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Table Of Contents
4D Simulation
In this section, you will learn how to play 4D simulations, and how to customize the simulation playback and
appearance.
Play Simulations
To play a simulation
1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab Tools panel TimeLiner
.
2 On the Tasks tab select the Active check box for all tasks that you want to include in the simulation.
3 Be sure the active tasks are assigned the correct Task Types.
4 Be sure the active tasks are
attached to geometry objects, and click the Simulate tab.
5 Click t he Play
button.
The TimeLiner window displays the tasks as they are carried out, and the Scene View shows the sections of
the model added or removed over time, in accordance with the task types.
NOTE When the Simulate tab is in use, by default the current simulation date is overlaid in the Scene View. You can
customize the displayed information by using the
Overlay Text Dialog Box.
Configure Simulations
You can adjust both the simulation playback parameters, and the simulation appearance.
Simulation Playback
By default, the playback duration of the simulation is set to 20 seconds, regardless of the duration of the tasks.
You can adjust the simulation duration, and a number of other playback options to increase the effectiveness
of your simulation.
To adjust a simulation playback
1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab Tools panel TimeLiner
.
2 Click the Simulation tab, and click the Settings button.
3 When the Simulation Settings Dialog Box opens, modify the playback settings, and click OK.
Simulation Appearance
Each task has a task type associated with it, which specifies how the items attached to the task are treated (and
displayed) at the start and end of the task during simulation. The available options are:
None - the items attached to the task will not change.
Hide - the items attached to the task will be hidden.
Model Appearance - the items attached to the task will be displayed as they are defined in the model. This
may be the original CAD colors or, if you have applied color and transparency overrides in Autodesk Navisworks
or materials in Presenter, then these will be displayed.
Appearance Definitions - enables you to choose from the list of Appearance Definitions, including ten
predefined appearances and any custom appearances you have added.
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