Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 User Manual Autodesk, Inc.
Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009: User Manual Autodesk, Inc. Copyright © 2007 Autodesk, Inc. Revision 6.1.46140 Autodesk, Inc. reserves the right to make changes in specification at any time and without notice. The information furnished by Autodesk, Inc. in this publication is believed to be accurate; however, no responsibility is assumed for its use, nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of third parties resulting from its use.
Contents Part 1. Welcome to Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 ................................................................. 1 Chapter 1. Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Readme ........................................................ 2 Installing Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 ................................................................ 2 Customer Involvement Program ....................................................................................2 Product Notes ....................................
Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Is there a checklist I can refer to when performing a deployment? ........................... 43 Where should deployments be located? ................................................................ 43 Where can I check if service packs are available for my software? .......................... 43 Networking Issues .......................................................................................................44 Where do I find my server name? .........................
Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 3DS Files ............................................................................................................83 DGN and PRP Files ............................................................................................. 84 MAN Files ...........................................................................................................87 PDS Files ............................................................................................................
Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Chapter 13. Selecting Items ................................................................................................. 156 Selection Trees ...........................................................................................................156 Interactive Selection .....................................................................................................158 Select Mode ...................................................................................
Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Performance Options ...................................................................................................201 Presenter Options ........................................................................................................203 Chapter 17. Viewpoints ........................................................................................................206 Saving Viewpoints .................................................................................
Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Using the Manual Entry Boxes ...................................................................................... 267 Chapter 22. Interface ...........................................................................................................269 The Main Interface Components ................................................................................... 269 The Menu Bar ...............................................................................................
Part 1. Welcome to Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 software enables real-time visualization, exploration, and experience of design projects before they are real. Project quality and reviews are improved through sharing of 3D design data and information, regardless of file size or format. Easy-to-use design review tools improve conveyance and understanding of design intent.
Chapter 1. Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Readme This section contains late-breaking information about Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009. For new and updated information about all Autodesk© products, visit our website at http://www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Readme What does CIP not track? • There is no way for CIP to track any information related to the user. • There is also no way to track information outside of Autodesk products. To turn CIP on and off: • Turn CIP on or off by going to Help > Customer Involvement Program. The dialog will appear, allowing you to switch it on or off.
Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Readme Access the LightWork Design HDRI Resource Page Access the LightWork Design HDRI Starter Collection • Microsoft .NET Framework Earlier versions of Revit (Building 8 / Structures 2) require the .NET Framework version 1.1 to be separately installed. If the .Net Framework version 1.1 is not installed an error message will be displayed when Revit is started. You can download a copy of the .Net Framework version 1.1 by searching for ".Net Framework version 1.
Chapter 2. New Features Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 contains many new features and enhancements. Interface Enhancements • .NET GUI Modernization Up-to-date look and feel including new icons, improved control bar docking and tabbed control bars. • Workspaces Allow predefined default window and menu layouts, as well as full customization and sharing of layouts across multiple PCs. • New editor for Global Options.
New Features Increasing cylinder accuracy, and dramatically reducing the memory footprint of file formats containing them. Of key benefit to the MicroStation exporter and DGN file reader. • Object Animation Playback Playback of object animations inside NWD and NWC files that have been created in Autodesk NavisWorks Manage 2009 or Autodesk NavisWorks Simulate 2009.
Part 2. Installation This section provides step-by-step installation instructions for Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009.
Chapter 3. Quick Start to Stand-Alone Installation This section provides step-by-step instructions about how to install Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 on your system. You should read the entire Standalone Installation Guide if you have any questions that are not addressed in this Quick Start section. For information about installing network-licensed or multi-seat stand-alone versions of the program, see the Network Installation Guide.
Quick Start to Stand-Alone Installation When you are activating Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009, you are prompted for your serial number. Your serial number is located on the outside of the product package. Make sure to have this number available before you activate the program so that you don't have to stop in the middle of the installation.
Quick Start to Stand-Alone Installation For more information about registering NavisWorks, see “ Register and Activate NavisWorks ”. How to Launch NavisWorks Assuming that you've followed all of the previous steps outlined in this Quick Start section, you can launch NavisWorks and start taking advantage of its new and updated features. You can start NavisWorks in the following ways: • Desktop shortcut icon. When you install NavisWorks, a NavisWorks shortcut icon is placed on your desktop.
Chapter 4. Move to NavisWorks from a Previous Release If you have a previous version of NavisWorks installed on your system, you can install Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 and keep other versions of the program on the same system. This is called a side-by-side installation. If you've purchased a version of Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009, which is labeled as an upgrade, you are required to uninstall the previous version within 120 days of installing Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009.
Chapter 5. Install NavisWorks for an Individual User This section provides instructions for installing and activating your Autodesk products for an individual user on a stand-alone computer. For information about installing network-licensed or multi-seat stand-alone versions of the program, see the Network Installation Guide. The NavisWorks Installation Wizard The Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Installation Wizard contains all installation-related material in one place.
Install NavisWorks for an Individual User Hardware and software requirements 512 MB (minimum) Memory (RAM) 2 GB or greater (recommended) 128 meg, 1024 x 768 VGA, True Color (minimum) Display card 256 meg or greater - 1280 x 1024 32-bit color video display adapter, True Color (recommended) Hard disk Installation 800 MB Pointing device MS-Mouse compliant DVD-ROM Any speed (for installation only) Open GL©-compatible 3D video card Printer or plotter Optional hardware Modem or access to an Internet c
Install NavisWorks for an Individual User 5. On the Personalize the Products page, enter your serial number and user information and click Next. The information you enter here is permanent and is displayed in the Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 window (accessed by Help > About) on your computer. Because you can't change this information later without uninstalling the product, make sure you enter the correct information now. 6. On the Review - Configure - Install page, click Install to begin installing.
Install NavisWorks for an Individual User 5. On the Personalize the Products page, enter your serial number and user information and click Next. The information you enter here is permanent and is displayed in the Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 window (accessed by Help > About) on your computer. Because you can't change this information later without uninstalling the product, make sure you enter the correct information now. 6.
Install NavisWorks for an Individual User 9. On the Configuration Complete page, click Configuration Complete to return to the Review Configure - Install page. Then, click Install. 10. On the Installation Complete page, select View the Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Readme if you want to launch the Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Help system. 11. Click Finish. You have successfully installed Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009. You are now ready to register your product and start using the program.
Install NavisWorks for an Individual User and activate Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 in one of the following ways: • Email. Create an email message with your registration information and send it to Autodesk. • Fax or Post/Mail. Enter your registration information, and fax or mail the information to Autodesk. Add or Remove Features You can add or remove Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 features at any time.
Install NavisWorks for an Individual User 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 reinstalling or repairing Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009. The reinstallation or repair uses the features that were part of the installation type you chose when you initially installed the program. To reinstall or repair Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009: 1.
Install NavisWorks for an Individual User 5. When informed that the product has been successfully uninstalled, click Finish. Note: Even though Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 is removed from your system, the software license remains. If you reinstall Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 at some future time, you will not have to register and re-activate the program.
Chapter 6. Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users This section provides step-by-step instructions for installing network-licensed or multi-seat stand-alone versions of the Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009. Quick Start to Network Installation Network deployment of this program requires careful planning and execution. If you are not familiar with network administration and deployment, you should read the entire Network Installation Guide before you attempt to deploy and administer the program over a network.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users If you chose the Network Installation option, you need to decide which license server model to use to distribute the product licenses. Note: If you are deploying a stand-alone or multi-seat stand-alone installation type, you do not use a license server model. Proceed to “How to Set Up and Distribute the Program”. For the network installation, use one of the following license server models: • Single license server model.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users If you do not agree to the terms of the license and want to terminate the installation, click Cancel. 4. On the Review - Configure - Install page, review your product selection and the current settings. If you don't want to make any changes, click Install. If you want to change the install type or installation path, click Configure. 5. On the Select the Installation Type page, accept the default installation path (C:\Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager\)
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users 5. On the Select the Installation Type page, either accept the default installation path (C:\Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager\Network License Activation Utility\enu\) or Browse to specify a different path. If you enter a path that does not exist, a new folder is created using the name and location you provide. Click Next. 6. On the Configuration Complete page, click Configuration Complete to return to the confirmation page. 7.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users then click Next. In the This Product Is To Be Registered To option, select Company or Individual. In the Select Country or Region section, select your country or region of residence. In the Is This an Upgrade section, select Yes or No. 10. If the Registration Information page is displayed, enter your registration information, and then click Next. 11. If the Confirm Information page is displayed, review your registration information, and then click Next. 12.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users 2. In the Lmtools program, on the Service/License File tab, select the Configure Using Services option. 3. Click the Config Services tab. 4. On the Config Services tab, in the Service Name list, select a service name or do one of the following: • If a service name is selected, verify that it is the one you want to use to manage licenses. • If no service name exists, enter the service name you want to use to manage licenses.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Installation wizard and choosing a deployment method. How to Create a Network Share A network share is an installation folder that you make available to users' computers on a network. You point users to this location to install the program. Create a network share that will be used by the Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Installation wizard during the creation of a client deployment.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users 1. In the Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Installation wizard, click Create Deployments. 2. On the Begin Deployment page, you need to specify the following: administrative image location and deployment name. In the administrative image field, enter an existing shared network location where you want to create an administrative image, or click the Browse button to navigate to a location where there is a shared network location.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users If you choose participation in the Customer Involvement program, Autodesk sends helpful information about the product. Click Next. 7. On the Review - Configure - Create Deployment page, click Create Deployment. By clicking Create Deployment, an administrative image is created in the shared folder using the deployment options listed in the Current Settings field. 8. On the Deployment Complete page, click Finish.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users meet the minimum recommended hardware and software requirements for a deployment. See the following tables for administrative image, license server, and client workstation system requirements. Hardware and software requirements for the location of the administrative image Hardware/Software Requirement Hard disk 1.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users Hardware and software requirements for client machine Open GL©-compatible 3D video card Printer or plotter Optional hardware Modem or access to an Internet connection Network interface card Creating Network Deployments In this section, you’ll find more detailed information about using the Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 Installation wizard to create or modify deployments.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users When you have completed these tasks, you are ready to create a deployment from the Installation wizard. Minimize Chances of Installation Failure The Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 installation process may stop if some applications, such as Microsoft Outlook or virus checking programs, are running when you are creating a deployment. Close all running applications and temporarily disable virus checking utilities.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users Several supporting tools and utilities are necessary if you plan to have users run the programs with network licenses. Ancillary programs you might install include: • Network License Manager • Network License Activation Utility • SAMreport Lite Refer to the Network Licensing Guide for detailed information about how to set up your license servers.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users Note: The deployment location should be a shared network folder. To create a shared folder, see “Create Shared Folders for Your Deployments”. 3. On the Select the Products to Include in the Deployment page, select the products and click Next. 4. Review the Autodesk software license agreement for your country or region. You must accept this agreement to proceed with the deployment. Choose your country or region, click I Accept, and then click Next.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users Specify Log File Locations The program has two types of log files with which you can monitor information about deployments and installations. • Network log. The network log file keeps a record of all workstations that run the deployment. On the General Deployment Settings page of the deployment process, you choose whether or not to create a network log file. The log lists the user name, workstation name, and the status of the installation.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users When you set up your deployment, you choose the type of installation to deploy based on the type of software license you purchased: stand-alone or network. You also select the network license server model you want to use to distribute product licenses. Specify the license type to use during deployment Stand-Alone license (a single serial number for a single seat). For a stand-alone license, you install, register, and activate the program on each workstation.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users To deploy a network license using a distributed license server model: 1. While creating a deployment, on the Select the License Type page, select the Network License option. 2. Select Distributed License Server as the license server model you want to use with the Network License Manager. If you have already used the Network License Manager to create a license server model, you must select the same license server model in this step.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users Select the Installation Type (optional) As part of making your deployment choices, you can choose which features are included with the installation, and specify where the product is installed on each workstation. You choose the location where program files are installed on the client workstation in the Product Install Path. To help decide where the product is installed, a chart of drives and disk space is provided.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users 3. If you want a hardcopy of the installation information displayed on this page, click the Print button. 4. If you are ready to complete the deployment, click Create Deployment. 5. On the Deployment Complete page, click Finish. To confirm and complete the setup of a multi-seat stand-alone deployment: 1.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users To register a multi-seat stand-alone licensed deployment: 1. On the Deployment Complete page, click Register Products Online. The Register Today page is displayed. You complete Register Today at this point so that all users have the same default registration information. 2. In the Register Today wizard, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the registration. Note: This process only registers the product.
Install NavisWorks for Multiple Users Uninstall the Program When you uninstall Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009, all components are removed in the process. This means that even if you have previously added or removed components, or if you have reinstalled or repaired the program, uninstalling removes all program installation files from your system. Note: If you plan to modify an administrative image at a later date (for example, by adding a patch to it), do not remove that image.
Chapter 7. Installation Troubleshooting This section outlines common issues and their solutions that may arise while performing a general installation of your product. What are the minimum system requirements? Before you install your product on a stand-alone computer, make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements.
Installation Troubleshooting To identify your graphics card driver: 1. Start Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009. 2. Click Help > System Info. The Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 information dialog box opens. 3. Review the information about your system including the graphics card driver and driver version, and click OK to close the dialog. What is the difference between a stand-alone license and a network license? Stand-alone licensed products are registered and activated to an individual workstation.
Installation Troubleshooting functionality Sample RPC's Contails several Rich Photorealistic Content files for the Presenter tool Example NWD files Contails various feature sample files PDF manual Contails the Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 user guide in PDF format. Additionally, the Installation wizard will automatically enable the exporter plugins for all 3rd party products installed on your PC.
Installation Troubleshooting Networking Issues This section outlines common issues and their solutions with regards to performing a network installation or configuring your network license servers. Where do I find my server name? When installing a network licensed product, you must specify the name of the server that will run the Network License Manager. If you don’t know the server name, you can quickly find it by opening a Windows command prompt on the system that will be the Network License Manager.
Installation Troubleshooting Your license file also stays on your workstation when you uninstall your product. If you reinstall on the same workstation, the license information remains valid and you do not have to reactivate the product.
Part 3. Basic NavisWorks Functionality The core functionality of Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 enables 3D CAD file aggregation and real-time navigation of digital projects of any size, and provides a comprehensive project review toolkit.
Chapter 8. Overview The basis of Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 is its ability to walk through any size model in real time. NavisWorks guarantees a user-defined frame rate using a unique algorithm which automatically calculates which items to render first during navigation, based on the size of items and distance from the viewpoint. Items which NavisWorks does not have time to render are, therefore, sacrificed or "dropped out" in the name of interactivity.
Chapter 9. File Management With Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 you can open a wide variety of native 3D CAD file types without having to have the CAD application on your machine. See Chapter 10, Converting Files for more detailed information on these file formats and their options. File management all happens with the File menu and the Standard toolbar.
File Management To create a new file: • On the File menu, click New or • Click New on the Standard toolbar. Refreshing Files When working in NavisWorks, it is possible that others may be working on the CAD files you are currently reviewing. For example, if you are coordinating various disciplines on a project, then you may have an overall .nwf file referencing numerous design files.
File Management Opening Files via URL With Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 you can open NavisWorks published .nwd files via the Internet. Having uploaded your .nwd file to a web server, this file can then be opened directly from within NavisWorks. Utilizing JetStream technology, it will not be necessary for the entire file to be downloaded before navigation can commence - between 10% and 50% will be sufficient for this, depending on the file structure.
File Management Merging Files When merging multiple .nwf files, that each comprise the same reference files, NavisWorks will only load a single set of the combined models, along with all review markup (such as tags, viewpoints or comments) from each .nwf file. Any duplicate geometry or markup will be removed when merged. See “ NWF Files ” for more information on .nwf files. Merging a file: 1. Open the first file to be merged, (see “ Opening Files ” for information on how to do this). 2.
File Management Saving and Renaming Files This is exactly the same as the Save option (see “ Saving Files ”, but it gives you the opportunity to rename the file that you are saving. Saving a file with a new name: 1. On the File menu, click Save As. 2. Enter a new name and location to store the file. 3. Click Save to save the file or Cancel to return to NavisWorks without saving. Publishing Files Publishing a NavisWorks .nwd file takes a snapshot of the current scene that cannot then be changed (i.e.
File Management Note: The maximum image size is 2048x2048 pixels. The Properties button controls printer-specific ink and paper settings. Previewing Printouts Before you print out a copy of the model you are working on, you may wish to see how it will appear. Previewing a model before printing: 1. On the File menu, click Print Preview. 2. Use Zoom In and Zoom Out to do just that with the preview image. 3. Click Print, OK to confirm and print the image, or click Close to return to NavisWorks.
File Management • On the File menu, click Delete. Note: It is not possible to undo this command. Emailing Files NavisWorks is a communication tool, and the Send option makes it easy for you to send your current model along with its viewpoints. The Send option uses your current email exchange service and will prompt you to set one up if it cannot find one. Sending an email will first save the current working file, so you are guaranteed to always send the latest review.
File Management • Viewpoints XML (.xml) • Search XML (.xml) • Search Set XML (.xml) See “ Exporting Files ” for more information on exporting data from NavisWorks. Importing PDS Tags Tag information from Intergraph PDS contains a unique ID, saved viewpoint and corresponding comments. Tag information created in NavisWorks may also be exported to be used in Intergraph PDS. See “ Exporting Files ” for more information. Importing PDS tag files: 1. On the File menu, click Import > PDS Tags.
File Management Importing PDS Display Sets Display sets from Intergraph PDS contain detailed criteria, defining item selections. When imported into NavisWorks, .dst files create search sets in the Selection Sets control bar. See “ Selection and Search Sets ” for more information on search sets. Importing PDS display sets to create search sets: 1. On the File menu, click Import > PDS Display Sets. The Import dialog box is displayed. 2. Locate and Open the .
File Management for more information on exporting viewpoints to an .xml file. Importing viewpoints and associated data: 1. On the File menu, click Import > Viewpoints XML. The Import dialog box is displayed. 2. Locate and Open the viewpoints .xml file to import the viewpoints, or click Cancel to return to NavisWorks without importing a file. Importing Search XML Search criteria can be imported into NavisWorks which populates the Find Items control bar.
File Management 1. On the File menu, click Import > Search XML. The Import dialog box is displayed. 2. Locate and Open the search .xml file to import the search criteria into the Find Items control bar, or click Cancel to return to NavisWorks without importing a file. Importing Search Sets XML Search sets can be imported into NavisWorks which populates the Selection Sets control bar with pre-defined search sets.
File Management 2. Locate and Open the search sets .xml file to import the search sets into the Selection Sets control bar, or click Cancel to return to NavisWorks without importing a file. Exporting Files The export option outputs the current viewpoint in one of four ways: • Piranesi EPix format (.epx) • Windows Bitmap format (.bmp) • Portable Network Graphics format (.png) • JPEG format (.jpg) It is also possible to export an animation to: • Windows AVI (.
File Management Or, as a sequence of individual frames, to: • JPEG format (.jpg) • Portable Network Graphics format (.png) • Windows Bitmap (.bmp) The export option additionally outputs a variety of review data, including: • PDS Tags (.tag) • Viewpoints XML (.xml) • Current Search XML (.xml) • Search Sets XML (.xml) • Viewpoint Report HTML (.html) The export option outputs a number of additional review file types: • Autodesk DWF (.dwf) • Google Earth KML (.
File Management File menu. The Image Export dialog box is displayed. 2.
File Management • JPEG Select Compression and Smoothing options from the JPEG Options dialog box: 3. Select the sizing options for the file to be exported. (See “ Controlling the Size of an Image ” for more details). 4. Click OK to continue, or click Cancel to return to NavisWorks without exporting an image. 5. Enter a new name and location to store the file. 6. Click Save to export the file, or Cancel to return to NavisWorks. Exporting an Animation Exporting an animation to an .
File Management 2. Select the Source from which you wish to export the animation. Current Animation - the currently selected viewpoint animation. 3. Select the Renderer with which you wish to render the exported animation. OpenGL - quickly renders your animation; this option is also ideal for previewing animations. 4. Select the Format in which you wish the output to be exported in: • Windows AVI Click Options... to select the Video Compression you require.
File Management Note: Clicking Compression will open a standard Windows™ dialog box that allows you to choose which codec to use, as well as its configuration. Only those codecs currently installed will be shown and the PC that the .avi file will be run on will also need the same codec installed. • JPEG (sequence of static images, taken from individual frames) Click Options... to set the Compression and Smoothing levels you require.
File Management The size of the exported image/animation can be set in various ways: Explicit allows you full control of the width and height (the dimensions are in pixels). Aspect Ratio allows you to set the height, and the width is automatically calculated from the aspect ratio of your current view. Use View takes the width and height of your current view. Anti-Aliasing smoothes the edges of the exported images. The higher the number, the smoother the image, but the longer they take to export.
File Management Exporting viewpoints: 1. On the File menu, click Export > Viewpoints XML. 2. Enter a new filename and location, if you wish to change from those suggested. 3. Click Save to export the .xml file, or Cancel to return to NavisWorks. Exporting Current Search The search criteria specified in the Find Items dialog box can be exported to an .xml file. This can then be imported into other NavisWorks sessions.
File Management Note: To customize the appearance or layout of the html file, you will need to edit the viewpoints_report_lang.xsl file, where lang is a code representing your language. The installed file is located in the stylesheets subdirectory of the NavisWorks install directory. You can copy the edited file to the stylesheets subdirectory of any of the NavisWorks search directories. See “ Search Directories ” for more information. Exporting viewpoints report: 1.
File Management • Materials (colour and flat transparency only) • Viewpoints (adjustments may occur due to Google Earth limitations) • Model Hierarchy • Hyperlinks (currently only URLs work correctly in Google Earth) Exporting to Google Earth KML files: 1. On the File menu, click Export > Google Earth KML.... This brings up the following dialog box. 2. Select Export model relative to terrain height to put Google Earth in a mode where all heights are measured from the surface of the ground.
File Management When positioning a model relative to sea level, the height of the Google Earth reference points must also be measured relative to sea level. When positioning a model relative to the ground, the Google Earth reference points must be measured relative to the ground. Google Earth always places new placemarks at an altitude of zero, irrespective of whether that is relative or absolute. 3. 4.
File Management Quitting NavisWorks Quitting NavisWorks: 1. On the File menu, click Exit 2. If the model has been changed since opening it, NavisWorks will ask you whether you want to save any changes. Respond appropriately and NavisWorks will then close.
Chapter 10. Converting Files With Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 you can open a wide variety of native CAD file types without having to have the CAD application on your machine. Files read by NavisWorks include .dwg, .dgn, .dxf and Inventor. For a full list of CAD files that NavisWorks can open, please refer to the web site www.autodesk.com/navisworksreview. This site will also explain which entities are read by NavisWorks and which are ignored, as well as any object property information that is converted.
Converting Files • STL Stereolithography data (.stl) • AVEVA Review (.rvm) • IFC files (.ifc) • Sketchup (.skp) NWF Files .nwf files can be saved by NavisWorks in order to save a current review of the scene. No geometry is saved in this format, but a list of appended files, along with their path relative to the .nwf file is saved, along with any overrides, comments, redlines, viewpoints or other NavisWorks specific information. .
Converting Files 3. Clear the Enable check box if you do not require any geometry compression. 4. Select the Coordinates check box if you want to reduce the precision of coordinates. Enter the value to which you wish coordinates to be precise to in the Precision box. The larger the value, the less precise coordinates will be and the smaller the .nwd will be. 5. Select the Normals check box to reduce the precision of normals. 6. Select the Colors check box to reduce the precision of colors. 7.
Converting Files NWC Options NavisWorks allows you to enable and disable the reading and writing of cache files. This describes the default process. The options here enable you to enable and disable the reading and writing of cache files. For example, you may want to disable reading cache files to ensure that NavisWorks converts every native CAD file each time it is read, even though this is a slower process.
Converting Files value, the less precise coordinates will be and the smaller the .nwc will be. 7. Select the Normals check box to reduce the precision of normals. 8. Select the Colors check box to reduce the precision of colors. 9. Select the Texture Coordinates check box to reduce the precision of texture coordinates. 10. Click OK to set these options or Cancel to exit the dialog without setting them. DWG and DXF Files NavisWorks's .dwg and .
Converting Files • Entity handles. • Attributes. • File properties. Unsupported Entities • Lights • Splines • Multi-lines • Linetypes • Dimensions and leaders • Raster bitmaps • Construction lines (xlines and rays) • Hatching DWG and DXF File Reader Options Setting the .dwg and .dxf file reader options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the File Readers node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the DWG/DXF/SAT option. The DWG/DXF/SAT page is displayed.
Converting Files 3. Enter the Faceting Factor (the value must be greater than 0). The higher the value, the more NavisWorks will facet rounded entities and, therefore, the smoother they will appear. See Faceting Factor for more information. 4. Enter the Max Facet Deviation. This will facet entities to within the specified tolerance. See Max Facet Deviation for more information. 5. Select the Split by Color check box if you want to be able to select parts of compound entities in NavisWorks.
Converting Files They will be converted but hidden in NavisWorks. 11. Select the Convert Entity Handles check box if you want to read entity handles as a property attached to the item in NavisWorks. 12. Select the Convert Groups check box if you want to retain the groups from .dwg and .dxf files, adding another selection level to the selection tree. See Chapter 13, Selecting Items for more information on selecting objects and the selection tree. 13.
Converting Files Check those applications you wish to read information from. 24. Click OK to set these options or Cancel to exit the dialog without setting them. DWF Files Autodesk's DWF (Design Web Format) was specifically developed by Autodesk as a file format for architects, engineers, and GIS professionals to share design data. The NavisWorks file reader reads all 3D geometry, as well as textures and properties. A full list is given below.
Converting Files Unsupported Entities • 2D lines/plot sections • Thumbnails • Marked-up sketches • More than one 3D section per file (any others are ignored) • NURBS Surfaces • Cameras DWF File Reader Options Setting the .dwf file reader options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the File Readers node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the DWF option. The DWF page is displayed. 3. Enter the Faceting Factor (the value must be greater than 0).
Converting Files 4. Enter the Max Facet Deviation. This will facet entities to within the specified tolerance. See Max Facet Deviation for more information. 5. Click OK to set these options or Cancel to exit the dialog without setting them. Bentley AutoPLANT Files Bentley AutoPLANT is based on AutoCAD and as such uses the .dwg file format to store model geometry. Any settings related to the .dwg file format also affect files from AutoPLANT.
Converting Files The settings for these three sets of data can be edited by selecting the appropriate item in the list and clicking on the Edit button. See Chapter 25, DataTools for more information. For AutoPLANT properties to be loaded correctly an .mdb file must be located in the same directory as the .dwg file, with the same filename followed by the .mdb extension. If this file exists, NavisWorks will automatically pick it up and use it to show appropriate properties in the Properties window.
Converting Files 3DS Files 3DS is a common file format that is supported by many CAD applications. The NavisWorks file reader reads all 2D and 3D geometry as well as texture maps. The hierarchy defined by the keyframe data from keyframe 0 is preserved, including instancing. Entities are positioned based on keyframe 0. Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 does not read .max files, but instead has exporters for Viz and Max. Entity support is the same as for the 3ds reader. See “ Viz and Max .
Converting Files 3. Select the Convert Hidden check box if you want to read hidden entities from the .3ds file. They will be converted but hidden in NavisWorks. 4. From the Default Units drop-down list, choose the type of units that NavisWorks will use when opening .3ds files. If the units turn out to be wrong, the model can be easily rescaled using the File Transform option (see “ Setting a File's Units and Transform ” for more details). 5.
Converting Files boundaries, solids, SmartSolids and Feature Solids, lines, arcs and ellipses. • Splines and B-spline curves. • Lights. • Levels. • Cells and shared cells and their instancing. • Colors and ambient, diffuse and shininess properties of materials from .pal and .mat palette and material files. • Reference files including aliases. • Dynamic drawing of parametric models when loading/exporting DGN and PRP files.
Converting Files 3. Enter the Faceting Factor (the value must be greater than 0). The higher the value, the more NavisWorks will facet rounded entities and therefore the smoother they will appear. See Faceting Factor for more information. 4. Enter the Max Facet Deviation. This will facet entities to within the specified tolerance. See Max Facet Deviation for more information. 5. Select the Convert Hidden Items check box if you want to read hidden entities from the .dgn file.
Converting Files 13. Select the Use Level Symbology check box if you want to use the level symbology from MicroStation so that items in NavisWorks take their color from level rather than the default element color in MicroStation. 14. MicroStation has the concept of a “global origin”, which is where (0, 0, 0) is located (assuming there are no active ACSs). Changing this global origin in MicroStation doesn't actually move anything; it simply changes the reporting of coordinates.
Converting Files • grid background is treated as a plain background using the background color - no grid lines will show • Foreground and Environment shaders are ignored • All other shaders, as of MicroGDS 7.2, are correctly imported into NavisWorks. Note: MicroGDS materials are specified in millimetres, and are converted into metres to make NavisWorks materials, dividing distance parameters by 1000. Windows with Perspective Views are read into NavisWorks as View objects.
Converting Files 2. Expand the File Readers node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the MAN option. The MAN page is displayed. 3. Select the box Include line-geometry to include MicroGDS line-primitives into NavisWorks 4. Set Facet circle. Adjust the number of facets used for arcs - enter the number of straight line segments to facet a whole circle. (This corresponds to the MicroGDS Set Facet preference.) 5. Texture Path.
Converting Files The PDS page is displayed. 3. Select the Load Tags check box to load associated TAG files together with the DRI file. 4. Select the Load Display Sets check box to load associated Display Set DST files with the DRI file. 5. In the Input Files drop-down box select DGN Files to read the original DGN files, or NWC Files to load the NWC cache versions of the files instead.
Converting Files revolution. • Tabulated cylinders • Solids and manifold solids • Shells • Faces Unsupported Entities • Points • Lines • Circular or conic arcs • Compsite, parametric spline, B-spline, or offset curves • Boundaries • Attributes IGES File Reader Options Setting the IGES file reader options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the File Readers node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the IGES option. The IGES page is displayed.
Converting Files 3. Enter the Faceting Factor (the value must be greater than 0). The higher the value, the more NavisWorks will facet rounded entities and therefore the smoother they will appear. See Faceting Factor for more information. 4. Enter the Max Facet Deviation. This will facet entities to within the specified tolerance. See Max Facet Deviation for more information. 5. Click OK to set these options or Cancel to exit the dialog without setting them.
Converting Files Unsupported Entities • Points • PCurves, B-spline, rational B-spline, Bezier, trimmed, uniform or quasi-uniform curves. • Circles or ellipses • Hyperbola STEP File Reader Options Setting the STEP file reader options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the File Readers node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the STEP option. The STEP page is displayed. 3. Enter the Faceting Factor (the value must be greater than 0).
Converting Files Inventor Files Autodesk Inventor™ part (.ipt), assembly (.iam) and project (.ipj) files can be read by NavisWorks. Drawing (.idw) files cannot be read. Note: The reader supports files from Autodesk Inventor 2009™ and earlier. Later versions should also work, but haven't been tested. Autodesk Inventor 5™ (or higher) or Autodesk Inventor Design Tracking 5™ (or higher) must be installed. Autodesk Inventor Design Tracking™ can be downloaded from support.autodesk.com.
Converting Files 3. The Active Project text box displays the path of the current Inventor project. To change project, open the corresponding project file or enter the path to it here. 4. Click OK to set these options or Cancel to exit the dialog without setting them. VRML world files VRML world files can be read by NavisWorks. Note: The reader supports files in both VRML1 and VRML2 file formats.
Converting Files • VRML1 WWWAnchor and VRML2 Anchor nodes - children will be loaded but any referenced VRML world will not be loaded upon clicking objects. • VRML1 and VRML2 LOD nodes - the most detailed (i.e. first) child will always be loaded. Unsupported Entities • All ROUTE definitions. • All sensor nodes. • All interpolator nodes. • Textures specified within the VRML file (VRML2 PixelTexture nodes and the image component of VRML1 Texture2 nodes). • VRML2 Script nodes.
Converting Files 3. Use the Default Units drop-down list to alter the default units for any loaded VRML world. 4. Select the Override Normals check box if you want to override any provided normals and force auto-generation within NavisWorks. 5. Select the Override Orientation check box if you want to override any specified orientation of vertices and force all to be assumed to be counter-clockwise. 6.
Converting Files • Triangles Unsupported Entities • No other entities are supported. Riegl Scan File Reader Options Setting the Riegl Scan file reader options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the File Readers node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the Riegl option. The Riegl page is displayed. 3. Select the Use point color values check box if you want to extract color values from the input file. 4.
Converting Files to the scanner. 7. Click OK to set these options or Cancel to exit the dialog without setting them. Faro Scan Files Faro™ scan files can be read by NavisWorks. iQmod and iQwsp files are workspace files that contain a list of one or more associated iQscan files. The iQscan files must be located in a folder called 'Scans', located in the same directory as the workspace file. Note: The reader supports files from all Faro™ scanners.
Converting Files 3. Point colors for Faro files can be set to None where the points come through as white, and Intensity and Color where the points use the intensity or color values stored in the file. It should be noted that if Point colors is set to a higher level in the Global Options than are available in the file, then it will default to the highest available within the file.
Converting Files Leica Scan File Reader Options Setting the Leica Scan file reader options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the File Readers node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the Leica option. The Leica page is displayed. 3. Set the value in the Sample rate box if you want to adjust the frequency of points extracted from the input file. By increasing the rate, the number of points extracted will be reduced.
Converting Files The reader supports files from all Z+F™ IMAGER scanners. Supported Entities • Points Unsupported Entities • No other entities are supported. Z+F Scan File Reader Options Setting the Z+F Scan file reader options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the File Readers node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the Z+F option. The Z+F page is displayed. 3.
Converting Files 5. From the Point intensity drop-down list, choose how the points are brought through when opening Z+F files. None brings through the points set to white. Raw Intensities uses the intensities set in the file. Color-Mapped Intensity transforms point intensity values to a spectrum of RGB colors. The Gamma Correction Level is used to alter the gamma correction values whilst using the point intensities set in the file. Gamma values can range between 0.0 and 1.
Converting Files 2. Expand the File Readers node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the ASCII Laser option. The ASCII Laser page is displayed. 3. Set the value in the Sample rate box if you want to adjust the frequency of points extracted from the input file. By increasing the rate, the number of points extracted will be reduced. This will have the effect of reducing the image resolution, but increasing the speed with which the file is loaded. 4.
Converting Files Unsupported Entities • No other entities are supported. STL File Reader Options Setting the STL file reader options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the File Readers node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the STL option. The STL page is displayed. 3. Use the Default Units drop-down list to alter the default units for any loaded STL solid. 4.
Converting Files Supported Entities • All geometry • Attributes stored on groups • Textures (via RVS file) • Cameras and camera tracks (via RVS file) • Clip planes (via RVS file) • Signs (via RVS file) • Tags (via RVS file) • Labels (via RVS file) • Translucency (via RVS file) Unsupported Entities • Attributes stored on primitives • Lights • Object Animation • Smooth Animation • Groups • Autotags RVM File Reader Options Setting the RVM file reader options: 1.
Converting Files 3. Enter the Faceting Factor (the value must be greater than 0). The higher the value, the more NavisWorks will facet rounded entities and therefore the smoother they will appear. See Faceting Factor for more information. 4. Enter the Max Facet Deviation. This will facet entities to within the specified tolerance. See Max Facet Deviation for more information. 5. Select the Convert attributes check box to attempt to load attribute files. 6.
Converting Files geometry. If unchecked, such groups will be discarded. Note: RVM files do not contain color information beyond a color number on each scene element. As these colors are customisable; NavisWorks provides a color definition file to allow easy color personalisation. Two examples of this file are located in the RVM subdirectory inside the main NavisWorks install directory: colors.txt - these are a set of default Review™ colors (this file is used by NavisWorks). PDMS_colors.
Converting Files • Property sets, including simple and complex properties Unsupported Entities • Voided BReps • Bounded half-space solids • Complex parametric profiles • BSpline curves • Curve styles • Swept surfaces • Textures and complex lighting • Loading of server-based IFC models IFC File Reader Options Setting the IFC file reader options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the File Readers node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the IFC option.
Converting Files 3. Enter the Faceting Factor (the value must be greater than 0). The higher the value, the more NavisWorks will facet rounded entities and therefore the smoother they will appear. See Faceting Factor for more information. 4. Enter the Max Facet Deviation. This will facet entities to within the specified tolerance. See Max Facet Deviation for more information. 5.
Converting Files NavisWorks supports Sketchup through its native SKP file format. Supported Entities • Geometry • Materials (face front material only) • Transparency • Groups • Components • Layers • Imported images • Transparency Unsupported Entities • Text • Dimensions • Section planes Sketchup SKP File Reader Options Setting the SKP file reader options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2.
Converting Files 3. Select the Convert Hidden Items check box if you want to read hidden entities from the .skp file. They will be converted but hidden in NavisWorks. 4. Select the Merge Faces check box if you want to reduce the complexity of the model as seen in the selection tree by interpreting a body as a single item consisting of a group of faces. Leaving unchecked leaves the faces as separate items in NavisWorks. 5.
Converting Files There are .nwc file exporters for the following CAD applications: • Autodesk's AutoCAD • Autodesk's Revit • Bentley's MicroStation • Autodesk's Viz and Max • Graphisoft's ArchiCAD AutoCAD .nwc Exporter NavisWorks comes with ARX plugins for any AutoCAD™ based product, such as Architectural Desktop™, that enable you to export an .nwc file directly from the CAD application in which it was created.
Converting Files 1. Type ARX (followed by return) at the command line. 2. Then type the letter l (followed by return) at the command line, for "Load". 3. The Select ARX file dialog box will be displayed, so browse to the ARX plugin. By default, for AutoCAD R14, this will be C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk\NavisWorks\2009\nwexport.arx, for AutoCAD 2000 based applications, this will be C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk\NavisWorks\2009\NWExport2000\nwexport2000.
Converting Files • Navigator See “ NavisWorks Navigator for AutoCAD ” for more details. AutoCAD .nwc Exporter Options Available from the NavisWorks menu, or by typing nwopt at the command prompt, this enables you to configure various elements of the exported file to your choosing. See “ DWG and DXF File Reader Options ” for details on what each of the options does. Once you have set the options, future exports of .nwc and publishes of .nwd files will use these settings. Revit .
Converting Files 4. Select the location and filename you want to export to. 5. Click on the NavisWorks settings button to change the export configuration.
Converting Files 6. Convert element parameters can be set to None where none of the parameters are read, Elements where all parameter fields are read from all found elements, or All where all parameters from all found elements are read, as well as property tabs added for any elements referenced. 7. Select the Convert element Ids check box to export the id numbers on each Revit element. 8.
Converting Files 10. Click OK to export the file or Cancel to return to Revit without exporting it. MicroStation .nwc Exporter NavisWorks comes with MDL plugins for MicroStation™ 95, SE, /J and v8 that enable you to export .nwc files directly from the CAD application in which it was created. As long as MicroStation is already installed on the computer when NavisWorks is installed, the MDL plugin is installed with NavisWorks on a Custom Install or Full Install and ready for use.
Converting Files Once NWExport plugin is loaded, you can export to .nwc using the nwcout command from the key-in command line. Exporting .nwc files from MicroStation: 1. Type nwcout at the key-in prompt. The MicroStation export dialog box is displayed. 2. Select the location and filename you want to export to. The exporter will make a guess at a suitable filename for you. 3. Select the view number you wish to the model to be exported from. 4.
Converting Files NavisWorks colors are derived from either MicroStation cell colors or MicroStation materials, depending on the export options set during nwcout. The appearance of objects in Publisher will match the appearance of a MicroStation shaded render. The view number chosen for export determines the initial view in NavisWorks, whether level symbology is used and which levels are hidden. Note: The exporter only exports from 3D dgn files - 2D files are not supported.
Converting Files Note: If you install Viz after NavisWorks, then install NavisWorks again, choosing the Custom Install option and choose the relevant version of Viz. The NavisWorks installer will find the right place for the plugin and set up all relevant registry entries for you. See “ 3DS Files ” for information on the supported and unsupported entities for the Viz exporter. Exporting .nwc files from Viz and Max: 1. Go to File > Export. The Export dialog box is displayed. 2.
Converting Files 4. Click the Options Editor button. The NavisWorks Options dialog box is displayed.
Converting Files 5. Select the Convert Hidden Items check box if you want to export hidden entities from the Viz scene. They will be exported but hidden in NavisWorks. 6. Select the Convert User Properties check box if you want to attach any user properties you have defined in Viz to the converted NavisWorks items. 7. Select the Pre-Render Scene check box if you want to ensure that all texture maps are exported with the model.
Converting Files ArchiCAD .nwc Exporter While NavisWorks cannot directly read ArchiCAD files, there is an addon for ArchiCAD v6.5 through to v11.0 that will export the model to an .nwc cache file that can then be read into NavisWorks. The export add-on for ArchiCAD is available from both the 2D and 3D windows. All standard ArchiCAD elements and library parts can be exported as long as they have a 3D representation, and any others will be ignored.
Converting Files Unsupported entities • Section planes • Points • Lines • Textures ArchiCAD .nwc Exporter Options The export options appear after choosing OK from the File > Save As menu. Setting the ArchiCAD exporter options: 1. Select the Export GUIDs check box if you want to attach a Globally Unique IDentifier as a property to each item in the model. This is mainly useful for clash detection to track clashes. 2.
Converting Files will export everything contained within the view. CAD Previewing NavisWorks comes with plugins for AutoCAD 2000 and above for quick and simple previewing of the models that are being built in those applications. These previews help in setting up viewpoints within the CAD application, and also for previewing what the model will look like inside NavisWorks Freedom™ once published.
Converting Files 2. Navigator is very similar to NavisWorks Freedom™ (see “ Freedom ”, except that it has three extra buttons on the interface. 3. Click on the NavisWorks™ button to update the Navigator window with what's in the AutoCAD window. Note: The Navigator window is not updated automatically when the AutoCAD model changes, so you have to click on this button manually every time you want to navigate around the latest model. 4.
Chapter 11. Publishing NavisWorks supports the creation of highly compressed NWD files, with options to embed object property information, and secure the files with password protection. The NWD file format can be viewed in the free NavisWorks viewer, NavisWorks Freedom, or opened in NavisWorks for full design review. You can publish files directly from NavisWorks or by exporting from AutoCAD™ or MicroStation™. Publishing from NavisWorks NavisWorks Publisher .
Publishing 2. You can enter as much, or as little information as you wish.
Publishing Published For, Copyright, Keywords and Comments are all optional boxes to be completed by you. 3. Password gives you the opportunity to password protect nwd files. On clicking OK, you will be asked to re-enter the password to ensure you have not mis-typed it. 4.
Publishing If you install AutoCAD after NavisWorks, then install NavisWorks again, choosing the Custom Install option and choose the relevant AutoCAD. The NavisWorks installer will find the right place for the plugin and set up all relevant registry entries for you. The .nwd publisher is available for any AutoCAD based product between AutoCAD 14 and 2004 releases. Publishing .nwd files from AutoCAD: 1. Type nwdout at the command line, or go to NavisWorks > Publish .nwd. 2.
Publishing Loading the NWExport MDL plugin automatically: 1. Go to Workspace > Configuration. 2. Choose Design Applications under Category. 3. Choose NWExport under Available Applications. 4. Click Add and confirm that you want NWExport added to your default configuration. 5. MicroStation will then automatically load NWExport in future sessions. 6. Click OK. Once NWExport plugin is loaded, you can publish to .nwd using the nwdout command from the key-in command line. Publishing .
Publishing 3. Enter the location you wish the file to be published to. 4. Select the view number you wish to the model to be published from. 5. Click the Options button if you want to change the export configuration. See “ MicroStation .nwc Exporter Options ” for more information on these options. 6. Click OK to publish the file or Cancel to return to MicroStation without publishing it.
Publishing The available functionality includes all of the navigation modes; the view all, perspective and orthographic modes; collision detection, gravity, auto crouch and third person modes; display of hyperlinks; and restoring viewpoints and animation playback. The buttons on the Freedom interface work in the same way as the NavisWorks buttons: • Open Simply opens the standard Windows™ Open dialog box for you to choose an .nwd file to open into Freedom. • Walk Puts Freedom into Walk navigation mode.
Publishing Puts Freedom into Zoom to Box navigation mode. • Pan Puts Freedom into Pan navigation mode. • Orbit Puts Freedom into Orbit navigation mode. • Examine Puts Freedom into Examine navigation mode. • Fly Puts Freedom into Fly navigation mode. • Turntable Puts Freedom into Turntable navigation mode. • View All Zooms to extents so that the whole model is visible in the Freedom window. • Perspective Puts the Freedom view into perspective viewing mode.
Publishing • Auto Crouch Toggles automatic crouching on/off. • Third Person Toggles the third person view on/off. • Hyperlinks Toggles the display of hyperlinks on/off. • Stop Stops the current animation playback. • Pause Pauses the current animation playback. • Play Plays the currently selected animation. • Viewpoints This drop-down list shows all the viewpoints and animations that have been set up and published with the .nwd file.
Publishing The entire contents of this folder will need to be copied to the new location.
Chapter 12. Navigating NavisWorks enables intuitive and interactive navigation around your 3D models at a guaranteed frame rate. The nine navigation modes give you complete flexibility to navigate around the model in real time. In addition to these navigation modes, there are selection and measuring tools that further facilitate the interrogation of model data. The navigation tools allow you to do things such as focus on objects and change the view parameters.
Navigating Zoom Zoom Box Pan Orbit Examine Fly Turntable In addition to the Navigation Mode toolbar, you can use selection options on the Selection Tools toolbar. These options are mutually exclusive to navigation just as redlining and measuring are. See “ Select Mode ” for more information on the selection tools. Walking Walk mode enables you to walk through the model on a horizontal plane ensuring that "up" is always "up".
Navigating Look around mode enables you to look around the model from the current camera position and gives the effect that you are moving your head around. To look around a model: • On the Viewpoint menu, click Navigation Mode > Look Around or • Click Look Around on the Navigation Mode toolbar. Dragging the left mouse button, or using the cursor keys, looks left, right, up or down. Holding down the Shift key speeds up this movement.
Navigating Dragging a box with the left mouse button over the main navigation view fills the view with the contents of the box. Holding down the Shift or Control keys, or spinning the mouse wheel, temporarily puts this mode into normal Zoom mode. Panning The pan mode enables you to pan the model rather than the camera. To pan a model: • On the Viewpoint menu, click Navigation Mode > Pan or • Click Pan on the Navigation Mode toolbar.
Navigating The examine mode enables you to rotate the model about. To examine a model: • On the Viewpoint menu, click Navigation Mode > Examine or • Click Examine on the Navigation Mode toolbar. Dragging the left mouse button, or using the cursor keys, rotates the model about. Holding down the Shift key or spinning the mouse wheel, temporarily puts this mode into normal Zoom mode. Holding down the Control key, temporarily puts this mode into normal Pan mode.
Navigating • On the Viewpoint menu, click Navigation Mode > Turntable or • Click Turntable on the Navigation Mode toolbar. Dragging the left mouse button left and right, or using the left and right cursor keys, spins the turntable left and right respectively. Holding down the Shift key or spinning the mouse wheel, temporarily puts this mode into normal Zoom mode. Holding down the Control key, temporarily puts this mode into normal Pan mode.
Navigating Crouch Third Person Align With X-Axis Align With Y-Axis Align With Z-Axis Straighten Camera Set World Up to Current View Note: The Straighten and Set Up buttons are not on the toolbar by default, but can be added by customizing it (see “ Customizing Toolbars ”). Viewing Everything This function dollies and pans the camera so that the entire model is in view, which is very useful if you get lost inside a model or lose it completely.
Navigating • On the Viewpoint menu, click Navigation Tools > View Selected or • Click View Selected on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Focusing This function puts the main navigation view into focus mode until the next click. Left-click on an item and the view swivels so that the point clicked is in the center of the view. The point clicked becomes the focal point for examine, orbit, turntable navigation modes.
Navigating • On the Viewpoint menu, click Navigation Tools > Orthographic Camera or • Click Orthographic on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Note: Orthographic cameras are not available with Walk and Fly navigation modes. Collision Detection This function defines you as a collision volume - a 3D object that can navigate around and interact with the model, obeying certain physical rules that confine you within the model itself.
Navigating Collision detection is only available when in either the walk or fly navigation mode. To activate collision detection: • In Walk or Fly navigation mode, on the Viewpoint menu, click Navigation Tools > Collision Detection or • Click Collision Detection on the Navigation Tools toolbar. or • Press D to toggle collision detection on/off.
Navigating Crouching This function only works in connection with collision detection. When walking around the model with collision detection 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.
Navigating or • Press T to toggle third person view on/off. Note: When Third Person mode 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, speed of movement (needing to see what is about to be walked into) and the distance of the camera behind the avatar (in order to see what the avatar is interacting with).
Navigating To align the viewpoint with the z-axis: • On the Viewpoint menu, click Navigation Tools > Align Z or • Click Align Z on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Looking From a Preset Viewpoint When this option is chosen the model is displayed from this viewpoint in the main navigation view. This is equivalent to toggling the Align X, Align Y and Align Z buttons on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Looking from a preset viewpoint: 1. On the Viewpoint menu, click Look From. 2.
Navigating • On the Viewpoint menu, click Set World Up > Current View. or • Click Set Up on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Alternatively, to set the world up vector to one of the orthogonal axes: • On the Viewpoint menu, click Set World Up and choose one of the pre-defined axes (+X Axis, -X Axis, +Y Axis, -Y Axis, +Z Axis, or -Z Axis). Note: Navigation modes Walk, Turntable and Orbit all use the World Up vector, so navigation will occur at whatever angle is set using this function.
Navigating Thumbnail Views Thumbnails 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. There are two thumbnails available in NavisWorks so you can have one showing a section and another showing a plan view if you wish. The thumbnails show a fixed view of the model, with a triangular marker representing your current viewpoint. This marker moves as you navigate, showing the direction of your view.
Navigating To turn on the section thumbnail: • On the View menu, click Control Bars > Section Thumbnail. or • Click Section Thumbnail on the Workspace toolbar. By default the Section Thumbnail shows the view from the front of the model and the Plan Thumbnail shows a plan view. The thumbnail view can be manipulated by right-clicking on the view. You can select from the following options: Look From, Edit Viewpoint, Update Viewpoint, Lock Aspect Ratio and Refresh. Manipulating a thumbnail's view: 1.
Navigating Viewpoint dialog box(see “ Editing Viewpoints ” for more information on this). 5. Choose Lock Aspect Ratio if you want the aspect ratio of the thumbnail to match that of the main navigation view and remain matching even when the thumbnail dialog box is resized. This will usually give gray strips either to the top and bottom, or to either side of the thumbnail view. See Aspect Ratio for more information on aspect ratio. 6. Choose Refresh to redraw the thumbnail based on the current setting.
Navigating 3. Modify the Scale translation value if you want to increase or decrease the speed of translation. 4. Modify the Scale rotation value if you want to increase or decrease the speed of rotation. 5. Select the Default navigation mode from the drop-down list. This will be used when no valid navigation mode is currently selected.
Chapter 13. Selecting Items With large models it is potentially a very time-consuming process to select items of interest. NavisWorks makes this a much simpler task by providing a range of functions for quickly selecting items both interactively and by searching the model manually and automatically.
Selecting Items By default there are four tabs, called Standard, Compact, Properties and Sets: • "Standard" displays the default tree hierarchy, including all instancing. The contents of this tab can be sorted alphabetically by right-clicking on any item in the tree and selecting Scene > Sort. It is not possible to undo this action. • "Compact" displays a simplified version of the "Standard" hierarchy, omitting various items.
Selecting Items Naming of items reflects the names from the original CAD application, wherever possible. There are several different tree icons representing the types of item that make up the structure of a model: 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.
Selecting Items NavisWorks provides several methods to interactively select items into the current selection. You can use the tabs in the selection tree, select items in the main navigation window with select and select box modes and you can select other items with similar properties to an existing selection using the selection commands. Note: Right-clicking on any item in the tree view or main view temporarily selects the item and displays a context menu.
Selecting Items You can select multiple items in the main navigation window using the familiar Windows™ methods of holding down the Control key while selecting items. This will add them to the current selection. Alternatively, if the items are already in the current selection, holding down Control while selecting them again will remove them from the current selection.
Selecting Items • Select Same Name Every item with the same name as the selected item will also be selected. • Select Same Type Every item of the same type as the selected item will also be selected. • Select Same (property) Every item with the same property as the selected item will also be selected. The property can be anything from Material, Hyperlink or any other searchable property attached to the item. Note: Selecting Same (property) works by comparing items' properties.
Selecting Items 1. Set up a search as explained in “ Finding Items ”. 2. On the Edit menu, click Select > Selection Sets > Add Current Search. or Right-click on the Selection Sets control bar and click Save Current Search on the shortcut menu. New selection sets and search sets are named "Selection SetX" where 'X' is the next available number added to the list.
Selecting Items This is the main management center for selection sets. All actions concerning selection sets are available by right-clicking this control bar. Right-clicking a blank space in the Selection Sets control bar opens a shortcut menu with the options to Save Current Selection or Save Current Search, as outlined in “ Saving Selection and Search Sets ”. This also gives access to the Add Folder and Sort options as detailed below. Managing Selection Sets: 1. Right-click a selection set. 2.
Selecting Items 9. Click Update to set the selected selection set to the currently selected items, or if it's a search set, it will update it with the current search. 10. Click Delete to delete the selected selection set. 11. Click Rename to rename the selected selection set. 12. Click Sort to sort the contents of the Selection Sets window alphabetically. Using Folders to Manage Selection Sets: Folders in the Selection Sets control bar work in a similar way to how they do in Microsoft Windows.
Selecting Items • Geometry Selects the last item in the selection tree path (most specific, but may be multiply instanced). If you find you have selected the wrong level of item, you can interactively "cycle" through the selection resolution, without having to go to the options dialog or the selection tree. You do this by holding down the Shift key when selecting an item.
Selecting Items 3. To set the color that selected items are displayed in, click the Color button. The default highlight color is blue. Alternatively, clear the Enabled check box to disable selected item highlighting (items won't change color when selected). 4. In the Pick Radius box, enter the radius, in pixels, that an item has to be within in order for it to be selected. 5. In the Resolution box, choose the level of selection that you wish to use as the default, see selection resolution. 6.
Chapter 14. Finding Finding is a quick and powerful way of selecting items into the current selection based on items' properties. These "searches" can then be saved (see “ Saving Selection and Search Sets ”) and re-run in later sessions. You can also find text inside comments using the Find Comments functionality. Properties The Properties control bar shows all the properties of a selected item.
Finding NavisWorks will also convert many different CAD application object properties, such as those from Architectural Desktop™ or MicroStation TriForma™. Every property has a type associated with it, for example, an item's Name is a string, and so on. Internal file properties, such as transform and geometry properties, are not shown by default.
Finding the whole model, then choose the file or files from the Standard tab that comprise the model. You could also select several selection sets to limit your find to these items in the sets. Note: You can right-click the selection tree and choose from Import Current Selection to quickly select the items currently selected for the search, or conversely, Set As Current Selection to set the current selection to that you have already selected in the find selection tree. 4.
Finding Conditions from the shortcut menu. 9. The shortcut menu that appears when right-clicking the list box also contains several Ignore Category ... and Ignore Property ... options. See User Name and Internal Name for details on what these mean. 10. Select the Match Case check box if you want the find to respect the upper and lower case letters in strings.
Finding Quickly finding items from a string: 1. On the Edit menu, click Quick Find or press Ctrl-F. The Quick Find dialog box will appear: 2. Type in the string you want to search for in all items' properties. This search is not case sensitive. 3. Click Find Next to find the next item in the selection tree containing this string or Cancel to return to NavisWorks. 4.
Finding Finding comments: 1. If it's not already open, open the Find Comments control bar as outlined above. 2. Type in the text that you want to search for in the Text box. Note: You should use the "*" wildcard (without the quotes) to match an arbitrary series of letters either before or after the text you enter here.
Finding 8. You can click the Source tab and select the relevant check boxes for Selection Sets, Viewpoints or Redline Tags to restrict the search by the source that the comment is attached to. Note: If the Text, Author, ID and Status boxes are left empty, the search will return all comments within the Date Modified and Source restrictions. 9. Click Find to search for the comments. 10. If any comments are found, they will be listed in the box at the bottom of the control bar.
Chapter 15. Editing As NavisWorks is a design review tool, editing is restricted to simple temporary "overrides" of items' properties, so that they can always be reset to the state they were in when imported from the CAD file. You can override an item's position by holding onto the item while navigating and then dropping it in a new position, or move it by overriding it's transform. Also you can edit an item's color, transparency, and hyperlinks.
Editing 1. Select the item(s) to be held for moving. 2. On the Viewpoint menu, click Navigation Tools > Hold or Click Hold on the Navigation Tools toolbar. 3. The selected item(s) are now held and will move with you through the model when you use the normal navigation modes i.e. Walk, Pan etc. 4. To release the held item, click Hold on the Navigation Tools toolbar again. To reset the item to its original position, see “ Resetting Items' Positions ”.
Editing • Press Ctrl-Y or • Click Redo on the Standard toolbar Repeat as many times as required, or your options allow. Undo Options You can set the amount of space you wish to allocate to the undo buffer. The default settings should be adequate for most normal usage. Setting undo options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the General node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the Undo option. The Undo page is displayed: 3.
Editing Hiding Items This command hides the current selection and allows you to hide and reveal items by toggling on and off. Note: In the selection tree the object will appear gray when hidden. Hiding an item: 1. Select the item(s) that you want to hide (see Chapter 13, Selecting Items for more information on how to do this). 2. On the Edit menu, click Hidden or Click Hidden on the Selection Tools toolbar.
Editing The command allows you to hide and reveal the hidden items by toggling on and off. Note: In the selection tree the items will appear gray when hidden. Hiding all non-selected items: 1. Select the item(s) that you want to remain visible (see Chapter 13, Selecting Items for more information on how to do this). 2. On the Edit menu, click Unselected Hidden. or Click Unselected Hidden on the Selection Tools toolbar.
Editing Overriding an item's transparency: 1. On the Edit menu, select Override Item > Override Transparency or Right-click the item and select Override Transparency. 2. Use the slider to select level between opaque and transparent and click OK. Note: Any materials applied with the Presenter plugin will supersede any transparency overrides. Overriding Transforms This option allows a user-defined transform to be applied to the position of an item in the scene.
Editing Also see “ Transforming Objects ” for more information on interactively transforming objects. Overriding Hyperlinks As well as hyperlinks being converted from the native CAD files you open in NavisWorks, you can also "override" an item's hyperlinks by attaching multiple additional hyperlinks to it. Because hyperlinks are treated as a property by NavisWorks, they can be searched on with the Find Items tool and displayed in the Properties bar.
Editing or • Right-click the item and choose Reset Transform. Resetting All Overriden Properties Once an override has been applied to several items, you can reset them all at once to return them to the values that they had when the file was originally converted from the native CAD file. Resetting All Colors and Transparencies This option restores all items in the scene to their original colors and transparencies. Note: Items' colors cannot be restored separately from their transparencies.
Editing Resetting All Items' Positions This option restores the original positions of any items that have previously been held, transformed and repositioned around the model. To restore all items positions: • On the Edit menu, click Reset All > Reset Transforms. Custom Properties Property information brought into NavisWorks from a CAD application cannot be edited, with the exception of color, transparency and hyperlinks, as described in the previous section.
Editing Add New Property This option allows a custom property to be added to a user data tab in the Properties control bar. Adding a new property to a user data tab: 1. If it's not already displayed, on the View menu, click Control Bars > Properties, or click Properties on the Workspace toolbar, to open the Properties control bar. 2. Select the user data tab you wish to add the new property to. 3.
Editing Rename Property This option allows you to rename a custom property added to a user data tab in the Properties control bar. Renaming a custom property: 1. If it's not already displayed, on the View menu, click Control Bars > Properties, or click Properties on the Workspace toolbar, to open the Properties control bar. 2. Select the user data tab containing the custom property you wish to rename. 3. Right-click the Property to be renamed and select Rename Property. 4.
Editing Setting a File's Units and Transform You may need to use this feature when working with Clash Detective and/or Presenter, where it's important to have the model in the correct units and scale, to ensure clash results are accurate and materials are applied correctly. You may also find this useful if you append several models from different sources into the same scene and the scale, rotation and origin of some models need amending to match the other models.
Editing 3. Move the model's location by entering model units for the x, y and z axis in Origin. 4. The Reflected Transform check box only needs to be selected if a negative scale has been set. 5. Change the rotation of an object by entering an angle of rotation and selecting the axis to rotate about (by entering a value greater than 0). The object rotates about its origin point. 6.
Chapter 16. Display Modes The Rendering Styles toolbar controls the appearance of the model in the main navigation window. From here you can control the lighting effect, the rendering type and enable or disable the different types of primitives drawn. Linked with the display options (see “ Display Options ” later in this chapter) and file options (see “ File Options ”, this enables you to fully control the appearance of the NavisWorks main navigation window.
Display Modes • Click No Lights on the Rendering Style toolbar. Head Light This option uses a single directional light located at the camera that always points in the same direction as the camera. You can set the head lights properties using Head Light options. To turn on the head light: • On the Viewpoint menu, click Lighting > Head Light or • Click Head light on the Rendering Style toolbar.
Display Modes 3. Move the sliders to affect the ambient and head light intensities. You will see the effect your changes have on the scene in the main navigation window, as long as head light is selected as the rendering style. 4. Click OK to set these options or Cancel to exit the dialog box without setting them. Scene Lights This option uses whatever lights are defined in the model, or two default opposing lights, if none are available.
Display Modes • On the Viewpoint menu, click Lighting > Scene Lights or • Click Scene lights on the Rendering Style toolbar. Scene Lights Options Sliders are available to change the intensity of the scene's lights. The Ambient slider controls the general overall brightness of the scene when scene lights is selected as the rendering style. Note: Changes made in Scene Lights options will not be visible unless you have selected the Scene Lights rendering style. Changing scene light intensity: 1.
Display Modes 3. Move the slider to affect the ambient intensity. You will see the effect your changes have on the scene in the main navigation window, as long as scene lights is selected as the rendering style. 4. Click OK to set these options or Cancel to exit the dialog box without setting them. Full Lights This option uses lights that have been defined with the Presenter tool.
Display Modes • On the Viewpoint menu, click Lighting > Full Lights or • Click Full lights on the Rendering Style toolbar. Render Modes The four render modes affect how the items are rendered in the main navigation window. The spheres below demonstrate the effect that the render modes have on their appearance. In order from the left, these are full render, shaded, wireframe and hidden line.
Display Modes or • Click Shaded on the Rendering Style toolbar. Wireframe Render This option renders the model in wireframe. As NavisWorks uses triangles to represent surfaces and solids, all triangle edges are visible in this mode. To select wireframe render: • On the Viewpoint menu, click Rendering > Wireframe or • Click Wireframe on the Rendering Style toolbar. Hidden Line Render This option renders the model in hidden line.
Display Modes • On the Viewpoint menu, click Display > Surfaces or • Click Surfaces on the Rendering Style toolbar. Lines As well as turning all lines on and off, it is possible to change the width of the lines. See “ Display Options ” for details on how to do this. To toggle the rendering of lines on or off: • On the Viewpoint menu, click Display > Lines or • Click Lines on the Rendering Style toolbar.
Display Modes or • Click Snap Points on the Rendering Style toolbar. Text Text is the 3D text saved in the scene. To toggle the rendering of text on or off: • On the Viewpoint menu, click Display > Text or • Click Text on the Rendering Style toolbar. Background Color This option allows you to select or mix a background color for the main view. Setting the background color is equivalent to setting a Plain Background on the Effects tab of the Presenter dialog box.
Display Modes perpendicular to the screen. NavisWorks uses the near and far clip plane to maximize the resolution of the model on screen. The near and far clip plane boxes dictate constraints for the near and far culling planes. Setting culling options: 1. On the Tools menu, click File Options. 2. In the File Options dialog box, click the Culling tab. 3.
Display Modes 4. In the Near Clip Plane area, check the Automatically generated check box to tell NavisWorks to constrain the near plane to give the best view of the model it possibly can. Alternatively, uncheck this box to manually constrain the near clip plane. NavisWorks will put the near clip plane no further than the value you type into the Furthest distance box. 5.
Display Modes The defaults take the positive Z-axis as Up and the positive Y-axis as North. 3. If the models orientation is different to the defaults, enter XYZ values to correctly position the Up and North directions. 4. Click OK to accept your changes, or Cancel to return to NavisWorks without accepting them. Speed Options The basis of NavisWorks is its ability to walk through any size model in real time.
Display Modes ks does not have time to render are therefore sacrificed or "dropped out" in the name of interactivity. These items are, of course, rendered when navigation ceases. The amount of drop-out depends on several factors including: hardware (in particular graphics card and driver performance), as well as the size of the NavisWorks navigation window and the size of the model.
Display Modes 3. Select the number of frames per second to be applied to the rendered display of the model. 4. Click OK to set these options or Cancel to exit the dialog box without setting them. Display Options Use these options to control several aspects of the NavisWorks main navigation window display to suite your preferences and setup. Setting display options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the Interface node, and click the Display option. The Display page opens. 3.
Display Modes interactive navigation. This may have an effect on performance - especially if your video card does not support hardware accelerated OpenGL - and so by default transparent items are only drawn when interaction has ceased. 6. Select the Guarantee Frame Rate check box to enable the NavisWorks engine to maintain the user defined frame rate set on the Speed tab of the File Options dialog box (see “ Speed Options ”). By default the target rate is maintained while moving.
Display Modes 2. Expand the Model node, and click the Performance option. The Performance page is displayed: 3. Memory. Select the Auto check box for NavisWorks to automatically calculate the maximum memory that may be used. This will take the lowest of your available physical memory or address space, less that required for your Windows operating system. Alternatively, clear this option and manually enter the limit. 4. Merge Duplicates.
Display Modes It should be noted that whilst NavisWorks will try to collape items to the fewest number possible, it may be necessary to prevent collapsing in some cases to preserve model fidelity. For example if an item has properties or materials unique to itself, then collapsing would endanger this information, and therefore it will not be collapsed.
Display Modes 3. Use the Profile drop-down list to adjust the Presenter to your level of knowledge. Select Advanced to use the advanced Presenter features (e.g., extra materials, lights, render styles and so on). By default, the Basic profile is used. 4. Select the Smoothed Textures check box if you want textures to look smooth but take longer to render. Clear it if you want textures to appear pixelated but render faster. 5. Select the Filtered Textures check box if you want to turn on mipmapping.
Display Modes cards. 11. Select the Blend Transparent Textures check box if you want better quality but slower rendering of transparent items in the main navigation window. With this option off, items with transparency of more than 50% are treated as completely transparent and not rendered at all. 12.
Chapter 17. Viewpoints Viewpoints are an important feature of NavisWorks. They not only allow you to save and return to views of the model which are of importance, but they can also be used for design review audit trails and for setting up animations of the model. Saving Viewpoints Viewpoints contain more than just the camera information - each viewpoint can also contain redlines and comments. In fact, you can use viewpoints as a design review audit trail.
Viewpoints On recalling viewpoints the navigation mode that was active when the viewpoint was created will be re-selected. Any redlines and comments associated with the viewpoint will also be reinstated. The Viewpoints Control Bar Viewpoints allow you to keep a record of all the different views of a model so that you can jump to preset viewpoints without having to navigate each time to reach an item.
Viewpoints represents a viewpoint saved in orthographic mode. represents a viewpoint saved in perspective mode. represents a viewpont animation clip. represents a cut inserted into a viewpoint animation clip. You can select more than one viewpoint by either holding down the Control key and left-clicking, or by left-clicking on the first item, and then clicking on the last item while holding down the Shift key.
Viewpoints Choose Save Viewpoint if you want to save the current viewpoint. A new viewpoint will be created with its default name ("ViewX") editable. Choose Add Empty Animation if you want to create a new viewpoint animation, ready for dragging viewpoints onto. A new viewpoint animation will be created with its default name ("AnimationX") editable. See “ Creating Viewpoint Animations ” for more information on viewpoint animations. Viewpoints Managing Viewpoints 1.
Viewpoints cuts. Choose Update to update all keyframes in the viewpoint animation with the current render style, lighting and navigation mode. Choosing Update on a single keyframe will only update that frame with the current modes. Choose Delete to remove the viewpoint animation from the list of saved viewpoints, or in the case of a keyframe or cut, to remove the keyframe or cut from the viewpoint animation.
Viewpoints Editing a viewpoint 1. To edit a saved viewpoint, right-click the viewpoint on the Viewpoints control bar and choose Edit from the shortcut menu. Alternatively, to edit the current main navigation viewpoint, go to Viewpoint > Edit Current Viewpoint. Or to edit a thumbnail's viewpoint, right-click on the thumbnail and choose Edit Viewpoint from the shortcut menu. The Edit Viewpoint dialog box is displayed.
Viewpoints 2. Set the camera position's x-, y- and z- coordinates using the Position boxes. 3. Set the focal point's x-, y- and z- coordinates of the camera using the Look At boxes. 4. Enter the Vertical Field Of View and Horizontal Field Of View. If the units are set to degrees, then these numbers should be between 0.1 and 90 and if in radians, between 0.002 and 3.124. See Field Of View for more details on what field of view means. 5. Enter the Roll of the camera about its viewing axis.
Viewpoints • Select the Collision Detection check box to activate collision detection. • Select the Gravity check box to activate gravity. • Select the Auto Crouch check box to activate crouching. • In the Viewer, Radius text box, enter a value for the radius of the collision volume. See “ Collision Detection ”. • In the Viewer, Height text box, enter a value for the height of the collision volume. See “ Collision Detection ”.
Viewpoints 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the Interface node, and click the Viewpoint Defaults option. The Viewpoints page opens. 3. Select the Save Hide/Required Attributes check box if you want to save the hidden and required items with the viewpoints you save. This means that when returning to those viewpoints, the items that were hidden when the viewpoint was saved will be hidden again and those that were drawn will be drawn again.
Viewpoints You can set a viewpoint to save any of these settings by editing the viewpoint, in the same way as the view attributes, above. By default, all of the collision detection settings are disabled. If you wish to save your preferred collision detection setting defaults, which will be used each time you open a model or a new NavisWorks session, then these can be set in the Options Editor. Setting the default collision detection options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2.
Viewpoints Note: These default collision detection settings differ from the current viewpoint settings, in that these do not alter the current scene. These settings will only be used when starting NavisWorks, or opening a new model. To edit the collision detection settings in the current scene, see “ Editing Viewpoints ”.
Chapter 18. Sectioning Sectioning allows you to make up to 6 sectional cuts in any plane while still being able to navigate around the scene, enabling you to see inside models without hiding any item. Section planes are stored inside viewpoints and so can also be used within viewpoint animations and object animations to show a dynamically sectioned model. See “ The Viewpoints Control Bar ” for more information on viewpoints, and Chapter 19, Animation for more information on animations.
Sectioning Select the Step Size check box, and enter the step value in the box below. This value is then used when moving the section planes. If the Step Size check box is left clear, the section planes will move at percentage intervals. Click OK to close the dialog box, and save the changes. 3. To switch the plane on, click Enable/Disable on the Sectioning toolbar. Clicking it again, switches the plane off. 4.
Sectioning another plane. 5. Move the slider to interactively position the section plane to the required location. The number in the edit box shows the position of the section plane from the origin and will be updated when moving the section plane. You can also type in the location of the origin in this edit box for exact positioning of the plane. Note: You can also use the cursor keys and mouse wheel for simple sliding of the section plane through the model. 6.
Sectioning Select 2 in the drop-down list on the the Sectioning toolbar. Repeat the steps for creating the bottom section plane, but this time, click to align the section plane with top of model. Note: The model may disappear completely at this stage. If this happens, move the slider bar until it becomes apparent where the plane is. 3. If necessary, keep switching between planes 1 and 2 using the drop-down box, and configure the planes' position to how far you want them separated in the slice. 4.
Chapter 19. Animation In NavisWorks there are two types of animation: • Object animation • Viewpoint animation Viewpoint Animation Viewpoint animation is a quick and efficient way of recording both your movement through the model and views of the model. There are two ways to produce a viewpoint animation in NavisWorks: • By recording interactive navigation • By creating animated transitions between saved views.
Animation Reverse Play Record Pause - plays the animation backwards. - records the viewpoint animation. - pauses the animation at the frame you press it at. You can then look around and wonder off in the model, or step forwards and backwards through the animation. To continue playing from where you paused, just press Play again. Stop - stops the animation playing and rewinds it back to the beginning. Play - plays the currently selected animation. Step Forward - steps one keyframe forwards.
Animation Creating Viewpoint Animations There are two ways to create viewpoint animations in NavisWorks. You can either simply record your real-time walk through, or you can assemble specific viewpoints for NavisWorks to interpolate into a viewpoint animation later. Viewpoint animation is controlled through the Tools > Animation menu, the Viewpoints control bar, and the Animation toolbar. Creating a viewpoint animation in real time: 1. Click the Record button on the Animation toolbar. 2.
Animation 4. When you have all the viewpoints, simply drag them onto the empty viewpoint animation you just created. You can drag them on one-by-one, or select multiple viewpoints using the Control and Shift keys and drag several on at once. If you drop them onto the viewpoint animation icon itself, then the viewpoints will become frames at the end of the animation, but you can drop the viewpoints anywhere on the expanded animation to put them where you wish. 5.
Animation less jerky animation. 5. Click OK to set these options, or Cancel to return to NavisWorks leaving the viewpoint animation as it was.
Animation However, you can export the animations to an .avi file for playback with Windows Media Player™ and this will render each frame without any drop-out. Of course, you don't have the option of pausing the playback half way through to look around the mode using this method! See “ Exporting an Animation ” for details on how to export an animation to .avi. Playing back an animation: 1.
Chapter 20. Reviewing NavisWorks offers several design review tools to help you review a model and communicate those reviews to others. Any reviewing you save in the model can also be saved into an .nwf file so that you can reload the reviews into a later session when the model has changed, or to pass onto colleagues to communicate design intent or problems.
Reviewing the Comments control bar, showing the time and date, author, ID and status of each comment. The icon on the far left represents the source type: - selection set. - search set. or - viewpoint. or - viewpoint animation. - tag. With many comments attached to many sources in a model, you may want to find a particular comment without having to manually search each possible source. See “ Finding Comments ” for details on how to achieve this.
Reviewing 4. Type in the comment. 5. To assign a status, select either New, Active, Approved or Resolved from the drop-down list. 6. Click OK to save the comment or Cancel to return to NavisWorks without saving it. Adding a comment from the source (viewpoint, selection set or Clash Detective result): 1. Go to the source of the comment, be it a viewpoint, selection set or Clash Detective result. 2. Right-click the source, and click Add Comment on the shortcut menu.
Reviewing 3. Type in the comment. 4. To assign a status, select either New, Active, Approved or Resolved from the drop-down list. 5. Click OK to save the comment or Cancel to return to NavisWorks without saving it. Editing Comments Once a comment is saved, you can edit it either from the Comments control bar, or from the source itself. You can also renumber both tag and comment IDs. When adding a new tag or comment to a NavisWorks scene, it will automatically be assigned a unique ID.
Reviewing 4. Edit the comment and/or status accordingly. 5. Click OK to save the comment or Cancel to return to NavisWorks without saving it. To renumber tag and comment IDs: 1. To renumber tag IDs, on the Review menu, click Renumber Tag IDs. Note: There may be a situation where two sessions are merged that contain identically numbered Tags and corresponding Tag Views.
Reviewing Redlining Redlining allows you to add annotation directly over a viewpoint. It is mutually exclusive to the navigation modes so that when you are redlining, you cannot navigate and vice versa. You can also associate redlining with saved viewpoints in the Clash Detective results. The redline tools, which can all be accessed from the Redline Tools control bar or from the Review > Redline menu, are: Text - adds text over a viewpoint. Tag - adds a tag over a viewpoint.
Reviewing Redline Tags are the exception to this rule. If a viewpoint is not already saved, then adding a tag will automatically save a viewpoint. See “ Adding Redline Tags ” for more information. Adding a redline to a saved viewpoint: 1. Go to a saved viewpoint, or a Clash Detective result with the Save Viewpoint check box selected on the Results tab of the Clash Detective window. 2. Ensure the Redline Tools control bar is displayed as outlined above. 3.
Reviewing redline tool to add a tag on the current view. See “ Adding Redline Tags ” for more information. • Choose the Freehand redline tool to sketch over the viewpoint. Simply click and drag the left mouse button in the main navigation window to interactively sketch a redline. • Choose the Line redline tool to draw single lines over the viewpoint. Alternately click the start and end points of lines with the left mouse button in the main navigation window.
Reviewing 1. Ensure the Redline Tools control bar is displayed as outlined in the previous section. 2. Choose the Tag 3. Click in the navigation window where you wish the tag to be attached to. 4. Click again in the navigation window where you wish the tag ID to be positioned. Both points will be joined by a leader line. redline tool. If the current viewpoint is not already saved, then it will be saved automatically and named 'Tag View X', where X is the tag ID.
Reviewing The Find Tag dialog will be displayed. Enter the tag ID, then click OK to find the tag, or Cancel to return to NavisWorks. 2. Go to Review, Tags, Current Tag to select the current tag. 3. Go to Review, Tags, First Tag to find the first tag. 4. Go to Review, Tags, Last Tag to find the last tag. 5. Go to Review, Tags, Previous Tag to find the tag preceding the current tag. 6. Go to Review, Tags, Next Tag to find the tag following the current tag.
Reviewing Point to multiple points - measures the distance between a base point and various other points. Point line - measures a total distance between multiple points along a route. Accumulate - calculates the sum total of several point-to-point measurements. Angle - calculates an angle between two lines. Area - calculates an area on a plane. Clear - clears the view of all measurement lines and restarts the measurement. Transform objects - enables you to reposition or rotate an object.
Reviewing text boxes underneath the buttons, as are the Difference and the absolute Distance. If an accumulative measure is being used, such as Point Line or Accumulate, Distance will show the accumulated distance for all points registered in the measurement. All these measurements are shown in scene units. All points will be represented in the main navigation window with a small cross, and all lines being measured, by a simple line between points.
Reviewing Measure Tools control bar and simply click on a series of points to describe the perimeter of the area you wish to calculate. The Area will show the area of the perimeter described since the first point, as projected onto the plane of the viewpoint. This means that all your points should lie on the same plane for your area calculation to be perfectly accurate. Right clicking will enable you to select a new first point.
Reviewing 3. Set the picking style by selecting the Snap to Vertex, Snap to Edge and Snap to Line Vertix check boxes. The cursor will snap to the nearest vertex, triangle edge or line end respectively, depending on the options chosen. 4. Set the snapping Tolerance. The smaller the tolerance, the closer the cursor needs to be to a vertex or edge before it snaps to it. 5. Select the Enabled check box, if you want to turn on snapping for angular rotation.
Reviewing do this). 2. Choose one of the measure tools, from Point to Point, Point Line or Accumulate. 3. Select a base point on the selected object. This is the reference point on the object from which the repositioning will be calculated. 4. Select another point in the scene (or multiple points, depending on which measure tool you selected). This is the point (or points) which the base point will be repositioned to. Note: You can only select a point on another object in the scene.
Reviewing Select three points (1, 2, 3). The second point (2) will be the position about which the selected object (A) will be rotated. Lines from the first to the second point (1 to 2) and from the second to third point (2 to 3) will define the angle by which the object will be rotated (in the above case, 90 degrees). 4. Click Transform Objects to rotate the object about the second point (rotate selected object by 90 degrees about point 2, which results in object rotating from point A to B). 5.
Reviewing 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the Interface node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the Measure option. The Measure page is displayed: 3. Set the Color and Line Thickness of the measure lines. 4. Check the In 3D check box if you want to draw the measurements in 3D in the main view. They then act as 3D lines in the scene which can be obscured by other geometry.
Reviewing • Click Hyperlinks on the Workspace toolbar or • On the Tools menu, click Hyperlinks. Adding Hyperlinks An item can have multiple hyperlinks attached to it, although only the default hyperlink (the one at the top of the list) can be displayed in the navigation window at one time. The default is the link that will be followed when clicked. Adding hyperlinks to an item 1.
Reviewing 4. Choose the category that the hyperlink will belong to from the Category drop down. You can add more categories than the default Hyperlink and Tag categories by simply typing in the name of your category into this box. See “ Hyperlinks Categories ” for more information on categories. 5. If you want the hyperlink to be attached to a specific point on the item, instead of the default center of the item's bounding box, then click the Add button.
Reviewing main navigation window will follow the link and right-clicking it will open a shortcut menu offering you the options of Follow Hyperlink, Edit Hyperlink (see “ Editing Hyperlinks ”) or Select item containing hyperlink, which will select the item onto which the hyperlink is attached. Attachment Points Hyperlinks and tags are by default attached to the center of their owner's bounding box, but you can override this with more convenient attachment points.
Reviewing 2. Select the hyperlink under the Name column. 3. Click the Edit button. The Edit Hyperlink dialog is displayed. 4. Complete this dialog as outlined in “ Adding Hyperlinks ”. 5.
Reviewing them to their new position in the list. This way you can prioritize a hyperlink to become the default hyperlink that is followed when click on in the main navigation window. 6. Click OK to confirm the edit or Cancel to return to NavisWorks leaving the hyperlink as it was. Note: You can also edit any original hyperlinks that have been converted from the native CAD files. If you do this, save the changes in an .nwf file, then change the hyperlink in the original CAD file, and reopen the .
Reviewing 2. Select the hyperlink under the Name column. 3. Click the Delete button. 4. Click OK to confirm deletion or Cancel to return to NavisWorks without the hyperlink deleted. Hyperlinks Options Setting hyperlinks options: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the Interface node, and click the Hyperlinks option.
Reviewing 3. Icons that appear overlapped in the main view can be hidden if the Hide Colliding Icons check box is selected. 4. Enter the distance in the Cull Radius box for how close hyperlinks have to be in order to be drawn in the main view. Any hyperlinks further away than this distance will not be drawn. The default value of 0 means that all hyperlinks will be drawn. 5. Select the In 3D check box if you want to draw the hyperlinks icons in 3D in the main view.
Reviewing 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the Interface node, expand the Hyperlinks option, and click Standard Categories. The Categories page is displayed: 3. Each hyperlink is a member of a category. This enables you to easily manage sets of hyperlinks. Use the Visible check box to switch a category on or off in the main view. Some categories also have comments associated with them.
Reviewing The Categories page is displayed: Only the custom hyperlink categories are shown here. The padlock icon indicates that you cannot add or remove categories directly from here. 3. Choose the way categories are shown in the Options Editor: Click Grid View to display categories in a tabular format. Click List View to display categories in a list format (the same way as the standard categories are shown). Click Records View 4. Use and to display categories as records.
Reviewing instead of an icon. 7. Click OK to set the options or Cancel to exit the dialog without setting them. Smart Tags Smart tags pop up information on the item hovered over by the cursor in a tooltip style window, without having to select the item itself. The smart tag will disappear after a few seconds. This is a useful way to quickly get information about an item in the main navigation window when navigation has ceased.
Reviewing 3. Select the Hide Category check box if you do not want to see category names included in the smart tags tooltip. 4. Click OK to set the options or Cancel to exit the dialog without setting them. The default information displayed is the name and type of the item, but the actual information displayed can be customized. Customizing smart tags: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the Interface node, expand the Smart Tags option, and click Definitions.
Reviewing 3. Choose the way smart tag definitions are shown in the Options Editor: Click Grid View to display definitions in a tabular format. Click List View to display definitions in a list format. Click Records View 4. Use and to display definitions as records. to navigate between the definitions. If you selected Records View, this is the only way to move between the records. 5.
Reviewing Collaboration The NavisWorks Collaborate Bar enables multiple users to participate in a single design review session across a Local Area Network (LAN). This utilizes the shared program features of Windows NetMeeting, available to all Windows users. To get access to the collaboration tools, right-click anywhere in the toolbar area of the screen, and click Collaborate Bar on the shortcut menu. All meeting participants require access to a NavisWorks .nwf or .nwd file, in a shared location.
Reviewing Note: The first time Windows NetMeeting initializes, a setup wizard will take you through the setup process. You will need to enter your name and email address. When using NetMeeting on a LAN you do not need to log onto a directory server, as these will not be available to you.
Reviewing on the NetMeeting dialog. The Place a call dialog is displayed: • In the To: box, enter the machine name or IP address of the machine you wish to join the meeting, then click Call to send the invite, or Cancel to return to NetMeeting. Once the person receiving the invite accepts this, both their name and yours will be listed in the NetMeeting dialog. Note: The above can be repeated to invite additional people to the meeting.
Reviewing 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. To become the driver: • Click Drive on the Collaborate toolbar. Note: 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 NavisWorks on their machine.
Reviewing Entity Handles option enabled when files are loaded into NavisWorks. • Some objects cannot be selected in AutoCAD (for example, blocks) which may mean that running SwitchBack may be unsuccessful with a given selected object. If this is the case try selecting further up the object tree and trying again. MicroStation (/J and v8) • For MicroStation (/J and v8) or products based on it, first prepare MicroStation by loading the NavisWorks exporter "mdl load nwexport6".
Chapter 21. Object Manipulation In this section you will learn how to modify position, rotation, size, color and transparency of geometry objects in your model by using the Object Manipulation toolbar. To open it, right-click anywhere in the toolbar area of the screen, and click Object Manipulation on the shortcut menu. All object manipulation is carried out the in the main NavisWorks window.
Object Manipulation Highlighting Objects To get a clearer view of geometry objects in the main NavisWorks window, you can use the Options Editor to adjust the way in which the current selection is highlighted.
Object Manipulation To adjust highlighting: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2. Expand the Interface node in the Options Editor dialog box, and click the Selection option. The Selection page is displayed. 3.
Object Manipulation items. 4. Use the Method drop-down list to select the type of highlighting you want (Shaded, Wireframe or Tinted). 5. Click the Color button 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 to set these options or Cancel to exit the dialog box without setting them. Moving Objects To move an object: 1. Select the object you want to move in the main NavisWorks window. 2.
Object Manipulation You can adjust snapping to increase your precision. • To move the translation tool itself rather than the selected object, hold down the CTRL key while dragging the square at the end of the desired axis. • To snap the tool to other objects, hold down the CTRL key while dragging the yellow square in the middle of the tool. • For the point-to-point translation, hold down the CTRL key, and use the center square to drag the tool to the start point.
Object Manipulation Note: You can adjust snapping to increase your precision. • Once the rotation tool is positioned correctly, place the mouse over one of the curves in the middle, and drag it on the screen to rotate the object. The curves are color-coded, and match the color of the axis used to rotate the object around. So, for example, dragging the blue curve between the X and Y axes, rotates the object around the blue Z axis.
Object Manipulation resize the object across two axes at the same time, use yellow squares in the middle of the axes. Finally, to resize the object across all three axes at the same time, use the square in the center of the tool. • You can modify the center of scaling. To do this, place the mouse over the square in the middle of the tool, and hold down the CTRL key while dragging the square on the screen. Changing Color To change an object's color: 1.
Object Manipulation point. • Scaling: X, Y, Z represent a scaling factor (1 being the current size, 0.5 half, 2 being double, and so on), and cX, cY, cZ represent the scaling center point. So, for example, selecting , and typing some numbers into the Manual Entry boxes will move the object along the axis by the amount entered.
Chapter 22. Interface The NavisWorks interface is intuitive and easy to learn and use. It contains a number of traditional Windows elements, such as toolbars, control bars, dialog boxes, shortcut menus and so on. 1 - Menu bar 2 - Toolbars 3 - Navigation window 4 - Control bars 5 - Status bar The Main Interface Components This section briefly describes the main interface components.
Interface The Menu bar contains all commands available in NavisWorks, grouped together by similar or 'like' functionality. For example, all commands related to review functionality are located under the Review menu, all commands related to user assistance are located under the Help menu and so on. When a menu has a right-pointing arrow, such as , there is a submenu associated with that choice. When a menu item is followed by a series of dots, such as , there is a dialog box associated with that choice.
Interface example, the Presenter window, the Animator window etc.). Again, if a button is highlighted and has a dark blue boarder around it, it means that the corresponding display element is currently open. As you open more toolbars on the screen, or resize the NavisWorks window, the toolbars may get overlapped with each other to reduce the screen clutter. When this happens, some buttons will be hidden under the overlaps.
Interface The docking stickers point towards the four edges of the interface. When the control bar you are dragging is close to the place where you want it to dock, move the mouse over the corresponding area of the docking tool. You will see an outline of the control bar appear on the interface. To dock the control bar there, release the mouse button. Tiling Control Bars You can tile control bars and window panes on the interface.
Interface feedback as to how NavisWorks is performing on your machine. • The progress bar under the left hand icon (pencil) indicates how much of the current view is drawn, i.e. how much drop-out there is in the current viewpoint. When the progress bar is at 100%, the scene is completely drawn, with no drop-out. The icon will change color when it is working. Whilst the scene is being drawn, the pencil will change to yellow.
Interface • Scene Statistics Control Bars To display a control bar: • On the View menu, click Control Bars, and click one of the following: Camera Tilt, Plan Thumbnail, Section Thumbnail, Viewpoints, Selection Tree, Selection Sets, Find Items, Comments, Find Comments, or Properties. Alternatively, use the buttons on the Workspace toolbar. Workspaces NavisWorks comes with several default workspaces. You can use these workspaces as-is or modify them in accordance to your requirements.
Interface 4. Click Save. To load a saved workspace into NavisWorks: 1. On the View menu, click Workspaces > Load Workspace. 2. In the Load Workspace dialog box, browse to the folder containing the workspace, select the workspace, and click Open.
Interface Customizing Toolbars You can customize appearance and contents of the NavisWorks toolbars by using the Customize dialog box. To open the Customize dialog box: • Right-click any toolbar on the screen, and click Customize on the shortcut menu. or • On the Tools menu, click Customize. The Customize dialog box is displayed.
Interface This dialog box has the following purposes: • Displaying/hiding toolbars. On the Toolbars tab, select the check box in front of a toolbar's name to display it. Clear the check box to hide the toolbar. • Changing appearance of toolbars and menus. • Changing contents of toolbars and menus. • Customizing keyboard shortcuts. Personalizing Appearance of Toolbars and Menus To personalize appearance of toolbars and menus: 1. In the Customize dialog box, click the Options tab.
Interface 2. By default, the NavisWorks menus display all commands. If you want to show only basic and frequently used commands on short versions of the menus, clear the Always Show Full Menus check box. If you want to show all commands on the menu after a brief delay when you rest the mouse pointer on an open menu, select the Show Full Menus After a Short Delay check box. 3. Click Large Icons to toggle the size of the toolbar buttons. 4.
Interface Changing Toolbar and Menu Contents Note: You cannot use the procedures below to add/remove commands from shortcut menus. To add commands: 1. In the Customize dialog box, click the Commands tab. 2. In the Categories field, click the group of commands you want to rearrange, for example 'Tools'. 3. Drag the command from the Commands field to the desired location. You can either place it on one of the NavisWorks toolbars or inside one of the menus on the menu bar.
Interface 5. • Reset - resets the selected command to its default appearance. • Delete - deletes the selected command. • Name - specifies the name of the command. Place & (ampersand) in front of a letter you want to use as a keyboard shortcut. Pressing ALT together with this letter will activate the command. • Default Style - uses the default style for the command. • Text Only - the command is shown as text (as it's entered in the Name field).
Interface Click the Modify Selection button, and click the desired option on the shortcut menu. 5. Close the dialog box. To add a custom toolbar: 1. In the Customize dialog box, click the Toolbars tab. 2. Click the New button. The New Toolbar dialog box is displayed. 3. Enter a name for the toolbar in the Toolbar Name field and click OK. By default, new toolbars are named "Custom X" where 'X' is the next available number added to the list.
Interface To customize keyboard shortcuts: 1. In the Customize dialog box, click the Toolbars tab. 2. Click the Keyboard button. The Customize Keyboard dialog box is displayed. 3. In the Categories field, click the group that contains the command to which you want to assign a shortcut. 4. In the Commands field, click the actual command. If the command has a shortcut assigned to it, it is displayed in the Current Shortcut field. 5.
Interface Note: Clicking Remove removes the shortcut assignment for the selected command, and clicking Reset All restores the default shortcut assignments. 7. Close the dialog box. Workspace Toolbar The Workspace toolbar gives you control over the NavisWorks interface. You can personalize this toolbar, if you want.
Interface Find Items Properties Workspaces Customizing the Main Window You can split the main scene into a number of segments, each of which can be navigated separately. You may find this useful when comparing lighting and rendering styles, or animating different parts of your model etc. You can also ajdust the size of the main window, or view the model in full screen mode. Splitting the Main View You can look at several views of your model simultaneously by splitting the main NavisWorks window.
Interface The view windows with title bars are resizable, and can be docked and auto hidden the same way as control bars. Note: The recording and playback of animations will occur in the most recently used view. Each separate view remembers the navigation mode being used. To delete views: • To delete views, switch on the title bars, and click to close each window.
Interface navigation view takes up the full screen with no interface showing. Pressing the F11 key for a second time turns full-screen mode off. Full screen mode will always go to full screen on the primary display. If two monitors are available, the interface can be placed on one whilst the main 3D view renders in full screen on the other. Sizing of Navigation Window NavisWorks allows you to specify the size of the main navigation window.
Interface Stereo Rendering Stereoscopic viewing in 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. This feature requires the host computer have an OpenGL graphics card with stereo support.
Interface 2. Slide the Magnitude bar to vary the strength of the stereo effect. 3. Sliding the Out of screen bar, when enabled, and when using a focal point based navigation mode (examine, orbit, turntable, etc.), will position the model so that parts closer than the focal point appear in front of the screen, with the rest behind. The slider controls the balance, moving objects more or less out of the screen. When using any other navigation mode (walk, fly, etc.
Interface The number of each type of element is listed together with which have been ignored or processed in creating the scene. Units NavisWorks has the concept of what unit the scene is presented in. This is most useful when measuring items, setting tolerances for clash detection, or sizes of textures. There is a single scene unit that is set from the Global Options dialog and this unit is used throughout the interface whenever appropriate.
Interface the choice of what level of fraction to display the units from the Fractional Display Precision drop-down list. 6. Click OK to set the options or Cancel to exit the dialog without setting them. Profiles 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. Using a developer profile: 1. On the Tools menu, click Global Options. 2.
Interface Search Directories 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 Review 2009 within the current user profile. Usually C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 where user is the name of the current user. • Application Data\Autodesk NavisWorks Review
Chapter 23. Tools The Tools menu in NavisWorks gives access to a series of useful tools and options. The Tools menu includes the following items: • TimeLiner Playback • Compare • Redline • Hyperlinks • Smart Tags • Measure • Animation • Background Color • File Options • Customize • Global Options Comparing Models The Compare tool becomes available when exactly two items are selected.
Tools 3. In the Find Differences In section of the dialog, check all the boxes of the criteria that you want NavisWorks to compare for differences between the two items. Overridden Material and Overridden Transform relate to changing the color and/or transparency in NavisWorks and changing a file's origin, scale or rotation since loading into NavisWorks, so these are unchecked by default. All the other criteria relate to properties of items from the original CAD model. 4.
Tools The colors of the resulting highlights are as follows: • White for items that match; • Red for differences between items; • Yellow for things found in the first item that aren't in the second; • Cyan for things found in the second item that aren't in the first.
Chapter 24. Options There are two types of options: File Options and Global Options. These are both accessed from the Tools menu. File options are saved in NavisWorks files (.nwf or .nwd) and reinstated when opening it. Global options, on the other hand, are set for all NavisWorks sessions. File Options These options are saved into NavisWorks files and re-loaded when opening these files into NavisWorks. They are predominantly concerned with the appearance of the model and the speed of navigation around it.
Options 3. In the Project Directory field, browse to the directory that contains the NavisWorks settings specific to your project group. 4. In the Site Directory field, browse to the directory that contains the NavisWorks settings standard across the entire project site. 5. Click OK to save the changes or Cancel to exit the dialog without saving them. Note: When you run NavisWorks for the first time, the settings are picked up from the installation directory.
Options 3. Enter the desired number into the Maximum Recently Used Files to specify how many file shortcuts NavisWorks can remember. By default, shortcuts to the 4 most recently opened files can be displayed. 4. Click OK to save the changes or Cancel to exit the dialog without saving them. Global Options These options are persistent across NavisWorks sessions and are not saved into NavisWorks files. The Options Editor can be accessed via the Tools menu, or it can be launched as a separate application.
Options Options can be exported and imported, making it quick and easy for project managers, or systems administrators, to ensure the NavisWorks settings on all machines are identical. Configuring Global Options The options are presented in the dialog box in a hierarchical tree structure. The following categories are available: • General • Model • Interface • File Readers General Options You can configure: • Buffer Size. See “ Undo Options ”. • File Locations. See “ Location Options ”.
Options You can configure: • NavisWorks Performance. See “ Performance Options ”. • NWD File Parameters. See “ NWD Options ”. • NWC File Parameters. See “ NWC Options ”. Interface Options You can configure: • Display Units. See “ Units Options ”. • Selection and Highlighting Parameters. See “ Selection Options ”, and “Highlighting Objects”. • Measurement Parameters. See “ Measure Options ”. • Snapping. See “Snapping”. • Viewpoints. See “ Viewpoints Options ”. • Hyperlinks.
Options • Leica Scan. See “ Leica Scan File Reader Options ”. • MAN. See “ MAN File Reader Options ”. • PDS. See “ PDS Files ”. • Riegl Scan. See “ Riegl Scan File Reader Options ”. • RVM. See “ RVM File Reader Options ”. • SKP. See “ Sketchup SKP File Reader Options ”. • STEP. See “ STEP File Reader Options ”. • STL. See “ STL File Reader Options ”. • VRML. See “ VRML File Reader Options ”. • Z+F. See “ Z+F Scan File Reader Options ”.
Options 3. Select the check boxes for all options you want to be exported (or 'serialized'). If an option cannot be exported, it is greyed out. Note: To quickly select/deselect all options for a given category, use the top-level check boxes. For example, selecting the General check box, instantly selects all options under this node. 4. Click OK to export the settings. 5. In the Save As dialog box, enter a name for the settings file.
Options 2. In the Options Editor dialog box, 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.
Chapter 25. DataTools This feature is used to link Object Property elements in NavisWorks to fields that exist in a table within a database. Any database with a suitable ODBC driver is supported, and properties contained within database tables can be brought through and shown on the Properties control bar. If an object in a scene has associated database properties, clicking on that object will show the properties in a separate tab.
DataTools 3. In the New Link dialog box, enter a Name for the new link, e.g., 'Service Information'. This is the name of the tab that will appear on the Properties control bar.
DataTools You are now ready to configure the database link. 4. Click OK to save the link and return to the File Options dialog box. Configuring Database Links To configure a database link: 1. On the Tools menu, click File Options. 2. In the File Options dialog box, DataTools tab, select the link you want to configure in the DataTool Links area, and click the Edit button.
DataTools Note: If you haven't added any links yet, click the New button, and follow the procedure for adding database links first. 3. Configure the ODBC Driver: In the Edit Link dialog box, select the appropriate ODBC Driver to define the type of the database to link to, for example 'Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb). Click the Setup button. The driver wizard will open, and guide you through the setup options. If you have difficulties setting up your connection details, contact your database administrator.
DataTools Full Tag List ”. For example, if you want to select a database with a certain name (say, test.mdb) that is always next to the model file (as in the resultant NWD/NWF not the original), type in: DBQ=%pushpath(%poppath(%currentpath),"test.mdb"); DRIVER={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}; If you want to select a database with the same name as the original model file (say, AutoPlant), type in: DBQ=%join(%removeext(%removepath(%sourcepath)),".mdb"); DRIVER={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}; 4.
DataTools 7. Click OK to save the changes. Note: The model is not linked to the external data source until you have activated the link. Managing Database Links All file-based connection information is saved inside the project NWF or NWD. The global connection information is saved on the local machine. If the associated database is available on loading the NWF/NWD file, the link will automatically establish itself when an object is selected.
DataTools Exporting Database Links To export a database link: 1. On the Tools menu, click File Options. 2. In the File Options dialog box, DataTools tab, select the link you want to export, and click the Export button. 3. In the Save As dialog box, browse to the desired folder, and enter a name for the datatools file. You can also select the name of an existing datatools file to overwrite it with your modified configuration.
DataTools 4. Click Save. 5. Click OK to close the File Options dialog box. Importing Database Links To import a database link: 1. On the Tools menu, click File Options. 2. In the File Options dialog box, DataTools tab, and click the Import button.
DataTools 3. In the Open dialog box, browse to the folder containing the datatools file, select it, and click Open.
DataTools 4. Click OK to close the File Options dialog box. Full Tag List This section lists all NavisWorks tags you can use. Property Tags • %prop("category","property") - Property of the currently selected object. Category is the name of the tab in the property windows (e.g. Item or Entity Handle) and property is the name of the property in that tab (e.g. Value or Layer). • %intprop("category","property") - Property of the currently selected object.
DataTools • %sourcepath – This tag represents the full path and filename that the currently selected object comes from. Even when a collection of model files have been combined into a single NWD file this tag will still remember the path and filename of the original model file. • %currentpath - This tag represents the full path and filename of the currently loaded model.
DataTools SELECT * FROM Test WHERE "Entity Handle" = %prop("Entity Handle","Value") AND “File Name” = $removeext(%removepath(%sourcepath));. Here the path and the extension of the file name are being stripped, so a file like c:\model\3rdFloorDucts.dwg would come out as 3rdFloorDucts.
Chapter 26. Getting Help The Help menu gives you access to useful resources about your system, your product and the documentation. NavisWorks comes with full context-sensitive help as well as user guides in Adobe Acrobat™ .pdf format. The Help menu contains: • Help Topics • What's This? • NavisWorks on the Web • License • Customer Involvement Program • System Info • About NavisWorks If the online documentation and help does not answer your query, try www.autodesk.com/support.
Getting Help In the Contents tab, select an item to view its contents. Expand and contract the chapters and sections (identified with a book icon) using the plus and minus icons to the left of them. The contents of the selected item will be displayed in the right hand pane. The Index tab has a full index of all NavisWorks help topics. Select the topic you are interested in learning more about from the list, then click Display. The selected topic will be displayed in the right hand pane.
Getting Help To visit the NavisWorks pages on the Internet, click Help > NavisWorks on the Web on the menu bar. License Opens the Product Information dialog box, which enables you to view and manage your license information: License Agreement - opens the Autodesk Software License Agreement. Update - enables you to update the serial number. Save As - enables you to save the licese information as a .txt file. Activate - enables you to activate the product.
Getting Help Note: This allows you to use license while not connected to the network (e.g. site visit) but means that the license is not available to anyone else. If not explicitly returned the license will be automatically returned on the date you specify. 3. In the Borrow a License for Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009 dialog box, use the Calendar to select the date you want to borrow the license until, and click the Borrow License button.
Getting Help To return a borrowed license: 1. Start NavisWorks, and click Help > License. 2. In the Product Informationdialog box, click the Return License button. 3. Click the Return License button, and then Yes when asked if you want to return it. You have now returned to the original state. Note: Refer to the Autodesk Network Licensing Guide and Autodesk Standalone Licensing Guide for more information (accessible from the installer).
Getting Help If you'd like to join the Customer Involvement Program, click Help > Customer Involvement Program on the menu, select the participation option in the dialog box, and click OK. You can stop your participation in the CIP program at any time by accessing the CIP dialog box again. System Info Opens a dialog giving you detailed information about your system, which can be helpful in support situations.
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Part 4. Using TimeLiner Playback TimeLiner playback enables you to play back a TimeLiner construction sequence. In this section, you will learn how to simulate your TimeLiner sequence throughout the duration of the project schedule.
Chapter 27. Overview of TimeLiner The TimeLiner tool adds 4D schedule simulation to Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009. In NavisWorks, TimeLiner has a playback-only option, allowing any externally created project data to be simulated, but no changes to be made to that data. Working with the TimeLiner Window By default, the TimeLiner window floats in the main NavisWorks window.
Overview of TimeLiner end date. Actual start date equals Planned start date and Actual end date before Planned end date. Actual start date after Planned start date and Actual end date equals Planned end date. Actual start date before Planned start date and Actual end date before Planned end date. Actual start date after Planned start date and Actual end date after Planned end date. Actual start and end dates only. Planned start and end dates only.
Overview of TimeLiner will step back a single step size. Reverse Play Pause will play the simulation backwards. 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. Stop will stop the simulation playing and rewind back to the beginning. Play will play the simulation from the currently selected time.
Overview of TimeLiner The TimeLiner window displays the tasks as they are carried out, and the main NavisWorks window shows the sections of the model added or removed over time, in accordance with the task types.
Glossary Glossary of technical terms relating to Autodesk NavisWorks Review 2009. 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.
Glossary .nwc Cache Files When any native CAD file file is opened or appended, NavisWorks creates a cache file (.nwc) if the write cache option is set. When the file is next opened or appended, NavisWorks will read data from the corresponding cache file rather than re-converting the original data if the cache is newer than the original file. If the original file is altered, NavisWorks will re-create the cache file when it is next loaded. Cache files speed up access to commonly used files.
Glossary surface is reduced to flat facets. For most applications and file formats, you have control over the level of faceting that takes place. All items, no matter what their size, will use the same faceting factor and so have the same number of sides to curved entities. Therefore, you need to experiment a little with different values to account for the size that these items will appear on screen. The faceting factor must be greater or equal to 0, where 0 results in the faceting factor being turned off.
Glossary These are terms specific to 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. For example, a window object might be made up of a frame and a pane. If a composite object, the window object would be both the frame and the pane and be selected all at once. Instances An instance is a single object, which is referred to several times within a model, for example a tree.
Glossary time). Camera-Centric Navigation modes in which the camera is moved around the model (c.f. model-centric). Field of View The field of view of a camera is the angle that the camera can see. A large field of view will fit more into the view, but will look distorted and a small field of view will tend to make the view more flat, tending towards an orthographic view. There are two fields of view in NavisWorks vertical and horizontal.
(see also options ) DGN files , 84 file reader options , 85 directory search , 291 display batch fill, 201 detail, 201 hardware acceleration, 200 heads up mode, 201 line size, 201 occlusion culling, 200 options , 200 parametric primitives, 201 point size, 201 show camera position, 201 show position, 201 snap point size, 201 transparency, 200 DWF files , 79 file reader options , 80 DWG files , 75 file reader options , 76 DXF files , 75 Index Symbols 3D motion controller , 154 3dd files , 97 3DS files , 83 f
Index file management, 48 files appending, 50 deleting, 53 emailing, 54 merging, 51 new, 48 opening, 49 opening URL, 50 publishing, 52 reading , 71 refreshing, 49 saving, 51, 52 sending, 54 finding , 167 comments , 171 items , 168 properties , 167 Quick Find , 170 fls files , 99 flying , 142 focusing , 145 frame rate , 198 guaranteed, 201 Freedom , 133 full lights , 191 full render , 192 full screen, 285 fws files , 99 I IAM files , 94 ifc files , 108, 108 IFC files file reader options , 109 IGES files ,
Index looking around , 139 options , 203 previewing , 126 primitives , 193 lines , 194 points , 194 snap points , 194 surfaces , 193 text , 195 printing, 52 current viewpoint, 52 previewing, 53 setup, 53 profiles , 290 PRP files , 84 pts files , 100 ptx files , 100 publishing , 128 M MAN files , 87 file reader options , 88 Max exporter , 120 measuring , 236 options , 242 tools , 237 menu File, 48 MicroStation exporter , 118 options , 120 multiple sections , 219 N navigating , 138 examining , 141 flying
Index search sets , 161 saving , 161 searching (see also finding ) sectioning , 217 sections linking , 219 selection commands , 160 all, 160 invert, 160 multiple instances, 160 none, 160 same name, 161 same property, 161 same type, 161 selection sets, 160 selection options , 165 selection resolution , 164 first object, 164 geometry, 165 last object, 164 last unique, 164 layer, 164 model, 164 selection sets , 161 managing , 162 recalling , 162 saving , 161 selection trees , 156 shaded render , 192 showing i
Index Z+F Scan files , 101 file reader options , 102 zfc files , 101 zfs files , 101 zooming , 140 to a box , 140 336
