You can insert a 3d-material palette in you drawing near the place you work and pick a material directly with the mouse.
Material palette contain basic materials.
You can still pick any material from you model via SHIFT+CTRL+LEFTCLICK.
New position for the palette or deleting.....Simply select the function again to place the palette at a new position or delete it.
You also can remove the palette by clicking the 'cross' texture.
