View 3D models

In the Viewer pane of the gallery, you can view any 3D snapshots attached to a step. A 2D image of the snapshot is initially displayed at the bottom of the viewer. Since 3D snapshots take longer to load, a 2D image is usually displayed first when you switch between images. When you switch between snapshots, you lose any changes you made to the 3D snapshot, for example by rotating or zooming.

Note

If your administrator has set the value of the preference EWI_AutoLoad3D to true, 3D automatically loads when you move between steps or click a snapshot.

Procedure

1. Click on a 2D snapshot at the bottom of the viewer pane. If it has 3D information available, the 3D View button is displayed in the Viewer toolbar.

2. Click 3D View to view the 3D snapshot.

You can manipulate the model in the following ways:

Click Orient View and choose a predefined model orientation.

View orientation

Perspective or alignment

Trimetric

A 3/4 perspective, looking up (-Isometric)

Isometric

A 3/4 perspective, looking down (+Isometric)

Top

Aligned to the Z-axis, looking in the –Z direction

Front

Aligned to the Y-axis, looking in the +Y direction

Right

Aligned to the X-axis, looking in the –X direction

Back

Aligned to the Y-axis, looking in the –Y direction

Bottom

Aligned to the Z-axis, looking in the +Z direction

Left

Aligned to the X-axis, looking in the +X direction

Click Fit to change the size of the model so it most effectively fills the viewing area.

Click Rotate to rotate the model. You can rotate freely or constrain the rotation. The initial cursor location determines the rotation axis. To rotate freely around the model, in the center of the viewer, click and drag the cursor.

Constrain the rotation axis in the viewer

To constrain rotation this way Before you drag, place the cursor

Rotate around a horizontal axis Near the left or right edge of the viewer.

Rotate around a vertical axis Near the bottom of the viewer.

Rotate around an axis that is perpendicular to the view Near the top edge of the viewer.

Rotate around a selected point of the model (set a rotation point) On the point around which you want to rotate the model and click the middle mouse button (or wheel).

3. To return to the 2D image, click 2D view .