Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 User Guide April 2011
©2011 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., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and other countries: 3DEC (design/logo), 3December, 3December.
Contents Chapter 1 Welcome to Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 . . . . . . . . . 1 What Is New in This Release? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 How to Get Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Find Information Using InfoCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Overview of InfoCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Search for Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Access Subscription Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Choose a Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Install Multiple or Bundled Products . . . . . . . . . . . Install and Run Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 . . . . . Install Autodesk Navisworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Launch Autodesk Navisworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How to Launch Autodesk Navisworks in Another Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repair Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 . . . . . . .
Undo/Redo Commands . . . . . . . Autodesk Navisworks Workspaces . Default Keyboard Shortcuts . . . . . Navigation with the Wheel Button . . . . Autodesk Navisworks Options . . . . . . Location Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Display Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Search Directories . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gizmos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Full Navigation Wheels . . . 2D Navigation Wheel . . . . 3Dconnexion 3D Mouse . . . . . . Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Set Camera Projection . . . . Control the Field of View . . Position and Focus Camera . Navigation Aids . . . . . . . . . . Head-Up Display . . . . . . . Reference Views . . . . . . . Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Control the Realism of Your Navigation . Gravity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crouching . . . . . . . . . . . . . Collision .
Chapter 7 Review Your Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Select Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interactive Geometry Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selection Tree Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selection Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selection Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Set Highlighting Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hide Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Find Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Collaboration Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 Chapter 11 Share Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Print Preview . . . . . . . Print Setup . . . . . . . . Print Current Viewpoint . Chapter 12 TimeLiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 . 255 . 255 . 256 Playback . . .
Quick Properties Page . Developer Page . . . . . Display Page . . . . . . 3Dconnexion Page . . . Navigation Bar Page . . ViewCube Page . . . . . SteeringWheels . . . . . User Interface Page . . . Model Node . . . . . . . . . Performance Page . . . NWD Page . . . . . . . NWC Page . . . . . . . Chapter 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Welcome to Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 1 Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 software is the free viewer for NWD and DWF™ files. Use Navisworks Freedom to extend the whole-project view to all project stakeholders, helping to improve communication and collaboration.
Autodesk File Format Support Autodesk Navisworks now offers 2D DWF and multi-sheet DWF support, allowing you to open, review and explore your 2D datasets alongside your 3D models. Importantly, the 2D view is integrated with the 3D environment this enables you to select a component in the 3D model and then to find and review the same component in a 2D representation (such as a floor plan or section) providing you with the most appropriate view of the data for the task that you are undertaking.
■ You can now open 2D DWF, and multi-sheet DWF files, as well as NWD files. ■ A Gantt View is now available during 4D TimeLiner simulations. Miscellaneous Enhancements ■ Enhanced support for the ■ 3D mouse through an extended interface. See 3Dconnexion 3D Mouse (page 164). ■ Communication Centre now supports live updates. ■ New avatars to be used in a variety of roles ranging from construction workers and safety professionals, to office workers.
per viewpoint, you can easily show how project stakeholders will interact with a specific phase of the project in the relevant context. How to Get Assistance There are various ways to find information about how to use this program, and multiple resources are available. Find Information Using InfoCenter You can use InfoCenter to search Autodesk Navisworks help file for information. You can also easily access product updates and announcements.
■ Access to product-related updates and announcements through Communication Center panel ■ Access saved topics through Favorites panel To display the InfoCenter box in a collapsed state, click the arrow to its left. To rearrange the topics displayed on a panel 1 Display a panel by doing one of the following: ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Subscription Center button. ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Communication Center button. ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Favorites button.
When you enter keywords or a phrase in the InfoCenter box, you search the contents of the main Autodesk Navisworks Help file. Keyword searches produce better results. The results are listed on the Help Search tab. Click a topic to display it in help. When you use InfoCenter to search for information, you can use the following special symbols in your query to refine or expand it. These symbols can be used alone or can be combined.
Access Subscription Center Subscription Center displays links to information about subscription services such as product enhancements, personalized web support from Autodesk technical experts, and self-paced e-Learning. If you are a subscription member, you can access subscription services by clicking the Communication Center button in the InfoCenter box, and then clicking a Subscription Center link. To learn more about Autodesk subscription membership, visit http://www.autodesk.com/subscriptioncenter.
Subscription Resources and Privacy Subscription resources provide interactive product features over the Internet. Each time you access subscription resources (such as e-Learning or Create Support Request) from Communication Center in an Autodesk product, product information (such as the serial number, version, language, and the subscription contract ID) is sent to Autodesk for verification that your product is on subscription.
TIP The main components for the Autodesk Vault can be downloaded from the Autodesk Subscription site. 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 You can click the Communication Center button to display links to information about product updates and announcements, and may include links to RSS feeds.
You can customize the items that display on the Communication Center panel. For more information, see Specify InfoCenter Settings (page 16). Communication Center Online Policy Communication Center is an interactive feature that must be connected to the Internet in order to deliver content and information. Each time Communication Center is connected, it sends your information to Autodesk so that you receive the correct information. All information is sent anonymously to Autodesk to maintain your privacy.
Any link that displays on the Subscription Center or Communication Center panel can be marked as a favorite. A link marked as a favorite displays a star icon on the Subscription Center panel or the Communication Center panel. To display the InfoCenter Favorites panel ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Favorites button. NOTE The links displayed on the Favorites panel are organized into the same groups or categories from which they were added.
above the left pane give you several ways for finding the topics you want to view. The right pane displays the topics you select. To display topics in Help ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Help button. How Help Topics Are Organized Most topics in this Help system have three tabs above the right pane of the Help window. The tabs display different types of information. ■ Concept tab. Describes a feature or function.
Use Wild Card Characters You can use the following wild card characters in any keyword: Symbol Description * Replaces one or more characters when used at the beginning, middle, or end of a word. For example, “*lish”, “p*lish”, and “pub*” will all find “publish”. Also, “anno*” will find “annotative”, “annotation”, “annoupdate”, “annoreset”, and so on. ? Replaces a single character. For example, “cop?” will find “copy”, but not “copybase”.
AND is used. For example, the query spacing border printing is equivalent to spacing AND border AND printing.
Index Tab ■ Displays an alphabetical list of keywords related to the topics listed on the Contents tab. ■ Accesses information quickly when you already know the name of a feature, command, or operation, or when you know what action you want the program to perform. Search Tab ■ Provides a keyword search of all the topics listed on the Contents tab. ■ Accepts the Boolean operators AND (+), OR, NOT (-), and NEAR. ■ Accepts the wild cards *, ?, and ~.
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. 3 In the Print Topics dialog box, click Print the Selected Heading and All Subtopics. 4 Click OK. Show and Hide the Contents Pane You can control the size of the Help window.
■ Communication Center. Set the maximum age of the articles displayed on the Communication Center panel. ■ Autodesk Channels. Channels to display in the Communication Center panel as well as the number of articles to display for each channel. ■ Balloon Notification. Notifications for new product information, software updates, and product support announcements. Also, you can customize the transparency and the display time of the balloon. ■ RSS Feeds. RSS feed subscriptions.
6 Enter the transparency value of the balloon or set the value using the slider. 7 Click OK. To add an RSS feed to Communication Center 1 Display a panel by doing one of the following: ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Subscription Center button. ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Communication Center button. 2 Click the InfoCenter Settings button . 3 In the InfoCenter Settings dialog box, in the left pane, click RSS Feeds. 4 In the right pane, do one of the following: ■ Click Add.
Get More Help You can access several additional sources of help. ■ Use Communication Center. Display the Communication Center panel for product updates and announcements. ■ Press F1. Displays context-sensitive reference information. ■ Click the Help button in many dialog boxes. Displays reference information for the dialog box. ■ View the product Readme. Displays late-breaking information about this product.
■ Read the Autodesk Privacy Statement: http://www.autodesk.com/cipprivacy When you join, you will be able to view reports that can help you optimize your use of Autodesk Navisworks. To turn the CIP on or off 1 On the InfoCenter toolbar, to the right of the Help button, click the drop-down arrow. 2 Click Customer Involvement Program. 3 In the Customer Involvement Program dialog box, select to start or stop participating. 4 Click OK.
Installation 2 Quick Start to Stand-Alone Installation This section provides step-by-step instructions about how to prepare, and then install Autodesk Navisworks. Stand-alone installation is recommended for individual users or small groups. The key point is that you will repeat the installation process on each computer. For a stand-alone license this is the only valid installation type, but it can also be used with a multi-seat stand-alone or network license.
Whether your Windows operating system is the 32-bit or the 64-bit version, the version is automatically detected during installation. See the following table for hardware and software requirements.
Hardware and software requirements for client machine Pointing device Microsoft® Mouse-compliant pointing device DVD-ROM Any speed (for installation only) Optional hardware Printer or plotter Modem or access to an Internet connection Network interface card Install Microsoft .Net Framework 4.0 Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 requires Microsoft .Net 4.0 to be installed prior to product installation. Most Windows updates should include Microsoft .
Understand Administrative Permission Requirements To install Autodesk Navisworks, you must have administrator permissions. You do not need to have domain administrative permissions. See your system administrator for information about administrative permissions. To run Autodesk Navisworks, you do not need administrator permissions. You can run the program as a limited user.
NOTE You must install at least one language pack for each product. It is possible to install additional language packs to Autodesk Navisworks products later. You can manually install the required language packs by double-clicking on the language pack MSI file. Language packs are located on the installation DVD and unpacked downloaded media under the x86 folder for 32-bit products and under the x64 folder for 64-bit products.
Program Contains full set of Autodesk Navisworks files. ■ Create the Desktop Shortcut. Select the check box to create the desktop shortcut for Autodesk Navisworks. ■ Project and Site Folders. Use the Browse buttons to select the directories that will contain Autodesk Navisworks settings that can be shared across an entire project site, or across a specific project group (see Select the Project and Site Folders). ■ Service Packs.
Install and Run Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 You must have administrative permissions to install Autodesk Navisworks. This section provides instructions for installing and activating Autodesk Navisworks for an individual user on a stand-alone computer. NOTE Autodesk does not recommend or support the distribution of an Autodesk product using imaging software. Install Autodesk Navisworks The Autodesk NavisworksInstallation wizard contains all installation-related material in one place.
To install Autodesk Navisworks using default values on a stand-alone computer 1 Close all running applications on your computer and start the Installation wizard. 2 On the Installation wizard, if required, select an alternate language for the Installation wizard from the Installation Instructions drop-down, and then click Install. 3 Review the Autodesk software license agreement for your country or region. You must accept this agreement to proceed with the installation.
2 On the Installation wizard, if required, select an alternate language for the Installation wizard from the Installation Instructions drop-down, and then click Install. 3 Review the Autodesk software license agreement for your country or region. You must accept this agreement to proceed with the installation. Choose your country or region, click I Accept, and then click Next. NOTE If you do not agree to the terms of the license and want to terminate the installation, click Cancel.
Start In directory for the shortcut points to a directory where you have write permissions. NOTE When the product is started, by default, it uses the language that best matches the settings on your computer. You can also launch Autodesk Navisworks in another of the supported languages. How to Launch Autodesk Navisworks in Another Language To run Autodesk Navisworks in another of the installed languages, you need to add one of the language selector arguments to the desktop shortcut.
Repair Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 If you accidentally delete or alter files that are required by Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012, Autodesk Navisworks might not perform correctly, and you might receive error messages when you try to execute a command or find a file. You can attempt to fix this problem by repairing Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012. Repairing uses the features that were part of the installation type you chose when you initially installed the program.
components, or if you've reinstalled or repaired Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012, the uninstall removes all Autodesk Navisworks installation files from your system. IMPORTANT Do not use registry cleaning programs or attempt to modify the registry entries yourself to uninstall Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012. Failure to follow the official uninstall procedure will result in the inability to re-install the software .
General Installation Issues This section provides solutions to installation issues and answers to commonly asked questions that may arise while installing your products. How can I check my graphics card driver to see if it needs to be updated? It is recommended that you ensure your computer has the most current graphics card driver for the best possible display performance. To identify your graphics card driver 1 Start Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012.
How do I switch my license from stand-alone to network or network to stand-alone? If you simply entered the wrong license type by mistake, and are still running the installer, use the Back button to return to the Product Information page, and change the License Type. If you want to change the license type for an installed product, contact your Autodesk reseller or license supplier to obtain the new license and serial number.
How do I share the Autodesk Navisworks settings on a site and project basis? Sharing Autodesk Navisworks settings requires you to export the desired settings as an XML file to the appropriate Site or Project directory’s global_options folder. The name of the XML file is not significant. However it must be stored in the global_options folder. TIP When you configure global options, you can lock some of the options to prevent users from editing them later on local machines.
See also: Location Options (page 90) Autodesk Navisworks Options (page 85) NO LABEL Run the installer again from the original media, and click Install Tools & Utilities on the first screen. The installer guides you through the process of selection, configuration and installation of tools and utilities. When should I reinstall the product instead of repairing it? Reinstall your product if you accidentally delete or alter files that are required by the program.
IMPORTANT Do not use registry cleaning programs or attempt to modify the registry entries yourself to uninstall Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012. Failure to follow the official uninstall procedure will result in the inability to re-install the software. When should I reinstall the product instead of a repair? You should reinstall your product if you accidentally delete or alter files that are required by the program.
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Quick Start 3 Start and Quit Autodesk Navisworks Once you’ve installed (page 21)Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012, 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 ■ Click Start ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤ Navisworks Freedom 2012 ➤ Freedom 2012. Autodesk Navisworks starts in the language that best matches the settings on your computer.
Parts of Autodesk Navisworks Interface This section briefly describes the main components of the standard Autodesk Navisworks interface. 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 docking windows that you rarely use, so they do not clutter the interface. You can add and remove buttons from the ribbon and the Quick Access toolbar.
4. Ribbon 8. Status bar See also: Overview of InfoCenter (page 4) To change theme of the standard user interface 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the User Interface option. 3 On the User Interface page, select the required theme type from the Theme drop-down list. 4 Click OK. Application Button and Menu The application menu enables you to access common tools.
Option Description (New) Closes the currently open file, and creates a new file. (Open) Opens files. Prints the scene. (Print) (Print Preview) Shows a preview of how the document will print. Specifies print settings. (Print Settings) Options Opens the Options Editor. Exit Navisworks Exits the program.
Recent Documents List You can view, sort, and access supported files that you have recently opened. The most recent files are shown in the Recent Documents list. The list is ordered with the most recently used file at the top. By default, up to four files are shown. If you want to modify the size of this list, use the Options Editor. You can pin the files by using the push pin button to the right. Pinning enables you to keep a file in the list until you turn off the push pin button.
4 Click OK. To keep a document in the Recent Documents list ■ Click the push pin button to the right of the document. To view the Recent Documents list by access date ■ In the top-left corner of the Recent Documents list, in the By Ordered List drop-down list, select By Access Date. To view the Recent Documents list by size ■ In the top-left corner of the Recent Documents list, in the By Ordered List drop-down list, select By Size.
You can add unlimited number of buttons to the Quick Access toolbar. Buttons are added to the right of the default commands. You can add separators between the buttons. Commands that extend past the maximum length of the toolbar are displayed in a flyout button . NOTE Only ribbon commands can be added to the Quick Access toolbar. You can move the Quick Access toolbar either above or below the ribbon.
Shortcut menu: Right-click any button on the Quick Access toolbar. Click Show Quick Access Toolbar above the Ribbon. By default, it contains the following tools: Option Description (New) Closes the currently open file, and creates a new file. (Open) Opens files. (Print) Prints the current viewpoint. (Undo) Cancels the most recent action. (Redo) Reinstates the most recent action. (Select) Selects items with a mouse click.
To specify which ribbon tabs and panels are displayed, right-click the ribbon and, on the shortcut menu, click or clear the names of tabs or panels. You can customize the ribbon depending on your needs in the following ways: ■ Change the order of ribbon tabs. Click the tab you want to move, drag it to the desired position, and release. ■ Change the order of ribbon panels in a tab. Click the panel you want to move, drag it to the desired position, and release.
expanded, click the push pin panel. icon in the bottom-left corner of the slideout Floating Panels If you pull a panel off of a ribbon tab and into a different area in the application window or the desktop, that panel floats where you placed it. The floating panel remains open until you return it to the ribbon, even if you switch ribbon tabs. Tool Launcher Some ribbon panels display a dialog box or a dockable window related to that panel.
To hide or show a ribbon panel 1 Click the ribbon tab that you want to organize. 2 Right-click the ribbon tab. 3 Under Show Panels, click or clear the name of a panel. To show or hide text labels on ribbon panels ■ Right-click a ribbon tab, and click or clear Show Panel Titles. To return a floating panel to the ribbon ■ Mouse over the right side of the floating panel and click the Return Panels to Ribbon icon.
Home Tab Panel Contains tools to... Project control the whole scene. Select & Search select items and save selections in the scene via a range of methods, including using searches. Visibility show and hide items of model geometry. Display show and hide information including properties and links. Tools launch TimeLiner Playback tool. Viewpoint Tab Panel Contains tools to... Save, Load & Playback load and playback saved viewpoints and viewpoint animations.
Panel Contains tools to... Comments view and locate comments in the scene. Animation Tab Panel Contains tools to... Playback select and play back animations. Script enable scripts. View Tab Panel Contains tools to... Stereo enable stereoscopic vision provided suitable hardware is available. Navigate set the linear and angular speed of motion, select navigational tools and 3D mouse settings, and apply realism settings such as gravity and collisions. This panel is hidden by default.
Output Tab Panel Contains tools to... Print print and preview the current viewpoint, and set print settings. Send send an email with the current file as an attachment. Item Tools Tab Panel Contains tools to... Hold hold the selected items so that they move with you as you navigate around the scene. Look At focus and zoom the current view onto the selected items. Visibility control the visibility of the selected items.
Some tooltips on the application menu, Quick Access toolbar, and ribbon are progressive. If you leave the cursor over the menu choice or a button for another moment, the tooltip may expand to show additional information. While the tooltip is visible, you can press F1 for context-sensitive help that provides more information about that tool. Keytips Autodesk Navisworks provides accelerator keys, or keytips, to enable you to use the keyboard, rather than the mouse, to interact with the application window.
Navigation Tools The navigation bar provides access to tools related to interactive navigation and orientation in the model including Autodesk® ViewCube®, SteeringWheels®, and 3Dconnexion® 3D mouse. You can customize the navigation bar based on what you consider important to show. You can also change the docking position of the navigation bar in the Scene View.
When a menu has a right-pointing arrow, such as is a submenu associated with that choice. , there When a menu item is followed by a series of dots, such as , there is a dialog box associated with that choice. File Menu This menu contains commands for managing files. Option Description New Resets the program, and closes the currently open Autodesk Navisworks file. Open Displays the Open dialog box. Open URL Displays the Open URL dialog box. Print Displays the Print dialog box.
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. Quick Find Displays the Quick Find dialog box. Quick Find Next Repeats the previously run quick find search. Hidden Toggles hidden mode for selected items. Required Toggles required mode for selected items.
View Menu This menu contains commands that control the Autodesk Navisworks interface. Option Description Control Bars Enables you to toggle the display of control bars. Workspaces Enables you to control workspaces. Scene View Enable you to control the views in the Scene View. Head-Up Display Enables you to toggle navigation controls, such as ViewCube, Navigation Bar, and HUD elements. SteeringWheels Enables you to control the SteeringWheels. Enable Stereo Puts the video output into stereo mode.
Option Description Display Enables you to display primitives. Navigation Mode Enables you to select navigation mode. Navigation Tools Enables you to control the camera during interactive navigation. Edit Current Viewpoint Displays the Edit Viewpoint dialog box for the current viewpoint. Tools Menu This menu contains commands for advanced model analysis and reviewing, and also commands for customizing Autodesk Navisworks.
Toolbars Autodesk Navisworks toolbars provide quick access to frequently used commands. Every button on a toolbar includes a tooltip, which describes the function the button activates. Placing the mouse over a button displays a brief instruction on how to use this feature in the Status bar. You can rearrange, open and close toolbars: ■ To move a toolbar, click the dotted line at the edge of the toolbar, and drag it to a different location.
To quickly access the entire set of commands on a toolbar, click the chevron button at the right end of the toolbar. The remaining commands available for that toolbar will appear. In this section, you will find a complete list of Autodesk Navisworks toolbars and associated buttons. NOTE The actual toolbar content can differ from this reference depending on the workspace you use. Standard Toolbar This toolbar provides quick access to file management commands.
Button Description and adds the saved file as an email attachment. Reverses the last performed operation. Reverses the last operation performed by the Undo command. Displays the Print dialog box. Displays copyright and license information about your copy of Autodesk Navisworks. Opens the Help system. Selection Tools Toolbar This toolbar provides access to the selection commands, plus enables you to hide geometry objects. Button Description Turns on Select mode. Turns on Select Box mode.
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. Turns on Zoom Box mode. Turns on Pan mode. Turns on Orbit mode. Turns on Free Orbit mode. Turns on Fly mode. Turns on Constrained Orbit mode.
This toolbar controls the model appearance in Autodesk Navisworks. Button Description Selects Lighting mode. Selects Rendering mode. Toggles the rendering of surfaces. 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 Autodesk Navisworks review and analysis tools. Button Description Toggles the Redline Tools tool window. Toggles the display of links.
Button Description Toggles the Viewpoints control bar. Toggles the Sectioning toolbar. Toggles the Plan View control bar. Toggles the Section View control bar. Toggles the Selection Tree control bar. Toggles the Sets control bar. Toggles the Comments control bar. Toggles the Find Comments dialog box. Toggles the Find Items control bar. Toggles the Properties control bar. Toggles the Clash Detective tool window. Toggles the Presenter tool window. Toggles the TimeLiner tool window.
Button Description Toggles the Scripter tool window. Controls workspaces. Animation Toolbar This toolbar allows you to play back object and viewpoint animations, and toggle the scripting functionality. Button Description Rewinds the current animation back to the beginning. Steps back a single animation frame or keyframe. Plays the current animation backwards. Records the viewpoint animation. Pauses the animation. Stops playing the current animation, and rewinds it back to the beginning.
Button Description Toggles the Scripter engine on and off in the Autodesk 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. Holds the selected items. As you move around the model, these objects will move with you. Uses a perspective camera.
Button Description Toggles third person view. Aligns the current viewpoint with the X axis. Aligns the current viewpoint with the Y axis. Aligns the current viewpoint with the Z axis. Scene View This is the area where you view and interact with your 3D models. When you start Autodesk Navisworks, the Scene View contains only one scene view, but you can add more scene views, if needed. Custom scene views are named “ViewX” where “X” is the next available number. The default scene view cannot be moved.
Looking at several views of your model simultaneously is useful when you compare lighting and rendering styles, animate different parts of your model, and so on. Only one scene view can be active at a time. A scene view becomes active as you work in it. If you left-click a scene view, the scene view is activated and whatever you click is selected, or, if you click an empty area, everything is deselected. Right-clicking a scene view activates it, and opens a shortcut menu.
Full Screen Mode In Full Screen mode your current scene view takes up the full screen. To interact with the model in the scene view, you can use the ViewCube, the Navigation Bar, the keyboard shortcuts, and the shortcut menu. TIP If you use two monitors, your default scene view is automatically placed on the primary display, and the interface can be placed on the secondary display to control the interaction.
Command entry: F11 Shortcut menu: Viewpoint ➤ Full Screen To resize the content of the active scene view 1 Click View tab ➤ Scene View panel ➤ Window Size . 2 In the Window Size dialog box, Type drop-down list, select the sizing type. ■ Use View - makes the content fill the currently active scene view. ■ Explicit - defines the exact width and height for the content.
Main Tools Windows These windows give you access to the core Autodesk Navisworks functionality: ■ TimeLiner Playback Review Windows These windows contain tools required to perform select/search/review operations: ■ Selection Tree ■ Properties ■ Comments ■ Measure Tools Viewpoint Windows These windows contain tools necessary to set up and use viewpoints: ■ Saved Viewpoints ■ Tilt - 3D workspace only. ■ Plan View - 3D workspace only. ■ Section View - 3D workspace only.
NOTE The Tilt window can only be docked vertically on the left or right, taking up the full height of the canvas, or be floating. By default, a docked window is pinned, meaning that the window remains displayed at its current size and can be moved. When you auto hide a window and move the mouse pointer away from it, the window is reduced to a tab displaying the window name. Moving the mouse pointer over the tab displays the window fully, but temporarily, over the canvas.
To show a dockable window 1 Click View tab ➤ Workspace panel ➤ Windows . 2 Select the check box next to the desired window in the drop-down list. To move a dockable window 1 Click and drag the title bar at the top or side of the window. 2 Optional: to prevent a window from automatically docking while you drag it, hold down the CTRL key. TIP The docking tool allows you to place windows in a specific relationship to the canvas areas.
2 Click on the title bar. The window is now pinned, and can be moved and grouped. To resize a dockable window or a group of windows 1 Place the mouse pointer over a window border until the mouse pointer changes to the splitter bar . 2 Click and drag the boarder to the desired size. TIP You can resize both pinned and auto hidden windows. In an auto-hidden group, each window can be resized separately from other windows. In a pinned group, resizing one window resizes the rest of the windows.
To move a window with the docking tool 1 Click and drag the title bar at the top or side of the window towards the place where you want it to dock. This activates the docking tool. 2 Drag the window over the sticker on the docking tool that represents the area you want the window to occupy. 3 Release the mouse button to dock the window there. The window is automatically resized to fill the area. Status Bar The Status bar appears at the bottom of the Autodesk Navisworks screen.
viewpoint. When the progress bar is at 100%, the scene is completely drawn, with no drop-out. The icon changes color when a redraw is in progress. Whilst the scene is being drawn, the pencil will change to yellow. If there is too much data to handle and your machine cannot process this quickly enough for Autodesk Navisworks, then the pencil changes to red, indicating a bottleneck.
To undo an action ■ Click Undo on the Quick Access toolbar. Command entry: CTRL + Z Toolbar: Classic user interface: Standard ➤ Undo To redo an action ■ Click Redo on the Quick Access toolbar. Command entry: CTRL + Y Toolbar: Classic user interface: Standard ➤ Redo Autodesk Navisworks Workspaces Workspaces retain information about which windows are open, their positions, and the size of the application window. Workspaces retain changes made to the ribbon but not to the Quick Access toolbar.
To save current layout to a new workspace 1 Set up your design review layout. For example, you can group together the Properties and Saved Viewpoints windows. If you use the Classic user interface mode, for example, you can close all toolbars except the Standard, Selection Tools, Navigation Mode, and Workspace. 2 Click View tab ➤ Workspace panel ➤ Save Workspace . 3 In the Save Current Workspace dialog box, enter a name for the new workspace.
3 Click Open. 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, window you can press CTRL + F12, to open the Comments window, you can press SHIFT + F6, and so on. Keyboard shortcuts offer a means to let you work faster and more efficiently. Some dialog boxes or dockable windows can be closed with the same command used to open it.
Default Keyboard Shortcut Description HOME Takes you to Home view. This keyboard shortcut only applies to the Scene View windows. This means it will only work when this window has focus. ESC Deselects everything. SHIFT Used to modify the middle mouse button actions. CTRL Used to modify the middle mouse button actions. ALT Turns the keytips on or off. ALT + F4 Closes the currently active dockable window when it is undocked, or exits the application if the main application window is active.
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 + F Displays the Quick Find dialog box. CTRL + G Toggles Gravity mode. CTRL + H Toggles Hidden mode for selected items. CTRL + I Displays the Insert File dialog box. CTRL + N Resets the program, closes the currently open Autodesk Navisworks file, and creates a new file. CTRL + O Displays the Open dialog box.
Default Keyboard Shortcut Description CTRL + F9 Toggles the Plan View window. CTRL + F10 Toggles the Section View window. CTRL + F11 Toggles the Saved Viewpoints window. CTRL + F12 Toggles the Selection Tree window. CTRL + HOME Dollies and pans the camera so that the entire model is in view. CTRL + Right Arrow Play selected animation. CTRL + Left Arrow Reverse Play selected animation. CTRL + SHIFT + HOME Sets current view as Home. CTRL + SHIFT + END Sets current view as Front.
Default Keyboard Shortcut Description F12 Opens the Options Editor. SHIFT + W Opens the last used SteeringWheel. SHIFT + F1 Enables you to get context-sensitive help. SHIFT + F6 Toggles the Comments window. SHIFT + F7 Toggles the Properties window. SHIFT + F10 Opens a shortcut menu. SHIFT + F11 Opens the File Options dialog box. Navigation with the Wheel Button If you have a wheel mouse, you can use the middle mouse button to zoom, pan, and orbit. To Do this...
To Do this... Change the pivot point press and hold the SHIFT and CTRL keys and hold down the middle mouse button, then drag to the point on the model you want to use as the pivot point. This function is not available in a 2D workspace. NOTE The above does not apply when using Walk, Fly, or any of the classic navigation modes, all of which have their own wheel/middle button behaviors. Mouse Wheel / Middle Button Navigation NOTE In a 2D workspace you can only pan and zoom.
Wheel Middle Button SHIFT + Middle Button Fly - Roll - Turntable Tilt Up/Down Pan - Standard Navigation Modes Pan Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Zoom Window Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Zoom Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Orbit Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Free Orbit Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Constrained Orbit Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Look At Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit SteeringWheels Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Autodesk Navisworks Options There are two types of options: File Options and Global Options.
The File Options dialog box is used to customize various file options, and can be accessed by clicking Home tab ➤ Project panel ➤ File Options . Global Options Global options, on the other hand, are set for all Autodesk Navisworks sessions. The Options Editor can be accessed by clicking the application button ➤ Options, or it can be launched as a separate application. To do this, click Start ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤ Navisworks Freedom 2012 ➤ Options Editor.
Global options can be exported and imported, making it quick and easy for project managers, or systems administrators, to ensure the Autodesk Navisworks settings on all machines are identical. To configure file options 1 Click Home tab ➤ Project panel ➤ File Options . 2 Use the File Options dialog box to customize various file settings. 3 Click OK to save the changes.
See also: Options Editor Dialog Box (page 280) To export global options 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, click the Export button. 3 In the Select Options to Export dialog box, select the check boxes for all options you want to be exported (or “serialized”). If an option cannot be exported, it is greyed out. TIP To quickly select/deselect all options for a given category, use the top-level check boxes.
6 Click Save. 7 Click OK to close the Options Editor. Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ Global Options To import global options 1 Click the application button ➤ 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. Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ Global Options 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. The settings can be shared across an entire project site, or across a specific project group depending on the required level of granularity.
2 Expand the General node in the Options Editor, and click the Locations option. 3 In the Project Directory box, browse to the directory that contains the Autodesk Navisworks settings specific to your project group. 4 In the Site Directory box, browse to the directory that contains the Autodesk Navisworks settings standard across the entire project site. 5 Click OK.
When you open CAD and laser scan files, Autodesk Navisworks reads the units directly from the files. If this is not possible (for example, the file is unitless), Autodesk Navisworks uses the default units configured for that file type in the Options Editor whenever possible. Loaded files are scaled appropriately to the configured display units. It is possible to rescale the file units, if they are found to be incorrect for the scene. To customize display units 1 Click the application button ➤ Options.
Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ Global Options Profiles Autodesk Navisworks can be adjusted to your level of CAD technical knowledge. By default, a standard profile is used. If necessary, you can use a developer profile to display additional object properties. To use a developer profile 1 Click the application button ➤ 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 window.
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. The search directories are: ■ Application Data\Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 within the current user profile. For example, C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 where user is the name of the current user. ■ Application Data\Autodesk Navisworks Freed
■ Sectioning gizmos. Manipulate section planes and section box. Each gizmo displays three colored axes at the correct angles relevant to the current camera position. Gizmos act like 3D objects in that the axis rotate with the viewpoint. However, they are overlaid over the top of the 3D scene, and can’t be obscured by other objects. When you mouse over a grabable part of the gizmo, the cursor changes to a hand icon.
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Work with Files 4 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.
Supported Entities ■ All 3D geometry ■ Texture maps ■ Texture coordinates ■ Colors (per-vertex, per-face) ■ Property fields ■ Categories ■ 2D lines/plot sections ■ Thumbnails (for 2012 files or later) ■ Sheet property (for 2012 files or later) ■ More than one 3D section per file (multi-sheet file support) Unsupported Entities ■ Marked-up sketches ■ NURBS surfaces ■ Cameras See also: DWF File Reader Options Manage Files Open Files To open files in Autodesk Navisworks, you can eithe
button . If you want to modify the size of this list, use the Options Editor (General node ➤ Environment page). You can use the SHIFT and CTRL keys to open several files at the same time. This automatically creates a new “Untitled” Autodesk Navisworks file with the selected files appended together. For NWD files, it is possible to publish them to a web server, and then open them directly from within Autodesk Navisworks. You can start navigating the model even before the file has been fully downloaded.
If you have a Autodesk Navisworks file already open, and want to close it and create another file, click New on the Quick Access toolbar. Toolbar: Classic user interface: Standard ➤ New 2D and Multi-Sheet Files You can now work with 2D files and files containing multiple sheets/models. Whilst multi-disciplinary models provide a real-world likeness of what a finished project should look like, various project stakeholders and field workers are more familiar with 2D plans and elevations.
The Sheets/Models palette lists all sheets and models in the multi-sheet file. The label at the top of the palette indicates the file currently open in Autodesk Navisworks. The sheets/models can be represented as a list view or a thumbnail view. By default, the display order is the same as in the original file. The currently selected model/sheet is indicated with a shaded background, and the model/sheet currently opened in the Scene View is indicated with a black graphic border.
To toggle the Project Browser window ■ Click View tab ➤ Workspace panel ➤ Windows drop-down, and select or clear the Project Browser check box. Pointing device: Status bar ➤ Project Browser To view sheets/models as a list ■ Click the List View Browser window. button in the top-right corner of the Project To view sheets/models as thumbnails ■ Click the Thumbnail View Project Browser window. button in the top-right corner of the To examine sheet/model properties 1 Open a multi-sheet file.
To prepare all sheets/models for use 1 Open the Project Browser window. 2 Right-click the sheet or model you want to prepare, and click Prepare All Sheets/Models on the shortcut menu. To print a sheet/model NOTE You can only print the current viewpoint. 1 Open the Project Browser window. 2 Double-click the sheet or model you want to print, to make it current (that is to open it in the Scene View). 3 Click Output tab ➤ Print panel ➤ Print . 4 Check the printer settings are as required, and click OK.
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Explore Your Model 5 Navigate a Scene In Autodesk Navisworks, you have a variety of options for navigating your scene. You can directly manipulate your position in the Scene View with navigation tools on the navigation bar, such as the pan and zoom. You can also use SteeringWheels® that travel with the cursor, and can save you time by combining many of the common navigation tools into a single interface.
Orientation in a 3D Workspace Although Autodesk Navisworks uses the X, Y, Z coordinate system, there is no hard-and-fast rule as to which way each of these particular axes actually “points”. Autodesk Navisworks reads the data necessary to map which way is “up” and which way is “north” directly from the files loaded into your scene. If this is not possible, by default, Z is treated as “up” and Y is treated as “north”.
3 Click OK. Product-Specific Navigation Tools The navigation bar and SteeringWheels provide you with access to a set of product-specific navigation tools in 2D and 3D workspaces. In Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012, some classic navigation tools have been replaced with new navigation tools. See the table below for more details.
Classic tool Replaced by 2D? Can be switched back to classic? Zoom Box Zoom Window Yes No Orbit Orbit No Yes Examine Free Orbit No Yes Turntable Constrained Orbit No Yes Look Around Look No No Focus - - - Walk Walk No Yes Fly - No - Customizing Tools Behavior For the navigation bar, you can use Options Editor to toggle between standard and classic modes for Orbit and Walk tools.
Pan Tool The pan tool moves the view parallel to the screen. The tool is activated by clicking Pan on the navigation bar. Pan behaves the same way as the pan tool available on the SteeringWheels. Zoom Tools Set of navigation tools for increasing or decreasing the magnification of the current view of the model. The following zoom tools are available: ■ Zoom Window ■ Zoom ■ Zoom Selected ■ Zoom All . Allows you to draw a box and zoom into that area. . Standard click/drag zoom. .
Zoom All The tool is activated by clicking Zoom All in the Zoom drop-down on the navigation bar. It behaves the same way as the classic View All tool. Orbit Tools Set of navigation tools for rotating the model around a pivot point while the view remains fixed.These tools are not available in a 2D workspace. The following orbit tools are available: ■ Orbit . Moves the camera around the focal point of the model. The up direction is always maintained, and no camera rolling is possible. ■ Free Orbit ■ .
2 In the Options Editor, the Navigation Bar page under the Interface node, select the Use Classic Orbit check box in the Orbit Tools area. 3 Click OK. To use the classic Examine tool with the navigation bar 1 On the navigation bar, click Customize ➤ Navigation Bar Options. 2 In the Options Editor, the Navigation Bar page under the Interface node, select the Use Classic Free Orbit (Examine) check box in the Orbit Tools area. 3 Click OK.
Look At The tool is activated by clicking Look At in the Look drop-down on the navigation bar. It behaves the same way as the SteeringWheels Look tool when you press and hold the SHIFT key. Focus The tool is activated by clicking Focus in the Look drop-down on the navigation bar. See Focus (page 175) for more details. Walk and Fly Tools Set of navigation tools for moving around the model and controlling realism settings. These tools are not available in a 2D workspace.
3 Click OK. SteeringWheels Tools Each wheel is divided into different wedges. Each wedge contains a navigation tool used to reorient the current view of a model. Which navigation tools are available depends on which wheel is active. Center Tool With the Center tool, you can define the center of the current view of a model. To define the center, drag the cursor over your model. A sphere (pivot point) is displayed in addition to the cursor.
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.
To adjust the distance between the current point of view and the pivot point you use the Drag Distance indicator. The Drag Distance indicator has two marks on it that show the start and destination distances from the current point of view. The current traveled distance is shown by the orange position indicator. Slide the indicator forward or backwards to decrease or increase the distance towards the pivot point.
In addition to using the Look tool to look around a model, you can also use the tool to transition the current view to a specific face on the model. Press and hold the Shift key before selecting the Look tool on one of the Full Navigation wheels. Walking Through a Model When using the Look tool from the big Full Navigation wheel, you can walk through a model by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. To adjust the walk speed, use the Options Editor.
The cursor changes to the Look 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.
Specify the Pivot Point The pivot point is the base point used when rotating the model with the Orbit tool. You can specify the pivot point in the following ways: ■ Default pivot point. When you first open a model, the target point of the current view is used as the pivot point for orbiting the model. ■ Select objects. You can select objects before the Orbit tool is used to calculate the pivot point. The pivot point is calculated based on the center of the extents of the selected objects.
To orbit a model with the Orbit tool 1 Display one of the View Object or Full Navigation wheels. 2 Click and hold down the Orbit wedge. The cursor changes to the Orbit cursor. 3 Drag to rotate the model. NOTE Use the Center tool to re-center the model in the current view, if you are using one of the Full Navigation or View Object wheels. 4 Release the button on your pointing device to return to the wheel.
2 Right-click the wheel, and click SteeringWheels Options. 3 In the Options Editor, the SteeringWheels page under the Interface node, select the Center Pivot on Selection check box in the Orbit Tool section. 4 Click OK. The extents of any objects that are selected before the wheel is displayed are used to define the pivot point for the Orbit tool. If no objects are selected, the pivot point used by the Orbit is the one defined by the Center tool.
2 Press and hold down the SHIFT key. 3 Press and hold down the scroll wheel or middle button on your pointing device and drag to orbit the model. 4 Release the button on your pointing device to return to the wheel. Pan Tool When the pan tool is active, the Pan cursor (a four-sided arrow) is displayed. Dragging the pointing device moves the model in the same direction. For example, dragging upward moves the model up while dragging downward moves the model down.
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 Drag to reposition the model. 4 Release the wheel or button on your pointing device to return to the wheel. Rewind Tool As you use the navigation tools to reorient the view of a model, the previous view is saved to the navigation history.
To restore a previous view with the Rewind History panel 1 Display a wheel. 2 Click and hold the Rewind wedge. The Rewind History panel is displayed. 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.
2 Click and hold down the Up/Down wedge. The Vertical Distance indicator is displayed. 3 Drag up or down to change the elevation of the view. 4 Release the button on your pointing device to return to the wheel. Walk Tool With the Walk tool, you can navigate through a model as if you were walking through it. Once you start the Walk tool, the Center Circle icon is displayed near the base of the view and the cursor changes to display a series of arrows.
viewpoint (Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Edit Current Viewpoint). Use the Options Editor to make the Walk tool Use Viewpoint Linear Speed settings. Movement Speed As you walk or “fly” through a model, you can control the movement speed. Movement speed is controlled by the distance in which the cursor is moved from the Center Circle icon and the current movement speed setting. You can adjust the movement speed setting permanently and temporarily as you use the Walk tool.
Dragging the slider to the left decreases the walking speed; dragging the slider to the right increases the walking speed. 4 Click OK. To constraint the Walk tool to the world up vector 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 Constrain Walk Angle check box in the Walk Tool area. 4 Click OK. Movement when walking is done parallel to the world up of the model.
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. Zoom Constraints When changing the magnification of a model with the Zoom tool, you cannot zoom in any further than the focus point or out past the extents of the model. The direction you can zoom in and out is controlled by the center point set by the Center tool.
4 Click OK. 2 Display a wheel that has the Zoom tool. 3 Click the Zoom wedge. The magnification of the model is increased and you are zoomed in closer to the model. If you hold down the SHIFT key while clicking the Zoom wedge, the model is zoomed out; you can hold down the CTRL key to zoom in. To zoom a view in and out by dragging 1 Display one of the Full Navigation wheels, or one of the View Object wheels. 2 Click and hold down the Zoom wedge. The cursor changes to the Zoom cursor.
You use the Zoom tool to change the zoom magnification of a model. The following mouse click and key combinations are available to control how the Zoom tool behaves: ■ Click. If you click the Zoom tool on a wheel, the current view is zoomed in by a factor of 25 percent. If you are using the Full Navigation wheel, incremental zoom must be enabled in the Options Editor. ■ SHIFT+click.
Classic Navigation Modes and Tools In the Classic user interface, there are nine navigation modes available from the Navigation Mode toolbar to control how you move around the Scene View: six camera-centric modes and three model-centric modes. TIP You can use some of these classic navigation modes with the standard (ribbon) user interface. The Options Editor allows you to select between old and new modes.
Mode Description Look Around. Enables you to look around the model from the current camera position and gives the effect that you are moving your head around. Zoom. Enables you to zoom into and out of the model. Cursor up zooms in and cursor down zooms out. Zoom to a Box. Enables you to drag a box so that the contents of the box fill the view. Pan. Enables you to pan the model rather than the camera. Orbit. Enables you to orbit the camera around the model, ensuring that “up” is always “up”.
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. The camera spins left and right, and moves forwards and backwards. NOTE Holding down the SHIFT key speeds up this movement.
To look around a view 1 Click Look Around on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 To look around, drag the left mouse button, or use the cursor keys. The camera looks left, right, up or down. NOTE Holding down the SHIFT key speeds up this movement. 3 To rotate the camera around its viewing axis, hold down the CTRL key. Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Mode ➤ Look Around Command entry: CTRL + 3 Zoom Mode In Zoom mode, you can zoom into and out of the model.
Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Mode ➤ Zoom Command entry: CTRL + 4 Zoom Box Mode In Zoom Box mode, you can zoom into an area of the model by dragging a rectangular box around the area you want to fit in the Scene View. To zoom in to an area of the model by specifying box 1 Click Zoom Box on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 Drag a box with the left mouse button over the Scene View to fill the view with the contents of the box.
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: Classic user interface: 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.
NOTE Holding down the SHIFT key, or spinning the mouse wheel, temporarily enables normal Zoom mode. 3 To glide the camera, hold down the CTRL key as you drag the mouse. The camera glides left and right and up and down. As orbit mode is camera-centric, this mode differs from normal pan mode in that the camera is moved rather than the model.
Fly Mode In Fly mode, you can move around the model like in a flight simulator. To use Fly mode to move through the model 1 Click Fly on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 Hold down the left mouse button to move the camera forward. As in a flight simulator, the left mouse button banks left/right when dragged left or right and tilts up/down when dragged up or down. NOTE Holding down the SHIFT key speeds up this movement.
To spin model on a turntable 1 On the navigation bar, click Turntable toolbar. on the Navigation Mode 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 turntable up and down, spin the mouse wheel, or use the up and down cursor keys.
To view everything 1 Click View All on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Tools ➤ View All Shortcut menu: Scene ➤ View All Zoom Selected Tool Zooms the camera so that the selected items fill the Scene View. To view selected items 1 Click Zoom Selected on the Navigation Tools toolbar.
TIP When the navigation bar is linked to the ViewCube, both can be moved around the Scene View. See Reposition and Reorient the Navigation Bar (page 151) for more information. Control the Appearance of ViewCube The ViewCube tool is displayed in one of two states: inactive and active. When the ViewCube tool is inactive, it appears partially transparent by default so that it does not obscure the view of the model.
Drag or Click ViewCube When you drag or click the ViewCube tool, the view of the model reorients around a pivot point. The pivot point is displayed at the center of the object that was last selected before using the ViewCube tool. To display or hide the ViewCube ■ Click View tab ➤ Navigation Aids panel ➤ ViewCube . To control the size of the ViewCube 1 Right-click the ViewCube tool, and click ViewCube Options.
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.
The ViewCube menu has the following options: ■ Home. Restores the Home view saved with the model. This view is in synchronization with the Go Home view option in the SteeringWheels menu. ■ Perspective. Switches the current view to perspective projection. ■ Orthographic. Switches the current view to orthographic projection. ■ Lock to Selection. Uses the selected objects to define the center of the view when a view orientation change occurs with the ViewCube tool.
NOTE When the cursor is over one of the clickable areas of the ViewCube tool, the cursor changes to an arrow with a small cube to indicate that it is over the ViewCube tool. A tooltip is also displayed. The tooltip describes the action that you can perform based on the location of the cursor over the ViewCube tool. You use the other twenty defined parts to access angled views of a model.
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.
To reorient the current view to a preset orientation ■ Click one of the faces, edges, or corners on the ViewCube tool. To view an adjacent face NOTE: Make sure a face view is current. ■ Click one of the triangles displayed near the edges of the ViewCube tool. To interactively reorient the view ■ Click the ViewCube tool, hold down the left mouse button, and drag in the direction that you want to orbit the model.
When checked, transitions from one view to another appear animated when clicking a predefined area 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.
perspective projection. So when you want to generate a rendering or hidden line view of a model, using perspective projection will give the model a more realistic look. The following illustration shows the same model viewed from the same viewing direction, but with different view projections.
Examine Individual Objects with ViewCube You can lock the ViewCube tool to a set of selected objects. Locking a selection of objects to the ViewCube tool defines the center of the current view and the distance from center for the view based on the selected objects. To turn off Lock to Selection, you can click the Lock to Selection button next to the Home view button.
Overview of Navigation Bar The navigation bar is a user interface element where you can access both unified and product-specific navigation tools. Unified navigation tools (such as Autodesk® ViewCube®, 3Dconnexion®, and SteeringWheels®) are those that can be found across many Autodesk products. Product-specific navigation tools are unique to a product. The navigation bar floats over and along one of the sides of the Scene View.
To display or hide the navigation bar ■ Click View tab ➤ Navigation Aids panel ➤ Navigation Bar . Reposition and Reorient the Navigation Bar The position and orientation of the navigation bar can be adjusted by linking it to the ViewCube tool, docking it when the ViewCube tool is not displayed, or freely positioning it along one of the edges of the current window. When linked to the ViewCube tool, the navigation bar is positioned below the ViewCube tool and in a vertical orientation.
To link the position of the navigation bar to ViewCube 1 On the navigation bar, click Customize. 2 Click Customize menu ➤ Docking Positions ➤ check Link to ViewCube. When Link to ViewCube is checked, both the navigation bar and ViewCube are repositioned together around the current window. To freely reposition the navigation bar along the edge of the current window TIP In a 2D workspace, click the grip handle and drag the navigation bar to reposition it. 1 On the navigation bar, click Customize.
To customize the navigation bar 1 On the navigation bar, click Customize. 2 On the Customize menu, click the navigation tool you want to display on the navigation bar. A check mark next to a navigation tool’s name indicates it is displayed on the navigation bar. Uncheck the navigation tool to remove it from the navigation bar. You can display a shortcut menu for tools on the navigation bar by right-clicking them.
The following illustrations show the different wheels available: 2D Navigation Wheel Full Navigation Wheel Mini Full Navigation Wheel View Object Wheel (Basic Wheel) Mini View Object Wheel Tour Building Wheel (Basic Wheel) Mini Tour Building Wheel NOTE SteeringWheels and classic navigation modes (page 130) are mutually exclusive, so activating a SteeringWheel deactivates the currently selected Classic navigation mode.
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. Wheels are available in two different styles: big and mini. The big wheel is larger than the cursor, and labels are shown on the wheel wedges. The mini wheel is about the same size as the cursor, and labels are not displayed on the wheel wedges.
Toolbar: Classic user interface: Navigation Mode ➤ SteeringWheels To close a wheel ■ Press SHIFT+W 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. 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 Messages check box in the On-Screen Messages area. Messages are displayed when you use the navigation tools. 4 Click OK. 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 in the On-Screen Messages area.
■ Advanced Wheels. Displays the mini View Object, Tour Building, or Full Navigation wheel. ■ Home. Goes to the Home view saved with the model. NOTE This is the Home view as set using the ViewCube. ■ Fit to Window. Resizes and centers the current view to display all objects in the Scene View. This is equivalent to clicking View All Navigation Tools toolbar in the Classic user interface. on the ■ Restore Original Center. Restores the center point of the view to the extents of the model.
Big View Object Wheel The big View Object wheel wedges have the following options: ■ Center (page 113). Specifies a point on a model to adjust the center of the current view or change the target point used for some of the navigation tools. ■ Zoom (page 127) . Adjusts the magnification of the current view. ■ Rewind (page 122). Restores the most recent view orientation. You can move backward or forward by clicking and dragging left or right. ■ Orbit (page 117).
Toolbar: Classic user interface: Navigation Mode ➤ Mini View Object Wheel To switch to the big View Object wheel ■ Right-click the wheel, and click Basic View Object Wheel.
■ Rewind. Restores the most recent view. You can move backward or forward by clicking and dragging left or right. ■ Up/DownTool. Slides the current view of a model along the Z axis of the model. Mini Tour Building Wheel The mini Tour Building wheel wedges have the following options: ■ Walk (Top wedge). Simulates walking through a model. ■ Rewind (Right wedge). Restores the most recent view. You can move backward or forward by clicking and dragging left or right. ■ Up/Down (Bottom wedge).
Menu: Classic user interface: View ➤ SteeringWheels ➤ Tour Building Wheel Toolbar: Classic user interface: Navigation Mode ➤ Tour Building Wheel Full Navigation Wheels The Full Navigation wheels (big and mini) contain common 3D navigation tools used for both viewing an object and touring a building. The big and mini Full Navigation wheels are optimized for experienced 3D users.
■ Up/Down. Slides the current view of a model along the Z axis of the model. Mini Full Navigation Wheel The mini Full Navigation wheel wedges have the following options: ■ Zoom (Top wedge). Adjusts the magnification of the current view. ■ Walk (Upper right wedge). Simulates walking through a model. ■ Rewind (Right wedge). Restores the most recent view. You can move backward or forward by clicking and dragging left or right. ■ Up/Down (Lower right wedge).
Ribbon: Viewpoint tab ➤ Navigate panel ➤ Steering WheelsFull Navigation Menu: Classic user interface: View ➤ SteeringWheels ➤ Full Navigation Wheel Toolbar: Classic user interface: Navigation Mode ➤ Full Navigation Wheel 2D Navigation Wheel With this wheel you can access basic 2D navigation tools; it is particularly useful when you do not have a pointing device with a scroll wheel. The 2D Navigation wheel wedges have the following options: ■ Pan. Repositions the current view by panning. ■ Zoom.
When a view change occurs with the 3Dconnexion 3D mouse, the ViewCube tool is reoriented to reflect the current view. You can change the behavior of the 3Dconnexion 3D mouse from the navigation bar. 3Dconnexion options on the navigation bar Option Description Example Object Mode Navigates and reorients the view in the direction of the controller cap. Move the controller cap right to pan the view to the right. Walk Mode Simulates walking through a model.
3Dconnexion options on the navigation bar Option Description Example 2D Mode Navigates the view using only 2D navigation options. The view moves in the direction of the controller cap. Move the controller cap to pan and zoom the view. Center Tool Specifies a point to define the pivot point and centers the model on that point. This pivot point is used by subsequent navigation tools until it is moved. Click in the model. The view is centered on the model based on the specified point.
■ Maintain selection sensitivity. Reorients the model around a defined pivot point based on the current selection. ■ Maintain lock to selection. When Lock to Selection option is activated in the ViewCube tool, the view of the object reorients around the predefined center of the selected object. Camera Autodesk Navisworks offers you a number of prefixed options to control the camera projection, position, and orientation during navigation.
Control the Field of View You can define the area of the scene that can be viewed through the camera in a 3D workspace only. For the current viewpoint, you can move the FOV slider on the ribbon to adjust the Horizontal Field of View. For previously saved viewpoints, you can use the Edit Viewpoint dialog box (page 272) to adjust the values for both vertical and horizontal angles of view.
Rotate Camera You can adjust the angle of the camera during navigation in a 3D workspace only. For the current viewpoint, use the Tilt window to rotate the camera up/down, and the Roll entry box on the ribbon to rotate the camera left/right. For saved viewpoints, you can use the Edit Viewpoint dialog box (page 272) to adjust the camera values. Tilt Window The tilt angle is indicated in the scene's units below (negative) or above (positive) horizontal (0) at the base of the window.
You can also type values directly the entry box at the base of the Tilt window. A positive value rotates the camera upwards, and a negative value rotates camera downwards. Typing 0 straightens the camera. To roll camera left/right ■ Click the Viewpoint tab, and slide out the Camera panel. ■ Type in a value into the Roll entry box to rotate the camera around its front-to-back axis. A positive value rotates the camera counterclockwise, and a negative value rotates it clockwise.
TIP The same effect can be achieved by typing 0 at the base of the Tilt window. To straighten camera ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Camera panel ➤ Align Camera drop-down ➤ Straighten . Predefined Camera Views In Autodesk Navisworks, you can align a camera to one of the axis, or select one of six predefined face views to instantly change the camera’s position and orientation in the scene. This functionality is available in a 3D workspace only.
Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Tools ➤ Align Z To look from a preset face view ■ Right-click the Scene View, and click Viewpoint ➤ Look From. ■ Click one of the face views. Choose from: ■ Top ■ Bottom ■ Front ■ Back ■ Left ■ Right Navigation Aids Head-Up Display Head-up display elements are on-screen displays that provide information about your location and orientation in a 3D workspace. This functionality is not available in a 2D workspace.
To toggle XYZ Axes 1 Click View tab ➤ Navigation Aids panel ➤ HUD drop-down. 2 Select or clear the XYZ Axes check box. To toggle Position Readout 1 Click View tab ➤ Navigation Aids panel ➤ HUD drop-down. 2 Select or clear the Position Readout check box. Reference Views Reference views are useful to get an overall view of where you are in the whole scene and to quickly move the camera to a location in a large model. This functionality is available in a 3D workspace.
2 Drag the triangular marker on the reference view into a new location. The camera in the Scene View changes its position to match the position of the marker in the view. Alternatively, navigate to a different location in the Scene View. The triangular marker in the reference view changes its position to match the camera position in the Scene View. 3 To manipulate a reference view, right-click anywhere in the Plan View window. Use the shortcut menu to adjust the view as desired.
Alternatively, navigate to a different location in the Scene View. The triangular marker in the reference view changes its position to match the camera position in the Scene View. 3 To manipulate a reference view, right-click anywhere in the Section View window. Use the shortcut menu to adjust the view as desired. Command entry: CTRL + F10 Focus You can put the Scene View into focus mode until the next click.
To hold and release objects 1 Select the objects you want to hold either in the Scene View or in the Selection Tree. 2 Click Item Tools tab ➤ Hold panel ➤ Hold . The selected objects are now held and will move with you through the model when you use navigation tools, such as Walk, Pan and so on. 3 To release the held objects, click Hold on the ribbon again. 4 If you want to reset the objects to their original position, click Item Tools tab ➤ Transform panel ➤ Reset Transform .
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. With crouching activated, you will automatically crouch under any objects that you cannot walk under at your specified height, thereby not impeding your navigation around the model.
The dimensions of the collision volume can be customized for the current viewpoint or as a global option. NOTE Collision can only be used with the Walk and Fly navigation tools. When collision is turned on, rendering prioritization is changed so that objects around the camera or avatar are displayed with much higher detail than normal. The size of the region of high detail is based on collision volume radius and speed of movement (needing to see what is about to be walked into).
Using third person in connection with collision and gravity makes this a very powerful function, allowing you to visualize exactly how a person would interact with the intended design. You can customize settings, such as avatar selection, dimension, and positioning, for the current viewpoint or as a global option. When third person view is turned on, rendering prioritization is changed so that objects around the camera or avatar are displayed with much higher detail than normal.
2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Viewpoint Defaults option. 3 Click the Settings button in the Collision area. 4 In the Default Collision dialog box, select the Enable check box in the Third Person area. 5 Click OK to return to the Options Editor. 6 Click OK. 7 Restart Autodesk Navisworks To change an avatar for the current viewpoint 1 In Autodesk Navisworks, click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Edit Current Viewpoint on the ribbon.
Control Model Appearance and Render Quality 6 Control Model Appearance You can use the tools on the Render Style panel on the Viewpoint tab to control how your model is displayed in the Scene View. You have a choice of one of four interactive lighting modes (Full Lights, Scene Lights, Head Light, or No Lights), four rendering modes (Full Render, Shaded, Wireframe, or Hidden Line) and you can individually turn each of the five primitive types (Surfaces, Lines, Points, Snap Points, and Text) on and off.
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. To select Full Render mode ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Mode drop-down, and click Full Render . Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Rendering ➤ Full Render Shaded In Shaded mode, the model is rendered with smooth shading and without textures.
To select Wireframe mode ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Mode drop-down, and click Wireframe . Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Rendering ➤ Wireframe Hidden Line In Hidden Line mode, the model is rendered in wireframe, but only the outline and facet edges of surfaces that are visible to the camera are displayed. NOTE Unlike wireframe mode, where surfaces are rendered transparent, hidden line mode renders surfaces opaque.
Full Lights This mode uses lights that have been defined with the Presenter tool. To use lights defined with the Presenter tool ■ Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Lighting drop-down, and click Full Lights . Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Lighting ➤ Full Lights 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.
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 (Home tab ➤ Project panel). To use Head Light mode ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Lighting drop-down, and click Head Light . Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Lighting ➤ Head Light To adjust Head Light intensity 1 Click Home tab ➤ Project panel ➤ File Options .
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. No Lights This mode switches off all lights. The scene is shaded with flat rendering. To turn off all lights ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Lighting drop-down, and click No Lights .
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. This background is not supported for 2D sheets. NOTE The artificial horizon is a background effect, and does not include a physical ground plane.
To set a graduated background 1 Click View tab ➤ Scene View ➤ Background . 2 In the Background Settings dialog box, select Graduated in the Mode drop-down list. 3 Select the first color from the Top Color palette. 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 for a 3D model 1 Click View tab ➤ Scene View ➤ Background .
To toggle the rendering of surfaces ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Mode drop-down, and click Surfaces . Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Display ➤ Surfaces Lines You can toggle the rendering of lines in the model. You can also change the width of the drawn lines by using the Options Editor. To toggle the rendering of lines ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Lines .
Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Display ➤ Points To change the size of points 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Display option. 3 On the Display page, Primitives area, enter a number between 1 and 9 in the Point Size box. This sets the size in pixels for points drawn in the Scene View. 4 Click OK. Snap Points Snap points are implied points in the model, for example, the center point of a sphere or end points of a pipe.
Text You can toggle the rendering of text in 3D models. This functionality is not supported for 2D sheets. To toggle the rendering of 3D text ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Text . Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Display ➤ Text 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.
3 Enter a value for the screen area in pixels below which geometry objects are culled. For example, setting this value to 100 pixels means that any object within the model that would be drawn less than 10x10 pixels in size are discarded. 4 Click OK. To turn on backface culling for all objects in a 3D workspace 1 Click Home tab ➤ Project panel ➤ File Options . 2 In the File Options dialog box, Culling tab, select On in the Backface area. 3 Click OK.
To constrain the position of the clipping planes manually in a 3D workspace 1 Click Home tab ➤ Project panel ➤ 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.
To make objects required 1 Select geometry items that you want to remain visible during navigation in the Selection Tree. 2 Click Home tab ➤ Visibility panel ➤ Require . In the Selection Tree, the object appear red when required. TIP Clicking Require again makes the selected objects unrequired.
Navisworks pages unnecessary data to the hard disk, freeing up space for loading to continue. JetStream technology also enables you to start navigating the supermodel, before it has been completely loaded into memory. Autodesk Navisworks is large address aware, and utilizes any additional memory assignment following the 3GB switch available on Windows XP systems. TIP You can reduce the amount of drop-out during navigation by reducing frame rate, or switching off the Guarantee Frame Rate option.
2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Display option. 3 On the Display page, Transparency area, select the Interactive Transparency check box. 4 Click OK. To render parametric primitives NOTE: Modifying this option requires a restart of Autodesk Navisworks to take effect. 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Display option.
To use hardware acceleration NOTE: If your video card does not support OpenGL hardware acceleration, this option is not available. 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Display option. 3 On the Display page, Acceleration area, select the Hardware Acceleration check box. This allows Autodesk Navisworks to utilize any available OpenGL hardware acceleration on your video card.
Stereo Rendering Stereoscopic viewing in Autodesk Navisworks allows the viewing of the 3D model through stereo-enabled hardware, including active and passive stereo viewing glasses in conjunction with both CRT screens and dedicated projectors. IMPORTANT Using stereo rendering requires the host computer have an OpenGL graphics card with stereo support.
4 If you need to swap the left and right eyes over, select the Swap Eyes check box. This can be useful when moving from CRT to a large screen projector and back. 5 Click OK.
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Review Your Model 7 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).
Selection Tree Window The Selection Tree is a dockable window, which displays a variety of hierarchical views of the structure of the model, as defined by the CAD application in which the model was created. 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.
There are different tree icons representing the types of geometry making up the structure of the model. Each of these item types can be marked as hidden (gray), unhidden (dark blue) or required (red). NOTE If a group is marked as hidden or required, then all instances of that group are marked as hidden or required. If you want to operate on a single occurrence of an item, then you should mark the instanced group (the level above, or the “parent”, in the hierarchy) hidden or required.
■ Objects - can be expanded down to the objects level, but without the levels of instancing shown on the Standard tab. 4 Click OK. Icon Description A model, such as a drawing file or design file. A layer or level. A group, such as a block definition from AutoCAD or cell definition from MicroStation. An instanced group, such as an inserted block from AutoCAD or cell from MicroStation. If in the imported file the instance was unnamed, Autodesk Navisworks names the instance to match its child's name.
Selection Tools and Select Box ) available from There are two selection tools (Select Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel to control the way you select geometry. Typically, using selection tools is mutually exclusive to using navigation tools (see Product-Specific Navigation Tools (page 107), so that when you are selecting you cannot navigate and vice versa.
3 To select multiple geometry, press and hold down the CTRL key while clicking items in the scene. 4 To remove items from the current selection, hold down the CTRL key while clicking them again. Alternatively, press the ESC key to remove all items from the current selection. Menu: Classic user interface: Edit ➤ Select ➤ Select Command entry: CTRL + 1 To select geometry with the Select Box tool 1 Click Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel ➤ Select drop-down ➤ Select Box .
To select all items within the model ■ Click Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel ➤ Select All drop-down ➤ Select All . To deselect all items ■ Click Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel ➤ Select All drop-down ➤ Select None . To invert your current selection ■ Click Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel ➤ Select All drop-down ➤ Invert Selection . Currently selected items become deselected, and currently deselected items become selected.
The selection commands are as follows: ■ Select All. Selects all items contained within the model. ■ Select None. Deselects everything in the model. ■ Invert Selection. Currently selected items become deselected and vice versa. ■ 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.
■ Wireframe ■ Tinted To toggle highlighting of selected objects 1 Click the application button ➤ 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 highlighted in the Scene View. Clear this check box, if you don’t want any highlighting. 4 Click OK. To customize the way objects are highlighted 1 Click the application button ➤ Options.
4 Use the Method drop-down list to select the type of highlighting you want (Shaded, Wireframe or Tinted). 5 Click the Color palette to select the highlight color. 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 View.
To make unselected items hidden 1 In the Scene View, select all items you want to review. 2 Click Home tab ➤ Visibility panel ➤ Hide Unselected . Only the selected geometry remains visible. TIP Clicking Hide Unselected again displays the invisible objects. Menu: Classic user interface: Edit ➤ Hide Unselected Shortcut menu: Hide Unselected To reveal all hidden objects ■ Click Home tab ➤ Visibility panel ➤ Unhide All drop-down ➤ Unhide All .
4 To find more items, click Quick Find again. If there are any more items that match the entered text, Autodesk Navisworks selects the next one in the Selection Tree, selects it in the Scene View, and stops the search. Subsequent clicks find next instances. Command entry: To open the Quick Find dialog box: CTRL + F. To Find Next: F3 Find All Sheets and Models Containing the Selected Object You can search for an object across all prepared sheets/models in the Project Browser.
Find Items in Other Sheets and Models Window The Find Items in Other Sheets and Models is a dockable window that enables you to search for an object across all prepared sheets/models in the Project Browser. The label at the top of the window indicates the object currently selected in the Scene View. The geometry type is represented with an icon (page 204) next to the object's name. The icons are the same as the icons used on the Selection Tree window.
3 Right-click the object, and click Find Item in Other Sheets and Models on the shortcut menu. 4 If you see a warning status icon in the Find Item in Other Sheets and Models window, click the Prepare All button. Once all sheets/models have been prepared, you will see a list of all sheets/models that contain the object. 5 Select the sheet/model in the list, and click View to open it. Autodesk Navisworks zooms you to the selected object.
Buttons Prepare All Prepares all unprepared sheets and models in the currently open multi-sheet file. View Opens the currently selected sheet or model in the Scene View. Status Icons Not all sheets/models can be searched in the currently open multi-sheet file; at least one sheet or model has not yet been prepared. All sheets/models in the currently open multi-sheet file have been searched, and the results are up-to-date.
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. There is no intelligence behind this set - if the model changes at all, the same items will be selected (assuming they are still available in the model) when recalling the selection set.
Internal file properties, such as transform and geometry properties, are not shown by default. The Options Editor enables you to switch this on. To toggle the Properties window ■ Click View tab ➤ Workspace panel ➤ Windows drop-down, and select or clear the Properties check box. Menu: Classic user interface: View ➤ Control Bars ➤ Properties Command entry: SHIFT + F7 To examine object properties 1 Select the object of interest in the Selection Tree, or in the Scene View.
4 Click OK. Reset Object Attributes In Navisworks Freedom 2012, you have an option of resetting object attributes back to the state they were in when imported from the original CAD files. This will remove any color, transparency and transform overrides that may have been applied in Navisworks Manage or Navisworks Simulate. Reset to Original Values In Autodesk Navisworks, you can reset object attributes back to the values in the original CAD files.
Measure Tools Measure tools enable you to measure between points on items in the model. All measurements are made in display units (page 91). Using measure tools is mutually exclusive to using navigation tools (see Product-Specific Navigation Tools (page 107)), so that when you are measuring you cannot navigate and vice versa. Measure Tools Window The Measure Tools window is a dockable window, which contains a number of buttons at the top enabling you to select the type of measurement you want to do.
Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ Measure Button Description Measures the distance between two points. Measures the distance between a base point and various other points. Measures a total distance between multiple points along a route. Calculates the sum total of several point-topoint measurements. Calculates an angle between two lines. Calculates an area on a plane. Measures the shortest distance between two selected objects. Clears all measuring lines in the Scene View.
NOTE When you measure, you must click on a point on an item to register a point - clicking on the background will not register anything. You can reset a measure command at any time by right-clicking instead of left-clicking in the Scene View. This starts the measure command again with no points registered, just as if you had chosen a new measurement type.
totals, and is drawn for the last line segment. The text is positioned relative to the center point of the line. For angular measurements, an arc indicator is shown inside the angle, with the centre of the text positioned on the invisible line bisecting the angle. If an angle is too acute, the label is drawn outside the angle. This label is fixed, and does not resize when you zoom in or out, unless the measuring lines become too short on screen to accommodate the arc, in which case it will be adjusted.
Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Measure ➤ Point to Point To keep the same start point as you measure a distance between two points 1 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure drop-down ➤ Point to Multiple Points . 2 Click the start point, and the first end point to be measured. A measuring line is displayed between two points. 3 Click to register the next end point to be measured. 4 Repeat this to measure additional end points if required.
TIP If you want to change the start point, right-click in the Scene View, and select a new start point. Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Measure ➤ Point Line To calculate an angle between two lines 1 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure drop-down ➤ Angle . 2 Click a point on the first line. 3 Click the first line at the point where it intersects the second line. 4 Click a point on the second line. The optional dimension label displays the calculated angle between the two lines.
4 Repeat to measure more distances if necessary. The optional dimension label displays the sum of all point-to-point measurements. Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Measure ➤ Accumulate To calculate an area on a plane 1 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure drop-down ➤ Area . 2 Click to register a series of points to describe the perimeter of the area you want to calculate.
2 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure Shortest Distance . The optional dimension label displays the shortest distance between the selected objects. Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Measure ➤ Measure Shortest Distance To measure the shortest distance between two parametric objects 1 Press and hold the CTRL key and select two parametric objects in the Scene View with the Select tool . 2 Open the Measure Tools window, and click Options.
Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Measure ➤ Clear To move an object with a measure tool 1 Select the object you want to move. 2 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure drop-down ➤ Point Line . 3 Click the selected object to create the first point. This is the start point from which the repositioning will be calculated. 4 Click the second point in the scene. This is the point where the object will be moved to. There is now a line connecting the start point and the end point in the Scene View.
Comments and Annotations View Comments and Annotations You cannot add any comments, redline annotations or tags in Autodesk Navisworks, but you can view comments, redlines, and tags attached to viewpoints. Comments Window The Comments window is a dockable window that enables you to view comments. The Comments window shows the name, time and date, author, ID, status, and subject (or first line) of each comment. There are different icons helping you to identify the source of each comment at a glance.
3 As you click the source items, for example, viewpoints, the associated comments are displayed in the Comments window. Icon Description Viewpoint (orthographic camera) Viewpoint (perspective camera) Viewpoint animation Viewpoint animation cut Tag View Redlines and Tags To view redlines and tags you need to recall the viewpoint that contains them. To view redlines 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Saved Viewpoints tool launcher .
The viewpoint is displayed in the Scene View together with any redline annotations and tags. Links There are several sources of links in Autodesk Navisworks: original links that have been converted from the native CAD files, links that have been added by Autodesk Navisworks users, and links that have been automatically generated by the program (for example, viewpoint links). The links converted from the native CAD files, and the links added by Autodesk Navisworks users are treated as object properties.
Link Categories There are two types of links: standard and user-defined. Standard links are split into the following categories: ■ Hyperlink ■ Label ■ Viewpoints ■ Redline tags By default, all links except labels, are drawn as icons in the Scene View. Labels are drawn as text. If available, user-defined links are drawn as icons in the Scene View by default. You can use the Options Editor to toggle the display of each of the link categories, and also to control their appearance.
2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, expand the Links node, and click the Standard Categories option. 3 On the Standard Categories page, select the Visible check box to display the corresponding link category. Clearing the check box hides the corresponding link category in the Scene View. By default, all standard link categories are visible. 4 Click OK. To control the display of user-defined links 1 Click the application button ➤ Options.
To hide links without comments 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, expand the Links node, and click the Standard Categories option. 3 On the Standard Categories page, select the Hide Icons Without Comments check box for all required link categories. By default, links without comments are also displayed. 4 Click OK. Customize Links You can customize the default appearance of links in Autodesk Navisworks.
3 On the Links page, Enter the X- and Y- distance in Leader Offset for the number of pixels to the right and up that these leader lines will use. The default angle is 0. The recommended angle is 45. Links in the Scene View have now leader lines pointing to the attachment point on the items. 4 Click OK. To customize appearance of standard links 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, expand the Links node, and click the Standard Categories option.
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. The table below shows the icons that can be used to represent different link categories in the Scene View. Icon Description Represents links that have hyperlink, label, or any user-defined category (and points to a web address).
Shortcut menu: Follow Link Reset Links You can reset all links on an object to those that were originally converted from the CAD file. You can also reset all links on all objects in the scene to their original state. To reset all links for an object Attention: Resetting links for an object also removes any links manually added to it by Autodesk Navisworks users. If you made a mistake, use the Undo button on the Quick Access toolbar.
By default, quick properties 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 quick properties. You can choose whether to hide category names in quick properties or not.
6 Click the Property column, and select the property name from the drop-down list, for example, ‘Material’. The options available depend on the selected property category. 7 Click OK. NOTE You can add as many definitions to your quick properties as you like. To delete quick properties definition 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, expand the Quick Properties node, and click the Definitions option.
Use Viewpoints 8 Viewpoints are snapshots taken of the model as it is displayed in the Scene View. 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.
Viewpoint animations are also saved with the viewpoints, as they are simply a list of viewpoints treated as keyframes. Icons are used to represent different elements: represents a folder which may contain all other elements (including other folders). 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.
Saved Viewpoint Add Copy Creates a copy of the selected viewpoint in the Saved Viewpoints window. The copy is named the same as the selected viewpoint, but includes the version number in brackets. For example, View1(1), View1(2) and so on. 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 View. Transform Opens the Transform dialog box.
Delete Deletes the selected viewpoint animation from the Saved Viewpoints window. NOTE Clicking Delete over a keyframe or a cut, removes the keyframe or cut from the viewpoint animation. Rename Enables you to rename the selected viewpoint animation, keyframe, or cut. Copy Name Copies the name of the selected viewpoint animation, keyframe, or cut to the Clipboard. Sort Sorts the contents of the Saved Viewpoints window alphabetically. Help Opens the Help system.
To recall a viewpoint from the Saved Viewpoints window 1 If the Saved Viewpoints window is not displayed, click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Saved Viewpoints tool launcher . 2 Click the desired viewpoint in the list. It is now displayed in the Scene View. Organize Viewpoints Viewpoints can be organized into folders, as necessary. To organize viewpoints into folders 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Current Viewpoint drop-down ➤ Manage Saved Viewpoints.
Edit Viewpoints Depending on whether you work in a 2D or 3D workspace you can edit all or some of the following viewpoints attributes, including camera position, field of view, speed of motion and saved attributes. All entries are measured in Display Units (page 91). TIP Click Viewpoint tab and slide out of the Navigate panel to quickly adjust linear and angular speed of motion for your current viewpoint in a 3D workspace.
2 In the Saved Viewpoints window, right-click the viewpoint you want to modify, and click Edit. 3 Use the Edit Viewpoint dialog box (page 272) to adjust the viewpoint’s attributes. 4 Click OK. To delete a viewpoint 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Current Viewpoint drop-down ➤ Manage Saved Viewpoints. 2 In the Saved Viewpoints window, right-click the viewpoint you want to remove, and click Delete.
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9 Play Back Animations In Autodesk Navisworks there are two types of animation: viewpoint animation and object animation. 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.
Control Purpose Pauses animation playback. Plays the currently selected animation. Steps forwards one frame or keyframe in the animation. Moves forward to the end of animation. The playback time slider. The playback time spinner. To play an animation 1 Click Animation tab ➤ Playback panel ➤ Available Animations drop-down list and select the animation you want to play back. 2 On the Playback panel, click Play . Use the VCR buttons on the Playback panel to control the animation.
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.
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Work Within a Team 10 Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 enables multiple users to participate in a single design review session across a Local Area Network (LAN). The Collaborate tool has two noteworthy limitations. ■ Collaboration between different versions of Autodesk Navisworks is not supported. ■ This feature is only available for Windows XP users, as it utilizes the shared program features of Windows NetMeeting, which is unavailable in the Vista and Windows 7 operating systems.
participants’ machines. Any viewpoints or redlines, for example, added during the session can be updated on all participants’ machines at the click of a button. NOTE If a collaborative review session, as outlined here, is not conducted in single room, then additional teleconferencing provisions could be necessary. This may be using the NetMeeting Whiteboard, or your own telephone system.
To place a call, inviting attendees to join 1 Having initialized Windows NetMeeting, click the Call button the NetMeeting dialog box. in 2 In the Place a Call dialog box, enter the machine name or IP address of the machine you wish to join the meeting into the To box. 3 Click the Call button to send the invite. Once the person receiving the invite accepts this, both their name and yours will be listed in the NetMeeting dialog box. 4 Repeat this procedure to invite all required participants.
To become the driver During a collaboration meeting, anyone in the call can take control of the session and become the driver. The driver will control navigation of the shared model on all machines in the call. 1 Click Review tab ➤ Collaborate panel ➤ Drive . 2 Upon clicking the drive button, all other users in the call will receive a message advising that you are requesting control. They will have to answer Yes to this message if you are to drive Autodesk Navisworks on their machine.
Share Data 11 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 or sheet you are working on, you may wish to see how it will appear. To preview model/sheet before printing 1 Click Output tab ➤ Print panel ➤ 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.
2 In the Print Setup dialog box, make changes as required to the paper and orientation. 3 Click the Properties button if you want to change printer-specific settings. 4 Return to the Print dialog box, and click OK. 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 Output tab ➤ Print panel ➤ Print . 2 Check the printer settings are as required, and click OK.
TimeLiner Playback 12 TimeLiner Playback enables you to view a TimeLiner construction sequence. In this section, you will learn how to simulate your TimeLiner sequence throughout the duration of the project schedule. Overview of TimeLiner Tool The TimeLiner tool adds 4D schedule simulation to Autodesk Navisworks files. In Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012, 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 Playback Controls Use the standard VCR buttons to step and play forwards and backwards through the simulation: will rewind the simulation back to the beginning. Rewind will step back a single step size. Step Back Reverse Play will play the simulation backwards. Pause will pause the simulation at the time you press it at. You can then look around and interrogate the model, or step forwards and backwards through the simulation. To continue playing from where you paused, just press Play again.
The Date/Time box next to the VCR buttons shows the point in time through the simulation. You can click on the drop-down icon to the right of the date to display a calendar, from which you can select a date to 'jump' to. The Settings Button The Settings button opens the Simulation Settings Dialog Box (page 261) that enables you to define how the schedule is simulated. The Task View All active tasks are show in a multi-column table. You can move and resize table columns, if necessary.
On-time start, late finish. Late start, early finish. Late start, on-time finish. Late start, late finish. Started after planned finish. No comparison. The Gantt Chart View The Gantt Chart displays a colored bar chart illustrating your project status. Each task takes up one row. The horizontal axis represents the time span of the project, broken down into increments (such as days, weeks, months, and years) and the vertical axis represents the project tasks.
Simulation Settings Dialog Box The Settings button on the Simulate tab provides access to the Simulation Settings dialog box. It is possible to override the Start and End dates that the simulation runs between. Selecting the Override Start/End Dates check box enables the date boxes and allows you to choose the start and end dates. By doing this, you can simulate a small sub-section of the overall project. The dates will be shown on the Simulate tab. These dates will also be used when exporting animations.
Use the drop-down list to select the interval unit, then use the Up and Down arrow buttons to increase or decrease the interval size. It is also possible to highlight all the tasks that are being worked on during the interval. By selecting the Show All Tasks in Interval check box, and, for example, setting the Interval Size to 5 Days, all tasks being worked on during those 5 days will be set to their Start Appearance in the Scene View, including those that begin and end within the bounds of the interval.
The following options can be selected in the Animation field: ■ No Link - no viewpoint animation or camera animation will be played. ■ Saved Viewpoints Animation - links your schedule to the currently selected viewpoint or viewpoint animation. ■ Scene X - ➤ Camera - links your schedule to a camera animation in the selected animation scene. You can view pre-recorded animations with the TimeLiner simulation (see Play Animations and Scripts (page 247) ). View area.
■ Planned. Choose this view to simulate the Planned schedule only (that is, only use the Planned Start and Planned End dates). ■ Planned (Actual Differences). Choose this view to simulate the Actual schedule against the Planned schedule. This view will only highlight the items attached to the task over the Planned date range (that is, between PlannedStart and Planned End. See diagram below for graphical representation).
■ Planned Against Actual. Choose this view to simulate the Actual schedule against the Planned schedule. This will highlight the items attached to the task over the entire Planned and Actual date range (that is, between the earliest of Actual and PlannedStart dates and the latest of Actual and PlannedEnd dates. See diagrams below for graphical representation).
Overlay Text Dialog Box You have the option to define the text overlaid in the Scene View during simulation, by clicking Edit in the Simulation Settings Dialog Box (page 261). By default the date and time are displayed using the format specified in Control Panel ➤ Regional Settings. You can specify the exact format to use by entering text into the text box. Most text will appear as entered, except that words prefixed with a “%” or “$” character act as keywords and are replaced with various values.
shown next to the Font button, and during the TimeLiner simulation, all text on the overlay will be shown using this font. Date/Time Keywords %a Abbreviated weekday name. %A Full weekday name. %b Abbreviated month name. %B Full month name. %c Date and time representation appropriate for locale. %d Day of month as decimal number (01 - 31). %H Hour in 24-hour format (00 - 23). %I Hour in 12-hour format (01 - 12). %j Day of year as decimal number (001 - 366). %m Month as decimal number (01 - 12).
Color Keywords $COLOR_RED Sets the overlay display text color to be red. $COLOR_BLUE Sets the overlay display text color to be blue. $COLOR_GREEN Sets the overlay display text color to be green. $COLOR_WHITE Sets the overlay display text color to be white. $COLOR_BLACK Sets the overlay display text color to be black. $RGBr,g,b$RGB Sets the overlay display text to any color specified using explicit RGB values between 0 and 255. For example, “$RGB127,127,127$RGB” sets the color to grey.
Reference 13 Background Settings Dialog Box Use this dialog box to choose a background effect to use in the Scene View. Mode Selects the type of background effect. Choose from: ■ Plain ■ Graduated ■ Horizon NOTE Horizon mode and the associated colors are only available for 3D models. Color Sets the color for a plain background. Top Color Sets the top color in a graduated background. Bottom Color Sets the bottom color in the graduated background.
Shortcut menu: Right-click a blank area in the scene, and click Background on the shortcut menu. Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ Background Collision Dialog Box Use this dialog box to adjust the collision settings for the selected viewpoint in a 3D workspace. By default, Collision, Gravity, Auto Crouch, and Third Person view are switched off. NOTE This dialog box is only available for 3D models. Collision Select this check box to define a viewer as a collision volume in Walk and Fly modes.
region of high detail is based on collision volume radius, speed of movement, and the distance of the camera behind the avatar. 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.
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.
Look At Enter the X, Y, and Z coordinate values to change the focal point for the camera. The Z coordinate values are not available in a 2D workspace. Vertical Field of View, Horizontal Field of View Defines the area of the scene that can be viewed through the camera in a 3D workspace only. You can adjust the values for both vertical and horizontal angles of view. A larger value produces a wider angle of view and a smaller value produces a narrower, or more tightly focused, angle of view.
Collision Settings Opens the Collision dialog box (page 270). This functionality is available in a 3D workspace only. Ribbon: Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Edit Current Viewpoint Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Edit Current Viewpoint File Options Dialog Box Use this dialog box to control the appearance of the model and the speed of navigation around it. NOTE Some of the tabs are only available when working with 3D models.
Clipping Planes Near Automatic Select this radio button to make Autodesk Navisworks automatically control the near clip plane position to give you the best view of the model. The Distance box becomes unavailable. Constrained Select this radio button to constrain the near clipping plane to the value set in the Distance box.
NOTE Nothing is drawn beyond this plane; when you override automatic mode, make this value large enough to include your data. Additionally, using the ratio of the far clipping plane to near clipping plane in excess of 10000 can produce unwanted effects. Backface Turns on backface culling for all objects. Select from the following options: ■ Off. Turns off backface culling. ■ Solid. Turns on backface culling for solid objects only. This is the default option. ■ On.
Speed Tab Use this tab to adjust the frame rate speed to reduce the amount of drop-out during navigation. TIP If this does not improve navigation, try switching off the Guarantee Frame Rate option. Frame Rate Specifies the number of frames per second (FPS) that are rendered in the Scene View. 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.
NOTE To see the effect your changes have on the model in the Scene View, apply Scene Lights mode in the ribbon. InfoCenter Settings Dialog Box Use this dialog box to specify InfoCenter and Communication Center settings. Buttons OK Saves changes and closes the InfoCenter Settings dialog box. Cancel Discards changes and closes the InfoCenter Settings dialog box. Help Displays the context-sensitive help.
Hide Results Which Are More Than X Days Old Select this check box to have InfoCenter hide search results older than the numeric value you specify. CAD Manager Channel Used by other Autodesk products to specify the RSS feeds published by a CAD manager, the CAD Manager Channel is not enabled in Autodesk Navisworks. Display Name Type the name to be displayed in the Search Results panel.
RSS Feeds Select this check box to receive balloon notification of new RSS feeds. Number of Seconds Balloon Notification Displays Enter a numeric value to indicate the amount of time to display balloon notifications. % Transparency of Balloon Notification Enter a numeric value to indicate the transparency of balloon notifications. Alternatively, drag the slider toward Opaque to decrease the balloon notification transparency percentage or toward Transparent to increase the transparency percentage.
Buttons Export Displays the Select Options to Export dialog box, where you can select the global options you want to export (or “serialize”). If an option cannot be exported, it is unavailable. Import Displays the Open dialog box, where you can browse to the file with the required global option settings. OK Saves the changes, and closes the Options Editor. Cancel Discards the changes, and closes the Options Editor. Help Displays the context-sensitive help.
and then checks the settings in the Project Directory and the Site Directory. The files in the Project Directory take precedence. Project Directory Click to open the Browse for Folder dialog box, and locate the directory that contains the Autodesk Navisworks settings specific to a project group. to open the Browse for Folder dialog box, and Site Directory Click locate the directory that contains the Autodesk Navisworks settings standard across the entire project site.
When you click in the Scene View, Autodesk Navisworks requires a starting point for the object path in the Selection Tree box to identify the selected item. You can choose one of the following options: ■ Model - the object path starts at the model node; as a result, all objects in the model are selected. ■ Layer - the object path starts at the layer node; as a result all objects within a layer are selected.
Tint Level (%) Use the slider to adjust the tint level. 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.
Rotation Angles Specifies the multiplier for the snapping angle. Angle Sensitivity Defines the snapping tolerance. The value you enter here determines how close to the snapping angle the cursor must be for snap to take effect. Viewpoint Defaults Page Use the options on this page to define attributes that are saved with viewpoints when you create them. When you modify default viewpoint settings, your changes do not affect the currently opened Autodesk Navisworks file.
Links Page Use the options on this page to customize the way links are displayed in the Scene View. TIP If you want to restore the default values, click the Defaults button. Show Links Toggles the display of links in the Scene View. In 3D Indicates whether the link icons are drawn in 3D in the Scene View. Select this box if you want the links to float in 3D space just in front of their attachment points to the geometry.
Visible Select this check box to display this link category in the Scene View. Label Icon Type Specifies how to display this link category. Select one of the following options: ■ Icon - links are represented by default icons ■ Text - links are represented by text boxes with link descriptions in the Scene View. and in the Scene View. Visible Select this check box to display this link category in the Scene View. TimeLiner Playback Icon Type Specifies how to display this link category.
Quick Properties Page Use the options on this page to customize the way quick properties are displayed in the Scene View. TIP If you want to restore the default values, click the Defaults button. Show Quick Properties Toggles the display of quick properties in the Scene View. Hide Category Clear this check box to include category names in the quick properties tooltips. If you don’t want to see category names in the quick properties tooltips, select this check box.
■ High - gives you higher 2D fidelity, but lower rendering performance. Detail Guarantee Frame Rate By default, this check box is selected, and the target rate is maintained while moving. When movement stops the complete model is rendered. If this check box is clear, the complete model is always rendered during navigation, no matter how long it takes. Fill In Detail Indicates whether Autodesk Navisworks fills in any discarded detail when navigation has stopped.
Selecting this check box improves the display performance when much of the model is not visible. For example, when you’re walking down the corridor of a building. IMPORTANT Occlusion culling can only be used on a machine with an OpenGL 1.5 compliant graphics card. Also, occlusion culling is not used in a 2D workspace. Heads Up XYZ Axes Indicates whether the XYZ Axes indicator is displayed in the Scene View. Show Position Indicates whether the Position Readout is displayed in the Scene View.
Drivers Page Use the options on this page to enable/disable available display drivers. Available Drivers This is a list of all drivers that Autodesk Navisworks can support. By default, all drivers are selected. Software (OpenGL) This is a legacy driver, which only works on 3D geometries. If the check box is clear, Autodesk Navisworks will ignore this driver when rendering geometries. Presenter (OpenGL) This driver supports Presenter graphics system and only works on 3D geometries.
■ Gooch - uses cool and warm colors instead of dark and light to enhance the display of faces that might be shadowed and difficult to see in a realistic display. Autodesk Materials Use Fall Back This option gives you control of forcing to use Basic Material instead of Autodesk consistent material. If your graphics card does not function well with Autodesk consistent material, this option will automatically be used. Use Lod Texture Select this check box if you want to use LOD textures.
x 256 pixels generated from procedural maps. The higher the value, the higher the load on your graphics card, as more MB in memory is required to render textures. Multi Sample Anti Aliasing MSAA Level Defines the value of anti-aliasing to render in Autodesk Graphics mode. Anti-aliasing is used to smooth the edges of the geometry. The higher the number, the smoother the geometry, but the longer the rendering will take. 2x is the default option.
Orbit Tools Use Classic Orbit Select this check box if you want to switch from the standard Orbit tool to the classic Autodesk Navisworks Orbit mode on the navigation bar. Use Classic Free Orbit (Examine) Select this check box if you want to switch from the standard Free Orbit tool to the classic Autodesk Navisworks Examine mode on the navigation bar.
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 View, 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.
If this check box is clear, clicking or dragging the ViewCube rotates around the current pivot point and does not zoom in or out. Use Animated Transitions When Switching Views If this check box is selected, an animated transition displays when you click on a section of the ViewCube to help you visualize the spatial relationship between the current viewpoint and the selected viewpoint.
■ Normal (32x32) ■ Large (64x64). ■ Extra Large (256x256) Normal is the default option. Opacity Controls the opacity level of mini wheels. The default value is 50%. You can choose from the following options: ■ 25% (mostly transparent) ■ 50% ■ 75% ■ 90% (mostly opaque) On-Screen Messages Show Tool Messages Toggles the display of tooltips for navigation tools. When this check box is selected, the tooltips are shown below the cursor as you use the tools.
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. Use Viewpoint Linear Speed When this check box is selected, the Walk tool will respect the Viewpoint Linear Speed setting. In this case, the Walk speed slider will act like a multiplier. When this check box is clear, the Walk tool will work independently of the Viewpoint Linear Speed setting, using a fixed value set with the slider.
Theme Use the drop-down list to apply one of the preset interface themes. Model Node Use the settings in this node to optimize Autodesk Navisworks performance, and customize parameters for NWD and NWC files. TIP If you want to restore the default values, click the Defaults button. Performance Page Use the options on this page to optimize Autodesk Navisworks performance. Memory Limit Auto Indicates whether Autodesk Navisworks automatically determines the maximum memory that can be used.
On Load Collapse on Convert Collapses the tree structure on the Selection Tree to the specified level when native CAD files are converted into Autodesk Navisworks. Select from the following options: ■ None - the tree is fully expanded. Use this option to enable splitting polylines into individual segments when importing DWGs and DGNs to support multiple clash intersections.
Create Presenter Materials Select this check box to enable creation of Presenter materials when NWC files are loaded. Clearing this check box turns off creation of Presenter materials. Temporary File Location Auto Indicates whether Autodesk Navisworks automatically selects your user Temp folder. to open the Browse for Folder dialog box, and select Location Click the desired Temp folder.
NWC Page Use the options on this page to manage reading and writing of cache files (NWC). By default, when Autodesk Navisworks opens a native CAD file (for example, AutoCAD or MicroStation), it first checks in the same directory whether there is a cache file present with the same name as the CAD file but with an .nwc extension.
Colors Select this check box to reduce the precision of colors. Texture Coordinates Select this check box to reduce the precision of texture coordinates.
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Glossary 14 Glossary of technical terms relating to Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012. 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.
Published NWD files are useful when issuing models for viewing by others with the Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 free viewer, as well as being appendable themselves into Autodesk Navisworks to build up a larger scene. Selection Terminology These are terms specific to Autodesk Navisworks that are used in relation to selecting items. composite objects A composite object is a group of geometry that is considered a single object in the selection tree.
aspect ratio Aspect ratio is the proportion of X-axis to Y-axis size. For example, in exporting a bitmap of a viewpoint, maintaining the aspect ratio would keep the proportion of the view even if the number of pixels was different. camera-centric Navigation modes in which the camera is moved around the model. field of view The field of view of a camera is the angle that the camera can see.
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Index 2D 100 2D Navigation wheel 164 2D/3D object associations 212 3D mouse devices 165 3D workspace 106 3Dconnexion options 293 3Dconnexion 3D mouse 165 A align viewpoint 106 animation enable scripts 247 play 247 Animation toolbar 65 annotations 228 Autodesk Channels 16 B background effects settings 269 186 C cameras 167 align 171 orthographic 167 perspective 167 straighten 170 tilt 169 Center tool 113 CIP (Customer Involvement Program) 19 close toolbars 59 collaborate drive 251 refresh 251 session 251
enable scripts exit 39 247 F face views 144 favorites links (InfoCenter) 11 File menu 55 file options 85, 274 culling 274 headlight 277 orientation 276 scene lights 277 speed 277 file readers DWF/DWFx 97 find 211 InfoCenter information 6 links 235 objects in multi-sheet files 212 fly 137 focal point 136 Forward tool 114 frame rate 277 Front view 145 frustum culling 191 Full Navigation wheels 162 full screen mode 69 G gizmos 94, 95 global options 85 developer 93 display units 91 environment 43 export 86 i
lighting 183 full lights 184 head light 185 no lights 186 scene lights 184 links 230 categories 231 control display 231 customize 233 find 235 follow 235 options 286 reset 236 standard 231 user-defined 231 locations 90 option settings 281 look around 132 Look tool 115 M markups 228 measuring 220 options 284 Menu bar 54 menus 54, 55 mouse devices 165 move toolbars 59 multi-sheet files 100 find objects 212 navigation controls 75 prepare 101 Project Browser 101 N navigation 105 navigation bar 150 Navigation
preview 255 setup 255 privacy 10 product news 9 progress bar 75 project directory 90 pick radius 205 Selection Tools toolbar 61 Selection Tree 202 sort 202 share print 255 shortcuts 79 show internal properties 93 simulation settings 261 site directory 90 snapping options 284 stand-alone installation 21 Standard toolbar 60 start 39 status bar 75 SteeringWheels 153 options 296 stereo 198 straighten 170 Subscription Center 7 system requirements stand-alone installation 22 Q Quick Find 211 quick properties 23
U UI 40 undo 76 options 281 unhide objects 210 up direction 118 Up/Down tool 123 updates 9 user interface 40 user Interface options 298 V view fit model to scene area 138 fit selection to scene area 139 hold items 175 set focal point 175 third person perspective 178 View menu 57 View Object wheels 158 ViewCube 139 appearance 139 compass 139 lock to selection 149 options 294 viewing options 274 viewpoint defaults options 285 Viewpoint menu 57 viewpoints 239 delete 244 edit 244 folders 243 organize 243 use 2
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