Manipulating the Viewpoint

You can use various commands to change the viewpoint.

This task shows you how to:

Look at Objects

You can view an object in a specific direction by targeting through a user-defined viewport.

  1. In the power input box, type c:Look At, and then press Enter.
  2. Left-click + drag slowly to display the viewport.
    As you begin to drag, a rectangle with two diagonals appears and continues to grow when you continue to drag. This rectangle represents the future view.
  3. Continue dragging to move around, resize and reposition the viewport.
    The viewport is then shaped like a pyramid: your eyepoint is located at the vertex of the pyramid. You can resize the viewport by middle-clicking then dragging.
  4. Release the mouse.
    Tip: You can also press and hold down both Shift then the middle mouse button for a quicker result.

You now see what is targeted inside the viewport.

Align the Viewpoint

You can automatically modify the viewpoint so that the most seen plane of the absolute axis system is parallel to the screen.

  1. In the power input box, type c:align viewpoint, and then press Enter.
  2. Manipulate the current viewpoint (for example, you can rotate the object).

The plane orientation is automatically set to the nearest vertical orientation.

The command is then automatically terminated which means that you need to start the command each time you want to align the viewpoint.

Turn Your Head to View an Object

You can view an object by simulating what happens when you turn your head to view the scene.

  1. In the power input box, enter c:Turn Head, and then press Enter.
  2. Left-click + drag.
  3. Release at the required location.

You view the object as if you turn your head.

Reframe on an Object

You can center a selected object in the work area.

Before you begin: In Drafting, the command works differently than in the other apps. Reframe applies on the view to show not only the element that is being reframed on, but also the particular view that contains this element.
  1. Click an object, either in the 3D area or in the tree.
  2. Right-click, and then select Reframe On.

You focus in on the selected object that is centered in the tab.

Magnify

You can obtain a magnified view of your object in a separate panel that reflects the viewing manipulations performed in the 3D area.

  1. In the power input box, type c:Magnifier, and then press Enter. (In Design Review, you can also click .)
    A magnified section of your document opens in the Magnifier panel.

    The magnified section is defined by the magnifier viewport that appears over the object in your document. The magnifier viewport has handles:



    • The "+" symbol lets you move the viewport.
    • The handles in the corners let you resize the viewport.
  2. Point to the + symbol and drag it to move the viewport.
    Another area of the document is magnified.
  3. Point to one of the handles and drag it to size the magnified area up and down.
    While you drag, the symbol appears.

    All the viewing manipulations performed in the tab are also reflected in the Magnifier panel.

  4. To close the Magnifier panel, enter c:magnifier, and then press Enter in the power input box or click the cross in the upper-right corner of the panel.

Manage the Minimap Display

You can hide or show the minimap when required. The minimap is a graphical view showing all the details the entire geometry. You can use it to focus on particular areas of interest on your object.

Before you begin: This command is relevant only for apps implementing the minimap, such as Bent Part Design or Natural Shape.
  1. Open an object.

    When the minimap is visible, it is displayed in the right-hand corner of the tab:



  2. Right-click anywhere in the 3D area then select Display > Minimap Display.
    The minimap is hidden and the Minimap Display command is cleared in the context menu.
  3. Right-click anywhere in the 3D area then select Display > Minimap Display again.

The minimap is displayed and the Minimap Display command is clicked in the context menu.