to the design.

Inserted items will remember the stage they were created in. Therefore a deck template inserted into the House Stage will still be a deck and not a house piece. Most templates will insert into the project as a group. To ungroup the template, click the Ungroup button located in the Panel under Parameters.

Insert One: Insert One will insert one copy of the currently selected item into the project. 

Save:  Clicking save will bring up the Create Template box. You may select the Tab, Category and Type you would like the item to be saved under in the Library. You may also enter a Name and Description for the template. All selected objects will be saved in the template, including objects drawn in different stages as well as visual effects and library items. Houses saved as templates will include house decor items and roofing. In order to add a new Category or Type to the drop down list, enter the new name in the Category or Type lines when you are saving the item.

Edit: The Edit button is used to edit templates you have saved to the library. If a template you have saved to the library is selected, Edit will bring up the Edit Template box and allow you to edit the Tab, Category, Type, Name, and Description of the saved template. The Edit button allows you to move saved templates between Tabs, Categories, and Types.

Delete:  Delete will permanently delete the item from the library. Please remember this will remove the item from the library for all projects and cannot be undone.

Item Options:

Random Rotate: Select this option when you want to insert multiple items. As you insert the selected item, Pool Studio automatically randomizes the rotation of the next item that you are going to insert. Thus, each time you insert an item, it will have a different rotation than the previously inserted item.

Random Scale: Select this option when you want to insert multiple items. As you insert the selected item, Pool Studio will automatically randomize the scale of each item you insert. Thus, each item that you insert will have a different appearance.

Show Symbols in Library: Checking this box will set the library items, especially plants and trees to display as symbols.

Default New Landscaping to Symbols: Landscaping items may be shown in the 2D viewport either as 2D symbols or as 3D markers. Check this box to have new items insert as 2D symbols or uncheck the box to have new items insert as 3D markers. Items that have already been inserted can be changed under Parameters.

Default New Animations On: Checking this box will default item animations on for animated items inserted from the library. This controls the animations for animated items such as animals and ceiling fans located under the Items Tab in the library. If you do not wish animated items you insert from the library to animate, uncheck this box to default animations to off. Animations for items you have already inserted may be turned on/off by using the Play/Pause button located under Parameters.

Default New Landscaping Animations On: Checking this box will default animations on for plants and trees inserted from the library. This controls the animations for plants and trees located under the Landscaping Tab in the library. Nearly all plants and trees in the library are animated. If you do not wish plants and trees to animate, uncheck this box to default animations to off. Animations for landscaping you have already inserted may be turned on/off by using the Play/Pause button located under Parameters.

Adding New Categories and Types to the Library:  This may be done from the Create Template box when you are saving a new item. Instead of selecting an existing Category and Type from the drop down menu, enter the name of the new Category or Type you would like to create. Click Ok and the new Category or Type will be added to the library.

Saving Templates Made with Objects Created in Different Stages:  All selected objects will be created as a template when you use the Save button. These objects may have been created in different stages. Therefore a deck with water features, a pool feature with landscaping items, and many other groups of items may be saved together as a template.

Ungrouping Inserted Templates:  To ungroup the template, click the Ungroup button located in the Panel under Parameters.

Vendor Banner: Vendor items will display the Vendor Banner in the description box. Single left clicking on the Vendor Banner will directly link you to the vendor's web site.