Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Powered by Zoomin Software. For more details please contactZoomin

Everything E3D

Orientate

  • Last UpdatedMar 03, 2026
  • 3 minute read

The axes (fixed reference lines) of an element can be explicitly orientated or the axes of an existing element can be used.

Note:
Once two of the axes are specified, the element’s orientation can be defined completely.

To change the orientation of an element explicitly:

  1. The element to be oriented must be selected first, this can be performed in two ways, select the element in the Model Explorer, then identifying it as the CE or owner of the CE or in the 3D graphical view, pick the CE or pick the owner of the CE.

    Select

    From the drop-down menu, click to select the element to be orientated, in the Model Explorer:

    CE - To orientate the current element - the axes are displayed in the Orientate window.

    CE Owner - the owner of the current element.

    From the drop-down menu, click to select the element to be orientated:

    Pick - you are prompted to Pick item to be orientated, in the 3D graphical view, click to select the current element.

    Pick Owner - you are prompted to Pick item which owner is to be orientated, in the 3D graphical view, click to select the current element owner.

    Note:
    Once the element is selected, the name of the element is inserted into the Orientate window. The current axes of the element are also displayed.

  2. Two of the axes must be explicitly defined, the third is automatically defined, from the drop-down menus. Click to select which axes are to be defined, amend the direction of the axes to the direction of choice.

  3. The axes displayed in the 3D graphical view are changed unless they are locked using the Lock check box.

  4. To orientate an element by the use of an existing element’s orientation, in the 3D graphical view, click to select the element whose orientation is to be changed to that of an existing one.

  5. From the Orientate window, select Derive to display the drop-down menu, choose from one of the following options:

    from CE

    Use the orientation of the CE, click to select the CE in the Model Explorer.

    from Owner

    Use the orientation from the owner of CE, click to select the owner of the CE in the Model Explorer.

    Through 3 points

    Click to define 3 points in the 3D graphical view:

    Identify the First point (reference point):

    In the 3D graphical view, you are prompted to:

    Orientate - base point (Snap) Snap.

    Identify the Second point (X direction):

    Orientate - X through point from base point.

    Identify the Third point (Y direction):

    Orientate - Y through point from base point.

    The new orientation is displayed in the Orientate window and the axes displayed in the 3D graphical view.

    Through 2 points

    Through 2 points - click to define 2 points in the 3D graphical view:

    Identify the First point (X direction):

    Orientate - X through point from origin (Snap) Snap.

    Identify Second point (Y direction):

    Orientate - Y towards point (Snap) Snap.

    The new orientation is displayed in the Orientate window and the axes displayed in the 3D graphical view.

    from picked

    In the 3D graphical view, you are prompted to Pick element to copy orientation from.

    Click to select the element, the new orientation is displayed in the Orientate window and the axes displayed in the 3D graphical view.

    Apply

    Moves the element to its new orientation.

    Dismiss

    Closes the Orientate window.

Related Links