Views

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Introduction

The View functions provide various ways to modify the view in the current graphics area. This topic lists all of the view functions in the order that they appear in the View menu. To learn about each function, click the links listed next.

Navigation

To access the View functions, do one of the following:

• In the View menu, click the desired function.

• You can access many of these functions on the View toolbar.

• You can right-click in the graphics area and click Views to access the view presets.

• You can access many of the view presets using the Keyboard shortcuts as listed in the Views submenu.

The View Menu

Workbook ON

The ON function is used to hide and show the graphics area tabs (or Workbook) at the bottom of the screen.

Workbook Icons

The Icons function is used to hide or show the icons that are displayed in each graphics area tab at the bottom of the screen.

Blank

The Blank function is used to hide selected geometry from view. To perform the function, click Blank, select geometry in the graphics area, and to confirm the selection, press the Spacebar. The geometry is hidden from view. To make the geometry visible again, use Unblank.

TIP:   You can also place geometry on a layer (using the Layers tab) that can be hidden and shown.

Using View Blank and Unblank

Unblank

The Unblank function is used to show geometry that has been hidden using the Blank function. To perform the function, click Unblank, select the geometry that you want to show, and to accept the selection, click OK.

Using View Blank and Unblank

Pan

The Pan function is used to pan or move the current viewing position in the graphics area. To perform the function, click Pan (the mouse pointer changes to the pan icon), then click and drag the view to the desired position, and then release the mouse button. To end the function, click Cancel (or press Esc).

TIP:   You can also hold down Shift and click the middle mouse button to perform panning.

Rotate

The Rotate function is used to rotate or change the viewing angle (around the center of the current viewing position) in the graphics area. To perform the function, click Rotate, and then click and drag the mouse to change the view. To cancel the function, click Cancel.

TIP:   You can also drag with the middle-mouse button to perform the function.

Fit All

The Fit All function is used to change the view of the graphics area so that all geometry can be seen. When you click Fit All, the function is performed.

TIP:   You can also press F on the keyboard to perform Fit All.

Zoom Window

The Zoom Window command is used to drag a window in the graphics area and have the selected area expanded to the full window size. To perform the command, click Zoom Window, drag a window in the graphics area, and then release the mouse to zoom in on the selected area.

TIP:   You can also press and hold Ctrl, while dragging a window in the graphics area. When you release the mouse button, the view is changed to the selected area. This eliminates the need to click Zoom Window.

Zoom Previous

The Zoom Previous command returns to the last view perspective used.

Zoom In

The Zoom In command makes objects in the current graphics area appear closer. This only changes the perspective of the current view.

Zoom Out

The Zoom Out command makes objects in the current graphics area appear further away. This only changes the perspective of the current view.

Views (Presets)

The View presets provide various ways to view the current part in the graphics area. The view options can be selected from the View menu, the View toolbar, the graphics area shortcut menu, or by using the keyboard shortcuts (listed in the menu with each view).

Views Example

View Normal

The View Normal function is used to alter the current view to a view that is in the normal direction of a selected surface. This means that the viewing plane is parallel to the selected surface. To perform the function, select View Normal, and select a planar face in the graphics area. You can also click Active UCS (in the Data Entry tab). If you click Active UCS, then the view is updated to the default view of the active UCS. To cancel the view setting, click Cancel.

TIP:   If the view is already in the normal direction of the surface that you select, then the view is changed to the opposite of the Normal view.

Section View

The Section View command is used to create a cross-sectional view of geometry in the graphics area, with the ability to extract wireframe from the view. Section View

Ortho Projection

The Ortho Projection function is used to change the view in the graphics area between the default perspective view and an orthogonal view. To perform the function, you click Ortho Projection; to return to the default view, click Ortho Projection a second time.

Antialiasing

The Antialiasing function smooths the edges of geometry displayed in the graphics area. This is only used to improve the appearance of the geometry in the graphics area, for example, when using Print Screen to create an image.

NOTE:      This function creates a significant increase in memory usage by the system. Depending on your system configuration, you may not want to use this option. If the software seems to be operating slowly, turn the function off and see if operation returns to normal.

Shading Smooth

The Shading Smooth function is used to smooth the appearance of solids/surfaces in the graphics area. This is turned on by default. To turn the function off, click Shading Smooth. To return to the default view, click Shading Smooth again.

View an example

Polygon Fill Shaded

The Polygon Shaded function is the default view used for solid/surface entities. They appear as a shaded solid/surface. The Polygon Lines function is used to change this view to a triangle mesh.

View an example

Polygon Fill Lines

The Polygon Lines function is used to show the triangle mesh of solid/surface entities in the graphics area. When you click Polygon Lines, the view of the solid is updated. To return to the shaded view, click Polygon Shaded.

View an example

Wireframe

The Wireframe View command shows and hides the interior lines of surfaces and solids.

TIP: You can also press W to turn on and off the Wireframe command.

View an example

Shaded

The Shaded function is used to toggle the view of solids/surfaces, in the graphics area, between a surface view or wireframe view. To perform the function, click Shaded. To return, click Shaded a second time.

View an example

Transparent

The Transparent function is used to make solids/surfaces in the graphics area appear transparent (or see through). To perform the function, you click Transparent. To return to the default view, click Transparent again.

TIP:   You can also press T to turn on and off the transparent view.

View an example

 

Transparent Off	Transparent On

 

Surface Normal

The Surface Normal function is used to show or hide the surface normals of solids/surfaces in the graphics area. This indicates the outward (positive) direction of solids/surfaces. This function is important for creating Multiaxis features. How to Reverse the Surface Normal Direction

View an example

Hide All Images

The Hide All Images function is used to hide any imported images (in the graphics area) from view. This function is only available in the View menu. To show the images, click Hide All Images a second time. This function is used with BobART.

Hide All Emboss Model

The Hide All Emboss Model function is used to hide embossed geometry that is created using BobART. This allows you to view any geometry that is hidden by the model so it can be selected for other features. To view the model again, click Hide All Emboss Model a second time.