Home Tab

The Home tab provides access to frequently used commands.

This page discusses:

See Also
About Copy/Paste

Copy/Paste Commands

Copy/Paste commands let you copy, cut, and paste Composer collaborative and geometry actors.

Icon Command Name Description
Cut (Ctrl+X) Same as Copy, but also deletes the selected actors.
Copy (Ctrl+C) Copies the selected actors to the clipboard, replacing the previous clipboard content.
Paste (Ctrl+V)

Pastes the clipboard into the current Composer document.

Show/Hide Commands

View commands let you access commonly used workshops and entire animation mode.

Icon Command Name Description
AnimationSwitches to animation mode and displays the Timeline. See Timeline.
Technical IllustrationShows or hides the Technical Illustration workshop. See Technical Illustration.
High Resolution ImageShows or hides the High Resolution Image workshop. See High Resolution Image Workshop.

Visibility Commands

Visibility commands let you manage actor visibility in the scene. Actors can be visible, hidden, or ghosted (partially transparent).

Note: Animations do not record changes to actor visibility. To hide or show actors in animations, while in Animation mode show all actors that participate in the animation ( Show All or selectively show actors) and then change actor visibility by setting Opacity property keys.

Icon Command Name Description
Show AllDisplays all actors.
Show All GeometryDisplays all geometry actors without affecting the visibility of collaborative actors.
Show Selection and Hide OthersDisplays the selected actors and hides all other actors.
Show Selection and Ghost OthersDisplays the selected actors, ghosts (displays as partially transparent) all other geometry actors, and hides all other collaborative actors.
Notes:
  • You cannot ghost collaborative actors. Ghosting collaborative actors hides them.
  • You cannot select ghosted actors in the viewport. Select them in the Assembly tree.
Hide SelectionHides the selected actors without affecting the visibility of other actors.
Tips:
  • You can also hide actors by pressing H.
  • You can temporarily hide actors by highlighting them in the scene and pressing Tab. To restore visibility, press Shift+Tab or move the mouse off the actor. This capability is useful to access actors that are below other actors.
Show SelectionDisplays the selected actors without affecting the visibility of other actors.
Ghost SelectionMakes the selected actors partially transparent without affecting the visibility of other actors.
Notes:
  • You cannot ghost collaborative actors. Ghosting collaborative actors hides them.
  • You cannot select ghosted actors in the viewport. Select them in the Assembly tree.
Invert VisibilityHides visible actors and displays hidden and ghosted actors.
Invert Visibility with GhostGhosts visible actors and displays hidden and ghosted actors.
UnghostRestores full visibility to all ghosted actors.
Restore Active View VisibilityRestores the visibility of all actors of the active view. Use this command when you have made changes in the view (such as changing actors' position, adding actors, changing actors' visibility) and then want to restore the visibility of all actors to the last updated state. Other properties such as color, opacity, position, etc. will not be restored.
Note: This command does not apply to the following:
  • Custom views created in the Views workshop
  • Captures and views originating from CAD data
Load on VisibilityLoads unloaded product geometry as required to display actors in the viewport.
CollaborationShows or hides visible collaborative actors. For example, if you have five collaborative actors of which three are visible, clicking this command hides the three visible actors, and clicking the command again displays the three previously visible actors (not all five actors).
CalloutsShows or hides all callouts.
Tip: The Filter on visible callouts BOM table property controls whether callout visibility affects the BOM table.
BOM TableShows or hides the BOM table (a Vector Image panel) in the viewport. Every document has a BOM table that is empty until you generate IDs from the BOM Workshop. See BOM Workshop.

You can view and modify the BOM table columns from the BOM pane. See BOM.

Digger Commands

The Digger tool acts like a magnifying glass to isolate areas of your scene.

You can modify opacity, visibility, and magnification (zoom) and then capture a 2D image. You can set animation keys to display Digger in animations. To display Digger, click Home > Digger > Digger or press Space Bar, X, or Ctrl+D while in the viewport. To move Digger, drag the Digger ring.



Note: Detail views (created with Digger, the High Resolution workshop, or the Technical Illustration workshop) do not update automatically. You must manually update detail views.

Icon Command Name Description
RadiusResizes the Digger zone. Drag the Radius handle in or out.
PercentageChanges the effect of the Onion Skin, X-Ray, Cutting Plane, and Zoom tools. Drag the Percentage handle around Digger.
Display/Hide ToolsShows or hides the Digger tools (such as Onion Skin and X-Ray).
ZoomMagnifies the objects in the Digger zone. Click to activate, and then drag the Percentage handle.
Cutting PlaneDisplays a cutting plane. The cutting plane is parallel to the screen. Click to activate, and then drag the Percentage handle.
Note: Due to a technical limitation, enabling Cutting Plane turns off the ground.
X-RayPeels the layers of the model. As the depth increases, actors change to a ghost outline and then disappear. Click to activate, and then drag the Percentage handle.
Onion SkinPeels the layers of the model. As the depth increases, actors disappear. Click to activate, and then drag the Percentage handle.
Light ChangeDisplays a temporary spot light in the Digger zone. To display the light, drag the icon into the Digger zone. To return to original lighting, drag the tool outside the Digger zone.
Note: Due to a technical limitation, Light Change does not work with 3-light lighting modes, such as Heavy Metal.
Capture Picture in 2D ImageCreates an image 2D panel of the Digger zone that you can then drag to a location in the scene. Image resolution is determined by the High Resolution Image workshop resolution settings and scaled for the viewport size. To change properties such as the border color and attach-line shape, select the panel and modify properties in the Properties pane.
Lock/Unlock Depth DirectionWhen locked, Onion Skin, X-Ray, and Cutting Plane tools stay at their original layer depth as you move the model or Digger in the viewport. When unlocked, these tools update as the viewport changes.
Change Center of InterestChanges what is displayed in the Digger zone. To change the center of interest, drag the tool to the desired location in your scene. To return the center of interest to the center of Digger, drag the tool inside Digger.
Note: The Per-pixel Lighting rendering mode is not compatible with Cutting Plane and Lock Depth Direction both selected. In this case, Per-pixel Lighting is automatically disabled within the Digger zone. This is also the case for dependent features (such as shadow mapping, ambient occlusion or glow).

Navigate Commands

Navigate commands let you navigate the viewport by moving the position and orientation of the camera.

Icon Command Name Description
Align Camera on Face

Orients the model so the selected actor face is parallel to the viewport.

To align to a face:

  1. Activate this mode.
  2. Position your mouse so the red arrow is normal to the desired face.

  3. Click the face.

  4. Press Esc to exit the tool.
Align Camera Front/Back

Orients the model to a predefined camera view. To swap between symmetric views (for example, Front and Back views), click the tool again.

These tools also zoom to fit the model, or when actors are selected, zooms to the selection.

Align Camera Right/Left
Align Camera Top/Bottom
Align Camera 3/4 X+ Y+ Z+
Align Camera 3/4 X+ Y- Z+
Align Camera 3/4 X- Y- Z+
Align Camera 3/4 X- Y+ Z+
Custom 1 Orients the model to a user-defined camera view. For details, see (Default) Document Properties - Viewport.
Note: (o) next to the view name indicates an orthogonal view (no perspective).
Custom 2
Custom 3
Custom 4
Select Mode

Selects actors when you click in the viewport. This is the default mode.

  • To select an actor, click it.
  • To add an actor to the selection (multi-select), press Ctrl. The mouse pointer changes to .
  • To invert the selection of an actor, press Shift. The mouse pointer changes to .
  • To select all visible actors completely inside a selection box, drag from right to left. The mouse pointer changes to .
  • To select all visible actors inside or touching the border of a selection box, drag from left to right. The mouse pointer changes to .

Tip: You can exit other modes and return to selection mode by pressing Esc one or more times as needed.

Notes: The following modes are always available:

  • Rotation mode - Right mouse button
  • Pan mode - Middle mouse button
  • Zoom mode - Mouse wheel
Select by ColorSelects all actors of the same color.
Note: This command always selects actors using default selection mode (see Assembly Selection Mode).
Select InstancesSelects all instances of the selected geometry instance. When you select an actor that is not an instance, only that actor is selected.
Select Inside SphereSelects all actors fully contained by a spherical selection window. Click to place the center of the sphere, drag to change the sphere size, and then click again to finish the selection.
Note: This command always selects actors using default selection mode (see Assembly Selection Mode).
Select Across SphereSelects all actors that are contained by or intersect a spherical selection window. Click to place the center of the sphere, drag to change the sphere size, and then click again to finish the selection.
Note: This command always selects actors using default selection mode (see Assembly Selection Mode).
Select Adjacent PartsSelects all parts that are in contact with, or that intersect, the currently selected part.
Note: This command is available only when one or several parts (i.e. geometry actors) are selected.
Select All ActorsSelects all visible actors, both collaborative and geometry.
Tips:
  • You can also press Ctrl+A while in the viewport.
  • Select hidden and ghosted actors from the Assembly and Collaboration trees.
Invert SelectionSelects unselected actors and clears selected actors.
Note: This command clears Assembly Selection Mode.
Unselect Hidden and Ghosted ActorsRemoves hidden and ghosted actors from the current selection.
Note: This command clears Assembly Selection Mode.
Select Actors Not Published to 3DVIA StudioSelects all collaborative actors not supported by Publish to 3DVIA Studio. For example, use this command to hide or delete all unsupported actors, or simply to see what actors will not export, before publishing to 3DVIA Studio.
Select Geometry FilterLets you select geometry actors. When cleared, you cannot select parts but you can select assemblies when Assembly Selection Mode is enabled.
Select Collaboration FilterLets you select or deselect collaborative actors. Select this option to make collaborative actors appear in the selection.
Rotate Mode

Rotates the camera when you left-click and drag in the viewport. By default, rotation is relative to the vertical axis. Clicking a geometry actor and dragging rotates the camera around the clicked point . Otherwise, rotation is around the center of the viewport.

  • To rotate freely, without respect to the orientation of the vertical axis, press Ctrl while dragging.
  • To rotate the view point from which you observe the model, press Shift while dragging.
  • To roll about the clicked point or center of the viewport, press Alt while dragging.

Tip: You can rotate when not in rotation mode by right-clicking in the viewport.

Pan Mode

Moves the camera across the scene when you left-click and drag in the viewport. To pan the paper space, press Ctrl while dragging.

Tip: You can pan while in other modes by clicking the mouse wheel in the viewport and dragging.

Zoom Mode

Zooms the 3D space when you left-click and drag in the viewport. Zooming affects 3D actors only. This zoom method moves the camera, which lets you penetrate geometry.

Tips:
  • You can also zoom while in other modes by pressing both left and right mouse buttons and dragging the mouse up or down in the viewport.
  • Another method of zooming is available by rolling the mouse wheel in the viewport. This zoom moves the camera focal point (field-of-view angle), not the camera itself. The zoom focal point is the mouse pointer location.
  • To zoom the 2D paper space, press Ctrl while rolling the mouse wheel. Zooming the paper space affects 2D and 3D actors.

Zoom Area Mode

Creates a zoom region when you left-click and drag in the viewport.

  • To zoom in, drag left-to-right.
  • To zoom out, drag right-to-left.
Fly Through Mode Moves the camera as though you were flying. To move closer to the model, hold down the left mouse button. To move farther away, hold down the right mouse button. To control the speed of the fly-through effect, press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow keys.
Inertia Mode Causes the camera to continue moving after you rotate or pan the model. The faster you rotate or pan, the more the model moves when you stop.
Note: Selecting Inertia Mode also selects Rotate Mode, but you can then change the mode and Inertia Mode stays enabled.
Zoom Fit All

Fits the entire scene while keeping the same camera direction.

Tip: You can also double-click in the viewport background or double-click the middle button over the model.

Zoom Selection

Zooms to the selected actors while keeping the same camera direction.

Tip: You can also double-click an actor.

'Fly-With' Mode (Translate keeping distance)

Attaches the camera target to the selected actor and sets camera properties as follows:

Property Enabled
Roll
Pitch
Yaw
Lock distance to target
The camera follows the attached actor at constant distance.
Tip: To avoid having to reposition the camera later, orient the camera as needed before attaching it.
Note: Setting this mode clears all camera animation keys for this camera.

'Target' Mode (Follow keeping position)

Attaches the camera target to the selected actor and sets camera properties as follows:

Property Enabled
Roll
Pitch
Yaw
Lock distance to target
The camera remains stationary but tracks the movement of the attached actor.
Tip: To avoid having to reposition the camera later, orient the camera as needed before attaching it.
Note: Setting this mode clears all camera animation keys for this camera.

'Move-With' Mode (Rigid attachment)

Attaches the camera and target to the selected actor and sets camera properties as follows:

Property Enabled
Roll
Pitch
Yaw
Lock distance to target Not enabled, but the distance between camera and target does not change because both the camera and target are attached to the same actor.
The camera moves in lock-step with the attached actor.
Tip: To avoid having to reposition the camera later, orient the camera as needed before attaching it.
Note: Setting this mode clears all camera animation keys for this camera.

'Free' Mode (Detach)

Detaches the camera and target from its attached actors and sets camera properties as follows:

Property Enabled
Roll
Pitch
Yaw
Lock distance to target
The camera can move freely in the viewport.
Note: Setting this mode clears all camera animation keys for this camera.

Attach Target to SelectionAttaches the camera target to the selected actor. The target moves with the actor. The target does not necessarily have to be located on the actor.
Tip: To avoid having to reposition the camera later, orient the camera as needed before attaching it.
Notes:
  • In animation mode, this command creates a camera key at the current time.
  • You can also attach a camera target to an actor by dragging the target anchor while pressing Alt. Dragging without Alt moves the target anchor without changing the actor attachment.
Attach Center to SelectionAttaches the camera to the selected actor. The camera moves with the actor. The camera does not necessarily have to be located on the actor.
Tip: To avoid having to reposition the camera later, orient the camera as needed before attaching it.
Notes:
  • In animation mode, this command creates a camera key at the current time.
  • You can also attach a camera to an actor by dragging the camera anchor while pressing Alt. Dragging without Alt moves the camera without changing the actor attachment.
Detach Target (Available when the camera target is attached to an actor.) Detaches the camera target from the attached actor. The target anchor no longer moves with the actor.
Notes:
  • In animation mode, this command creates a camera key at the current time.
  • You can also detach targets by dragging the target anchor while pressing Alt onto empty viewport background (not on an actor).
Detach Center (Available when the camera center is attached to an actor.) Detaches the camera from its attached actor. The camera no longer moves with the actor.
Notes:
  • In animation mode, this command creates a camera key at the current time.
  • You can also detach cameras by dragging the camera anchor while pressing Alt onto empty viewport background (not on an actor).
Add CameraCreates a new camera actor at the current viewport camera position. Make sure you set the viewport camera orientation the way you want it before creating the camera to avoid having to redefine the camera's initial orientation.

Notes:
  • Cameras are listed in the Collaboration pane under Cameras .
  • To make a camera the viewport camera, set the viewport Camera property. Camera commands in the Attach Camera menu operate on the current camera of the active viewport, not the newly created camera. Note that the Camera property is animatable, so the viewport camera can change depending on the timeline position.
  • Set camera properties in the Properties pane.
  • When only one camera ( Camera) is defined, its animation keys are shown in the timeline regardless of camera visibility. When multiple cameras are defined, animation keys are shown only for visible cameras. Change camera visibility by toggling its check box in the Collaboration pane.

Tip: Grids can help you position cameras.
Tip: To facilitate working with cameras, split the viewport into multiple panes and set different viewport cameras. In the following illustration, the left viewport shows the model from the perspective of Camera 1 and the right viewport uses its active camera to show the Camera 1 actor.