Model Viewing Toolbars
When you open models in the viewer, there are various viewing tools you can use:
Select and then right-click an object to use the context menu.
Use the viewing toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
Model Context Menu
Click in the viewer to select an object in the model and right-click to view the following options:
Show Properties: Displays properties of the selected objects.
Isolate : Isolates the selected objects by making the rest of the models transparent.
Hide selected: Hides the selected objects from view.
Show all objects: Shows all objects in the models if they've been hidden using the Model tree.
Focus: Zooms the view on the selected objects.
Pivot: Uses the selected objects as a pivot point.
Clear selection: Clears the selection.
Section:
- Section Box: Uses the selected object as a box to section the models.
- Section Plane: Uses the selected object as a plane to section the models.
Viewing Toolbar
The viewing toolbar is on the bottom of the viewer.
Orbit: In orbit mode, the camera moves around the focal point of the model. In this mode, the up direction is always maintained. Click the arrow for Orbit or Free orbit options.
Pan: Moves the view parallel to the screen.
Fit to View: Zooms the viewport in or out to contain just the selected elements or visible elements, if none are selected.
Zoom Window: Click the arrow to see zoom options: Zoom or Zoom Window. With Zoom Window, you can drag a box to zoom a selected area or window on the model.
First Person: With the First Person tool, you can navigate through a model as if you are walking through it.
Measure: Use the tools to measure distance, angles, or coordinates, calibrate using a known measurement, and specify settings:
Distance: Click to create the two endpoints of the desired distance.
Angle: Click to capture a point along the first ray, then the vertex, and then along the second ray to measure the angle created by these points.
Spot Coordinate: Click a snapped point in the model to see the coordinates and elevation values.
Calibrate: Set the scale or select two points to calibrate.
Delete Measurement: Delete the selected measurement from the model.
Measure Settings: Specify the units, precision settings, and other settings.
Section Analysis: Click the arrow to view the model in sections along the X, Y, or Z planes, or using a section box.
Show / hide all issues: Click to show or hide all issues on your models.
Settings: Use the tabs on the Settings panel to customize the viewer. You can edit the performance and display settings, navigational tools, visual quality, and change the image environment and lighting. A description of each setting is displayed on the panel.
Some of the most useful settings are on the Configuration tab:
Progressive display - This setting increases object dropout in order to offer smoother navigation. This is effective when used in combination with the Target Frame Rate and Large model experience options, to balance performance and model loading with potential flickering or drop out as you navigate.
Large model experience (BETA): Provides an improved viewing experience when working with large models. See the Large Model Experience BETA and High Performance Graphics sections of the FAQ for more information.
Tip: After turning on this option, you need to refresh your browser and reload your models or views for it to take effect.Ghost hidden objects: Leave hidden objects slightly visible. Applies to objects that are hidden using the model tree visibility controls and those that are hidden when reviewing clashes. Doesn’t apply to objects that are filtered out using the Model Browser.
Display Units: Specify whether the display units are taken from the model settings, or choose a preferred display unit. The Transform feature uses the units specififed here.
Selection mode: (Configuration tab, Selection section): Determines what level of object in the model tree will be selected when clicking objects in the viewer.
- First Object: Selects the highest level of object, for example, a whole model.
- Last Object: Selects the lowest level of object. For composite objects: selects the composite object rather than the leaf objects within it. For example, when a Curtain wall is modeled as a composite object, clicking any part of the curtain wall will select the entire curtain wall.
- Leaf object: Selects the lowest level of object. For composite objects, selects the individual leaf objects within the composite. For example, when a Curtain wall is modeled as a composite object, clicking part of the curtain wall will select the individual panel / mullion.
Properties: Inspect properties of the model or selected objects, including constraints, materials and finishes, and identifying data.
Full Screen: View the model in full screen mode.
Turn on / off object colors: Turn on to automatically apply colors to model objects, or to turn on previously applied colors for a file or model.
Show object color palette: Click to open the object color palette. You can enable object colors, choose to color objects by property, file, or model, turn on object colors for ghosted objects, and change the colors being used.
Show / hide clash highlighting: Enable the Show Clash Highlighting option to use the default red and green colorization to represent clashes in the models. When the Hide Clash Highlighting option is enabled, the model is displayed in object colors if applied and turned on, or the default model material colors.
Mini-map: Turn on to enable a small map that displays a top-down view of the model, helping you orient yourself in 2D while navigating the model in 3D. See Mini-map for more information.