Display Tab Reference (Application Options)

Controls settings for display of a model when you open it, or displays a new view on the current model.

What's New: 2021.1, 2022, 2023, 2024.1, 2025

Access

File Options Display tab

Appearance

Use document settings	Specifies whether to use document display settings when the document opens, or in additional windows or views on the document. When selected, ignores Application appearance settings.
Use application settings	Specifies whether to use application options display settings when the document opens, or in additional windows or views, on the document. When selected, ignores Document display settings.
Settings	Opens Display Appearance dialog box.

Interactive Component Appearance

Shaded	Specifies whether to display inactive component faces as shaded. Select the check box to enable shading. Clear the check box to display inactive components in wireframe.
Opaque	With Shaded selected, you can set opacity for shading. Enter the percent opaque, or click the up or down arrow to select the value. Default = 25% opaque. Shaded for inactive component set to On, with 25% opacity. Shaded for inactive component set to On, with 50% opacity.
Display Edges	Sets the edge display for inactive components. When selected, displays edges of inactive models based on application or document appearance setting for model edges. If model edges use a single color, select a different color for inactive components to discern between active and inactive states.
Color	Activates the color picker. Specify the color for display of inactive model edges.

Display

View transition time (seconds)

Controls the time required to transition smoothly between views when using viewing commands (such as Isometric View, Zoom All, Zoom Area, View Face, and so on). Zero transition time causes transition to be abrupt, which can make it difficult to understand changes in position and orientation. Three sets the greatest amount of time to transition between views.

Minimum frame rate (Hz)

Specifies the frequency for updating the display during interactive viewing operations such as Pan, Zoom, and Rotate. Some complex models (such as large assemblies with a high component count) may seem lower performing, changing the frame rate can improve the operation speed. Lower numbers show greater visual fidelity. To achieve higher frame rates, the system may temporarily simplify or discard parts of the view. The view restores when movement ends.

• Set 0 Draw everything in the view, regardless of the time required. Use this value for better visual fidelity. Increase the frame rate if the model updates too slowly during a viewing operation.
• Set 10 Draw at least ten frames per second. Use this value for a balance between visual fidelity and performance.
• Set 20 Draw at least twenty frames per second. Use this value for the fastest performance.

Note: Minimum frame rate does not affect section or sliced views. In these cases, the model is always shown in full fidelity.

Display quality

Sets the resolution for the display of the model. There are three choices: Rough, Medium, and Smooth.

Display quality: Smooth - this setting refines the model edges so they display as smooth arcs and faces.

Display quality: Medium - this setting refines the model edges, but sets a refinement limit which may not include all edges.

Display quality: Rough - this setting leaves arc and circular edges faceted. If performance is an issue, this setting will help.

Disable Automatic Refinement

Automatic refinement is enabled by default ensuring the appearance of Inventor faces and bodies is smooth when zooming. Select the check box to turn off automatic refinement and enable coarse faceting. Coarse faceting can increase performance in large assemblies or complex models. Use the Refine Appearance command in the View tab, or QAT, to smooth the appearance when Automatic Refinement is disabled.

Enable Smooth Sketch Lines

Refines sketch geometry display for curved lines. The option is on by default.

Multiple Document Graphics

Automatically update referring documents

This option automatically updates color and visibility display in open assemblies when a sub-component is modified. The default is selected or ON. When deselected or OFF, the assemblies (referring documents) must be activated for the color and visibility to update.

Note: If you routinely work with large assemblies and are concerned about performance, compare performance with this setting selected and deselected.

3D Navigation

Default Orbit Type

Changes the default behavior of the Orbit command.

Free Orbit behavior is relative to screen.

Constrained Orbit behavior is relative to model.

Zoom Behavior

Check or clear either checkbox to change the zoom direction (relative to mouse movement) or the zoom center (relative to the cursor or screen).

Reverse Direction Controls the effect of mouse movement on zoom direction:

• Selected Mouse cursor moving upward in the display zooms in. Rolling the mouse wheel toward the display zooms in.
• Cleared Cursor moving upward in the display zooms out. Rolling the mouse wheel toward the display zooms out.

Zoom to Cursor Controls whether the zoom action is relative to the cursor or display center:

• Seleted Zoom operates with respect to the center of the display.
• Cleared Zoom operates with respect to the cursor position.

Sensitivity

• Slower Decreases the speed (graphic refresh frame rate) when zooming in and out.
• Faster Increases the speed when zooming in and out.

ViewCube... Opens the ViewCube Options dialog box, where you can define the display and behavior of the ViewCube navigation command.

SteeringWheels... Opens the SteeringWheels Options dialog box, where you can define the display and behavior of the SteeringWheel navigation command.

Origin 3D indicator When selected, turns on the display of the XYZ axis indicator and direction labels at the bottom left corner of the graphics window.

Show origin 3D indicator When selected, in a 3D view, displays an XYZ axis indicator in the bottom left corner of the graphics window. Red arrow indicates the X axis. Green arrow indicates the Y axis. Blue arrow indicates the Z axis.

Show origin XYZ labels When selected, displays XYZ labels on the arrows of the respective 3D axis indicator directions. Selected by default. Available when Show origin 3D indicator is turned on.

Note: In the Edit Coordinate System command, labels are turned on in the XYZ indicator displayed in the center of the sketch grid.

Look at behavior

Perform minimum rotation

Rotates a minimum angle to make the sketch plane parallel with the screen, and the x axis of the sketch coordinate system either horizontal or vertical.

Align with local coordinate system

Orients the x axis of the sketch coordinate system to be horizontal and right positive, and the y axis to be vertical and up positive.

Middle Mouse Button

Click the drop-down arrow to map the middle mouse button to zoom, pan, or orbit.

Use nearest model point for Orbit

When selected, the model point nearest the cursor is used as the orbit pivot point. Deselected, the center of the model minimum bounding box.