Manipulating 3D Views

This section describes the standard mechanisms provided by the Forms and Menus software for manipulating a 3D view using the mouse buttons, number keypad and function keys.

The mouse buttons are referred to as:

• MB2 (adjust)

• MB3 (popup)

If you press MB3 when the cursor is over the view canvas, the popup view menu is displayed. This will either be the default menu supplied by the Forms and Menus software, or an application-specific version if provided, either by AVEVA or by your own customization.

This Section describes the default menu.

View controls using the mouse are analog. They work best when the redraw time is not too large, so that you get rapid feedback. With long redraw times (large models), you may find that the keyboard digital controls are easier to use.

Status Line

The view parameters are displayed in the status line, just below the view. For example:

n25w12d Pers<36 Model Rotate Fast

Where the fields have the following meanings:

Popup Menu

Pressing MB3 displays the popup view menu when the cursor is over the view canvas.

This will either be the default menu supplied by the Forms and Menus software, or an application-specific version if provided, either by AVEVA or by your own customization.

This Section describes the default menu.

The Zoom, Pan, Rotate and Walk options select a mouse mode.

The Options pullright toggles the states of Eye/Model, Shaded/Wireline, Borders On/Off, and Perspective/Parallel.

These actions may also be achieved by pressing the relevant Function Button while the view canvas has keyboard focus.

The Restore and Save pullrights allow up to four view settings to be saved and restored. To save the current view settings, choose S1, S2, S3 or S4 from the Save menu. To restore a previously saved setting, choose R1, R2, R3, or R4 from the Restore menu. These functions are also available using Alt, Ctrl, and the keypad numerals 1 to 4 while the canvas has keyboard focus.

Mouse Modes

In all modes, clicking MB2 will shift the point under the cursor to the center of the view. In perspective, the from-point will be maintained, and the view direction and through-point will be modified. In parallel, the view direction will be maintained, and the from- and through-points moved. The only exception to this rule is in Pan Mode, when the view direction is never modified.

Manipulating 3D Views Using the Numeric Keypad

Important: Some keyboards have auto-repeat on keypads and function-buttons.

When the keyboard focus is in the view, the following functions are available.

Saving views: Use Alt and Ctrl and keypad numerals 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Restoring views: Use Alt and keypad numerals 1, 2, 3, or 4.Function Keys

Arrow Keys (Up, Down, Left, Right)

The arrow keys change the line of sight as in Pan mode, by 1 STEP distance.

Ctrl Arrow does 10 STEPs

Shift Arrow does 1/10 of a STEP.

The following changes have been made to allow consistency with ReviewLE and to improve usability on 'lap top' keyboards which frequently do not have the Numeric Keypad.

Notes:

• There is no syntax to set the mouse mode, or to enquire it.

• The eye mode can be selected by setting Walkmode On, and Model by setting Walkmode Off.

• If your keyboard focus is set by moving the cursor into a window without having to click a mouse button, it is possible to get the state of the Ctrl and Shift keys confused. If you move the mouse into the view, press Ctrl, press Adjust, move the mouse out of the view, release Adjust, then release Ctrl, you will still be in Fast mode, as shown in the status line. To remedy this, move the cursor back into the view, and then press and release Ctrl.