3D Model Tree Tab

The 3D Model Tree tab toolbar contains many tools for interacting with 3D content.

 Expand All and  Collapse All: Expands or collapses the entire 3D Model Tree list.

 Previous and  Next: Moves to the previous or next item in the 3D Model Tree list.

 Filter and  Clear Filters: Toggles column filters on and off and clears previously applied filters.

 Search: Filters the 3D Model Tree list based on the text entered in the field. Click the X in the field to clear the search term.

 Columns: Selects which columns are shown in the 3D Model Tree list.

 Create New View: Creates a new View based on the current position of the model.

 Delete View: Deletes the selected view.

Current View: Shows the current view.

Play menu: Select an animation cycle from the menu and/or click the icon to play the selected animation cycle.

 View Properties: Shows the 3D view properties for the selected view.

Previous View: Loads the previous view in the View list.

Next View: Loads the next view in the View list.

 Home: Loads the Default view.

 Model menu: Contains options for affecting the individual parts of the model.

Show All Parts : Makes visible any part which has been hidden and the sets the transparency as defined in the PDF.

Reset Parts : Resets parts to their original location. Parts can be transformed (moved and rotated) to other locations. The Reset Parts command quickly resets the parts in the model back to their default location. Reset Parts does not change the visibility of parts.

Fit Model: Resizes the model within the 3D Model window to maximize its size relative to the viewing area.

Set Selection Colors: Calls up the 3D Model Selection Colors dialog box, which enables setting a selected part color and bounding box color, as well as toggling bounding box visibility.

Markup Indicators: Toggles whether to show the Markup Indicators.

Fit to Window: Fits the PDF is the main workspace , maximizing space for the 3D Model.

 Mouse Interaction menu: Determines the mouse behavior when interacting with the 3D model. The options are Rotate, Spin, Pan, Zoom, and Camera. The menu icon displays the currently selected mode.

 Rotate: Moves the camera around the model.

 Spin: Rotates the model around a point that is specified in the model. In most cases Rotate and Spin have very similar behavior. However, Spin may prove more useful on models that have no defined tilt.

 Pan: Moves the model up/down and left/right in the 3D Model window.

 Zoom: Moves the viewpoint in or out to increase the relative size of the model.

 Camera: Rotates the viewpoint from the position of the camera, for an effect similar to tilting one’s head up or down, or rotating it left or right.

 Select: Select parts so they can be moved, rotated, copied or deleted.

The best way to become familiar with these operations is to select the different modes and interact with the 3D model using the mouse.

 Perspective: Switches between Orthogonal and Perspective views. The Perspective view takes 3D viewing effects such as foreshortening into consideration, similar to real-world viewing scenarios. Objects closer to the camera view appear larger than objects further away. The orthogonal view keeps the relative size of the objects the same regardless of distance from the viewing (camera) position.

 Lighting menu: Controls the lighting style used to render the model.

 Background Color menu: Controls the color of the background of the 3D Model window.

 Cross Section menu: Shows or hides the cross section plane or section box or aligns the camera perpendicular to the cutting plane. See Cross Sections and Section Boxes for more information about using these tools.

Transform: Allows you to manipulate selected parts in a 3D model. Selected parts can be moved, rotated, copied and deleted.

Summary: Exports 3D model data to a CSV file.

The 3D Model Tree shows a list of the components in a 3D model. The tree allows selecting parts and selectively showing and hiding individual or multiple components of the 3D model. Checking or unchecking the corresponding box in the Visible column will hide or show a single part. Doing this for a parent object will toggle the display of the parent and all the child parts.

Additionally, there are many options available using the context menu by right-clicking one or more objects in the 3D Model Tree, for example:

• To show all parts in a model, right-click in either the 3D Model window or the 3D Model Tree and select Show All Parts.

• To reset all parts to their default location, right-click in either the 3D Model window or on the primary parent object in the 3D Model Tree and select Reset All Parts.

  Note: This will restore the part to its original location after it has been transformed.

• To zoom the view to maximize a part's size, in either the 3D Model window or the 3D Model Tree, right-click a part and select Zoom to Part.

• To center the display on a part and to make the model rotate around the center point of that part, select the part in the 3D Model window or 3D Model Tree, right-click on the part and select Center Part.

  Note: Zoom Part and Center Part both work when a single or multiple parts are selected.

The settings for a 3D view are defined in the 3D View Properties dialog box. Access it by clicking  View Properties on the 3D Model Tree tab toolbar.

Views list: Shows the views defined for the 3D PDF. Use the controls to the left to rearrange their order or add and delete views.

View Name: Defines the name that will appear in the Views section.

Camera Properties: Defines the projection mode, Orthogonal or Perspective.

Background: Defines the background color. Check the box to include this setting. Click the color box to choose a color.

Lighting: Defines the lighting style. Check the box to include this setting. Click the list to choose a lighting style.

Render Mode: Defines the render mode. Check the box to include this setting. Click the list to choose a render mode.

Node Visibility: Determines whether or not the current visibility status from the 3D Model Tree section is carried into the view.

Cross Section Information: Determines whether or not the current clipping plane information is carried into the view.

Parts may be grouped together to form assemblies, or functional groupings, of 3D elements. A graphical example of this relation is described in the following diagram.

To set the visibility of an individual part or assembly, do one of the following:

• Check or uncheck the corresponding box in the Visible column on the 3D Model Tree tab.
• Right-click the part and select Hide or Show.