View Rotation

Commands: RTROT, RTROTCTR, RTROTF,  RTROTX, RTROTY, RTROTZ, DDVPOINT, -VIEW, PLAN and VPOINT

The Rtrot (Real-Time Constrained Sphere) command rotates 3D drawings in real-time.

The Rtrotctr (Real-time Sphere Center) command freely rotates 3D drawings in real-time about a user-defined center point.

The Rtrotf (Real-time Free Sphere) command freely rotates 3D drawings in real-time.

The Rtrotx , Rtroty and Rtrotz commands rotates 3D drawings in real-time about the x, y or z screen axis.

The Ddvpoint command sets 3D viewpoints or plan view, through a dialog box (short for "dynamic dialog view point").

The Plan command displays the plan viewpoint of drawings.

The Vpoint command changes the 3D viewpoint.

In order to view your 3D drawings from any angle, you can rotate a view. The Real-Time Motion tools of BricsCAD allow you to rotate a view in real-time. You can rotate the view about the X, Y or Z screen axis or in any direction (real-time sphere). If the Continuous Motion variable is set, the view rotation continues until you conclude the Real-Time Motion command.

See also: View manipulation using the mouse.

The Look From control

The Look From control allows to select a number of preset views such as orthographic views and isometric views. By default the Look From control displays in the top right corner of the graphic screen.

If the UCSORTHO system variable is ON an orthographic UCS is restored automatically when the related orthographic view is chosen on the Look From control.

System Variables

The behavior of the Look From control depends on a number of system variables and user preferences

Setting the Look From mode

1. Move the cursor to the Look From control.
2. Right click, then select either Isometric Mode or Twist Mode in the context menu.
   
   

Using the Look From control in Isometric mode

Isometric mode is best used in 3D models.

1. Move the cursor to the Look From control.
   The  Look From control becomes active.
2. Position the cursor on the Look From control to choose a view orientation.
   A preview image and a tooltip indicate the currently selected view orientation.

3. Click to confirm.
   The view is updated.

Using the Look From control in Twist mode

Twist mode is best used in 2D drawings.

In Twist mode, the Loofk From control allows to rotate the view around the screen Z-axis

1. Move the cursor to the Look From control.
   The  Look From control becomes active.
2. Do one of the following:
3. Move the cursor on the edge of the the Look From control. Left half for counterclockwise, right half for clockwise rotation. Click when the arrow is at the desired rotation angle.
   The following angles are available: 15°, 30°,45°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 135° and 180°, both clockwise and counterclockwise.
   If LookFromFeedback = 1, the angle displays in a tooltip.
   Click again to rotate over the same angle again.
   
   
   
   
4. Move the cursor to the center of the Look From control, then click to restore the view (= unrotated state).
   
   
   

Rotating a view freely

1. Do one of the following:
2. Click the Real-Time Constrained Sphere tool button ()
   or the Real-Time Sphere tool button () on the Real-Time Motion toolbar.
3. Choose Real-Time Motion > Real-Time Constrained Sphere
   or Real-Time Motion > Real-Time Sphere in the View menu.
4. Type rtrot , rtrotf or rtrotctr in the command bar, then press Enter.

The command bar reads: >> Press ENTER or Esc to complete, or right click to display context menu ...

2. Press and hold the left mouse button.
   Move the mouse to rotate the view.
3. Using the Real-Time Constrained Sphere command horizontal mouse movement (parallel to the screen X-axis) rotates the 3D model about the world Z-axis.
4. Using the Real-time Sphere Center command you are prompted to specify a center point for the rotation first.

3. (option) Right click to display a context menu:

4. To abort the Real-Time Sphere commands, do one of the following:
5. Right click, then choose Exit in the context menu..
6. Press Enter, space bar or Esc.

Rotating a view about the view X-axis

1. Do one of the following:
2. Click the Real-Time X tool button () on the  Real-Time Motion toolbar.
3. Choose Real-Time Motion > Real-Time X in the View menu.
4. Type rtrotx in the command bar, then press Enter.

The command bar reads: >> Press ENTER or Esc to complete, or right click to display context menu ...

2. Press and hold the left mouse button.
   Move the mouse to rotate the view.
3. (option) Right click to display a context menu:

4. To abort the Real-Time X command, do one of the following:
5. Right click.
6. Press Enter, space bar or Esc.

Rotating a view about the view Y-axis

1. Do one of the following:
2. Click the Real-Time Y tool button () on the  Real-Time Motion toolbar.
3. Choose Real-Time Motion > Real-Time Y in the View menu.
4. Type rtroty in the command bar, then press Enter.

The command bar reads: >> Press ENTER or Esc to complete, or right click to display context menu ...

2. Press and hold the left mouse button.
   Move the mouse to rotate the view.
3. (option) Right click to display a context menu:

4. To abort the Real-Time Y command, do one of the following:
5. Right click.
6. Press Enter, space bar or Esc.

Rotating a view about the view Z-axis

1. Do one of the following:
2. Click the Real-Time Z tool button () on the  Real-Time Motion toolbar.
3. Choose Real-Time Motion > Real-Time Z in the View menu.
4. Type rtrotz in the command bar, then press Enter.

The command bar reads: >> Press ENTER or Esc to complete, or right click to display context menu ...

2. Press and hold the left mouse button.
   Move the mouse to rotate the view.
3. (option) Right click to display a context menu:

2. To abort the Real-Time Z command, do one of the following:
3. Right click.
4. Press Enter, space bar or Esc.

Using Preset Viewpoints

1. Do one of the following:

• Click the Set Viewpoint ... tool button () on the View toolbar.
• Choose Set Viewpoint ... in the View menu.
• Type ddvpoint in the command bar, then press Enter.

The Preset Viewpoint dialog opens.

2. Click the Angle Precision button () to choose a different display mode for the Set Viewpoint dialog.

Then choose either 45°, 15° or 5°.

In 15° or 5° mode click in the inner area of the Horizontal and Vertical fields to choose a 45° display mode viewpoint.
Click in the outer area of the Horizontal and Vertical fields to choose another angle.

3. To set the Vertical view angle, do one of the following:
4. Skip this step to accept the default vertical view directions:

• Horizontal for East, North, West and South.

• Downwards for the other directions.

If both  the down- and left-arrow show in the Vertical field, the default vertical view directions are active.

• Select a 45° mode angle in the inner area, then click to confirm your choice.
  A single arrow indicates the selected vertical view direction.
• If in 15° or 5° mode in, select a view direction in the outer area, then click to confirm your choice.
  The selected angle displays in bold.

The view is updated as you click.

4. To set the Horizontal view angle, do one of the following:
5. Select a 45° mode angle in the inner area, then click to confirm your choice.
   An arrow indicates the selected horizontal view direction.
   The perspective of the arrow reflects the vertical view direction.

• If in 15° or 5° mode in, select a view direction in the outer area, then click to confirm your choice.
  The selected angle displays in bold.

The view is updated as you click.

Restoring Plan View

1. Do one of the following:
2. Click the Plan View tool button () on the View toolbar.
3. Choose Plan View in the View menu.
4. Type plan in the command bar, then press Enter.

The command bar reads: Plan view of: UCS/World/<current UCS>:

A prompt menu opens:

2. Press Enter to restore the plan view with respect to the current coordinate system.