How can I swap Textures and Materials I just started with Blender after using Max and Maya for years. I am currently at a company that uses a very old modeling program so I was able to 'get' them to install Blender for me, which is awesome. 

So far it's a great program but I had a difficult time figuring out how to swap out textures and change up materials etc. It would be great if this was a bit more user friendly. As it is I have to X out the texture that's in there then use Open to go find another one, instead of just using a find texture or replace texture. Is that the only way to do it?

Also is there a way to select poly elements such as the barrel of a gun, instead of just the faces, and then applying a material? In Max you can select elements so thats the only reason I am asking. If theres something similar. 

The 3D painter is also awesome! That's primarily what I am using it for.

Added Q's: 

1) When I paint in the 3d view and I have a UV/image editor window open, it seems like they don't sync up and they are actually different textures, but I can paint on both of them. I am sure this just takes me getting used to the UI.

2) Is the UV editor window the only place you can save out your textures?
On replacing Textures

You don't actually have to delete the texture. Instead you can "reassign" the slot by just opening a new one. 

Assuming you have already a material with a texture


Go to Properties Window -> Texture Panel
Select the desired Texture slot
Scroll down to "Image" 


Now here are two possibilities: 

If you want to switch between two textures to chose which one looks better, hit the upper folder button and open a new image texture. 



Notice how you now have two textures in your selection box?
If you want to switch between them, just click the selection box and change the texture. 



If however you want to replace the texture with another one, hit the lower folder button (under Source:)



Notice how your original texture got replaced with the new one

]4

On replacing Materials


Go to Properties Window -> Material Panel
Hit the "+" Button on the right side of the Material Selector. This basically creates a new material slot.
Select the new slot and hit "New".
Make changes to your new Material (Textures, colors, whatever) 
With that new material selected Tab into Edit mode and hit "Assign". 




You still have both materials to chose from.