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Display controls change how files and folders are shown in your Aspect library. They do not resize, crop, move, or modify the original files.

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Open the display controls

  1. Open the project or folder you want to browse.
  2. Select Display above the library.
  3. Choose a layout and adjust the options you need.
  4. Review the library to confirm that the view works for your task.

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Choose a layout

Aspect provides two library layouts:
  • Grid emphasizes thumbnails and is useful for visual browsing.
  • List creates a denser view that is useful when filenames and metadata matter more than large previews.
Switching layouts changes only the library view. It does not change the files or their folder locations.

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Adjust row size

Use Row size to make items more compact or give previews more room. A smaller size helps you scan more items at once. A larger size makes thumbnails easier to inspect.

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Set the thumbnail aspect ratio

Choose the shape used for thumbnails:
  • 16:9
  • 4:3
  • 1:1
  • 9:16
Choose a ratio that matches the material you review most often. For example, 9:16 works well for vertical media, while 16:9 works well for widescreen footage. The selected ratio changes the thumbnail frame only. It does not crop or reformat the original asset.

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Choose Fit or Fill

Use Thumbnail fit to control how a preview sits inside its thumbnail frame.
  • Fit shows the complete preview. Empty space may appear around media whose shape does not match the selected ratio.
  • Fill covers the entire thumbnail frame. Parts of the preview may be cropped at the edges.
Fit and Fill affect thumbnails only. The complete asset remains available when you open it.

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Show metadata

Use Metadata to choose which fields appear with items in the library. Showing only the fields you need can make a list easier to scan. Useful fields depend on your workflow and may include status, owner, dates, production details, or technical metadata. Display settings control where metadata appears. Edit a field through the asset’s metadata controls when its value needs to change.

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Flatten folders

Turn on Flatten folders to view items from nested folders together in one combined library view. Turn it off when you want to browse the existing folder hierarchy. Flattening changes the view only. It does not move files, remove folders, or change the source organization.

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Filter the library

Filters help narrow the current library to items that match selected metadata.
  1. Select Add filter.
  2. Choose a metadata field.
  3. Choose an available condition, such as is, is not, is empty, or is not empty.
  4. Select a value when the condition requires one.
  5. Add another filter if needed, or remove a filter to broaden the results.
Clear filters when you want to return to the complete library.

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Sort the library

Use sorting to control the order of visible items.
  1. Open the sort control.
  2. Choose the field to sort by.
  3. Choose Ascending or Descending.
  4. Select Clear sorting to return to the default order.
Sorting changes order only. It does not move assets between folders.

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Display settings and sharing

Display controls organize your internal library view. They do not determine what a guest can access through a share link. Use a collection when you need to curate a specific group of assets for a client, reviewer, or presentation. Review sharing and permissions before sending the link.

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Browse visual selects

  • Use Grid.
  • Choose a thumbnail ratio that matches the media.
  • Use Fit when seeing the full frame matters.
  • Increase the size when comparing visual details.
  • Use List for a compact, scannable view.
  • Add a filter where Filetype is Video.
  • Show the metadata fields needed for review.
  • Sort the results into the order you need.

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Find items across nested folders

  • Turn on Flatten folders.
  • Add a filter to narrow the combined results.
  • Clear the filter and turn off Flatten folders when you want to return to the folder hierarchy.

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Use Aspect Agent to change the view

You can ask Aspect Agent to configure the current library view for you. Describe the result you want instead of changing each display control manually.
For example:
  • “Switch to List view and show only videos.”
  • “Use Grid view with 9:16 thumbnails and Fill.”
Review the updated library and ask Aspect Agent to refine it if you want a different layout, filter, or sort order.