Create and use filters in the 3D Model Tree tab

Filters provide an efficient mechanism for working with elements of a 3D PDF, which can become numerous in a production environment, causing the PDF to appear cluttered, especially when elements overlap. Filters provide a way of organizing, identifying, and integrating these elements.

To filter by data in a column, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Window > Panels > 3D Model Tree or press ALT+3 to open the 3D Model Tree panel.

  2. On the 3D Model Tree panel toolbar, select Filter. A  filter icon appears next to each column heading in the 3D Model Tree list.

  3. Select the  filter icon associated with the desired column and select the value to filter by.
  4. Repeat as desired to filter by other values.

Filtering has the following effects while the filters are in place:

  • The 3D Model Tree list shows only those items that match the selected filters.
  • The headers of columns that are currently being used as filters are highlighted in orange.

  • 3D elements on the PDF that do not match the selected filters are dimmed.

It is also possible to filter by search term. This feature is especially helpful when the column you are filtering has a large number of entries.

To filter by search term, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Window > Panels > 3D Model Tree or press ALT+3 to open the 3D Model Tree panel.
  2. On the 3D Model Tree panel toolbar, select inside the  Search field.
  3. Enter the desired search term. The 3D Model Tree list will be filtered down to only those items that have the search term in at least one of the columns. Further, any items that are filtered out will be dimmed on the PDF.

Custom filters allow you to create a filter that includes more than one value in a column. For example, you can create a custom filter that will display 3D elements from two different construction phases. A custom filter applies only to a single column, but each column can have its own custom filter defined and any number of custom filters can be used on different columns at once.

To define a custom filter, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Window > Panels > 3D Model Tree or press ALT+3 to open the 3D Model Tree panel.

  2. On the 3D Model Tree panel toolbar, select Filter to turn on filtering.

  3. Select the  filter icon associated with the desired column and select [Custom]. The Custom Filter dialog appears.
  4. Choose from the options to create the desired filter and select OK.

To remove a filter from a single column, select the filter icon next to the column header and select [All].

To toggle off filtering without losing the filters you've set, select Filter on the 3D Model Tree panel toolbar.

To remove all filters, select the down arrow next to Filter on the 3D Model Tree panel toolbar and select Clear Filters.

Related topics

3D Model Tree Panel