What can you use it for?

• Default State is the "Master" Step of a Sequence - you could compare it to a Master Slide in a PowerPoint presentation. Where the slide is not  part of the presentation but it defines part of the standard content in all other slides linking to the master.

• In other words the Default State can be used to mass control steps in a sequence, and also allows you to reference data between them, which is commonly a good practice in terms of performance optimization. Therefore, it's generally a good practice to populate the default state with the 3D data you will use troughout a sequence.

How can you tell if an object is linked to the default state?

By the color of the node icon:

• White icon: you are currently in the default state

• Green icon: the object is linked to the default state
• Red icon: the object is not linked to the default state
  • This could be due to the fact this object was specifically added to a step (and not to the default state)
  • Or due to the fact the author changed the hierarchy for this object

Can I change the object properties of an object that is linked to the default state?

Yes!

1. If you change the object properties in the default state itself, it will update the properties in all steps where this object is linked to the default state.
2. If you change the object properties of a linked object in a specific step, you will see that the green icon (object property = default state value), will change to red.
   
   
   In this example you see how changing the x value for position, changed the left "default link" icon from green to red. As well as a "restore" icon that has been added to the layout. Clicking this button will restore the original value stated in the default state.
   In conclusion, default state can serve as a safety net that allows a user to reset changes back to the Master (default) state.

What can you do to "restore default state" in steps that were altered over time or that lost the link to the default state?

1. "Restore Default State" by right clicking in the Step Hierarchy
   
   This will restore all "linked to default" files that were deleted or moved in the currently selected step.
   This action will for example also work when you change an initial sequence, which moves the "Content Placement Step" from one sequence to the other. To relink that CPS with the new sequence, "Restore Default State" could be used.
2. "Reset Hierarchy To Default" allows a user to restore the hierarchy in case nodes have been moved around. This option appears on linked objects that changed hierarchy and works on node per node selection base.
   
3. If there are specific parts you want to copy and link to the default state, you can use "copy" "paste linked to default state.
   
   This method also works when you want to restore a specific part you deleted, without wanting to do a complete restore. In this case, copy the specific part in the default state hierarchy you would like to restore. And paste it in the step where the parent of this missing node is present