Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 User Guide March 2009
© 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose. Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder. Trademarks The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and other countries: 3DEC (design/logo), 3December, 3December.
Contents Welcome to Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Chapter 1 What Is New in This Release? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Chapter 2 How to Get Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Use Communication Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Overview of Communication Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How do I share the Autodesk Navisworks settings on a site and project basis? . . . . . . . . Where are my product manuals? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Uninstall and Maintenance Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . When adding or removing features, how can I tell what features get installed by default? . Is it possible to change the installation folder when adding or removing features? . . . . .
Control Render Quality . . . . . . . Use Culling . . . . . . . . . . . Control Rendering of Objects . Adjust Presenter Materials . . . Chapter 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 . 96 . 98 . 99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Undo Page . . . . . . . . . . . Locations Page . . . . . . . . Environment Page . . . . . . Communication Center Page . Model Node . . . . . . . . . . . . . Performance Page . . . . . . . NWD Page . . . . . . . . . . . NWC Page . . . . . . . . . . . Interface Node . . . . . . . . . . . . Display Units Page . . . . . . Selection Page . . . . . . . . . Measure Page . . . . . . . . . Snapping Page . . . . . . . . . Viewpoint Defaults Page . . . Hyperlinks Page . . . . . . . . Smart Tags Page . . . . . . . .
Welcome to Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 software is the free viewer for NWD files. Autodesk Navisworks products can combine design data created with a variety of design tools, and then publish the entire model to NWD format including properties, comments, viewpoints and 4D playback. Navisworks Freedom and the compact, secure, and streamable NWD file format give all project stakeholders access to the whole-project view.
2 | Part 1 Welcome to Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010
What Is New in This Release? 1 Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 contains many new features and enhancements. User Interface Changes to the Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 interface more closely align the product with Autodesk standard interface and navigation toolsets. ■ ViewCube. The ViewCube is an on-screen widget, shaped like a cube, that rotates as you orbit your 3D scene and provides you with feedback about your current camera viewing angle in relation to the model world.
Communication Center The Communication Center and announcements. allows the Autodesk Navisworks and Autodesk team to notify you of product-related updates See “Use Communication Center” on page 5. Miscellaneous Enhancements ■ Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 is available for full 64-bit installation. ■ Manual override option allows you to specify the distance of Near and Far Clipping Planes. See “Use Culling” on page 96.
How to Get Assistance There are various ways to find information about how to use this program, and multiple resources are available. 2 Use Communication Center Communication Center provides up-to-date product information, software updates, product support announcements, and other product-related announcements. Overview of Communication Center Communication Center provides up-to-date product information, software updates, product support announcements, and other product-related announcements.
Communication Center provides the following kinds of announcements: ■ Product Support Information. Get breaking news from the Product Support team at Autodesk, including when Live Update maintenance patches are released. ■ Subscription Announcements. Receive subscription announcements and subscription program news, as well as links to e-Learning Lessons, if you are an Autodesk subscription member (available in countries/regions where Autodesk subscriptions are offered). ■ Articles and Tips.
To specify the channels to display in the Communication Center panel 1 Open the Communication Center panel, and click Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the General node, expand the Communication Center node, and click the Autodesk Channels option. 3 On the Autodesk Channels page, select the Subscribed check boxes for all channels you want to display. 4 Click OK. To specify balloon notification settings 1 Open the Communication Center panel, and click Options.
■ Displays a ranked list of topics that contain the word or words entered in the keyword field. ■ Arranges the results alphabetically by title or by location if you click on the Title and Location column headings. Use Searches Use the Search tab to find relevant topics based on keywords that you enter. The basic search rules are as follows: ■ Type your keywords in uppercase or lowercase characters; searches are not case-sensitive. ■ Search for any combination of letters (a-z) and numbers (0-9).
specified, AND is used. For example, the query spacing border printing is equivalent to spacing AND border AND printing.
NOTE When you select the second option, you may get numerous printed pages, depending on how many subtopics the currently selected topic contains. To print a Help topic 1 Display the topic you want to print. 2 Right-click in the topic pane. Click Print. 3 In the Print dialog box, click Print. To print a selected heading and all subtopics 1 Display the topic you want to print and make sure that the Contents tab is displayed. 2 On the Help toolbar, click Print.
Autodesk Authorized Training Centers The Autodesk® Authorized Training Center (ATC®) network delivers Autodesk-authorized, instructor-led training to design professionals who use Autodesk software. Autodesk Authorized Training Centers use experienced and knowledgeable instructors. More than 1,200 ATC sites are available worldwide to meet your needs for discipline-specific, locally based training. To find a training center near you, contact your local Autodesk office or visit http://www.autodesk.com/atc.
Here is a list of the information that is automatically sent to Autodesk: ■ Name and version of the Autodesk product ■ Number of minutes you are running the software ■ Number of sessions that end due to stability issues ■ Menu actions triggered ■ Error conditions encountered, fatal, and non-fatal ■ Import/export actions (including file extension used) ■ Scene statistics after a load or import (number of objects, faces, vertices etc.
Installation This chapter provides information about installing and activating Autodesk Navisworks on a workstation, as well as deploying Autodesk Navisworks from a network location. 3 Quick Start to Stand-Alone Installation This section provides step-by-step instructions about how to prepare, and then install Autodesk Navisworks.
Hardware and software requirements 64-Bit Windows© XP© Professional, SP 1; Windows Vista Enterprise, SP 1; Windows Vista Business, SP 1; Windows Vista Ultimate, SP 1; Windows Vista Home Premium, SP 1 Web browser 32-Bit Microsoft© Internet Explorer 6.0, SP 1 or later 64-Bit Internet Explorer 7.0 or later Processor 32-Bit AMD© Athlon©, 3.0 GHz or faster (minimum); Intel© Pentium© IV, 3.
To run Autodesk Navisworks, you do not need administrator permissions. You can run the program as a limited user. Avoid Data Loss During Installation The Autodesk Navisworks installation process may stop if some applications (such as Microsoft® Outlook® or virus-checking programs) are running. Close all running applications to avoid possible data loss.
After you click the Configure button, the following dialog boxes and options are displayed: ■ Project and Site Folders - These settings can be shared across an entire project site, or across a specific project group depending on the required level of granularity. Refer to “Why should I specify the Project Folder and Site Folder?” on page 23. ■ Select the Installation Type - Typical or Custom.
NOTE To view or print PDF (.pdf) files, Adobe® Reader must be installed on your computer. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download the latest version at http://www.adobe.com. ■ Install Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010. From the Installation wizard, click Install Products. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. Install Autodesk Navisworks Using Default Values This is the fastest means of installing Autodesk Navisworks on your system.
■ Installs Autodesk Navisworks to the default install path of C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Navisworks Freedom 2010. ■ Installs the products you selected in Step 3. NOTE By default, the Installation wizard automatically enables the exporter plugins for all 3rd party products already installed on your PC. 7 On the Installation Complete page, choose from the following: ■ View the installation log file - to view the installation log file.
NOTE At any time you can click Next and then Configuration Complete to return to the Review-Configure-Install page. 6 To configure a product installation: a On the Select License Type page, you can choose to install a Stand-Alone License or Network license. Click Next. b On the Project and Site Folder Paths page, you can specify: ■ Project Folder - use the Browse button to select the directory that contains the product settings specific to a project group.
■ View the Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 Readme - to open the Readme file with the information that was not available when the Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 documentation was prepared. NOTE If you do not want to view the Readme file now, clear the check box. 10 Click Finish. Launch Autodesk Navisworks Assuming that you've followed all of the previous steps outlined in this Quick Start section, you can launch Autodesk Navisworks and start taking advantage of its new and updated features.
Add or Remove Features You can add or remove Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 features at any time. For example, you may have chosen a Custom installation option when you first installed Autodesk Navisworks, but now you want to add features that you did not install originally. Or you may no longer need to use all of the features that were installed originally. You can add or remove features by using the Add or Remove Programs dialog box.
■ Reinstall My Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 Installation. This option repairs the registry and reinstalls all files from the original installation. Use this option if the Repair My Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 Installation option does not solve the problem. 5 On the Repair Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 page, click Next to start the process. 6 On the Repair Complete page, you are informed when the repairs have been performed. Click Finish.
When performing a Typical installation, what gets installed? A Typical installation includes the following features: Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 Contains full set of Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 files API Contains the Component Object Model interface for customizing and extending the Autodesk Navisworks functionality Sample RPC's Contains several Rich Photorealistic Content files for the Presenter tool Example NWD files Contains various feature sample files PDF manual Contains the Autodesk
3 Place the exported settings inside the appropriate subfolders. The centralized workspace files should go into the Workspaces subfolder, the centralized global options files should go into the global_options subfolder, and so on. Where are my product manuals? All documentation created for Autodesk products are built in two different formats: PDF and CHM. ■ ■ CHM files are made available during installation; click the Documentation link in the Installation wizard.
When I uninstall my software, what files are left on my system? If you uninstall the product, some files remain on your system such as files you created or edited. Your license file also stays on your workstation when you uninstall your product. If you reinstall on the same workstation, the license information remains valid and you do not have to reactivate the product.
26 | Chapter 3 Installation
Quick Start This chapter helps you get up-to-speed with the Autodesk Navisworks interface. 4 Start and Quit Autodesk Navisworks Once you've installed Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010, you can start it from the Windows desktop or from the command line. To start Autodesk Navisworks, do one of the following from the Windows desktop: ■ Double-click the Autodesk Navisworks icon, or ■ Go to Start ➤ All Programs (or Programs) ➤ Autodesk ➤ Navisworks Freedom 2010 ➤ Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010.
The Autodesk Navisworks interface is intuitive and easy to learn and use. You can adjust the application interface to match the way you work. For example, you can hide toolbars that you rarely use, so they do not clutter the interface. You can add and remove buttons from toolbars. You can also create your own toolbars. Menu Bar The Menu bar contains all commands available in Autodesk Navisworks, grouped together by similar or 'like' functionality.
Option Description Exit Exits the program. Edit Menu This menu contains commands for locating, selecting and editing geometry in your model. Option Description Undo Reverses the last performed operation. Redo Reverses the last operation performed by the Undo command. Select Gives you access to selection functionality. Hidden Toggles hidden mode for selected items. Required Toggles required mode for selected items. Unselected Hidden Toggles hidden mode for unselected items.
Option Description Hyperlinks Toggles the display of hyperlinks. Smart Tags Toggles the display of smart tags. Animation Enables you to control animation playback. Background Enables you to select a background color for the Scene Area. File Options Displays the File Options dialog box. Global Options Displays the Options Editor. Help Menu This menu provides access to the Autodesk Navisworks online reference system. Option Description Help Topics Opens the Help system.
Some toolbar buttons enable you to choose a program mode. For example, to look around your model, you need to be in look around mode. To rotate the model, you need to be in examine mode and so on. Autodesk Navisworks remains in the selected mode until instructed otherwise. To identify the mode you are in, look at the buttons. If a button is highlighted and has a dark blue boarder around it, the corresponding mode is currently active.
This toolbar provides access to the selection commands, plus enables you to hide geometry objects. Button Description Turns on select mode. Toggles required mode for selected items. Toggles hidden mode for selected items. Toggles hidden mode for unselected items. Navigation Mode Toolbar This toolbar includes nine modes and six SteeringWheels for interactive navigation around your 3D models. Button Description Selects the wheel. Turns on walk mode. Turns on look around mode. Turns on zoom mode.
Button Description Toggles the rendering of lines. Toggles the rendering of points. Toggles the rendering of snap points. Toggles the rendering of 3D text. Workspace Toolbar This toolbar gives you quick access to the Navisworks review and analysis tools. Button Description Toggles the display of hyperlinks. Toggles the display of smart tags. Toggles the Viewpoints control bar. Toggles the Selection Tree control bar. Toggles the Comments control bar. Toggles the Properties control bar.
Button Description Plays the currently selected animation. Steps one frame or keyframe forwards. Fast forwards the current animation to the end. Toggles the Scripter engine on and off in the Navisworks file. Navigation Tools Toolbar This toolbar enables you to control the camera during interactive navigation. Button Description Dollies and pans the camera so that the entire model is in the Scene View. Zooms the camera so that the selected item fills the Scene View. Puts the Scene View into focus mode.
Scene Area This is the area where you view and interact with your 3D models. Dockable Windows Most Navisworks features are accessible from the dockable windows. There are two types of dockable windows: ■ Control bars ■ Tool windows To display a control bar, click View ➤ Control Bars on the Menu bar, and then choose from the list of available control bars. To display a tool window, click Tools on the Menu bar, and then choose from the list of available tool windows.
The Shortcut Menu Right-clicking a dockable window displays a shortcut menu of available commands. If you right-click a single item, or select one or more items and right-click, this menu contains commands related to the items. If you right-click an area that contains no items or data, the menu contains commands related to the dockable window, if appropriate. Status Bar The Status bar appears at the bottom of the Autodesk Navisworks screen. As this is not a toolbar, it cannot be customized or moved around.
To undo an action ■ Click Edit ➤ Undo on the Menu bar. Command entry: CTRL + Z Toolbar: Standard ➤ Undo To redo an action ■ Click Edit ➤ Redo on the Menu bar. Command entry: CTRL+Y Toolbar: Standard ➤ Redo Default Keyboard Shortcuts Keyboard shortcuts are keyboard alternatives you can use to initiate commands normally accessed with the mouse. For example, to open the Selection Tree, you can press CTRL + F12. Keyboard shortcuts offer a means to let you work faster and more efficiently.
Default Keyboard Shortcut Description CTRL + D Toggles collision mode. You must be in appropriate navigation mode (that is, Walk or Fly) for this keyboard shortcut to work. CTRL + G Toggles gravity mode. CTRL + H Toggles hidden mode for selected items. CTRL + N Resets the program, and closes the currently open Navisworks file. CTRL + O Displays the Open dialog box. CTRL + P Displays the Print dialog box. CTRL + R Toggles required mode for selected items. CTRL + T Toggles third person mode.
Autodesk Navisworks Options There are two types of options: File Options and Global Options. File Options For each Autodesk Navisworks file (.NWF and .NWD), you can adjust the model appearance and the speed of navigation around it. File options are stored with Autodesk Navisworks files (.nwf or .nwd), and reloaded each time you open these files. The File Options dialog box is used to customize various file options, and can be accessed from the Tools menu.
2 Use the File Options dialog box to customize various file settings. 3 Click OK to save the changes. See also: ■ “File Options Dialog Box” on page 135 To configure global options 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the desired node, and click the option you want to configure. 3 Click OK to save the changes. See also: ■ “Options Editor” on page 138 To export global options 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options. 2 In the Options Editor, click the Export button.
6 Click Save. 7 Click OK to close the Options Editor. To import global options 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options. 2 In the Options Editor, click the Import button. 3 In the Open dialog box, browse to the folder containing the settings file, select it, and click Open. 4 Click OK to close the Options Editor. Environment Options You can adjust the number of recent file shortcuts stored by Autodesk Navisworks. To configure environment options 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options.
3 On the Environment page, enter the desired number into the Maximum Recently Used Files box. By default, shortcuts to the four most recently opened files can be displayed. 4 Click OK. Location Options These options enable centralized sharing of global Autodesk Navisworks settings, workspaces, datatools, avatars, Clash Detective rules, Presenter archives, custom Clash Detective tests, object animation scripts, and so on, with other users.
5 Click OK. NOTE When you run Autodesk Navisworks for the first time, the settings are picked up from the installation directory. Subsequently, Autodesk Navisworks examines the current user profile and the all users profile on the local machine, and then checks the settings in the Project Directory and the Site Directory. The files in the Project Directory take precedence. Display Units Display units determine the scale of your model in Navisworks.
To use a developer profile 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options. 2 Expand the Interface node, and click the Developer option. 3 Select the Show Internal Properties check box to add additional object properties to the Properties control bar. 4 Click OK. Search Directories Autodesk Navisworks searches for a variety of configuration files in subdirectories of three standard directories. These files can be overridden on a per user, all users or per installation basis.
Get a Whole-Project View 45
46 | Part 2 Get a Whole-Project View
Work with Files In Autodesk Navisworks you can open nwd files (published data), and .dwf files. 5 Use File Readers NWD Files An NWD file is a file created with Autodesk Navisworks publisher tool, and contains all model geometry together with review markups. You can think of an NWD file as a snapshot of the current state of the model. NWD files are very small, as they compress the CAD data by up to 80% of the original size.
■ NURBS surfaces ■ Cameras See also: “DWF File Reader Options” on page 150 ■ Manage Files Open Files To open files in Autodesk Navisworks, you can either use a standard Open dialog box or drag and drop files directly to the Selection Tree control bar. NOTE If the chosen file is a CAD or laser scan file, Autodesk Navisworks automatically uses an appropriate file reader to open it, provided this file format is supported.
Explore Your Model Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 enables you to walk through a scene in real time. 6 Navigate a Scene In Autodesk Navisworks, you have a variety of options for navigating your scene. You can directly manipulate your position in 3D space with nine navigation modes on the Navigation Modes toolbar. You can also use StreeringWheels that travel with the cursor, and can save you time by combining many of the common navigation tools into a single interface.
It is possible to change the ‘up’ and ‘north’ directions for the entire model (world orientation), and the ‘up’ direction for the current viewpoint (viewpoint up vector). NOTE Changing the viewpoint up vector affects navigation in modes that rely on the ‘up’ direction of the current viewpoint, such as walk, turntable, and orbit. It also has an impact on section views. To align the viewpoint up vector to the current view ➤ Click Viewpoint ➤ Set Viewpoint Up ➤ Set Up.
In a camera-centric mode, the camera moves within the scene, whereas in a model-centric mode, model moves inside the scene. For example, orbit and examine modes essentially do the same thing, except that orbit mode moves the camera around the focal point and examine mode moves the model around the focal point. NOTE Navigation modes and SteeringWheels are mutually exclusive, so activating navigation mode deactivates the current SteeringWheel menu.
Walk Mode In walk mode, you can navigate through a model as if you were walking through it. In this mode, the up direction is always maintained. Once you start walk mode, the cursor changes to the walk cursor. To walk through the model, you drag in the direction in which you want to move in. To use walk mode to move through the model 1 Click Walk on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 To move, hold down the left mouse button as you drag in the direction you want to walk, or use the cursor keys.
Menu: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Mode ➤ Look Around Command entry: CTRL + 3 Zoom Mode In zoom mode, you can zoom into and out of the model. To zoom the view 1 Click Zoom on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 Drag the left mouse button up and down, or use the up and down cursor keys, to zoom in and out respectively.
To pan a model 1 Click Pan on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 Drag the left mouse button to pan the model up, down, left and right. NOTE Holding down the SHIFT or CTRL keys, or spinning the mouse wheel, temporarily enables normal zoom mode. Menu: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Mode ➤ Pan Command entry: CTRL + 6 Orbit Mode In orbit mode, the camera moves around the focal point of the model. In this mode, the up direction is always maintained. To orbit a model 1 Click Orbit on the Navigation Mode toolbar.
To examine a model 1 Click Examine on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 To rotate the model around the focal point, drag the left mouse button, or using the cursor keys. If the mouse is moving when you let go of the button, the model keeps spinning. Clicking on the model stops this. NOTE Holding down the Shift key, or spinning the mouse wheel, temporarily enables normal zoom mode. Holding down the CTRL key, temporarily enables normal pan mode.
To spin model on a turntable 1 Click Turntable on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 Drag the left mouse button left and right, or use the left and right cursor keys, to spin the turntable left and right respectively. NOTE Holding down the SHIFT key or spinning the mouse wheel, temporarily enables normal zoom mode. Holding down the CTRL key, temporarily enables normal pan mode. 3 To tilt the the turntable up and down, spin the mouse wheel, or use the up and down cursor keys.
Display and Use Wheels Pressing and dragging on a wedge of a wheel is the primary mode of interaction. After a wheel is displayed, click one of the wedges and hold down the button on the pointing device to activate the navigation tool. Drag to reorient the current view. Releasing the button returns you to the wheel. Control the Appearance of Wheels You can control the appearance of the wheels by switching between the different styles of wheels that are available, or by adjusting the size and opacity.
To close a wheel Use one of the following methods to close a wheel: ■ Press SHIFT+W ■ Click the Close button. ■ Right-click the wheel, and click Close Wheel. To change the size of a wheel 1 Display a wheel. 2 Right-click the wheel, and click SteeringWheels Options. 3 In the Options Editor, the SteeringWheels page under the Interface node, select an option from the Size drop-down list in the Big Wheels or Mini Wheels area. 4 Click OK. To change the opacity of a wheel 1 Display a wheel.
To enable tool cursor text for wheels 1 Display a wheel. 2 Right-click the wheel, and click SteeringWheels Options. 3 In the Options Editor, the SteeringWheels page under the Interface node, select the Show Tool Cursor Text check box. The name of the active tool is displayed near the cursor when the tool is in use. 4 Click OK. Wheel Menu From the Wheel menu, you can switch between different wheels and change the behavior of some of the navigation tools on the current wheel.
NOTE This does not affect the viewpoint linear speed for Navisworks walk navigation mode. The navigation tool used by SteeringWheels and Navisworks navigation modes are independent. ■ SteeringWheels Options. Displays the Options Editor where you can adjust the appearance and behavior of SteeringWheels. ■ Help. Launches the online Help system and displays the topic for SteeringWheels. ■ Close Wheel. Closes the wheel.
To switch to the big View Object wheel ■ Right-click the wheel, and click View Object Wheel. Menu: View ➤ SteeringWheels ➤ View Object Wheel Toolbar: Navigation Mode ➤ View Object Wheel Tour Building Wheels With the Tour Building wheels (big and mini), you can move through a model, such as a building, an assembly line, ship, or oil rig. You can also walk through and navigate around a model.
Menu: View ➤ SteeringWheels ➤ Tour Building Wheel Toolbar: Navigation Mode ➤ Tour Building Wheel Full Navigation Wheels The Full Navigation wheels (big and mini) combine the 3D navigation tools found on the View Object and Tour Building wheels. You can view individual objects, and walk through and around a model. The big and mini Full Navigation wheels are optimized for experienced 3D users.
To switch to the mini Full Navigation wheel ■ Right-click the wheel, and click Advanced Wheels ➤ Mini Full Navigation Wheel. Menu: View ➤ SteeringWheels ➤ Mini Full Navigation Wheel Toolbar: Navigation Mode ➤ Mini Full Navigation Wheel To switch to the big Full Navigation wheel ■ Right-click the wheel, and click Full Navigation Wheel. Menu: View ➤ SteeringWheels ➤ Full Navigation Wheel Toolbar: Navigation Mode ➤ Full Navigation Wheel Navigation Tools Each wheel is divided into different wedges.
3 Drag the cursor to the desired location of the model. 4 Release the button on your pointing device when the sphere is displayed. The model is panned until the sphere is centered. To specify the target point for the Zoom and Orbit tools 1 Display one of the Full Navigation wheels or the big View Object wheel. 2 Click and hold down the Center wedge. 3 Drag the cursor over the desired location of the model. 4 Release the button on your pointing device when the sphere is displayed.
Look Tool With the Look tool, you can rotate the current view vertically and horizontally. When rotating the view, your line of sight rotates about the current eye position, like turning your head. The Look tool can be compared to you standing in a fixed location, and looking up or down while turning your head left or right. When using the Look tool, you adjust the view of the model by dragging the cursor.
3 Drag to change the direction in which you are looking. 4 While holding down the button on your pointing device, press the arrow keys to walk in the model. 5 Release the button on your pointing device to return to the wheel. 6 Click Close to exit the wheel. To invert the vertical axis for the Look tool 1 Display a wheel. 2 Right-click the wheel, and click SteeringWheels Options. 3 In the Options Editor, the SteeringWheels page under the Interface node, select the Invert Vertical Axis check box.
you drag horizontally, the camera moves parallel to the XY plane. If you drag vertically, the camera moves along the Z axis. If the up direction is not maintained, you can roll the model using the roll ring which is centered around the pivot point. Use the properties dialog box for the SteeringWheels to control whether the up direction is maintained or not for the Orbit tool. To orbit a model with the Orbit tool 1 Display one of the View Object or Full Navigation wheels.
To maintain the up direction for the Orbit tool 1 Display the mini View Object wheel or one of the Full Navigation wheels. 2 Right-click the wheel, and click SteeringWheels Options. 3 In the Options Editor, the SteeringWheels page under the Interface node, select the Keep Scene Upright check box. 4 Click OK. Orbiting the model is constrained along the XY plane and Z directions.
To pan the view with the Pan tool 1 Display one of the Full Navigation wheels, or the mini View Object wheel. 2 Click and hold the Pan wedge. The cursor changes to the Pan cursor. 3 Drag to reposition the model. 4 Release the button on your pointing device to return to the wheel. To start the Pan tool with the middle mouse button 1 Display one of the Full Navigation wheels, or the mini View Object wheel. 2 Press and hold down the scroll wheel or middle button. The cursor changes to the Pan cursor.
3 While holding down the button on your pointing device, drag to the left or to the right to restore a previous view. Dragging to the left restores an older previous view. Dragging to the right restores a view that is newer than the one you are currently viewing. You must have previously used the Rewind tool to see views available on the right. The current position in the navigation history is indicated by the orange box that is dragged along the Rewind History panel.
Constrain the Walk Angle When walking through a model, you can constrain the movement angle to the world up vector. If the Constrain Walk Angle option is enabled, you can freely walk around while maintaining a constant camera viewpoint elevation; if the walk angle is not constrained, you will “fly” in the direction you are looking. Use the Options Editor to constrain the movement angle to the world up vector for the Walk tool.
3 Do one of the following: ■ Press and hold down the SHIFT key to enable the Up/Down tool; drag up or down. ■ Press and hold down the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW key. 4 Release the button on your pointing device to return to the wheel. Zoom Tool You use the Zoom tool to change the zoom magnification of a model. NOTE When you start the Zoom tool from the Full Navigation wheel, incremental zooming must be enabled in the Options Editor in order to use CTRL+click and SHIFT+click.
3 Drag vertically to zoom in or out. 4 Release the button on your pointing device to return to the wheel. To zoom in to an area of the model by specifying window 1 Display one of the Full Navigation wheels or the mini View Object wheel. 2 Press and hold down the SHIFT key. 3 Click and hold down the Zoom wedge. The cursor changes to the Zoom cursor. 4 Drag the pointing device to define the opposite corner of the window that defines the area in which you want to zoom.
NOTE When you use the Zoom tool from the Full Navigation wheel or the View Object wheel, the point in the view where you click to zoom becomes the Center point for future Orbit operations until you either use the Zoom tool again or use the Center tool. If you press CTRL before you click the Zoom wedge, the Center point does not change. Camera Autodesk Navisworks offers you a number of prefixed options to control the camera position and orientation during navigation.
To align with X-axis ➤ Click Align X on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Menu: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Tools ➤ Align X To align with Y-axis ➤ Click Align Y on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Menu: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Tools ➤ Align Y To align with Z-axis ➤ Click Align Z on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Menu: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Tools ➤ Align Z To look from a preset face view 1 Click Viewpoint ➤ Look From. 2 Click one of the face views.
In addition to controlling the opacity level of the ViewCube when it is inactive, you can also control its size, and the display of the compass. The settings used to control the appearance of the ViewCube are located in the Options Editor. Use the Compass The compass is displayed below the ViewCube tool and indicates which direction North is defined for the model.
3 Click OK. To display the compass for the ViewCube 1 Right-click the ViewCube tool, and click ViewCube Options. 2 In the Options Editor, the ViewCube page under the Interface node, select Show Compass Below the ViewCube. 3 Click OK. The compass is displayed below the ViewCube tool and indicates the direction of North for the model.
■ Set Current View as Home. Defines the Home view of the model based on the current view. ■ Set Current View as Front. Defines the Front view of the model based on the current view. ■ Reset Front. Resets the Front view of the model to its default orientation. ■ ViewCube Options. Displays the Options Editor where you can adjust the appearance and behavior of the ViewCube tool. ■ Help. Launches the online Help system and displays the topic for the ViewCube tool.
Switch to an Adjacent Face When the ViewCube tool is active while viewing a model from one of the face views, four orthogonal triangles are displayed near the ViewCube tool. You use these triangles to switch to one of the adjacent face views. Front View You can define the Front view of a model to define the direction of the face views on the ViewCube tool. Along with the Front view, the up direction of a model is also used to define the direction of the face views on the ViewCube tool.
3 Click OK. To automatically fit the model after a view orientation 1 Right-click the ViewCube tool, and click ViewCube Options. 2 In the Options Editor, the ViewCube page under the Interface node, select Fit-to-View on Change. 3 Click OK. To roll a face view NOTE Make sure a face view is displayed. ■ Click one of the roll arrows displayed above and to the right of the ViewCube tool.
To restore the Front view ■ Right-click the ViewCube tool, and click Reset Front. Set the View Projection Mode The ViewCube tool supports two different view projections: perspective and orthographic. Orthographic projection is also referred to as parallel projection. Perspective projected views are calculated based on the distance from a theoretical camera and target point.
Selecting and deselecting objects after Lock to Selection is turned on has no effect on the center or distance from the center of the view when a view orientation changes. You cannot zoom to the extents of a model when Lock to Selection is on, even if the ViewCube tool is set to zoom to extents after each view orientation change. To lock to the current selection Right-click the ViewCube tool, and click Lock to Selection.
View Selected Zooms the camera so that the selected items fill the Scene Area. To view selected items ➤ Click View Selected on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Menu: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Tools ➤ View Selected Shortcut menu: Scene ➤ View Selected Focus You can put the Scene View into focus mode until the next click. When you are in focus mode, clicking on an item swivels the camera so that the point clicked is in the center of the view.
This allows you to walk down stairs, for example, or follow terrain. To toggle gravity ➤ In walk navigation mode, click Gravity on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Menu: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Tools ➤ Gravity Command entry: CTRL + G Crouching NOTE This function only works in connection with collision. When walking or flying around the model with collision activated, you may encounter object that are too low to walk under, a low pipe for example. This function enables you to crouch under any such objects.
To toggle collision ➤ In walk or fly navigation mode, click Collision on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Menu: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Tools ➤ Collision Command entry: CTRL + D Third Person View This function allows you to navigate scene from a third person perspective. When third person is activated, you will be able to see an avatar which is a representation of yourself within the 3D model. Whilst navigating you will be controlling the avatar's interaction with the current scene.
4 Browse to the Autodesk Navisworks installation directory, for example: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Navisworks Freedom 2010\avatars\my_new_folder_name. 5 Type in the new name for your avatar file, and click Save. 6 Restart Autodesk Navisworks, and open any file. 7 Click Tools ➤ Global Options. 8 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Viewpoint Defaults option. 9 Click the Settings button. 10 In the Default Collision dialog box, slect the Enable check box in the Third Person area.
To toggle ViewCube ➤ Click View ➤ Head-Up Display ➤ ViewCube.
88 | Chapter 6 Explore Your Model
Control Model Appearance and Render Quality 7 You can control both the appearance of the model in the Scene Area and the quality of rendering in real time. Control Model Appearance You can use the Rendering Styles toolbar to control how your model is displayed in the Scene Area.
Full Render In full render mode, the model is rendered with smooth shading including any materials that have been applied using the Presenter tool, or have been brought through from the native CAD file. NOTE Autodesk Navisworks does not convert all native CAD file's textures. For more details, see “Use File Readers” and “Use File Exporters”. To select full render mode ■ Click Full Render on the Rendering Style toolbar.
No Lights This mode switches off all lights. The scene is shaded with flat rendering. To turn off all lights ■ Click No Lights on the Rendering Style toolbar. Menu: Viewpoint ➤ Lighting ➤ No Lights Head Light This mode uses a single directional light located at the camera that always points in the same direction as the camera. You can customize the head light properties in the File Options dialog box. To use head light mode ■ Click Head Light on the Rendering Style toolbar.
TIP Turning on head light mode before following this procedure lets you instantly see the effect your changes have on the scene rendering. 4 Click OK. Scene Lights This mode uses the lights that have been brought through from the native CAD file. If no lights are available, two default opposing lights are used instead. You can customize the intensity of scene lights in the File Options dialog box. To use lights defined with the model ■ Click Scene Lights on the Rendering Style toolbar.
Plain background ■ Graduated - the background of the 3D scene is filled with a smooth gradient between the two selected colors. Graduated background ■ Horizon - the background of the 3D scene is split across the horizontal plane giving the effect of a sky and the ground. The resulting artificial horizon gives you an indication of your orientation in the 3D world. By default, the artificial horizon respects the world up vector as set in File Options ➤ Orientation.
4 Select the second color from the Bottom Color palette. 5 Review the new background effect in the preview box, and click OK. To set an artificial horizon background 1 Click Tools ➤ Background. 2 In the Background Settings dialog box, select Horizon in the Mode drop-down list. 3 To set a graduated sky color, use the Sky Color and Horizon Sky Color palettes. 4 To set a graduated ground color, use the Horizon Ground Color and Ground Color palettes.
Points Points are real points in the model, for example, the points in a point cloud in a laser scan file. You can toggle the rendering of points in the model. You can also change the size of drawn points by using the Options Editor. To toggle the rendering of points ■ Click Points on the Rendering Style toolbar. Menu: Viewpoint ➤ Display ➤ Points To change the size of points 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Display option.
Control Render Quality Use Culling Culling lets you navigate and manipulate large and complex scenes at interactive rates by intelligently hiding less-important objects as you work. In Autodesk Navisworks, you can use the following methods of culling objects: ■ Area - the objects’ size in pixels determines whether the objects are rendered or not. By default, any objects smaller than 1x1 pixels in size are discarded.
5 Click OK. Autodesk Navisworks automatically controls the position of near and far clipping planes to give you the best view of the model. To constrain the position of the clipping planes manually 1 Click Tools ➤ File Options. 2 In the File Options dialog box, click the Culling tab. 3 Select Constrained for the Near clipping plane, and enter the desired value in the Distance box. 4 Select Constrained for the Far clipping plane, and enter the desired value in the Distance box. 5 Click OK.
Control Rendering of Objects Adjust Scene Rendering During Navigation Your models can range in size from small models to complex supermodels. As you navigate a scene in real time, Autodesk Navisworks automatically calculates which items to render first, based on the size of items, distance from the camera, and the specified frame rate. This customizable frame rate is guaranteed by default, but can be turned off, if necessary. Items that Autodesk Navisworks does not have time to render are dropped out.
4 Click OK. To render parametric primitives NOTE Modifying this option requires a restart of Autodesk Navisworks to take effect. 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Display option. 3 On the Display page, Primitives area, select the Enable Parametric Primitives check box. The level of detail changes during navigation depending on the distance from the camera. If you want to use the default representations of primitives, clear this check box.
See also: ■ “Presenter Page” on page 150 100 | Chapter 7 Control Model Appearance and Render Quality
Review Your Model 8 Select Objects Autodesk Navisworks provides several methods to interactively select items. Interactive Geometry Selection In Autodesk Navisworks, there is a concept of an active selection set (the currently selected items, or the current selection) and saved selections sets. You cannot save any selection or search sets yourself, but you can use the selection or search sets saved in the model (the Sets tab on the Selection Tree).
Autodesk Navisworks uses this hierarchical structure to identify object-specific paths (from the file name down to a particular object). By default there are four tabs: ■ Standard. Displays the default tree hierarchy, including all instancing. ■ Compact. Displays a simplified version of the hierarchy on the Standard tab, omitting various items. You can customize the level of complexity of this tree in the Options Editor. ■ Properties. Displays the hierarchy based on the items' properties.
4 To remove selection from an object in the Selection Tree press ESC. To customize the contents of the Compact tab 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Selection option. 3 On the Selection page, select the required level of detail in the Compact Tree box. Choose from the following options: ■ Models - the tree is restricted to displaying model files only. ■ Layers - the tree can be expanded down to the layer level.
NOTE When using a SpaceBall in conjunction with the standard mouse control, the SpaceBall can be configured for navigation and the mouse for selecting. See “SpaceBall” on page 82 for more information. Selecting geometry in the Scene Area automatically selects the corresponding objects in the Selection Tree. Holding the SHIFT key whilst selecting items in the Scene Area cycles through the selection resolution, allowing you to get more specific with your selections.
■ Select Multiple Instances. Selects all instances (sometimes called insertions) of the currently selected geometry group that occur in the model. ■ Select Same Name. Selects all items in the model that have the same name as the currently selected item. ■ Select Same Type. Selects all items in the model that have the same type as the currently selected item. ■ Select Same . Selects all items with the same property as the currently selected item.
Set Highlighting Method You can use the Options Editor to customize color and method of highlighting geometry selected in the Scene Area. There are three types of highlighting: ■ Shaded ■ Wireframe ■ Tinted To toggle highlighting of selected objects 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Selection option. 3 On the Selection page, Highlight area, select the Enabled check box, if you want the selected items to be highlighed in the Scene Area.
6 If you selected Tinted in the Method box, use the slider to adjust the Tint Level. 7 Click OK. Hide Objects Autodesk Navisworks provides tools that can be used to hide and display objects or groups of objects. Hidden objects are not drawn in the Scene Area. Hide Selected Objects You can hide the objects in the current selection so that they are not drawn in the Scene Area. This is useful when you want to remove specific parts of the model.
Find Objects You can run simple manual searches of the model by item property. To do this: ■ On the Selection Tree, click the Properties tab, and click the saved property search in the list. The corresponding model geometry is selected in the Scene Area. Use Sets of Objects In Autodesk Navisworks, you cannot save any selection or search sets yourself, but you can use the selection or search sets saved in the model. Selection sets store a group of items for later retrieval.
To toggle the Properties window ■ Click Properties on the Workspace toolbar. Menu: View ➤ Control Bars ➤ Properties Command entry: SHIFT + F7 To examine object’s properties 1 Select the object of interest in the Selection Tree, or in the Scene Area. 2 Open the Properties window, and use the tabs to navigate between the available property categories. NOTE If more than one object is selected, the Properties window only shows the number of selected items, and doesn’t show any property information.
To view comments 1 Open the Comments window. 2 Go the source of your comments. For example, open the Saved Viewpoints window. 3 As you click the source items, for example, viewpoints, the associated comments are displayed in the Comments window.
When links are switched on, you can reduce the screen clutter by restricting a number of links can be shown in the Scene Area, hiding colliding icons, and using culling. Finally, as some standard link categories can have comments associated with them, you can choose to only draw links with attached comments. To toggle the display of links ■ Click Hyperlinks on the Workspace toolbar. Menu: Tools ➤ Hyperlinks To control the display of standard links 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options.
4 Click OK. Customize Links You can customize the default appearance of links in Autodesk Navisworks. In particular, you can draw them in 3D, and you can add leader lines (arrows) pointing to the attachment point on the items. You can also choose how to represent each link category (as an icon or as text). To draw links in 3D mode NOTE In 3D mode links can become hidden by other objects in the scene when you are navigating. 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options.
2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, expand the Hyperlinks node, and click the User-Defined Categories option. 3 On the User-Defined Categories page, use the Icon Type box to specify how you want a link to be drawn for each of the available categories. You can choose between an icon and text. By default, links with user-defined categories are shown as icons. NOTE If no user-defined categories have been added, this page is empty. 4 Click OK.
Smart Tags Smart tags display property information in a tooltip style window as you move your cursor over objects in the Scene Area. You don’t need to select objects first. The smart tags disappear after a few seconds. By default, smart tags show the name and type of the object, but you can use the Options Editor to define which properties are shown. Each definition that you configure enables you to display an additional category/property combination in smart tags.
6 Click OK. To hide category names 1 Click Tools ➤ Global Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the SmartTags option. 3 Select the Hide Category check box. 4 Click OK.
116 | Chapter 8 Review Your Model
Use Viewpoints and Sectioning Modes 9 Viewpoints are snapshots taken of the model as it is displayed in the scene. Viewpoints may include a variety of comments and redline tags, which have been previously added to a viewpoint. You cannot create viewpoints in Autodesk Navisworks, but you can use any of the viewpoints and viewpoint animations saved in the model. Viewpoint animation typically contains both the user movement through the model and views of the model.
represents a viewpoint saved in orthographic mode. represents a viewpoint saved in perspective mode. represents a viewpoint animation clip. represents a cut inserted into a viewpoint animation clip. You can select more than one viewpoint by either holding down the Control key and left-clicking, or by left-clicking the first item, and then clicking the last item while holding down the Shift key. You can drag viewpoints around the Saved Viewpoints window, but you cannot save any changes.
Edit Opens the Edit Viewpoint dialog box, and enables you to manually edit the viewpoint’s attributes. Update Makes the selected viewpoint the same as the current viewpoint in the Scene Area. Transform Opens the Transform dialog box. It enables you to transform the camera position. Delete Deletes the selected viewpoint from the Saved Viewpoints window. Rename Enables you to rename the selected viewpoint. Sort Sorts the contents of the Saved Viewpoints window alphabetically. Help Opens the Help system.
Help Opens the Help system. Recall Viewpoints You can return to any of previously saved viewpoints. On recalling viewpoints the navigation mode that was active when the viewpoint was created will be re-selected. Any redlines and comments associated with the viewpoint will also be reinstated. To recall a viewpoint from the Saved Viewpoints window 1 If the Saved Viewpoints window is not displayed, click Saved Viewpoints on the Workspace toolbar. 2 Click the desired viewpoint in the list.
4 Click OK. To delete a viewpoint 1 If the Saved Viewpoints window is not displayed, click Saved Viewpoints on the Workspace toolbar. 2 Right-click the viewpoint you want to remove, and click Delete.
122 | Chapter 9 Use Viewpoints and Sectioning Modes
Play Back Animations In Autodesk Navisworks there are two types of animation: viewpoint animation and object animation. 10 Viewpoint animation contains pre-recorded user and camera movements in the model. Object animation contains pre-recorded object movements in the model. You cannot record any animation in Autodesk Navisworks, but you can play back animations saved with the model. If there are any animation scripts, you can switch them on and interact with animated objects.
To enable scripting ➤ To enable animation scripts in your file, click the Toggle Scripts button on the Animation toolbar. You can now interact with your model. For example, if there is a script to open a door on pressing a specific key on the keyboard, pressing this key will open the door.
Work Within a Team Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 enables multiple users to participate in a single design review session across a Local Area Network (LAN). This utilizes the shared program features of Windows NetMeeting, available to all Windows users. 11 Collaborate Toolbar The Collaborate toolbar contains the collaboration tools necessary to run collaboration sessions.
NOTE The first time Windows NetMeeting initializes, a Setup wizard will take you through the setup process. You will need to enter your name and email address. When using NetMeeting on a LAN you do not need to log onto a directory server, as these will not be available to you. To place a call, inviting attendees to join 1 Having initialized Windows NetMeeting, click the Call button in the NetMeeting dialog box.
To accept an invitation 1 When you are invited to join a meeting, the Incoming Call dialog box is displayed. 2 Click the Accept button to join the meeting, or Ignore to decline the invitation. NOTE Once you have accepted a call, you will need to click the Collaborate to start your own collaboration session. button on the Collaborate toolbar To become the driver During a collaboration meeting, anyone in the call can take control of the session and become the 'driver'.
128 | Chapter 11 Work Within a Team
Share Data 12 Print You can print a hard copy of the current viewpoint to any printer or plotter. Print Preview Before you print out a copy of the model you are working on, you may wish to see how it will appear. To preview model before printing 1 Click File ➤ Print Preview. 2 Use the Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons to do just that with the preview image. 3 Click Print. 4 In the Print dialog box, click OK. Print Setup This option enables you to the set up paper size and orientation options.
Print Current Viewpoint When the print option is selected, Autodesk Navisworks prints the current viewpoint scaled to fit and centered on the page. To print the current viewpoint 1 Click File ➤ Print. 2 Check the printer settings are as required, and click OK. NOTE The maximum image size is 2048x2048 pixels. The Properties button controls printer-specific ink and paper settings.
TimeLiner Playback TimeLiner playback enables you to play back a TimeLiner construction sequence. In this section, you will learn how to simulate your TimeLiner sequence throughout the duration of the project schedule. 13 Overview of TimeLiner Tool The TimeLiner tool adds 4D schedule simulation to Autodesk Navisworks files. In Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010, TimeLiner has a playback-only option, allowing any externally created project data to be simulated, but no changes to be made to that data.
The Status Icons Each task has its own Status identified by an icon, representing planned against actual relationships. Each icon shows two bars. The top bar represents the Planned dates, and the bottom bar represents the Actual dates. If the Actual Start and Finish dates are the same as the Planned Start and Finish dates, the bars are displayed in green. Any variations between Planned and Actual dates are displayed in red. Missing Planned or Actual dates are shown in grey.
will stop the simulation playing and rewind back to the beginning. Stop will play the simulation from the currently selected time. Play Step Forwards Forward will step forwards a single step size. will fast forward the simulation to the end. You can use the Simulation Position slider to quickly move forwards and backwards through the simulation. Full left is at the beginning and full right is at the end. The Date/Time box below the VCR buttons shows the point in time through the simulation.
134 | Chapter 13 TimeLiner Playback
Autodesk Navisworks Reference 14 File Options Dialog Box Use this dialog box to control the appearance of the model and the speed of navigation around it. When you modify any of the options in this dialog box, your changes are saved in the currently opened Autodesk Navisworks file, and apply to this file only. Menu: Tools ➤ File Options. Culling Tab Use this tab to adjust geometry culling in the opened Autodesk Navisworks file. Area Enable Specifies whether area culling is used.
Distance Specifies the farthest distance between the camera and the near clipping plane position in constrained mode. Specifies the exact distance between the camera and the near clipping plane position in fixed mode. NOTE Nothing is drawn between the camera and the near clipping plane; when you override automatic mode, make this value small enough to display your data. Also, overriding automatic mode with values under 1 can produce unpredictable results.
The default setting is 6. You can set the frame rate from 1 through 60 frames per second. Reducing the value reduces drop-out, but can cause jerky movement during navigation. Increasing the value ensures a smoother navigation, but increases drop-out. TIP If you want to restore the default values, click the Defaults button. Head Light Tab Use this tab to change the intensity of the scene's ambient light and headlight for Head Light mode. Ambient Use the slider to control the overall brightness of the scene.
Override Material Select this check box to save material override information with the viewpoint. When you use a viewpoint again, the material overrides set when the viewpoint was saved are reapplied. NOTE Saving the state information with each viewpoint requires a relatively large amount of memory. Collision Settings Opens the Collision dialog box. Options Editor Use the Options Editor to adjust program settings for Autodesk Navisworks sessions.
Site Directory Click to open the Browse for Folder dialog box, and locate the directory that contains the Autodesk Navisworks settings standard across the entire project site. Environment Page Use the settings on this page to adjust the number of recent file shortcuts stored by Autodesk Navisworks. Maximum Recently Used Files Specifies how many file shortcuts Autodesk Navisworks can remember. By default, shortcuts to the four most recently opened files can be displayed.
Merge Duplicates These options improve performance by multiply instancing matching items. Rather than storing every item in memory, if any items are the same, Autodesk Navisworks can store one instance of them and 'copy' that instance into other positions. This is of particular benefit on larger models, where there are significant numbers of these duplicate geometries. On Convert Select this check box to merge duplicates when a CAD file is converted into the Autodesk Navisworks format.
NWD Page Use the options on this page to enable and disable geometry compression and select whether the precision of certain options is reduced when saving or publishing NWD files. Geometry Compression Enable Select this check box to enable geometry compression when NWD files are saved. Geometry compression results in less memory being required and therefore smaller NWD files. Reduce Precision Coordinates Select this check box to reduce the precision of coordinates.
TIP If you want to restore the default values, click the Defaults button. Display Units Page Use this page to customize the units used by Autodesk Navisworks. Linear Units Use the drop-down list to select the desired linear value. Meters are used by default. Angular Units Use the drop-down list to select the desired angular value. Degrees are used by default. Decimal Places Specifies the number of decimal places used by units. Fractional Display Precision Specifies the level of fraction used by units.
Measure Page Use the options on this page to adjust the appearance and style of the measure lines. Line Thickness Specifies the thickness of the measure lines. Color Click to specify the color of the measure lines. In 3D Select this check box to draw the measure lines in 3D. If the measure lines become obscured by other geometry, clear this check box to draw the lines in 2D over the top of geometry.
Override Linear Speed By default, the linear navigation speed is directly related to the size of your model. Select this check box, if you want to set a specific navigation speed manually. Default Linear Speed Specifies the default linear speed value. Default Angular Speed Specifies the default speed at which the camera turns. Collision Settings Opens the Default Collision dialog box where you can adjust the collision, gravity, crouching and third person view settings.
Viewpoints Icon Type Specifies how to display this hyperlink category. Select one of the following options: ■ Icon - hyperlinks are represented by default icons in the Scene View: - hyperlinks to viewpoints saved in perspective mode - hyperlinks to viewpoints saved in orthographic mode ■ Text - hyperlinks are represented by text boxes with hyperlink descriptions in the Scene View. Visible Select this check box to display this hyperlink category in the Scene View.
Smart Tags Page Use the options on this page to customize the way smart tags are displayed in the Scene View. TIP If you want to restore the default values, click the Defaults button. Hide Category Clear this check box to include category names in the smart tag tooltips. If you don’t want to see category names in the smart tag tooltips, select this check box. Definitions Page Use the options on this page to set up the smart tag categories. Buttons Add Element Click to add a smart tag definition.
IMPORTANT Occlusion culling can only be used on a machine with an OpenGL 1.5 compliant graphics card. Transparency Interactive Transparency Select this check box to render transparent items dynamically during interactive navigation. By default, this check box is clear, therefore, transparent items are only drawn when interaction has stopped. NOTE If your video card does not support hardware accelerated OpenGL, selecting this check box can affect display performance.
Size Specifies the size of the ViewCube. You can choose from the following options: ■ Automatic ■ Tiny ■ Small ■ Medium ■ Large NOTE In automatic mode, the size of the ViewCube is relative to the size of the Scene Area, and ranges between medium and tiny. Inactive Opacity When the ViewCube is inactive, that is your cursor is distant from the ViewCube, it appears transparent.
■ Normal (128x128) ■ Large (256x256). Normal is the default option. Opacity Controls the opacity level of big wheels. The default value is 50%. You can choose from the following options: ■ 25% (mostly transparent) ■ 50% ■ 75% ■ 90% (mostly opaque) Mini Wheels Size Specifies the size of mini wheels. You can choose from the following options: ■ Small (16x16) ■ Normal (32x32) ■ Large (64x64). ■ Extra Large (256x256) Normal is the default option.
When this check box is clear, the Walk tool disregards the world up vector, and the camera is walked with its current up orientation unaffected. Walk Speed Sets the speed of the Walk tool from 0.1 (very slow) to 10 (very fast). Zoom Tool Enable Single-Click Incremental Zoom In When this check box is selected, single clicking over the Zoom wedge increases the magnification of the model. When this check box is clear, nothing happens when you single click over the Zoom wedge.
Select from the following options: ■ Basic - gives you access to the basic Presenter features, with a limited editing functionality. This is the default option. ■ Standard - gives you access to some of the advanced Presenter features. ■ Advanced - gives you access to the advanced Presenter features, such as extra materials, lights, render styles. Smoothed Textures Select this check box if you want textures to look smooth; this takes longer to render.
■ Interactive Shadows - both lights and shadows are shown during navigation. Hardware Bump Maps Select this check box to display bump map textures during navigation. To use this option, enable Hardware Shading first. NOTE This option can only be used on machines with OpenGL 1.5 compliant graphics cards. Hardware Marble Select this check box to display hardware-rendered marble materials during navigation. To use this option, enable Hardware Shading first.
Viewer Radius Specifies the radius of the collision volume. Height Specifies the height of the collision volume. Eye Offset Specifies the distance below the top of the collision volume, where the camera will focus upon if Auto Zoom check box is selected. Third Person Enable Select this check box to use third person view. In third person view, an avatar is shown in the Scene View to represent the viewer.
Auto Zoom Select this check box to automatically switch from third person view to first person view whenever the line of vision becomes obscured by an item. Avatar Specifies the avatar that is used in third person view. Angle Specifies the angle at which the camera looks at the avatar. For example, zero degrees positions the camera directly behind the avatar; 15 degrees makes the camera look down on the avatar at a 15 degree angle. Distance Specifies the distance between the camera and the avatar.
Glossary Glossary of technical terms relating to Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010. Display Terminology average frame rate This shows the current measured frame rate, averaged over the last second. average frame time This shows the time taken to render the last frame. average triangle rate This shows the rate at which triangles are being rendered and is a measure of how well your graphics card is working. culling Culling is a process for determining items not to draw during the render of a scene.
item type Every item in Autodesk Navisworks has a type. Examples of types are reference files, layers, instances (sometimes called inserts) and groups. Every CAD package also has a number of geometry types, for example, polygons, 3D Solids and so on. selection resolution The selection resolution is the level in the selection tree you start selecting at. You can cycle through items in the tree by holding down the shift key during a selection.
Index 3D space 49 D A ADN 11 align viewpoint 49 animation enable scripts 123 play 123 Animation toolbar 33 annotations 109 Autodesk Developer Network Default Collision 152 auto crouch 152 gravity 152 third person 152 viewer 152 Display Units 43 dockable windows 35 11 E Edit menu 29 Edit Viewpoint 137 enable scripts 123 enhancements 3 exit 27 B background effects 92 Background Settings 154 C cameras 74 align 74 orthographic 74 perspective 74 straighten 74 CIP (Customer Involvement Program) close toolb
Look Around 52 Orbit 54 Pan 53 Turntable 55 Walk 52 Zoom 53 Zoom Box 53 Navigation Tools toolbar NetMeeting 125 new features 3 notification icon 36 notifications 5 print 9 procedures 9 quick reference 9 search 8 training 10 Help menu 30 hide objects 107 highlighting 106 horizon background 92 HUD 86 hyperlinks 110 I installation 13, 16 general issues 22 languages 15 maintenance issues 24 stand-alone 13 troubleshooting 22 K keyboard shortcuts 37 L open 48 open toolbars 30 Options Editor 138 file exporte
control 98 full 90 hidden line 90 shaded 90 wireframe 90 Rendering Style toolbar review 109 Tour Building Wheels turntable 55 56 U 32 S Scene Area 35 scene views 35 resize 35 search directories 44 selection 101 commands 104 pick radius 103 resolution 105 Selection Tools toolbar 32 Selection Tree 101 sort 101 share print 129 shortcuts 37 Show Internal Properties 43 Site Directory 42 smart tags 114 control display 114 definition 114 hide category name 114 SpaceBall 82 stand-alone installation 13 Standard
160 | Index
