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C4DCinema 4D

shareIO

by Lasse Lauch·Workflow

Images © Lasse Lauch. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

shareIO stands out in the toolfarm library for pairing multi-user asset sharing with document cleanup, recent-file and scripting helpers inside a single panel.

What is shareIO?

shareIO is a collaboration plugin for Cinema 4D that lets multiple users share objects, materials, render settings, documents and projects including their assets. It works with any local network or sharing service, such as Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive.

Getting started begins with a project: drag and drop your project folder into the Overview, name it, and optionally tick a checkbox to create a subfolder for shareIO. From there you can hit Export or drag items into the Overview. Any file that Cinema 4D can import may be dragged in, and holding Alt exports the project along with its assets. You can mark favorites and filter or search the Overview, with keyboard shortcuts available while hovering over the shareIO window.

Beyond sharing, shareIO adds a set of workflow tools. Doc-Helper offers commands to organize and clean up a document, Recent-Files locates recent files to merge, import or open in Finder or Explorer, Py-Tools lists .py scripts from a project's scripts folder so every user can run them, and a Chatlog provides a chat interface for each project.

Who is shareIO best for?

shareIO is best for cinema 4D artists and teams who share scenes, assets and projects across a local network or a cloud service like Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive.

How much does shareIO cost?

shareIO is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Share objects, materials, render settings, documents and projects including assets with multiple users
  • Works with any local network or sharing service, such as Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive
  • Drag any Cinema 4D-importable file into a project, and hold Alt to export the project with its assets
  • Filter, search and mark favorites in the Overview, with keyboard shortcuts while hovering over the window
  • Doc-Helper commands to organize and clean up documents, including colorizing objects and deleting invisible objects or material tags
  • Recent-Files tool to find recent files by extension and merge, import or open them in Finder or Explorer
  • Py-Tools lists .py scripts from a project's scripts folder so every user can run them directly

Tags

#Cinema 4D#collaboration#asset sharing#project sharing#workflow#team#scripts

Frequently asked questions

Which Cinema 4D versions does shareIO support?

shareIO supports a wide span of Cinema 4D releases and is listed as compatible with 2024, 2023, S26, R25, S24, R23, S22, R21, R20, R19, R18, R17 and R16. Support for R25 was added in the 1.1.2 update, according to the changelog. The plugin's compatibility here matches its stated requirements across those same versions. If you are running a version outside this range, check the developer's page for the latest compatibility details before installing to confirm it will run on your setup.

Does shareIO work with Dropbox or Google Drive?

shareIO works with every local network or sharing service, and Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive are named as examples. You start by dragging a project folder into the Overview and naming it, with an option to create a dedicated subfolder for shareIO. From there, the shared objects, materials, render settings, documents and projects become available to everyone who has access to that location. Because it works over ordinary folders, any service that syncs a shared folder can be used to distribute your project files among multiple users.

How do I set up a project in shareIO?

shareIO starts with creating a project. Drag and drop your project folder into the Overview, give the project a name, and optionally tick the checkbox to create a subfolder for shareIO. Once that is done you can hit Export or drag and drop items straight into the Overview. Any file that Cinema 4D can import may be dragged in, and holding Alt exports the project together with its assets.

Can shareIO share Python scripts between users?

shareIO includes Py-Tools, which searches a project's scripts folder and lists every .py file it finds. Those scripts become instantly available to all users, who can run them directly from within the plugin. This is handy for project-specific scripts as well as general helper scripts shared across a team. Ctrl-Click opens the scripts folder in Finder or Explorer, and Alt-Click on a .py file opens it in your default text editor so you can edit it.

Is shareIO free to use?

shareIO is listed as free in this catalog, so no price is stated here. Licensing terms can change over time, so for the current details and any conditions of use, check the developer's page before downloading. The plugin's most recent update recorded here is dated January 26, 2024, and its version is listed as 1.1.2. A demo video is also available on YouTube if you want to see how the workflow tools behave before installing.

Alternatives to shareIO

Also in Workflow for Cinema 4D.

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