Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 User Guide April 2011
©2011 Autodesk, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose. Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder. Trademarks The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and other countries: 3DEC (design/logo), 3December, 3December.
Contents Chapter 1 Welcome to Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 . . . . . . . . . 1 What Is New in This Release? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 How to Get Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Find Information Using InfoCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Overview of InfoCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Search for Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Access Subscription Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Locate Your Autodesk Navisworks Serial Number and Product Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Avoid Data Loss During Installation . . . . . . . . . . . Choose a Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Install Multiple or Bundled Products . . . . . . . . . . . Install and Run Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 . . . . . Install Autodesk Navisworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Launch Autodesk Navisworks . . . . . . . . . . . .
When I uninstall my software, what files are left on my system? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deployment Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Is there a checklist I can refer to when performing a deployment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Where should deployments be located? . . . . . . . . . Where can I check if service packs are available for my software? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Tooltips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Keytips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Navigation Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 The Classic User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Scene View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Dockable Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Status Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
RVM File Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SAT File Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SketchUp SKP File Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STEP File Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STL File Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VRML File Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Z+F Scan File Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Use File Exporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AutoCAD File Exporter . . . . . . . .
Orientation in a 3D Workspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240 Product-Specific Navigation Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 Navigation Bar Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 SteeringWheels Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247 Classic Navigation Modes and Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 ViewCube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 Overview of ViewCube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 ViewCube Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hidden Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Add Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Full Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scene Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Head Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Select Background Effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjust Displaying of Primitives . . . . . . . . . . Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Points . . . . . . . .
Change Object Appearance . . . . Snapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reset to Original Values . . . . . . Measure Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Measure Tools Window . . . . . . Measuring . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments, Redlines, and Tags . . . . . Use Comments, Redlines, and Tags Comments Window . . . . . Redline Tools Panel . . . . . View Redlines and Tags . . . Tags Panel . . . . . . . . . . Edit Comments and Tags . . Edit Redlines . . . . . . . . . Find Comments and Tags . . . . .
Chapter 9 Record and Play Animations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 469 Create and Edit Viewpoint Animations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 469 Play Animations and Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473 Share Animations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 Chapter 10 Work Within a Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477 Collaborate Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477 Collaboration Session . . . . . . . . . . .
The Scripter Tree View . . . . . The Events View . . . . . . . . The Actions View . . . . . . . The Properties View . . . . . . Create Object Animations . . . . . . . . . Work with Animation Scenes . . . . Work with Animation Sets . . . . . . Add Animation Sets . . . . . . Update Animation Sets . . . . Manipulate Geometry Objects . Work with Cameras . . . . . . . . . Work with Section Plane Sets . . . . Work with Keyframes . . . . . . . . Capture Keyframes . . . . . . . Edit Keyframes . . . . . . . . .
Use Presenter Rendering Effects . . . Effects Tab . . . . . . . . . . . Background Effects . . . . . . . Foreground Effects . . . . . . . Use Presenter Rendering Styles . . . Rendering Tab . . . . . . . . . Rendering Styles . . . . . . . . Predefined Rendering Styles . . Auto Exposure . . . . . . . . . Use Presenter Texture Space . . . . . Use Presenter Rules . . . . . . . . . . Rules Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . Predefined Rules . . . . . . . . Custom Rules . . . . . . . . . The Presenter Rules Example .
Build Tasks from Data Sources . . . . Synchronize Tasks with Project Changes . 4D Simulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Play Simulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Configure Simulations . . . . . . . . . . . Simulation Playback . . . . . . . . . Simulation Appearance . . . . . . . Export . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Add Animation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Add Animation to an Entire Schedule . . . Add Animation to Tasks . . . . .
Edit Key Frame Dialog Box . . . . . . . Edit Link Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . Edit Viewpoint Dialog Box . . . . . . . Export Rendered Image Dialog Box . . File Options Dialog Box . . . . . . . . Culling Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . Orientation Tab . . . . . . . . . Speed Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . Headlight Tab . . . . . . . . . . Scene Lights Tab . . . . . . . . . DataTools Tab . . . . . . . . . . Units and Transform Dialog Box . . . Image Export Dialog Box . . . . . . .
Revit Page . . . . . . . . . . . DGN Page . . . . . . . . . . . Viz/Max Page . . . . . . . . . . Publish Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . Piranesi EPix Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . QTVR Object Movie Settings Dialog Box . Section Plane Settings Dialog Box . . . . . Chapter 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 733 . 735 .
Welcome to Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 1 Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 software provides advanced tools for and powerful features to help you better communicate project information. Multidisciplinary design data created in Building Information Modeling (BIM), digital prototype, and process plant design applications can be combined into a single, integrated project model.
User Interface Easy access to commonly used review and navigation tools to increase review productivity. ■ The Viewpoint tab now includes the Navigate pane, providing access to tools such as walk, pan, zoom, and orbit; SteeringWheels tracking menus, 3Dconnexion 3D mouse, and the realism settings. ■ The gizmos have been updated, making it easier to manipulate objects and section planes. ■ Section planes have also been enhanced to provide greater visual feedback of their position and orientation.
■ Selection sets can now be created faster with the addition of the Save Selection option (Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel). Appearance Profiler The Appearance Profiler allows you to set up custom appearance profiles based on sets (search and selection) and property values, and use them to color-code objects in the model to differentiate system types and visually identify their status. Appearance profiles can be saved and used on other projects, or shared between other Autodesk Navisworks users.
TimeLiner The TimeLiner tool has been enhanced to provide you with greater control and flexibility when working with 4D simulations. A new interface and integrated, editable Gantt chart allow you to create, edit and communicate your construction schedule more effectively. The new TimeLiner API allows you to extend and tailor the 4D toolset to meet your project and business requirements.
■ The Tasks, Gantt View and Rules tab are now consolidated into a single Tasks tab. ■ A column chooser allows you to select your preferred grid layout from three default options or by choosing your own columns. ■ The interactive Gantt Chart lets you manipulate dates in the schedule by dragging and positioning tasks, start and end dates. ■ A Gantt View is now available during 4D simulations on the Simulate tab. ■ An ability to quickly add and edit tasks in a project schedule.
this enables you to select a component in the 3D model and then to find and review the same component in a 2D representation (such as a floor plan or section) providing you with the most appropriate view of the data for the task that you are undertaking. When working with the FBX visualization file format you can now achieve an accurate transfer of materials, textures and lights when importing or exporting data between Autodesk Navisworks and other FBX compatible applications.
See Revit File Exporter (page 199). Vault Integration Autodesk Navisworks now offers integration with the Autodesk Vault data management toolset. Autodesk Vault offers a comprehensive environment for managing the large volume of data that is generated on your projects. ■ Retrieve/save data. ■ Check in/check-out data. ■ Manage file versioning and the relationship between NWF files and design data. See Use the Autodesk Vault Add-In (page 665).
■ Point cloud server support. Autodesk Navisworks now supports the retrieval of data from external point cloud engines for display within your Autodesk Navisworks model. The tool is implemented as an extension to the existing NWCreate API. A simple generic example and a customized example demonstrating connection to Z+F LFM server are available within the NWCreate API resources.
Miscellaneous Enhancements ■ Enhanced support for the ■ 3D mouse through an extended interface. See 3Dconnexion 3D Mouse (page 298). ■ Communication Centre now supports live updates. ■ New avatars to be used in a variety of roles ranging from construction workers and safety professionals, to office workers. Since avatars can vary per viewpoint, you can easily show how project stakeholders will interact with a specific phase of the project in the relevant context.
How to Get Assistance There are various ways to find information about how to use this program, and multiple resources are available. Find Information Using InfoCenter You can use InfoCenter to search Autodesk Navisworks help file for information. You can also easily access product updates and announcements.
To rearrange the topics displayed on a panel 1 Display a panel by doing one of the following: ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Subscription Center button. ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Communication Center button. ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Favorites button. 2 Click and drag a category or group header to the desired position. TIP To keep the Subscription Center, Communication Center, and the Favorites panel expanded, click the push pin icon in the bottom-right corner of the panel.
Symbol Description ? Replaces a single character. For example, “cop?” will find “copy”, but not “copybase”. ~ Adds grammatical form variations to a keyword when added at the beginning or end of a word. For example, “plotting~” will find “plots”, “plotted”, and so on. Also, “~plot” will find “preplot”, “replot”, and so on. When performing the exact phrase search, use double quotation marks (" ") to enclose words that must appear next to each other in the specified text string.
technical experts, and self paced e-Learning. Subscription services are available to subscription members only. By clicking the Communication Center button in the InfoCenter box, members have access to the following options (under Subscription Center): ■ Subscription status. Checks your subscription status. ■ Create support request. Provides direct one-to-one communication with Autodesk support technicians.
NOTE Subscription Center is not available to all product users. If subscription resources are not available in your product, your product is not entitled to subscription benefits. Manage Files with Autodesk Vault If you are a subscription customer, you have access to Autodesk Vault, a file management tool that provides a repository where documents and files are stored and managed. Autodesk Vault gives you more power to manage files and track changes.
Communication Center provides the following types of announcements: ■ Autodesk Channels: Receive support information, product updates, and other announcements (including articles and tips). ■ RSS Feeds. Receive information from RSS feeds to which you subscribe. RSS feeds generally notify you when new content is posted. You are automatically subscribed to several default RSS feeds when you install the program. ■ Product Support Information.
■ Your unique Customer Involvement Program (CIP) ID if you are participating in the CIP program Autodesk compiles statistics using the information sent from Communication Center to monitor how it is being used and how it can be improved. Autodesk maintains information provided by or collected from you in accordance with the company's published privacy policy, which is available at http://www.autodesk.com/privacy.
■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Communication Center button. 2 Click the star icon that is displayed next to the link that you want to save as a favorite. To remove a favorite link from the InfoCenter Favorites panel 1 In the InfoCenter box, click the Favorites button to display the Favorites panel. 2 Click the star icon that is displayed next to the link that you want to remove from the Favorites panel. Use the Help System You can click the Help button to display topics in Help.
structure of the Help on that topic. You can easily display nearby topics by clicking them in the list. ■ Procedure tab. Provides step-by-step instructions for common procedures related to the current topic. After displaying a procedure, you can click the Procedure tab to redisplay the current list of procedures. ■ Quick Reference tab. Lists reference information related to the current topic. When you click a different tab, the topic remains the same.
Symbol Description ? Replaces a single character. For example, “cop?” will find “copy”, but not “copybase”. ~ Expands the tense of the word at the beginning or end of a word. For example, “plotting~” will find “plots”, “plotted”, and so on. Also, “~plot” will find “preplot”, “replot”, and so on. Search for Phrases When searching for a phrase, use double quotation marks (“ ”) to enclose words that must appear next to each other in the specified sequence.
Search for Example Results The first term without the second term nwd NOT nwc Topics containing the word “NWD”, but not the word “NWC” Both terms in the same topic, close together user NEAR menu Topics containing the word “user” within eight words of the word “menu” NOTE The |, &, and ! characters do not work as Boolean operators. You must use AND (also +), OR, and NOT (also -).
■ Accepts the wild cards *, ?, and ~. ■ Allows you to perform a search for a phrase when the phrase is enclosed in double quotes. ■ Displays a ranked list of topics that contain the word or words entered in the keyword field. ■ Arranges the results alphabetically by title or by location if you click on the Title and Location column headings. To find a specific word or phrase in the currently displayed Help topic 1 Click in the topic text and press CTRL+F.
3 In the Print Topics dialog box, click Print the Selected Heading and All Subtopics. 4 Click OK. Show and Hide the Contents Pane You can control the size of the Help window. Use the Hide button on the Help toolbar to shrink the Help window to a compact size by hiding the pane that contains the Contents, Index, and Search tabs. The compact window size is best for displaying procedures while you work.
To specify the channels to display in the Communication Center panel 1 Display a panel by doing one of the following: ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Subscription Center button. ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Communication Center button. ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Favorites button. 2 Click the InfoCenter Settings button. 3 In the InfoCenter Settings dialog box, in the left pane, click Autodesk Channels.
4 In the right pane, do one of the following: ■ Click Add. ■ Right-click anywhere in the right pane. Click Add. 5 In the Add RSS Feed dialog box, enter the location of the RSS feed you want to add. Click Add. 6 In the InfoCenter - RSS Feed Confirmation dialog box, click Close. 7 Click OK. To remove an RSS feed from Communication Center 1 Display a panel by doing one of the following: ■ In the InfoCenter box, click the Subscription Center button.
Other resources help you get information about Autodesk products and assistance with your questions about this program. ■ Autodesk website. Access http://www.autodesk.com. ■ Local support. Check with your dealer or Autodesk country/region office. Learn the Product Training programs and products from Autodesk help you learn the key technical features and improve your productivity. For the latest information about Autodesk training, visit http://www.autodesk.
that identifies gaps in skills, determines what lessons will be most helpful, and gauges learning progress. If you are a member of Autodesk subscription, you can access e-Learning and other subscription services from within your Autodesk product. For more information about how to access e-Learning in the product, see Access Subscription Center (page 12). For more information about Autodesk subscription resources, visit http://www.autodesk.com/subscriptioncenter.
Join the Customer Involvement Program You are invited to help guide the direction of Autodesk design software. If you participate in the Customer Involvement Program (CIP), specific information about how you use Autodesk Navisworks is forwarded to Autodesk. This information includes what features you use the most, problems that you encounter, and other information helpful to the future direction of the product. See the following links for more information.
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Installation 2 Quick Start to Stand-Alone Installation This section provides step-by-step instructions about how to prepare, and then install Autodesk Navisworks. Stand-alone installation is recommended for individual users or small groups. The key point is that you will repeat the installation process on each computer. For a stand-alone license this is the only valid installation type, but it can also be used with a multi-seat stand-alone or network license.
System Requirements for Stand-Alone Installation The first task you need to complete is to make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements. If your system does not meet these requirements, problems can occur, both within Autodesk Navisworks and at the operating system level. Whether your Windows operating system is the 32-bit or the 64-bit version, the version is automatically detected during installation. See the following table for hardware and software requirements.
Hardware and software requirements for client machine Graphics Card Direct3D 9® and OpenGL® capable graphics card with Shader Model 2 (minimum) Hard disk 11 GB free disk space for installation Pointing device Microsoft® Mouse-compliant pointing device DVD-ROM Any speed (for installation only) Optional hardware Printer or plotter Modem or access to an Internet connection Network interface card Install Microsoft .Net Framework 4.0 Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 requires Microsoft .Net 4.
NOTE If the Installation wizard prompts you to install the Microsoft .NET 4.0 Framework, the .NET 4.0 Framework installer may prompt you to first install the Windows Imaging Component (WIC). This can occur if you do not have the latest Microsoft Windows updates or service packs. You are most likely to need WIC if you are running Windows XP SP2 without certain Windows Updates installed. If required, the Microsoft WIC installers are available at the following locations: ■ 32-bit installer: http://www.
entering the information. To review this product information later, in the InfoCenter box, click the down arrow next to the Help button ➤ About Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012. NOTE If you have lost your serial number or product key, contact your local Autodesk office for assistance. Avoid Data Loss During Installation The Autodesk Navisworks installation process may stop if some applications (such as Microsoft® Outlook® or virus-checking programs) are running.
It is possible to install additional language packs to Autodesk Navisworks products later. You can manually install the required language packs by double-clicking on the language pack MSI file. Language packs are located on the installation DVD and unpacked downloaded media under the x86 folder for 32-bit products and under the x64 folder for 64-bit products. ■ Language packs for specific products are included in the NAVFREE, NAVSIM, NAVMAN, and NWEXPORT subfolders of x86 and x64 folders.
API Contains the Component Object Model interface for customizing and extending the Autodesk Navisworks functionality. Example NWD files Contains various feature sample files. Batch Utility Contains an add-in to run and schedule commands. Program Contains full set of Autodesk Navisworks files. Sample RPCs Contains several Rich Photorealistic Content files. NOTE For Autodesk Navisworks exporter plugins, you can change which plugins are installed.
Install Multiple or Bundled Products Some Autodesk packages are comprised of multiple products or are part of multi-product bundles. The Installation wizard for packages that are comprised of multiple products gives you the option to choose which products you want to install. In the Installation wizard, for packages containing multiple products, you can choose which products and languages you want to install. During the install process, you are informed whether a copy of the software is already installed.
Install Autodesk Navisworks The Autodesk NavisworksInstallation wizard contains all installation-related material in one place. From the Installation wizard, you can access user documentation, change the installer language, select a language-specific product, install supplemental tools, view support solutions, and learn about deploying your product on a network. NOTE The 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 are on separate DVDs.
2 On the Installation wizard, if required, select an alternate language for the Installation wizard from the Installation Instructions drop-down, and then click Install. 3 Review the Autodesk software license agreement for your country or region. You must accept this agreement to proceed with the installation. Choose your country or region, click I Accept, and then click Next. NOTE If you do not agree to the terms of the license and want to terminate the installation, click Cancel.
2 On the Installation wizard, if required, select an alternate language for the Installation wizard from the Installation Instructions drop-down, and then click Install. 3 Review the Autodesk software license agreement for your country or region. You must accept this agreement to proceed with the installation. Choose your country or region, click I Accept, and then click Next. NOTE If you do not agree to the terms of the license and want to terminate the installation, click Cancel.
location where you installed it. If you are a limited-rights user, you must run Autodesk Navisworks from the Start button or from the desktop shortcut icon. If you want to create a custom shortcut, make sure that the Start In directory for the shortcut points to a directory where you have write permissions. NOTE When the product is started, by default, it uses the language that best matches the settings on your computer. You can also launch Autodesk Navisworks in another of the supported languages.
Add or Remove Features You can add or remove Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 features at any time. For example, you may have chosen a Custom installation option when you first installed Autodesk Navisworks, but now you want to add features that you did not install originally. Or you may no longer need to use all of the features that were installed originally. You can add or remove features by using the Control Panel.
Repair Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 If you accidentally delete or alter files that are required by Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012, Autodesk Navisworks might not perform correctly, and you might receive error messages when you try to execute a command or find a file. You can attempt to fix this problem by repairing Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012. Repairing uses the features that were part of the installation type you chose when you initially installed the program.
components, or if you've reinstalled or repaired Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012, the uninstall removes all Autodesk Navisworks installation files from your system. IMPORTANT Do not use registry cleaning programs or attempt to modify the registry entries yourself to uninstall Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012. Failure to follow the official uninstall procedure will result in the inability to re-install the software .
Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012. See your license agreement for more information. Install Autodesk Navisworks for Multiple Users This section provides step-by-step instructions for installing network-licensed or multi-seat stand-alone versions of the Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012. Quick Start to Network Administration and Deployment Network deployment of this program requires careful planning and execution.
Whether the Windows operating system is the 32-bit or the 64-bit version is automatically detected when installing Autodesk Navisworks. You can choose which versions of Autodesk Navisworks will be installed. See the following tables for administrative image, license server, and client workstation system requirements.
Hardware and software requirements for client machine 1280 x 1024 32-bit color video display adapter with true color (recommended) Graphics Card Direct3D 9® and OpenGL® capable graphics card with Shader Model 2 (minimum) Hard disk 11 GB free disk space for installation Pointing device Microsoft® Mouse-compliant pointing device DVD-ROM Any speed (for installation only) Optional hardware Printer or plotter Modem or access to an Internet connection Network interface card Hardware and software require
Hardware and software requirements for the network license server (Windows) Hardware/Software Requirement ■ Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit) Microsoft® Windows XP SP2 or later (32-bit or 64-bit) ■ Windows XP Professional ■ Windows XP Home Windows Server SP1 or later (32-bit or 64-bit) ■ Windows 2008 Server R2 ■ Windows 2008 Server ■ Windows 2003 Server R2 ■ Windows 2003 Server Computer/processor Intel® Pentium® III or higher 450 Mhz (minimum) Network interface card Compatible with exist
Determine the Installation Type When you set up your deployment, you specify the installation type by target platform and license type. Target Platform Specify either a 32-bit or 64-bit platform, depending on the operating system of the computers that will use the deployment. For some Autodesk products, you can install a 32-bit version on a 64-bit operating system. License Type Specify one of the following license types, based on the type of license you purchased: ■ Network License installation.
and product key are used for a single seat. Like a multi-seat stand-alone installation, you do not use the Network License Manager to manage product licensing, but installation, registration, and activation occurs on each workstation. If you choose one of the stand-alone installation types, you can proceed to the section Distribute the Program (page 52).
Set Up Network Tools and Your License Server If you are planning to have users run the program using network licenses, you need to use the Network License Manager. The Network License Manager helps you configure and manage license servers. Install the Network License Manager The Network License Manager is used to configure and manage the license servers. To install your Network License Manager 1 In the Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012Installation wizard, click Install Tools and Utilities.
Configure Your License Server You configure a license server so that you can manage the Autodesk Navisworks product licenses. You can configure the license server with the lmtools.exe utility. You should be logged in with Administrator rights when working with the LMTOOLS utility. To configure your license server 1 Do one of the following: ■ (Windows XP) Click Start ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤ Network License Manager ➤ LMTOOLS. ■ (Windows Vista and Windows 7) Double-click the LMTOOLS icon on the desktop.
It is recommended that you save to the \Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager folder. The log file must have a .log file extension. For new log files, you must enter the .log extension manually. 8 To run lmgrd.exe as a service, select Use Services. 9 To automatically start lmgrd.exe when the system starts, select Start Server at Power Up. 10 Click Save Service to save the new configuration under the service name you selected in step 4.
name of product you plan to deploy. This is also beneficial if you plan to deploy multiple products. Any subfolders that are placed inside a shared folder are automatically shared. TIP You must have Full Control permissions set for your shared folder when you are creating your deployment images. Read permissions are necessary to access the network share and administrative permissions on the workstation where the program is deployed.
are creating a deployment. Close all running applications and temporarily disable virus checking utilities. Distribute an Autodesk Navisworks Product You can choose from several methods of distributing an Autodesk program. Network sharing is the default method. ■ Network Share. Users launch the program with the shortcut icon that you created with the Deployment wizard. The program is installed on users' local computers, and a product icon appears on their desktop.
Preliminary Tasks for a Network Deployment This checklist identifies preliminary tasks to complete, information to gather, and decisions to make before creating a network deployment. TIP To review deployment settings, including details of product configuration, you can create a test deployment. After the learning process, you can delete the test deployment. Deployment Checklist Review the system requirements by clicking the System Requirements link in the installer.
Deployment Checklist You have decided what languages you will include in your administrative image, and what languages you will use for your deployment package. NOTE Languages can be included when you initially create a deployment, or when you create a new deployment configuration, but not when you modify a deployment. Determine whether to create log files on individual computers, in the deployment folder, or both. Determine whether to run installations in silent mode.
NOTE Language packs can only be included in an administrative image during the creation of the deployment and not during modification. When you start the deployment process, the installer automatically determines your operating system language. If a supported language is detected, your deployment pages are displayed in that language. If you want to change that language, you can choose a different one from the installer language list on the opening page of the Installation wizard.
What Is Silent Mode? When silent mode is active and a user initiates the deployment, the installation proceeds without any explicit user input. No dialog boxes are presented that require interaction from the user. This includes all error and warning dialog boxes. Check the log file for errors that may occur in the event of installation problems. Enable silent mode by clicking the Run installations in silent mode check box in the Configure page.
a valid UNC (universal naming convention) path or hard-coded path on your network, for example \\MyComputer\Autodesk\. Users should use their actual computer name in place of MyComputer. NOTE The folder where the network log resides must be a shared folder where users who install the program have Change permissions. Otherwise, successes or failures for user installations cannot be written to the log file. ■ Client log.
to communicate with the Network License Manager. You also define the configuration of the Network License Manager so that the licenses can be accessed. Workstations running the program based on a network installation do not require individual activation. Licensing of this program is managed by at least one license server.
For more information about license server models and setting up your license server, see Choose a License Server Model (page 49) or Configure Your License Server (page 51). To deploy a network license using a distributed license server model 1 While creating a deployment, on the Product Information page, select the Network option. 2 Select Distributed License Server as the license server model you want to use with the Network License Manager.
NOTE If you are not sure how to obtain the server host name, see Plan Your License Server Configuration in the Autodesk Licensing Guide by clicking the Installation Help link at the lower left corner of the Deployment wizard. For more information about license server models and setting up your license server, see Choose a License Server Model (page 49) or Configure Your License Server (page 51).
To deploy a typical installation, and specify a product location 1 During the deployment, Typical is the default installation type. You can confirm this on the Configure Deployment page, by clicking a product name to open the configuration panel where you can view the installation type. 2 Enter the path on the client workstation where you want to install the program, for example C:\Program Files\. 3 Click the product name again to close the configuration panel.
NOTE For Autodesk Navisworks exporter plugins, currently you cannot change which plugins are installed. By default, the exporter plugins for all third-party products installed on a client computer will be automatically enabled. If, after making feature changes, you decide you want the original selections, click the Restore Defaults. 4 Click the product name to close the configuration panel. 5 Enter the path on the client workstation where you want to install the program, for example C:\Program Files\
Create a Deployment A deployment contains a Microsoft Transform (MST) file that modifies the default behavior of the installation program. As you begin a deployment, you need to select the location of your administrative image, a deployment name, and if your target systems are 32or 64-bit operating systems. Create a Deployment Using Default Values This is the fastest means of creating client deployment images.
d Choose whether to Include Only the Products Required by this Configuration. ■ If selected, the deployment cannot be modified in future to include additional products. ■ If unselected, the administrative image will include all possible products, so the current deployment can be modified in any way.
8 On the Configure Deployment page, select the products to include in the deployment, and if required add language pack(s) from the Product Language drop-down (see Choose a Language (page 33)). 9 Click Create. After the deployment is created, the Deployment Configuration Complete page opens, presenting useful paths to the new deployment and a link for registering products online. 10 After you have finished using this screen, click Finish.
c Under Target Platform: select either 32-bit or 64-bit for your target operating system. This selection does not identify the system your deployment was created on; it identifies your target system. d Choose whether to Include Only the Products Required by this Configuration. ■ If selected, the deployment cannot be modified in future to include additional products. ■ If unselected, the administrative image will include all possible products, so the current deployment can be modified in any way.
7 On the Product Information page, select a License Type (page 59) and enter your Serial Number and Product Key. If the data is valid, green check marks appear. Click Next. 8 On the Configure Deployment page, select the products to deploy, and if required add a language pack(s) from the Product Language drop-down (see Choose a Language (page 33)). 9 If you need to configure settings for a product, click the product name to open the configuration panel, where you can review and change settings.
Point Users to the Administrative Image When you have completed the deployment process, you are ready to have users install the newly created or modified deployment. You need to notify your users of the shortcut that was created in the administrative image. The shortcut is the same name that you chose when you created a deployment (page 65).
3 Click Uninstall. 4 On the UninstallAutodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 page, click Next to remove Autodesk Navisworks from the system. 5 When informed that the product has been successfully uninstalled, click Finish. NOTE Even though Autodesk Navisworks is removed from your system, the software license remains. If you reinstall Autodesk Navisworks at some future time, you will not have to register and re-activate the program.
To check the Web for an updated graphics card driver ■ Use Windows Update. If a more recent graphics card driver is available, select it to have Windows Update download and install it. ■ Search the graphics card manufacturer’s website for the type of installed graphics card. If a more recent graphics card driver is available, install it following the instructions provided by the manufacturer. To install an updated graphics card driver 1 Check the Web for to see if an updated driver is available.
API Contains the Component Object Model interface for customizing and extending the Autodesk Navisworks functionality. Example NWD files Contains various feature sample files. Batch Utility Contains an add-in to run and schedule commands. Program Contains full set of Autodesk Navisworks files. Sample RPCs Contains several Rich Photorealistic Content files.
TIP When you configure global options, you can lock some of the options to prevent users from editing them later on local machines. To create a locked global options file, run the stand-alone Options Editor from the command line by typing “drive:pathname\OptionsEditor.exe” -l. The Options Editor opens with the locking facility. To share settings on a site and project basis 1 Create appropriate Site and Project directories and subfolders in a central location to be accessed by other Navisworks users.
How do I change which exporter plugins are installed? For Autodesk Navisworks exporter plugins, you can change which plugins are installed by clicking on an exporter plugin to open the configuration panel on the Configure Deployment page of the Installation wizard. Indicates the third-party software already installed on your computer. Indicates plugins for the third-party software, that are either not installed or have not been detected by the Installation wizard.
do not activate one of the products before the trial period ends, access to all of the products is denied. After the trial period ends, you can restore access to the products by entering an activation code. To register and activate Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 1 Click Start ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤ Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 ➤ Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012. 2 In the Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012Product Activation wizard, select Activate the Product, and then click Next.
When I uninstall my software, what files are left on my system? If you uninstall the product, some files remain on your computer such as files you created or edited (for example, drawings or custom menus). Your license file also stays on your computer when you uninstall your product. If you reinstall on the same computer, the license information remains valid; you do not have to reactivate the product.
Any subfolders that are placed inside a shared folder are automatically shared. NOTE You must have Full Control permissions set for your shared folder when you are creating your deployment images. Read permissions are necessary to access the network share and administrative permissions on the workstation where the program is deployed.
■ Subscription Center announcements and subscription program news, as well as links to e-Learning Lessons, if you are an Autodesk subscription member. ■ Notifications of new articles and tips posted on Autodesk websites. What are additional deployment configuration options? The following options are available in the configuration panel in the Configure Deployment page of the Installation wizard.
Access to Online Resources ■ Specify the Ability to Access Online Tools (does not apply to Autodesk Navisworks) ■ Specify the Customer Error (CER) Settings ■ Specify the InfoCenter Search Settings (does not apply to Autodesk Navisworks) Licensing Issues This section outlines common issues and their solutions with regards to software licenses and licensing your products.
What is the benefit to using a network licensed version of the software? Network licensed products are recommended for large drafting/design facilities, classrooms, and lab environments. The main advantage is that you can install products on more systems than the number of licenses you have purchased (for example, purchasing 25 licenses but installing on 40 workstations). At any one time, products will run on the maximum number of systems for which you have licenses.
Manager. At the prompt, enter ipconfig /all and note the Host Name entry. If I choose to create a log file, what kind of information does the log file contain? There are two types of log files that can be generated that monitor information about deployments and installations. ■ The Network log file keeps a record of all workstations that run the deployment. The log lists the user name, workstation name, and the status of the installation.
How should I configure a network license server for a firewall If you have a firewall between the license server(s) and the client computers, you need to open some TCP/IP ports on the server for license-related communication. Open port 2080 for adskflex, and open ports 27000 through 27009 for lmgrd. Uninstall and Maintenance Issues This section outlines common issues and their solutions with regards to adding and removing features, reinstalling or repairing your installation, and uninstalling products.
When should I reinstall the product instead of a repair? You should reinstall your product if you accidentally delete or alter files that are required by the program. Missing or altered files adversely affect the performance of your product and cause error messages when you try to execute a command or find a file. If an attempt to repair an installation fails, reinstalling is the next best option. Installation data is cached locally on your drive and that data is reused when reinstalling.
Quick Start 3 Start and Quit Autodesk Navisworks Once you’ve installed (page 29)Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012, you can start it from the Windows desktop or from the command line. To start Autodesk Navisworks, do one of the following from the Windows desktop: ■ Double-click the Autodesk Navisworks icon, or ■ Click Start ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤ Navisworks Simulate 2012 ➤ Simulate 2012. Autodesk Navisworks starts in the language that best matches the settings on your computer.
Automatically Save and Recover Autodesk Navisworks Files Power cuts, system and software failures can cause Autodesk Navisworks to close before you can save changes to your file. Autodesk Navisworks can automatically save backup versions of a file you are working on, enabling you to recover your work if Autodesk Navisworks closes abnormally. Auto-saved files have an .nwf extension, and named as .
3 Adjust the Auto-Save options, as required. For example, if you want Autodesk Navisworks to save a backup file every 20 minutes from a significant file change, enter 20 into the Time Between Saves (minutes) box. 4 Click OK. To recover your work 1 Start Autodesk Navisworks. You are automatically prompted to reload the last file you were working on. 2 Click Yes to open the most recent saved version of the file.
To manually load a backup file into Autodesk Navisworks 1 Start Autodesk Navisworks. If you are prompted to reload the last file you were working on, click No. 2 Click the application button ➤ Open ➤ Open . 3 In the Open dialog box, browse to the folder that contains the backup files. By default, it’s \ Application Data\\AutoSave. 4 Click Open. 5 When you are prompted to save a file with a different name, click Save As.
Run dialog box. You can include several switches within a single command line. Valid switches are listed in the following table. Command Line Switch Argument Description -dump [file_name.dmp] Outputs an error report to the specified file. You must provide the file name and file path within quotation marks. -lang en-US = English Launches Autodesk Navisworks in the specified language.
Command Line Switch Argument -memcheck Description Runs Autodesk Navisworks with additional checks for memory errors. -nwc [inputfile] Autodesk Navisworks converts an input file into the NWC format in the background. You must provide the full file path within quotation marks. For example, “C:\temp\a.dwg" -nwd [outputfile.nwd] [input file] Autodesk Navisworks converts an input file into the NWD format in the background, and places it into the specified directory.
For example, the following entry starts the program from a folder named Autodesk Navisworks in Russian language, loads the global options file options.xml, and creates a log file log.txt. "C:\Autodesk Navisworks\roamer.exe" -options "C:\temp\options.xml" -lang ru-ru -log "C:\temp\file.log" To start the program with a command line switch 1 Right-click the program icon on the Windows desktop. Click Properties.
You can apply a different theme to the standard interface. You can also switch back to the classic Autodesk Navisworks interface with old-style menu and toolbars. 1. Application button and menu 5. Scene View 2. Quick Access toolbar 6. Navigation bar 3. InfoCenter 7. Dockable windows 4. Ribbon 8. Status bar See also: Overview of InfoCenter (page 10) To change theme of the standard user interface 1 Click the application button ➤ Options.
Application Button and Menu The application menu enables you to access common tools. It provides access to many common file actions, and also allows you to manage your files using more advanced tools, such as Import, Export, and Publish. Some application menu choices have additional menus that show related commands. To open the application menu, click the application button it again closes the application menu. Option . Clicking Description (New) Closes the currently open file, and creates a new file.
Option Description Imports data into the current project. (Import) Saves the current file. (Save) (Save As) Saves your project as one of the native Autodesk Navisworks formats (NWF or NWD). Exports data from the current project. (Export) Publishes the current project. (Publish) (Print) Prints the scene and sets print-related settings. (Send by Email) Creates a new email with the current file as an attachment.
Recent Documents List You can view, sort, and access supported files that you have recently opened. The most recent files are shown in the Recent Documents list. The list is ordered with the most recently used file at the top. By default, up to four files are shown. If you want to modify the size of this list, use the Options Editor. You can pin the files by using the push pin button to the right. Pinning enables you to keep a file in the list until you turn off the push pin button.
4 Click OK. To keep a document in the Recent Documents list ■ Click the push pin button to the right of the document. To view the Recent Documents list by access date ■ In the top-left corner of the Recent Documents list, in the By Ordered List drop-down list, select By Access Date. To view the Recent Documents list by size ■ In the top-left corner of the Recent Documents list, in the By Ordered List drop-down list, select By Size.
You can add unlimited number of buttons to the Quick Access toolbar. Buttons are added to the right of the default commands. You can add separators between the buttons. Commands that extend past the maximum length of the toolbar are displayed in a flyout button . NOTE Only ribbon commands can be added to the Quick Access toolbar. You can move the Quick Access toolbar either above or below the ribbon.
Shortcut menu: Right-click any button on the Quick Access toolbar. Click Show Quick Access Toolbar above the Ribbon. By default, it contains the following tools: Option Description (New) Closes the currently open file, and creates a new file. (Open) Opens files. (Save) Saves the current file. (Print) Prints the current viewpoint. (Refresh) Refreshes the files in the project. (Undo) Cancels the most recent action. (Redo) Reinstates the most recent action.
The ribbon is divided into tabs, with each tab is supporting a specific activity. Within each tab, tools are grouped together into a task-based series of panels. To specify which ribbon tabs and panels are displayed, right-click the ribbon and, on the shortcut menu, click or clear the names of tabs or panels. You can customize the ribbon depending on your needs in the following ways: ■ Change the order of ribbon tabs. Click the tab you want to move, drag it to the desired position, and release.
Slideout Panels A down arrow to the right of a panel title indicates that you can slide out the panel to display additional tools and controls. By default, an expanded panel closes automatically when you click another panel. To keep a panel expanded, click the push pin panel. icon in the bottom-left corner of the slideout Floating Panels If you pull a panel off of a ribbon tab and into a different area in the application window or the desktop, that panel floats where you placed it.
To display the ribbon If you use the Classic user interface, you can switch back to the ribbon. 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the User Interface option. 3 On the User Interface page, select Standard (Recommended) from the User Interface drop-down list. 4 Click OK. To hide or show a ribbon tab 1 Right-click anywhere inside the ribbon. 2 Under Show Tabs, click or clear the name of a tab.
2 Double-click the name of the active ribbon tab or anywhere in the ribbon tab bar. The ribbon toggles between the selected minimize ribbon state and the full ribbon state. To reset the ribbon and the Quick Access toolbar 1 Right-click anywhere inside the ribbon. 2 Click Restore Default Ribbon. Home Tab Panel Contains tools to... Project control the whole scene including appending files and refreshing CAD files, resetting changes made in Autodesk Navisworks, and setting file options.
Viewpoint Tab Panel Contains tools to... Save, Load & Playback save, record, load and playback saved viewpoints and viewpoint animations. Camera apply various settings to the camera. Navigate set the linear and angular speed of motion, select navigational tools and 3D mouse settings, and apply realism settings such as gravity and collisions. Render Style control the lighting and rendering settings. Sectioning enable cross- sectioning of the viewpoint in a 3D workspace.
Animation Tab Panel Contains tools to... Create create object animations using the Animator tool or record viewpoint animations. Playback select and play back animations. Script enable scripts, or create new ones in the Scripter tool. View Tab Panel Contains tools to... Stereo enable stereoscopic vision provided suitable hardware is available.
Output Tab Panel Contains tools to... Print print and preview the current viewpoint, and set print settings. Send send an email with the current file as an attachment. Publish publish the current scene as an NWD file. Export Scene publish the current scene as a 3D DWF/DWFx, FBX, or Google Earth file. Visuals output images and animations. Export Data export data from Autodesk Navisworks, including Clash, TimeLiner, search and viewpoint data and PDS tags. Item Tools Tab Panel Contains tools to.
Panel Contains tools to... Appearance change the color and transparency of the selected items. Links manage the links attached to the selected items. Sectioning Tools Tab NOTE Only available in a 3D workspace. Panel Contains tools to... Enable enable/disable sectioning of the current viewpoint. Mode switch the sectioning mode between planes and box modes. Planes Settings control section planes. Transform move, rotate, and scale the section planes/box. Save save the current viewpoint.
Tooltips Placing the mouse pointer over a menu choice or a button shows a tooltip containing the name of the tool, a keyboard shortcut (if applicable), and a brief description of the tool. Some tooltips on the application menu, Quick Access toolbar, and ribbon are progressive. If you leave the cursor over the menu choice or a button for another moment, the tooltip may expand to show additional information.
To hide the keytips, press ALT again. See also: Default Keyboard Shortcuts (page 142) Navigation Tools The navigation bar provides access to tools related to interactive navigation and orientation in the model including Autodesk® ViewCube®, SteeringWheels®, and 3Dconnexion® 3D mouse. You can customize the navigation bar based on what you consider important to show. You can also change the docking position of the navigation bar in the Scene View.
3 On the User Interface page, select Classic from the User Interface drop-down list. 4 Click OK. Menu Bar The Menu bar contains all commands available in Autodesk Navisworks, grouped together by similar or 'like' functionality. For example, all commands related to review functionality are located under the Review menu, all commands related to user assistance are located under the Help menu and so on. When a menu has a right-pointing arrow, such as is a submenu associated with that choice.
Option Description Save Saves the currently open Autodesk Navisworks file. Save As Displays the Save As dialog box. Publish Displays the Publish dialog box. Print Displays the Print dialog box. Print Preview Enables print preview mode. Print Settings Displays the Print Setup dialog box. Delete Deletes the selected files. You can only delete appended files.
Edit Menu This menu contains commands for locating, selecting and editing geometry in your model. Option Description Undo Reverses the last performed operation. Redo Reverses the last operation performed by the Undo command. Select Gives you access to selection functionality. Quick Find Displays the Quick Find dialog box. Quick Find Next Repeats the previously run quick find search. Find Items Toggles the Find Items control bar. Find Comments Toggles the Find Comments dialog box.
Option Description Sort Enables you to sort the items in the Selection Tree alphabetically. File Units an Transform Displays the File Units and Transform dialog box. View Menu This menu contains commands that control the Autodesk Navisworks interface. Option Description Control Bars Enables you to toggle the display of control bars. Workspaces Enables you to control workspaces. Scene View Enable you to control the views in the Scene View.
Viewpoint Menu This menu contains a set of commands that affect the current viewpoint, including model appearance, navigation and sectioning. Option Description Saved Viewpoints Enables you to use saved viewpoints. Look From Enables you to look from a preset viewpoint. Set Viewpoint Up Sets the viewpoint up vector to align with the selected orientation. Rendering Enables you to select rendering mode. Lighting Enables you to select lighting mode. Display Enables you to display primitives.
Option Description Redline Enables you to add and manage annotations. Measure Enables you to use the measure tools. Links Enables you to add and manage links. Tags Enables you to locate review tags. SwitchBack Sends the current view of the currently loaded file back to AutoCAD or MicroStation-based program. Renumber Comment IDs Renumbers all comment IDs, making them unique to the scene. Renumber Tag IDs Renumbers all tag IDs, making them unique to the scene.
Option Description Batch Utility Toggles the Batch Utility window. Compare Displays the Compare dialog box. Redline Toggles the Redline Tools tool window. Links Toggles the display of links. Quick Properties Toggles the display of quick properties. Measure Toggles the Measure Tools tool window. Animation Enables you to control animation playback, and record viewpoint animations. Background Enables you to select a background color for the Scene View.
■ To open or close toolbars, right-click an empty area next to the last toolbar on the screen, and choose from the list of available toolbars on the shortcut menu. In addition to rearranging the existing Autodesk Navisworks toolbars, you can customize their appearance and content, and create your own toolbars. NOTE To quickly personalize a toolbar, click the Toolbar Options button on the right, and click Add or Remove Buttons on the shortcut menu.
NOTE The actual toolbar content can differ from this reference depending on the workspace you use. Standard Toolbar This toolbar provides quick access to file management commands. It also enables you to undo/redo your actions, and open the Help system. Button Description Resets the program, and closes the currently open Autodesk Navisworks file. Refreshes your scene with the latest versions of currently loaded model files. Displays the Open dialog box. Displays the Append dialog box.
Button Description Reverses the last operation performed by the Undo command. Displays the Print dialog box. Displays copyright and license information about your copy of Autodesk Navisworks. Opens the Help system. Selection Tools Toolbar This toolbar provides access to the selection commands, plus enables you to hide geometry objects. Button Description Turns on Select mode. Turns on Select Box mode. Toggles required mode for selected items. Toggles hidden mode for selected items.
This toolbar includes nine modes and six SteeringWheels for interactive navigation around your 3D models. Button Description Selects the wheel. Turns on Walk mode. Turns on Look Around mode. Turns on Zoom mode. Turns on Zoom Box mode. Turns on Pan mode. Turns on Orbit mode. Turns on Free Orbit mode. Turns on Fly mode. Turns on Constrained Orbit mode. Rendering Style Toolbar This toolbar controls the model appearance in Autodesk Navisworks. Button Description Selects Lighting mode.
Button Description Selects Rendering mode. Toggles the rendering of surfaces. Toggles the rendering of lines. Toggles the rendering of points. Toggles the rendering of snap points. Toggles the rendering of 3D text. Workspace Toolbar This toolbar gives you quick access to the Autodesk Navisworks review and analysis tools. Button Description Toggles the Redline Tools tool window. Toggles the display of links. Toggles the display of quick properties. Toggles the Measure Tools tool window.
Button Description Toggles the Sectioning toolbar. Toggles the Plan View control bar. Toggles the Section View control bar. Toggles the Selection Tree control bar. Toggles the Sets control bar. Toggles the Comments control bar. Toggles the Find Comments dialog box. Toggles the Find Items control bar. Toggles the Properties control bar. Toggles the Clash Detective tool window. Toggles the Presenter tool window. Toggles the TimeLiner tool window. Toggles the TimeLiner Playback window.
Button Description Controls workspaces. Model Views Toolbar This toolbar controls the views in the Scene View. Button Description Splits your active scene view vertically. Splits your active scene view horizontally. Adds title bars to all custom scene views. Sectioning Toolbar This toolbar enables you to create a limited volume of your model. Button Description Toggles sectioning on/off. Enables you to link two opposing section planes together. Displays the Set Sectioning Box Size dialog box.
Button Description Restricts the section distance to the bounding box limits of the objects selected in the Scene View Displays the Sectioning Plane dialog box. Enables/disables the current section plane. Enables you to choose the alignment method. Displays the Section Plane Settings dialog box. Animation Toolbar This toolbar allows you to record viewpoint animations, play back object and viewpoint animations, and toggle the scripting functionality.
Button Description Stops playing the current animation, and rewinds it back to the beginning. Plays the currently selected animation. Steps one frame or keyframe forwards. Fast forwards the current animation to the end. Toggles the Scripter engine on and off in the Autodesk Navisworks file. Collaborate Bar Toolbar This toolbar enables you to participate in design review sessions across a Local Area Network (LAN). Button Description Starts Windows™ NetMeeting.
This toolbar enables you to edit geometry in your model. Button Description Toggles the display of the translation gizmo. Toggles the display of the rotation gizmo. Toggles the display of the scale gizmo. Enables you to apply color override. Enables/disables snapping. Navigation Tools Toolbar This toolbar enables you to control the camera during interactive navigation. Button Description Dollies and pans the camera so that the entire model is in the Scene View.
Button Description Uses an orthographic camera. Toggles collision. Toggles gravity. Toggles crouching. Toggles third person view. Aligns the current viewpoint with the X axis. Aligns the current viewpoint with the Y axis. Aligns the current viewpoint with the Z axis. Customize the Toolbars You can customize the appearance and contents of the Autodesk Navisworks toolbars by using the Customize dialog box. To add a custom toolbar 1 Click Tools ➤ Customize.
4 Click OK. The new toolbar appears in the toolbar area. 5 Close the Customize dialog box. To rename a custom toolbar 1 Click Tools ➤ Customize. 2 In the Customize dialog box, Toolbars tab, click your toolbar. 3 Click Rename. NOTE You can only rename custom toolbars. 4 Enter the new name for your toolbar. 5 Click OK. 6 Close the Customize dialog box. To delete a custom toolbar 1 Click Tools ➤ Customize. 2 In the Customize dialog box, Toolbars tab, click the toolbar you don’t need. 3 Click Delete.
2 There are several ways to add commands to a toolbar or a menu: ■ In the Customize dialog box, Commands tab, click the desired category, and drag the command from the commands list on to the toolbar. If the command has a default icon assigned to it (it is shown next to the command in the command list), the icon will appear as a button on your toolbar. If no icon is assigned to the command, the name of the command will appear as a button on the toolbar.
3 Release the left mouse button to delete the command. 4 Close the Customize dialog box. Scene View This is the area where you view and interact with your 3D models. When you start Autodesk Navisworks, the Scene View contains only one scene view, but you can add more scene views, if needed. Custom scene views are named “ViewX” where “X” is the next available number. The default scene view cannot be moved.
Looking at several views of your model simultaneously is useful when you compare lighting and rendering styles, animate different parts of your model, and so on. Only one scene view can be active at a time. A scene view becomes active as you work in it. If you left-click a scene view, the scene view is activated and whatever you click is selected, or, if you click an empty area, everything is deselected. Right-clicking a scene view activates it, and opens a shortcut menu.
To create a custom scene view ■ To split your active scene view horizontally, click View tab ➤ Scene View panel ➤ Split View ➤ Split Horizontal ■ . To split your active scene view vertically, click View tab ➤ Scene View panel ➤ Split View ➤ Split Vertical . Toolbar: Classic user interface: Model Views ➤ Split Horizontal and Model Views ➤ Split Vertical To make a custom scene views dockable ■ Click View tab ➤ Scene View panel ➤ Show Title Bars. All of your custom scene views now have title bars.
■ Use View - makes the content fill the currently active scene view. ■ Explicit - defines the exact width and height for the content. ■ Use Aspect Ratio - uses the aspect ratio of the current scene view to automatically calculate the width of the content when the height is entered, or the height of the content when the width is entered. 3 If you selected the Explicit option, enter the width and height for your content in pixels.
Review Windows These windows contain tools required to perform select/search/review operations: ■ Selection Tree ■ Sets ■ Find Items ■ Properties ■ Comments ■ Find Comments ■ Measure Tools Viewpoint Windows These windows contain tools necessary to set up and use viewpoints: ■ Saved Viewpoints ■ Tilt - 3D workspace only. ■ Plan View - 3D workspace only. ■ Section View - 3D workspace only.
NOTE The Tilt window can only be docked vertically on the left or right, taking up the full height of the canvas, or be floating. By default, a docked window is pinned, meaning that the window remains displayed at its current size and can be moved. When you auto hide a window and move the mouse pointer away from it, the window is reduced to a tab displaying the window name. Moving the mouse pointer over the tab displays the window fully, but temporarily, over the canvas.
To show a dockable window 1 Click View tab ➤ Workspace panel ➤ Windows . 2 Select the check box next to the desired window in the drop-down list. To move a dockable window 1 Click and drag the title bar at the top or side of the window. 2 Optional: to prevent a window from automatically docking while you drag it, hold down the CTRL key. TIP The docking tool allows you to place windows in a specific relationship to the canvas areas.
3 Drop the window to ungroup it. To auto hide dockable windows 1 On a window title bar, click . The window continues to be displayed until you move the mouse pointer away from it. When you move the mouse pointer, the window is collapsed until you place the mouse pointer over the window tab on the side of the canvas where its docked. NOTE To move or group windows, you need to pin them first. To pin dockable windows 1 Move the mouse cursor over the title bar to display the hidden window. on the title bar.
The docking tool also provides visual previews of what space will be occupied by a window. These previews are shown when you are moving a window and while your mouse is over one of the stickers. TIP To quickly create a window group, use the sticker at the center of the docking tool when you drag a window to its location. This works anywhere on the canvas excluding the default scene view and the Tilt window. Custom scene views can be grouped with other windows.
To move a window with the docking tool 1 Click and drag the title bar at the top or side of the window towards the place where you want it to dock. This activates the docking tool. 2 Drag the window over the sticker on the docking tool that represents the area you want the window to occupy. 3 Release the mouse button to dock the window there. The window is automatically resized to fill the area. Status Bar The Status bar appears at the bottom of the Autodesk Navisworks screen.
viewpoint. When the progress bar is at 100%, the scene is completely drawn, with no drop-out. The icon changes color when a redraw is in progress. Whilst the scene is being drawn, the pencil will change to yellow. If there is too much data to handle and your machine cannot process this quickly enough for Autodesk Navisworks, then the pencil changes to red, indicating a bottleneck.
To undo an action ■ Click Undo on the Quick Access toolbar. Command entry: CTRL + Z Toolbar: Classic user interface: Standard ➤ Undo To redo an action ■ Click Redo on the Quick Access toolbar. Command entry: CTRL + Y Toolbar: Classic user interface: Standard ➤ Redo Autodesk Navisworks Workspaces Workspaces retain information about which windows are open, their positions, and the size of the application window. Workspaces retain changes made to the ribbon but not to the Quick Access toolbar.
time by clicking View tab ➤ Workspace panel ➤ Load Workspace and then selecting the required workspace from the list. , Toolbar: Classic user interface: Workspace ➤ Workspaces To save current layout to a new workspace 1 Set up your design review layout. For example, you can group together the Properties and Saved Viewpoints windows. If you use the Classic user interface mode, for example, you can close all toolbars except the Standard, Selection Tools, Navigation Mode, and Workspace.
2 In the Load Workspace dialog box, browse to the folder containing the desired workspace, and select it. 3 Click Open. Default Keyboard Shortcuts Keyboard shortcuts are keyboard alternatives you can use to initiate commands normally accessed with the mouse. For example, to open the Selection Tree, window you can press CTRL + F12, to open the Comments window, you can press SHIFT + F6, and so on. Keyboard shortcuts offer a means to let you work faster and more efficiently.
Default Keyboard Shortcut Description PgDn Zooms to magnify all selected objects in the Scene View. HOME Takes you to Home view. This keyboard shortcut only applies to the Scene View windows. This means it will only work when this window has focus. ESC Deselects everything. SHIFT Used to modify the middle mouse button actions. CTRL Used to modify the middle mouse button actions. ALT Turns the keytips on or off.
Default Keyboard Shortcut Description CTRL + A Displays the Append dialog box. CTRL + D Toggles Collision mode. You must be in appropriate navigation mode (that is, Walk or Fly) for this keyboard shortcut to work. CTRL + F Displays the Quick Find dialog box. CTRL + G Toggles Gravity mode. CTRL + H Toggles Hidden mode for selected items. CTRL + I Displays the Insert File dialog box. CTRL + M Displays the Merge dialog box.
Default Keyboard Shortcut Description CTRL + F1 Opens the Help system. CTRL + F2 Opens the Clash Detective window. CTRL + F3 Toggles the TimeLiner window. CTRL + F4 Toggles the Presenter window. CTRL + F5 Toggles the Animator window. CTRL + F6 Toggles the Scripter window. CTRL + F7 Toggles the Tilt window. CTRL + F8 Applies to the Classic user interface. Toggles the Sectioning toolbar. CTRL + F9 Toggles the Plan View window. CTRL + F10 Toggles the Section View window.
Default Keyboard Shortcut Description CTRL + Space Pause playing animation. CTRL + SHIFT + A Opens the Animation Export dialog box. CTRL + SHIFT + C Opens the Export dialog box and enables you to export current search. CTRL + SHIFT + I Opens the Image Export dialog box. CTRL + SHIFT + R Opens the Export Rendered Image dialog box. CTRL + SHIFT + S Opens the Export dialog box and enables you to export search sets.
Default Keyboard Shortcut Description F3 Repeats the previously run Quick Find search. F5 Refreshes your scene with the latest versions of currently loaded model files. F11 Toggles Full Screen mode. F12 Opens the Options Editor. SHIFT + W Opens the last used SteeringWheel. SHIFT + F1 Enables you to get context-sensitive help. SHIFT + F2 Toggles the Sets window. SHIFT + F3 Toggles the Find Items window. SHIFT + F4 Toggles the Find Comments window. SHIFT + F6 Toggles the Comments window.
To Do this... Zoom out scroll the mouse wheel backward. Pan hold down the middle mouse button, and then move the mouse to pan. Orbit press and hold SHIFT and hold down the middle mouse button, and then move the mouse to orbit about the currently defined pivot point. This function is not available in a 2D workspace. Change the pivot point press and hold the SHIFT and CTRL keys and hold down the middle mouse button, then drag to the point on the model you want to use as the pivot point.
Wheel Middle Button SHIFT + Middle Button Walk Look Up/Down Glide Camera Glide Camera (Faster) Look Around Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Zoom Zoom (Roll) Zoom (Drag) - Zoom Box Zoom (Roll) Zoom (Drag) - Pan Zoom (Roll) Zoom (Drag) - Orbit Zoom (Roll) Glide Camera - Examine Zoom (Roll) Pan - Fly - Roll - Turntable Tilt Up/Down Pan - Standard Navigation Modes Pan Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Zoom Window Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Zoom Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Orbit Zoom In/Out Pa
SteeringWheels Wheel Middle Button SHIFT + Middle Button Zoom In/Out Pan Orbit Autodesk Navisworks Options There are two types of options: File Options and Global Options. File Options For each Autodesk Navisworks file (NWF and NWD), you can adjust the model appearance and the speed of navigation around it. Viewing options are stored with Autodesk Navisworks files (NWF or NWD), and reloaded each time you open these files.
Global Options Global options, on the other hand, are set for all Autodesk Navisworks sessions. The Options Editor can be accessed by clicking the application button ➤ Options, or it can be launched as a separate application. To do this, click Start ➤ All Programs ➤ Autodesk ➤ Navisworks Simulate 2012 ➤ Options Editor. The options are grouped together, and presented in a tree structure, making it quicker to find and change them.
To configure global options 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the desired node, and click the option you want to configure. 3 Click OK to save the changes. Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ Global Options See also: Options Editor Dialog Box (page 706) To export global options 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, click the Export button.
TIP To quickly select/deselect all options for a given category, use the top-level check boxes. For example, selecting the General check box, instantly selects all options under this node. 4 Click OK to export the selected settings. 5 In the Save As dialog box, enter a name for the settings file. You can also select the name of an existing settings file to overwrite it with your modified configuration. 6 Click Save. 7 Click OK to close the Options Editor.
4 Click OK to close the Options Editor. Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ Global Options Location Options These options enable centralized sharing of global Autodesk Navisworks settings, workspaces, datatools, avatars, Clash Detective rules, Presenter archives, custom Clash Detective tests, object animation scripts, and so on, with other users. The settings can be shared across an entire project site, or across a specific project group depending on the required level of granularity.
2 Expand the General node in the Options Editor, and click the Locations option. 3 In the Project Directory box, browse to the directory that contains the Autodesk Navisworks settings specific to your project group. 4 In the Site Directory box, browse to the directory that contains the Autodesk Navisworks settings standard across the entire project site. 5 Click OK.
By default, Autodesk Navisworks automatically chooses the most appropriate graphics system to use. For example, 3D models are rendered with Presenter graphics, with the exception of 3D FBX files with consistent materials, which will use Autodesk graphics. 2D sheets are rendered with Autodesk graphics. You can use Options Editor to specify which graphics system is used.
4 Use the System drop-down box to choose the graphics system you want Autodesk Navisworks to use. 5 Click OK. Display Units Display units determine the scale of your model in Autodesk Navisworks. Display units are used to measure geometry in your scene, align appended models, set tolerances for clash detection, set texture sizes and so on. When you open CAD and laser scan files, Autodesk Navisworks reads the units directly from the files.
3 Select the Linear Units from the drop-down list. Be sure to choose the exact format required. 4 Select the Angular Units from the drop-down list. 5 Enter the number of decimal places you want to see throughout the interface for your units in the Decimal Places box. If the unit chosen is a fractional unit, rather than a decimal unit, then you have the choice of what level of fraction to display the units from the Fractional Display Precision drop-down list. 6 Click OK.
2 Expand the Interface node, and click the Developer option. 3 Select the Show Internal Properties check box to add additional object properties to the Properties window. 4 Click OK. Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ Global Options Search Directories Autodesk Navisworks searches for a variety of configuration files in subdirectories of three standard directories. These files can be overridden on a per user, all users or per installation basis. The search directories are: ■ Application Data\Autodesk Na
NOTE If you are using Windows 7 then the search directory paths are different. Instead of \Users\Application Data\Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012, the path will be \Users\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012. Two additional directories, Site and Project, may be used to share various configuration settings with other users. When you run Autodesk Navisworks for the first time, the settings are picked up from the installation directory.
and can’t be obscured by other objects. When you mouse over a grabable part of the gizmo, the cursor changes to a hand icon. Move Gizmo Rotate Gizmo Scale Gizmo When you use gizmos, you can adjust snapping to control the precision of your operations (click the application button node ➤ Snapping page.
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Work with Files 4 You can combine these files together, and create a single Autodesk Navisworks file with a whole-project view of your model. This file brings together geometry and data created by multi-disciplinary teams, and enables you to explore and review complex models in real-time. Native File Formats Autodesk Navisworks has three native file formats: NWD, NWF, and NWC. NWD File Format An NWD file contains all model geometry together with Autodesk Navisworks-specific data, such as review markups.
NWC files are smaller than the original files, and speed up your access to commonly used files. When you next open file or append file in Autodesk Navisworks, the data is read from the corresponding cache file if it is newer than the original file. If the cache file is older, which means the original file has changed, Autodesk Navisworks converts the updated file, and creates a new cache file for it.
Application File Formats Autodesk Revit Systems/Revit MEP DWG, DXF, DGN Autodesk 3DS MAX DWG, DXF, 3DS, IGES Autodesk VIZ DWG, DXF, 3DS Autodesk Maya DXF, IGES, VRML Bentley AutoPLANT DGN, DWG, DXF Bentley MicroStation SE DGN, DWG, DXF, IGES, VRML Bentley MicroStation J DGN, DWG, DXF, IGES, STEP, VRML Bentley MicroStation DGN, DWG, DXF, IGES, STEP, VRML Bentley Triforma J DGN, DWG, DXF, IGES, STEP, VRML Bentley Triforma DGN, DWG, DXF, IGES, STEP, VRML Graphisoft ArchiCAD DWG, DXF, DGN
Application File Formats CEA Technology Plant-4D DWG, DGN COADE CADWorx Plant DWG, DXF, 3DS COADE CADWorx Pipe DWG, DXF, 3DS COADE CADWorx Steel DWG, DXF, 3DS COINS BSLink DWG, DXF, 3DS COINS Framing DWG, DXF, 3DS CSC 3D+ DWG Dassault Systemes CATIA DXF, IGES, STEP Google SketchUp SKP, DWG, 3DS Hannappel Software GmbH elcoCAD R4 DWG, DXF, 3DS Integraph PDS DRI, DRV, DWG, DXF, DGN, IGES, STEP Informatix MicroGDS MAN ITandFactory CADISON DWG, DXF, 3DS ITandFactory TRICAD MS VRML
Application File Formats McNeel North America Rhino DWG, DXF, 3DS, IGES, STEP Mensch und Maschine RoCAD DWG, DXF, 3DS MultiSUITE MultiSTEEL DWG, DXF, 3DS Nemetschek Allplan DWG, DXF, DGN, IFC PROCAD 3DSMART DWG, DXF, 3DS PTC Pro/ENGINEER IGES, STEP, VRML PTC CADDS 5 IGES, STEP QuickPen PipeDesigner 3D DWG, DXF, 3DS QuickPen DuctDesigner 3D DWG, DXF, 3DS RAM International CADstudio DWG, DXF, 3DS SolidWorks DWG, DXF, IGES, STEP, VRML Tekla Structures DGN, VRML, CIS/2 Tekla Xsteel DG
Application File Formats UGS Factory CAD DWG, DXF, 3DS UHP Process Piping FabPro Pipe DWG, DXF, 3DS UHP Process Piping x-plant DWG, DXF, 3DS Supported CAD File Formats See the following table for the native CAD file formats you can open in Autodesk Navisworks without having the CAD applications installed on your machine. Format Extension Autodesk Navisworks .nwd, .nwf, .nwc Autodesk .fbx AutoCAD .dwg, .dxf ACIS SAT .sat CIS/2 .stp, .step DWF .dwf IFC .ifc IGES .igs, .
Format Extension JTOpen .jt MicroStation (SE, J, V8, XM) .dgn, .prp, .prw Parasolid .x_b PDS Design Review .dri RVM .rvm SketchUp .skp STEP .stp, .step STL .stl VRML .wrl, .wrz 3D Studio .3ds, .prjv Supported Laser Scan File Formats See the following table for the laser scan file formats you can open in Autodesk Navisworks. Format Extension ASCII Laser File .asc, .txt Faro .fls, .fws, .iQscan, .iQmod, .iQwsp Leica .pts, .ptx Riegl .
Format Extension Z+F .zfc, .zfs NOTE Native Trimble file format is not supported. To open your file in Autodesk Navisworks, convert it into ASCII laser file format first. Use File Readers Autodesk Navisworks provides file readers to support a variety of CAD file formats and laser scan file formats. When you open a CAD file in Autodesk Navisworks, an appropriate file reader is automatically used. If necessary, you can adjust the default file reader settings to improve the conversion quality.
■ Colors (from material color, not wireframe color - ambient, diffuse, shininess, transparency and self illumination). Unsupported Entities ■ Keyframes (objects are currently taken from keyframe 0) ■ Texture maps in the formats: gray-scale TGA, TIF, GIF, and PNG.
Bentley AutoPLANT File Reader Bentley AutoPLANT is based on AutoCAD and as such uses the DWG file format to store model geometry. Any settings related to the DWG file format also affect files from AutoPLANT. AutoPLANT Object Properties can be stored in external database MDB files. By default, Autodesk Navisworks also supports these files through the DataTools functionality, and looks for Equipment, Nozzle and Piping datatools links.
■ Section_profile_i_type_rail ■ Section_profile_rectangle ■ Section_profile_rectangle_hollow ■ Section_profile_t_type ■ feature_volume_prismatic_chamfer ■ feature_volume_prismatic_flange_notch ■ feature_volume_prismatic_flange_chamfer ■ feature_volume_prismatic_notch ■ feature_volume_prismatic_skewed_end ■ Element_curve_simple ■ Element_node_connectivity ■ Element_eccentricity ■ Located_joint_system ■ Design_joint_system ■ Joint_system_mechanical ■ Fastener_mechanism ■ Faste
■ Element_surface ■ Element_point ■ Element_curve_complex ■ Element_with_material ■ Joint_system_amorphous ■ Joint_system_chemical ■ Joint_system_welded ■ Weld_mechanism ■ Joint_system_complex ■ Fastener_simple_nut ■ Fastener_simple_washer ■ Fastener_simple_stud ■ Fastener_simple_pin ■ Fastener_simple_nail ■ Fastener_simple_screw ■ Fastener_simple_countersunk ■ Fastener_simple_curve ■ Fastener_simple_complex Supported Basic Section Profile Types The file reader supports t
Supported AISC Section Profile Types The reader supports all AISC defined section profile types and maps them to the basic section profile types: ■ I-Beam: HP, M, S, W ■ Tee: MT, ST, WT ■ Angle: L, LP ■ Channel: C, MC ■ Circle: HSRO, P, PX, PXX, RB ■ Rectangle: HSRE, HSSQ, SB, TS ■ Double Angle: DL, DLL, DLS DWG/DXF File Reader The DWG/DXF file reader uses Autodesk's ObjectDBX™ technology and so is guaranteed to read all object geometry and information for those third party applications that u
■ Groups ■ External references (xrefs) ■ Hyperlinks ■ Text or multi-line text ■ Entity handles ■ Attributes ■ Textures ■ File properties Unsupported Entities ■ Lights ■ Splines ■ Multi-lines ■ Linetypes ■ Dimensions and leaders ■ Raster bitmaps ■ Construction lines (xlines and rays) ■ Hatching Overview of Object Enablers Object Enablers (OEs) can be thought of as a ‘translator’ for custom objects.
NOTE Autodesk Navisworks contains versions of RealDWG™ for 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. This means you can use OE between 2005 and 2012 with Autodesk Navisworks. You cannot use any OEs older than 2005. However, OEs are backwards compatible, and you can install a later OE to support reading of older versions of DWG files. To check if an OE is required 1 In Autodesk Navisworks, open a DWG file.
When you open a DWG file in Autodesk Navisworks, the file reader uses the configured OE. How do I know if I need to use an Object Enabler with Autodesk Navisworks2012? When a DWG file is opened in Autodesk Navisworks2012, and the objects are displayed as wireframe geometry, it usually means that an Object Enabler is missing. Additionally, the Scene Statistics dialog box reports any missing or failed to load OEs.
scale. The newest version of the DWF file format, DWFx, is based on the XML Paper Specification (XPS) from Microsoft. DWFx files can be opened and printed instantly using the free Microsoft XPS Viewer, which comes pre-installed on computers using the Microsoft Windows Vista® operating system. (For the Windows XP operating system, the Microsoft XPS Viewer can be downloaded directly from Microsoft.) Unlike DWF files, DWFx files include additional information to display design data in the Microsoft XPS Viewer.
Supported Entities ■ All 2D and 3D geometry including shapes, complex shapes, meshes, cones, surfaces, B-spline boundaries, solids, SmartSolids and Feature Solids, lines, arcs and ellipses.
The Autodesk FBX format is a free platform-independent 3D authoring and interchange format that provides access to 3D content from most 3D vendors. FBX file format offers you improved interoperability between Autodesk Navisworks and a range of Autodesk products including Maya, 3DS MAX, and SoftImage. The Autodesk Navisworks FBX file reader reads all 2D and 3D geometry, as well as texture maps and material maps. However, currently it does not support animation.
■ Geometric sets ■ Face-based and surface-based models ■ Simple, trimmed, and composite curves ■ Simple surfaces ■ Simple parametric, arbitrary and derived profiles ■ Boolean clipping results and element-level voiding and projection CSG operations ■ Basic styled and mapped items ■ Property sets, including simple and complex properties Unsupported Entities ■ Voided BReps ■ Bounded half-space solids ■ Complex parametric profiles ■ BSpline curves ■ Curve styles ■ Swept surfaces ■ T
Inventor File Reader The file reader supports IPT (part), IAM (assembly) and IPJ (project) file formats. IDW (drawing) file format cannot be read. The reader supports files from Autodesk® Inventor® 2012 and earlier. See also: Inventor File Reader Options JTOpen File Reader The file reader supports 3D JT data format developed by Siemens PLM Software (formerly UGS Corp.).
■ Tri-prism primitive shape ■ PMI manager meta data ■ Models with facet-based or primitive-based color and normal ■ Texture ■ HSV color model ■ B-Rep CAD tag ■ Line style attribute ■ Point style attribute ■ Shader effects attribute ■ Vertex shader attribute ■ Fragment shader attribute ■ Infinite light attribute ■ Point light attribute ■ Wireframe segment ■ LOD See also: JTOpen File Reader Options Leica Scan File Reader The file reader supports files from all Leica™ HDS scanner
MAN File Reader The file reader supports MAN files from Informatix's MicroGDS™ version 6.0 or later. MicroGDS™ projects are not supported. The workaround is to export the desired project window with a .man file extension. In Autodesk Navisworks, MicroGDS renderer materials are shown in their flat-shaded colors in shaded mode. In full render mode, or with Presenter rendering, the full shaders are used. Only the standard LightWorks shaders are available.
NOTE The color of line primitives is determined by the first phase in which they appear in the Principal window of the MAN file. If they are not included in the Principal window, the color is determined by their style. ■ Light styles. NOTE Projector lights are treated as a spot light without the transparent image. ■ Material styles, both plain and most LightWorks Renderer materials. NOTE For materials using wrapped images, you must specify the texture paths. ■ Layers.
See also: PDS File Reader Options Pro/ENGINEER File Reader The Pro/ENGINEER file reader uses Inventor Server to load the following types of Pro/ENGINEER files: ■ *.prt* (part) - up to version Wildfire 5.0 ■ *.asm* (assembly) - up to version Wildfire 5.0 ■ *.g (Granite) - up to version 6.0 ■ *.neu* (Neutral) The file reader uses Autodesk Inventor Server to translate assembly and part files, solids, multi-solids, surfaces, and more.
RVM File Reader The file reader supports the following file formats: ■ Binary and ASCII RVM files exported from AVEVA’s PDMS™ product ■ Dump Attributes and Data (also called “OUTPUT”) attribute files, with the .att, .attrib, and .txt file extensions.
SAT File Reader The file reader supports ACIS SAT files. See also: SAT File Reader Options SketchUp SKP File Reader The file reader supports native SKP file format.
STEP File Reader The file reader uses Inventor Server to load STP and STEP files up to and including AP214 CC2 and AP203. You cannot customize the STEP file reader in the Options Editor any longer. STL File Reader The file reader only supports binary STL files. ASCII versions are not supported. Supported Entities ■ Triangles Unsupported Entities ■ No other entities are supported See also: STL File Reader Options VRML File Reader The file reader supports files in both VRML1 and VRML2 file formats.
■ VRML1 and VRML2 LOD nodes - the most detailed (that is, first) child is always loaded. Unsupported Entities ■ All ROUTE definitions ■ All sensor nodes ■ All interpolator nodes ■ Textures specified within the VRML file (VRML2 PixelTexture nodes and the image component of VRML1 Texture2 nodes). ■ VRML2 Script nodes ■ VRML2 MovieTexture nodes ■ VRML2 Fog nodes ■ VRML2 AudioClip and Sound nodes ■ All text-related nodes (VRML1 ASCII Text, VRML2 Text, and FontStyle nodes).
Use File Exporters Autodesk Navisworks provides file exporters to create native Autodesk Navisworks files directly in CAD applications. Currently, you can export NWC files from AutoCAD, MicroStation, Revit, ArchiCAD, and Viz/Max applications. You can use file exporters: ■ If Autodesk Navisworks cannot read the native CAD file format. Currently, the following native file formats are not supported: VIZ, MAX, ArchiCAD, Revit.
2 In the Add or Remove Programs dialog box, click Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 Exporter Plugins, and then click Change/Remove in Windows XP or Uninstall/Change in Vista/Windows 7. 3 In the Installation wizard, click Add or Remove Features. 4 On the Select Exporters to Install page, the Export From Other Applications node, select the check box next to the required plugin. 5 Click Next. 6 On the Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012Update Exporter Plugins page, click Next.
To use the command line to export files 1 To export an NWC file, type NWCOUT at the command line. 2 Press Return. 3 In the Save As dialog box, enter the name for the Autodesk Navisworks file, and browse to the desired storage location. 4 Click OK to export the file, or Cancel to return to the application without exporting it. To load the Autodesk Navisworks export menu 1 At the command line, type MENULOAD. 2 Press Return. 3 In the Load/Unload Customizations dialog box, click Browse.
To adjust the options for the DWG file exporter 1 Click the menu browser button located at the top-left corner of the application window. 2 Click Autodesk Navisworks Export Option on the Autodesk Navisworks menu. 3 Expand the File Exporters node in the Options Editor, and click the DWG page. Use the options on this page to adjust the settings for future exports of NWC files from AutoCAD-based applications. 4 Click OK to save the changes.
Button Description Changes the current AutoCAD view to the view in the Navigator window. Changes the view in the Navigator window to the current AutoCAD view. Selects walk mode and enables you to walk through the model on a horizontal plane. Selects look around mode and enables you to look around the model from the current camera position. Selects zoom mode. Dragging the left mouse button up and down or using the UP and DOWN ARROW keys zooms in and out respectively. Selects zoom-to-a-box mode.
Button Description mode. Holding down the CTRL key temporarily pans the camera. Selects examine mode. Dragging the left mouse button or using the UP, DOWN, LEFT ARROW, and RIGHT ARROW keys rotates the model about. Holding down the SHIFT key or spinning the mouse wheel, temporarily switches this mode to zoom mode. Holding down the CTRL key temporarily switches this mode to pan mode. Selects fly mode. Holding down the left mouse button moves the camera forward.
Button Description Selects perspective camera view. Selects orthographic camera view. Opens the Help system. The Shortcut Menu Right-clicking in the Navigator window opens a shortcut menu. Focus on Item Focuses the camera on the selected item. The point you click becomes the focal point for examine, orbit, and turntable navigation modes. Speed Frame Rate Specifies the number of frames per second (FPS) that are rendered in the Navigator window. The default setting is 6.
Lighting Selects lighting mode for your model. Choose from: ■ No Lights - turns off lighting. The model is shaded with flat rendering. ■ Head Light - uses a single directional light located at the camera that always points in the same direction as the camera. This is the default option. ■ Scene Lights - uses any lights defined in the model, or two default opposing lights, if none are available. Navigation Mode Selects navigation mode.
To export NWC files from Revit 1 In Revit, click Tools ➤ External Tools ➤ Autodesk Navisworks2012. NOTE This option is not available in Demo/Viewer mode. If you are not in demo mode, but do not have access to the Autodesk Navisworks menu, check if editing view is set to normal, and the modify tool is selected ( ➤ Modify). 2 In the Export Scene As dialog box, enter the name for the Autodesk Navisworks file, and browse to the desired storage location.
To add the MDL plugin to Autodesk Navisworks Exporter Plugins installation 1 In the Control Panel, double-click Add or Remove Programs. 2 In the Add or Remove Programs dialog box, click Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 Exporter Plugins, and then click Change/Remove in Windows XP or Uninstall/Change in Vista/Windows 7. 3 In the Installation wizard, click Add or Remove Features.
Export Files from the Key-In Command Line You can export files from the key-in command line individually or in batches. You can also add the commands to the Key-In menu to speed up the process. To use the key-in command line to export files 1 Click Utilities ➤ Key-In to open the Key-In dialog box. 2 To export an NWC file, type nwcout. NOTE To export the current design file quickly, you can use the batchnwcout command. The explorer replaces the design file extension (usually .dgn) with .
Export Files from the Command Line You can also export files from the command line by using the msbatch.bat file. This is useful when you want to set up an automated script for file export. NOTE To export a file from the command line, you must first add the MicroStation program directory to the Path environment variable. The format of the command line exporter is msbatch nwexport9 [-f] FILE [OUTPUT] FILE is the name of the MicroStation file you want to export. This is the only required option.
3 Press Enter. 4 In the MicroStation Manager dialog box, select the files you want to export, file extension (NWC), and storage location. 5 Click OK. Customize the DGN File Exporter Options The file exporter only exports from 3D DGN files - 2D files are not supported. Autodesk Navisworks colors are derived from either MicroStation cell colors or MicroStation materials, depending on the chosen export options. The appearance of objects in Publisher matches the appearance of a MicroStation shaded render.
To export NWC files from Viz or Max 1 Click File ➤ Export. 2 In the Select File to Export dialog box, select Autodesk Navisworks2012 Cache (*.nwc) in the Save as Type field. 3 Enter the name for the Autodesk Navisworks file, and browse to the desired storage location. 4 Click Save to export the file, or Cancel to return to the application without exporting it.
NOTE Only visible layers are exported. ArchiCAD cutaway plane settings does not set the Autodesk Navisworks section plane; it is used to export items that are physically reduced by the plane.
possible when multiple library part elements within the ArchiCAD model have exactly the same properties. Instancing these parts means a smaller NWC file, and shorter export times. NOTE In sectioned models, when this check box is selected all instances show the same sectioning as the original item (usually, the first library part in the file). If you get some unexpected effects, clear this check box.
■ Export Library Part Parameters - select this check box to save library part parameters (including the user-defined custom parameters) as item properties in Autodesk Navisworks. ■ Export Current Story Only - this option is not used; everything contained within the view is exported. When saving from the 3D window, the view becomes the default Autodesk Navisworks view (including window settings, such as cutaway planes). 6 Click OK.
To open a file 1 Click the application button ➤ Open ➤ Open . 2 In the Open dialog box, use the Files of Type box to select the appropriate file type, and navigate to the folder where your file is located. 3 Select the file, and click Open. Toolbar: Classic user interface: Standard ➤ Open Command entry: CTRL + O To open NWD files located on a web server 1 Click the application button ➤ Open ➤ Open URL . 2 Enter the file address, and click OK.
Navisworks automatically reloads all modified referenced files, which means the geometry is always up-to-date, even for the most complex models. On the other hand, whenever you need to share the scene you created and review markups with others, it is best to distribute a published NWD file, which includes additional features such as password protection and file expiration date. The published files can be viewed in both Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 and Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2012 (a free viewer).
Command entry: CTRL + S To rename a file 1 Click the application button ➤ Save As . 2 In the Save As dialog box, enter the new name for your file. 3 Click Save. To publish an NWD file 1 Open the file that you want to publish (NWD or NWF). 2 Click the application button ➤ Publish . 3 Use the Publish dialog box to enter the document information, and specify the required document protection. The text boxes in this dialog box remember history of up to five last entries.
4 Click OK. 5 In the Save As dialog box, enter the file name, and specify the file location. 6 Click Save. Your file is now published. Ribbon: Output tab ➤ Publish panel ➤ NWD Toolbar: Classic user interface: Standard ➤ Publish 2D and Multi-Sheet Files You can now work with 2D files and files containing multiple sheets/models.
2012 supports 2D and multi-sheet files that can be reviewed, or combined with models to provide multiple representations of project data. The supported 2D and multi-sheet file formats are: DWF, DWF(x), and native file formats (NWD and NWF). When you open a supported file, which contains multiple sheets/models, the default sheet/model is displayed in the Scene View, and all of the file's sheets/models are listed in the Project Browser window.
The Sheets/Models palette lists all sheets and models in the multi-sheet file. The label at the top of the palette indicates the file currently open in Autodesk Navisworks. The sheets/models can be represented as a list view or a thumbnail view. By default, the display order is the same as in the original file. The currently selected model/sheet is indicated with a shaded background, and the model/sheet currently opened in the Scene View is indicated with a black graphic border.
Pointing device: Status bar ➤ Project Browser To view sheets/models as a list ■ Click the List View Browser window. button in the top-right corner of the Project To view sheets/models as thumbnails ■ Click the Thumbnail View Project Browser window. button in the top-right corner of the To examine sheet/model properties 1 Open a multi-sheet file. 2 Click the 2D sheet or 3D model in the Project Browser. The Properties palette shows the available information.
To prepare a sheet/model for use 1 Open the Project Browser window. 2 Right-click the sheet or model you want to prepare, and click Prepare Sheet/Model on the shortcut menu. To prepare all sheets/models for use 1 Open the Project Browser window. 2 Right-click the sheet or model you want to prepare, and click Prepare All Sheets/Models on the shortcut menu. To print a sheet/model NOTE You can only print the current viewpoint. 1 Open the Project Browser window.
Append to Current Model Appends the 3D model selected in the list to the model currently opened in the Scene View. It is possible to append the model onto itself. Prepare Sheet/Model Prepares all sheets/models selected in the list for use in Autodesk Navisworks. To select multiple sheets/models, use SHIFT and CTRL keys. If the selected sheets/models are ready, this option is not available. Prepare All Sheets/Models Prepares all sheets/models in the multi-sheet file for use in Autodesk Navisworks.
■ Review object properties (page 367). Items in a 2D DWF file exported from Autodesk Revit software for example, will contain similar properties to the corresponding 3D model. This enables searching for items based on properties and is also essential for 2D-3D association and the linking of items between these representations. See Find All Sheets and Models Containing the Selected Object (page 356). ■ Apply transforms and override object appearances (page 382).
To append 2D sheets in a multi-sheet file 1 Open a multi-sheet file. 2 If the Project Browser window is not displayed, click bar. on the Status 3 Double-click the desired 2D sheet in the Project Browser to open it in the Scene View. 4 Use the Project Browser to select all 2D sheets that you want to append to the currently open sheet. TIP To select multiple sheets, use SHIFT and CTRL keys. 5 Right-click the selection, and click Append to Current Sheet. NOTE The Undo command is not available.
TIP To select multiple sheets, use SHIFT and CTRL keys. 5 Right-click the selection, and click Merge to Current Sheet. Any duplicate geometry and markup is automatically removed. NOTE The Undo command is not available. To merge 3D models in a multi-sheet file 1 Open a multi-sheet file. 2 If the Project Browser window is not displayed, click bar. on the Status 3 Double-click the desired 3D model in the Project Browser to open it in the Scene View.
Append Geometry and Metadata to the Current Scene You can append geometry and data from the selected files to the current 3D model or 2D sheet. NOTE If you try to drag and drop files directly into the Selection Tree window or to use the Open dialog box, you will create a new Autodesk Navisworks file instead. To append files 1 Click Home tab ➤ Project panel ➤ Append .
NOTE The Undo command is not available; therefore, if you make a mistake, you will need to append your file back manually. Menu: Classic user interface: File ➤ Delete Adjust Units and Transform You can change the units, and modify the rotation, origin, and scale of each appended 3D model or 2D sheet. It is recommended to adjust units first, before attempting to fix the problems with model or sheet alignment.
To change units in a loaded 2D sheet 1 Right-click the desired 2D sheet in the Scene View, and click Units and Transform on the shortcut menu. 2 In the Units and Transform dialog box, select the required format in the Units drop-down list. 3 Click OK. To change a transform in a loaded 3D file 1 Right-click the desired 3D file in the Selection Tree, and click Units and Transform on the shortcut menu.
5 Click OK. To change a transform in a loaded 2D sheet 1 Right-click the desired 2D sheet in the Scene View, and click Units and Transform on the shortcut menu. 2 To move the sheet's location, in the Units and Transform dialog box, the Origin area, enter values for the X and Y axis. 3 To change the sheet’s rotation, in the Units and Transform dialog box, the Rotation area, enter an angle of rotation. This will rotate the sheet about its origin point.
a single Autodesk Navisworks file, with any duplicate geometry and markup automatically removed. When merging multiple NWF files that each comprise the same referenced files, Autodesk Navisworks only loads a single set of the combined models, along with all review markup (such as tags, viewpoints or comments) from each NWF file. Any duplicate geometry or markup is removed when merged.
Email Files You can send and receive Autodesk Navisworks files by email. To send an open Autodesk Navisworks file, click the application button ➤ Send by Email . Autodesk Navisworks saves your file first, and then opens the available mail software and attaches your file to a blank email message. You can email both NWD and NWF files, although the size of an NWD file will be considerably larger.
Batch Utility You can now use the Batch Utility to automate common file importing/conversion processes. The Batch Utility is integrated with Windows Task Scheduler to allow you to set up tasks to be run automatically at set times and intervals. Use Batch Utility You can use the Batch Utility to run and schedule the following commands: ■ Create a list of all design files in the currently open Autodesk Navisworks file. ■ Append multiple design files into a single NWD or an NWF file.
6 In the Autodesk NavisworksBatch Utility dialog box, click the Run Command button. TIP If you want to automatically open the file as soon as it’s been created, select the View File on Output check box before you click the Run Command button. To append multiple design files into a single Autodesk Navisworks file 1 In Autodesk Navisworks application, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ Batch Utility .
2 In the Autodesk NavisworksBatch Utility dialog box, use the Input area to create a list of design files for conversion: ■ Select the drive and the folder where the design files are located. Once the desired location is selected, use the File Type menu below to filter the design files that are displayed on the right. The menu contains a list of all currently supported file formats. ■ There are two methods you can use to choose the files for conversion.
8 Click the Run Command button. To convert multiple design files into individual NWD files 1 In Autodesk Navisworks application, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ Batch Utility . 2 In the Autodesk NavisworksBatch Utility dialog box, use the Input area to create a list of design files for conversion: ■ Select the drive and the folder where the design files are located. Once the desired location is selected, use the File Type menu below to filter the design files that are displayed on the right.
Alternatively, you can click the Add File Spec button. This will make Autodesk Navisworks convert the files located in the selected folder. The option chosen in the File Type menu determines which files are converted. 3 In the Output area, As Multiple Files tab, choose the location for the converted files. By default, files are created in the same location as source files. If you want to change the output location, select the Output to Directory radio button, and click the Browse button.
5 Click the Run Command button. To schedule appending multiple design files into a single Autodesk Navisworks file 1 In Autodesk Navisworks application, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ Batch Utility . 2 In the Autodesk NavisworksBatch Utility dialog box, use the Input area to create a list of design files for conversion: ■ Select the drive and the folder where the design files are located.
NOTE Task Scheduling does not work for Windows XP/2000 users running local accounts (that is, not on a domain) without passwords. 10 In the Windows Task Scheduler, the Schedule tab, click the New button, and specify when and how often the task is to run. You can add as many schedules as necessary. 11 Click OK. To schedule conversion of multiple design files into individual NWD files 1 In Autodesk Navisworks application, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ Batch Utility .
4 Select the Increment Output File Names radio button to append a four digit number to the end of file name. By default, the old output files are overwritten. 5 Click the Schedule Command button. 6 In the Save Task File As dialog box browse to the desired location, and click the Save button. 7 In the Schedule Task dialog box, change the task name, if required, and enter your user name and password. Click OK.
9 Click OK. To create a log file 1 In Autodesk Navisworks application, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ Batch Utility . 2 In the Log area, select the Log Events To check box. 3 Click the Browse button. 4 In the Save Log As dialog box, browse to the desired folder, enter the name for your log, and click Save. 5 Clear the Overwrite Existing Log File check box if you want to keep new and old events in the same log file. The new information is appended to the bottom of the log file.
must be a UTF-8 encoded text file containing file paths or file specs, one on each lines, and without any quotation marks. For example: Command Line Switch Description /i Indicates the next argument is the input file. You must provide the file name and file path within quotation marks. /of Outputs to a single Navisworks file (NWD or NWF). The file name and file path should be provided within quotation marks. For example, “C:\temp\a.nwd” or “C:\temp\a.nwf”.
Command Line Switch Description /lang Specifies the language to use when logging. You can use one of the following arguments: en-US = English, de-DE = German, es-ES = Spanish, fr-FR = French, it-IT = Italian, ja-JP = Japanese, ko-KR = Korean, pt-BR = Brazilian Portuguese, ru-RU = Russian, zhCN = Chinese (PRC). The syntax for using command line switches is: FileToolsTaskRunner.
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Explore Your Model 5 Navigate a Scene In Autodesk Navisworks, you have a variety of options for navigating your scene. You can directly manipulate your position in the Scene View with navigation tools on the navigation bar, such as the pan and zoom. You can also use SteeringWheels® that travel with the cursor, and can save you time by combining many of the common navigation tools into a single interface.
Orientation in a 3D Workspace Although Autodesk Navisworks uses the X, Y, Z coordinate system, there is no hard-and-fast rule as to which way each of these particular axes actually “points”. Autodesk Navisworks reads the data necessary to map which way is “up” and which way is “north” directly from the files loaded into your scene. If this is not possible, by default, Z is treated as “up” and Y is treated as “north”.
3 Click OK. Product-Specific Navigation Tools The navigation bar and SteeringWheels provide you with access to a set of product-specific navigation tools in 2D and 3D workspaces. In Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012, some classic navigation tools have been replaced with new navigation tools. See the table below for more details.
Classic tool Replaced by 2D? Can be switched back to classic? Zoom Box Zoom Window Yes No Orbit Orbit No Yes Examine Free Orbit No Yes Turntable Constrained Orbit No Yes Look Around Look No No Focus - - - Walk Walk No Yes Fly - No - Customizing Tools Behavior For the navigation bar, you can use Options Editor to toggle between standard and classic modes for Orbit and Walk tools.
Pan Tool The pan tool moves the view parallel to the screen. The tool is activated by clicking Pan on the navigation bar. Pan behaves the same way as the pan tool available on the SteeringWheels. Zoom Tools Set of navigation tools for increasing or decreasing the magnification of the current view of the model. The following zoom tools are available: ■ Zoom Window ■ Zoom ■ Zoom Selected ■ Zoom All . Allows you to draw a box and zoom into that area. . Standard click/drag zoom. .
Zoom All The tool is activated by clicking Zoom All in the Zoom drop-down on the navigation bar. It behaves the same way as the classic View All tool. Orbit Tools Set of navigation tools for rotating the model around a pivot point while the view remains fixed.These tools are not available in a 2D workspace. The following orbit tools are available: ■ Orbit . Moves the camera around the focal point of the model. The up direction is always maintained, and no camera rolling is possible. ■ Free Orbit ■ .
2 In the Options Editor, the Navigation Bar page under the Interface node, select the Use Classic Orbit check box in the Orbit Tools area. 3 Click OK. To use the classic Examine tool with the navigation bar 1 On the navigation bar, click Customize ➤ Navigation Bar Options. 2 In the Options Editor, the Navigation Bar page under the Interface node, select the Use Classic Free Orbit (Examine) check box in the Orbit Tools area. 3 Click OK.
Look At The tool is activated by clicking Look At in the Look drop-down on the navigation bar. It behaves the same way as the SteeringWheels Look tool when you press and hold the SHIFT key. Focus The tool is activated by clicking Focus in the Look drop-down on the navigation bar. See Focus (page 310) for more details. Walk and Fly Tools Set of navigation tools for moving around the model and controlling realism settings. These tools are not available in a 2D workspace.
3 Click OK. SteeringWheels Tools Each wheel is divided into different wedges. Each wedge contains a navigation tool used to reorient the current view of a model. Which navigation tools are available depends on which wheel is active. Center Tool With the Center tool, you can define the center of the current view of a model. To define the center, drag the cursor over your model. A sphere (pivot point) is displayed in addition to the cursor.
3 Drag the cursor to the desired location of the model. 4 Release the button on your pointing device when the sphere is displayed. The model is panned until the sphere is centered. To specify the target point for the Zoom and Orbit tools 1 Display one of the Full Navigation wheels or the big View Object wheel. 2 Click and hold down the Center wedge. 3 Drag the cursor over the desired location of the model. 4 Release the button on your pointing device when the sphere is displayed.
To adjust the distance between the current point of view and the pivot point you use the Drag Distance indicator. The Drag Distance indicator has two marks on it that show the start and destination distances from the current point of view. The current traveled distance is shown by the orange position indicator. Slide the indicator forward or backwards to decrease or increase the distance towards the pivot point.
In addition to using the Look tool to look around a model, you can also use the tool to transition the current view to a specific face on the model. Press and hold the Shift key before selecting the Look tool on one of the Full Navigation wheels. Walking Through a Model When using the Look tool from the big Full Navigation wheel, you can walk through a model by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. To adjust the walk speed, use the Options Editor.
The cursor changes to the Look cursor. 3 Drag to change the direction in which you are looking. 4 While holding down the button on your pointing device, press the arrow keys to walk in the model. 5 Release the button on your pointing device to return to the wheel. 6 Click Close to exit the wheel. To invert the vertical axis for the Look tool 1 Display a wheel. 2 Right-click the wheel, and click SteeringWheels Options.
Specify the Pivot Point The pivot point is the base point used when rotating the model with the Orbit tool. You can specify the pivot point in the following ways: ■ Default pivot point. When you first open a model, the target point of the current view is used as the pivot point for orbiting the model. ■ Select objects. You can select objects before the Orbit tool is used to calculate the pivot point. The pivot point is calculated based on the center of the extents of the selected objects.
To orbit a model with the Orbit tool 1 Display one of the View Object or Full Navigation wheels. 2 Click and hold down the Orbit wedge. The cursor changes to the Orbit cursor. 3 Drag to rotate the model. NOTE Use the Center tool to re-center the model in the current view, if you are using one of the Full Navigation or View Object wheels. 4 Release the button on your pointing device to return to the wheel.
2 Right-click the wheel, and click SteeringWheels Options. 3 In the Options Editor, the SteeringWheels page under the Interface node, select the Center Pivot on Selection check box in the Orbit Tool section. 4 Click OK. The extents of any objects that are selected before the wheel is displayed are used to define the pivot point for the Orbit tool. If no objects are selected, the pivot point used by the Orbit is the one defined by the Center tool.
2 Press and hold down the SHIFT key. 3 Press and hold down the scroll wheel or middle button on your pointing device and drag to orbit the model. 4 Release the button on your pointing device to return to the wheel. Pan Tool When the pan tool is active, the Pan cursor (a four-sided arrow) is displayed. Dragging the pointing device moves the model in the same direction. For example, dragging upward moves the model up while dragging downward moves the model down.
To start the Pan tool with the middle mouse button 1 Display one of the Full Navigation wheels, or the mini View Object wheel. 2 Press and hold down the scroll wheel or middle button. The cursor changes to the Pan cursor. 3 Drag to reposition the model. 4 Release the wheel or button on your pointing device to return to the wheel. Rewind Tool As you use the navigation tools to reorient the view of a model, the previous view is saved to the navigation history.
To restore a previous view with the Rewind History panel 1 Display a wheel. 2 Click and hold the Rewind wedge. The Rewind History panel is displayed. 3 While holding down the button on your pointing device, drag to the left or to the right to restore a previous view. Dragging to the left restores an older previous view. Dragging to the right restores a view that is newer than the one you are currently viewing. You must have previously used the Rewind tool to see views available on the right.
2 Click and hold down the Up/Down wedge. The Vertical Distance indicator is displayed. 3 Drag up or down to change the elevation of the view. 4 Release the button on your pointing device to return to the wheel. Walk Tool With the Walk tool, you can navigate through a model as if you were walking through it. Once you start the Walk tool, the Center Circle icon is displayed near the base of the view and the cursor changes to display a series of arrows.
viewpoint (Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Edit Current Viewpoint). Use the Options Editor to make the Walk tool Use Viewpoint Linear Speed settings. Movement Speed As you walk or “fly” through a model, you can control the movement speed. Movement speed is controlled by the distance in which the cursor is moved from the Center Circle icon and the current movement speed setting. You can adjust the movement speed setting permanently and temporarily as you use the Walk tool.
Dragging the slider to the left decreases the walking speed; dragging the slider to the right increases the walking speed. 4 Click OK. To constraint the Walk tool to the world up vector 1 Display a wheel. 2 Right-click the wheel, and click SteeringWheels Options. 3 In the Options Editor, the SteeringWheels page under the Interface node, select the Constrain Walk Angle check box in the Walk Tool area. 4 Click OK. Movement when walking is done parallel to the world up of the model.
Zoom Tool You use the Zoom tool to change the zoom magnification of a model. NOTE When you start the Zoom tool from the Full Navigation wheel, incremental zooming must be enabled in the Options Editor in order to use CTRL+click and SHIFT+click. Zoom Constraints When changing the magnification of a model with the Zoom tool, you cannot zoom in any further than the focus point or out past the extents of the model. The direction you can zoom in and out is controlled by the center point set by the Center tool.
4 Click OK. 2 Display a wheel that has the Zoom tool. 3 Click the Zoom wedge. The magnification of the model is increased and you are zoomed in closer to the model. If you hold down the SHIFT key while clicking the Zoom wedge, the model is zoomed out; you can hold down the CTRL key to zoom in. To zoom a view in and out by dragging 1 Display one of the Full Navigation wheels, or one of the View Object wheels. 2 Click and hold down the Zoom wedge. The cursor changes to the Zoom cursor.
You use the Zoom tool to change the zoom magnification of a model. The following mouse click and key combinations are available to control how the Zoom tool behaves: ■ Click. If you click the Zoom tool on a wheel, the current view is zoomed in by a factor of 25 percent. If you are using the Full Navigation wheel, incremental zoom must be enabled in the Options Editor. ■ SHIFT+click.
Classic Navigation Modes and Tools In the Classic user interface, there are nine navigation modes available from the Navigation Mode toolbar to control how you move around the Scene View: six camera-centric modes and three model-centric modes. TIP You can use some of these classic navigation modes with the standard (ribbon) user interface. The Options Editor allows you to select between old and new modes.
Mode Description Look Around. Enables you to look around the model from the current camera position and gives the effect that you are moving your head around. Zoom. Enables you to zoom into and out of the model. Cursor up zooms in and cursor down zooms out. Zoom to a Box. Enables you to drag a box so that the contents of the box fill the view. Pan. Enables you to pan the model rather than the camera. Orbit. Enables you to orbit the camera around the model, ensuring that “up” is always “up”.
Once you start walk mode, the cursor changes to the walk cursor. To walk through the model, you drag in the direction in which you want to move in. To use walk mode to move through the model 1 Click Walk on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 To move, hold down the left mouse button as you drag in the direction you want to walk, or use the cursor keys. The camera spins left and right, and moves forwards and backwards. NOTE Holding down the SHIFT key speeds up this movement.
To look around a view 1 Click Look Around on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 To look around, drag the left mouse button, or use the cursor keys. The camera looks left, right, up or down. NOTE Holding down the SHIFT key speeds up this movement. 3 To rotate the camera around its viewing axis, hold down the CTRL key. Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Mode ➤ Look Around Command entry: CTRL + 3 Zoom Mode In Zoom mode, you can zoom into and out of the model.
Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Mode ➤ Zoom Command entry: CTRL + 4 Zoom Box Mode In Zoom Box mode, you can zoom into an area of the model by dragging a rectangular box around the area you want to fit in the Scene View. To zoom in to an area of the model by specifying box 1 Click Zoom Box on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 Drag a box with the left mouse button over the Scene View to fill the view with the contents of the box.
To pan a model 1 Click Pan on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 Drag the left mouse button to pan the model up, down, left and right. NOTE Holding down the SHIFT or CTRL keys, or spinning the mouse wheel, temporarily enables normal Zoom mode. Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Mode ➤ Pan Command entry: CTRL + 6 Orbit Mode In Orbit mode, the camera moves around the focal point of the model. In this mode, the up direction is always maintained.
NOTE Holding down the SHIFT key, or spinning the mouse wheel, temporarily enables normal Zoom mode. 3 To glide the camera, hold down the CTRL key as you drag the mouse. The camera glides left and right and up and down. As orbit mode is camera-centric, this mode differs from normal pan mode in that the camera is moved rather than the model.
Fly Mode In Fly mode, you can move around the model like in a flight simulator. To use Fly mode to move through the model 1 Click Fly on the Navigation Mode toolbar. 2 Hold down the left mouse button to move the camera forward. As in a flight simulator, the left mouse button banks left/right when dragged left or right and tilts up/down when dragged up or down. NOTE Holding down the SHIFT key speeds up this movement.
To spin model on a turntable 1 On the navigation bar, click Turntable toolbar. on the Navigation Mode 2 Drag the left mouse button left and right, or use the left and right cursor keys, to spin the turntable left and right respectively. NOTE Holding down the SHIFT key or spinning the mouse wheel, temporarily enables normal Zoom mode. Holding down the CTRL key, temporarily enables normal Pan mode. 3 To tilt the turntable up and down, spin the mouse wheel, or use the up and down cursor keys.
To view everything 1 Click View All on the Navigation Tools toolbar. Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Tools ➤ View All Shortcut menu: Scene ➤ View All Zoom Selected Tool Zooms the camera so that the selected items fill the Scene View. To view selected items 1 Click Zoom Selected on the Navigation Tools toolbar.
TIP When the navigation bar is linked to the ViewCube, both can be moved around the Scene View. See Reposition and Reorient the Navigation Bar (page 285) for more information. Control the Appearance of ViewCube The ViewCube tool is displayed in one of two states: inactive and active. When the ViewCube tool is inactive, it appears partially transparent by default so that it does not obscure the view of the model.
Drag or Click ViewCube When you drag or click the ViewCube tool, the view of the model reorients around a pivot point. The pivot point is displayed at the center of the object that was last selected before using the ViewCube tool. To display or hide the ViewCube ■ Click View tab ➤ Navigation Aids panel ➤ ViewCube . To control the size of the ViewCube 1 Right-click the ViewCube tool, and click ViewCube Options.
3 Click OK. To display the compass for the ViewCube 1 Right-click the ViewCube tool, and click ViewCube Options. 2 In the Options Editor, the ViewCube page under the Interface node, select Show Compass Below the ViewCube. 3 Click OK. The compass is displayed below the ViewCube tool and indicates the direction of north for the model.
The ViewCube menu has the following options: ■ Home. Restores the Home view saved with the model. This view is in synchronization with the Go Home view option in the SteeringWheels menu. ■ Perspective. Switches the current view to perspective projection. ■ Orthographic. Switches the current view to orthographic projection. ■ Lock to Selection. Uses the selected objects to define the center of the view when a view orientation change occurs with the ViewCube tool.
NOTE When the cursor is over one of the clickable areas of the ViewCube tool, the cursor changes to an arrow with a small cube to indicate that it is over the ViewCube tool. A tooltip is also displayed. The tooltip describes the action that you can perform based on the location of the cursor over the ViewCube tool. You use the other twenty defined parts to access angled views of a model.
Switch to an Adjacent Face When the ViewCube tool is active while viewing a model from one of the face views, four orthogonal triangles are displayed near the ViewCube tool. You use these triangles to switch to one of the adjacent face views. Front View You can define the Front view of a model to define the direction of the face views on the ViewCube tool. Along with the Front view, the up direction of a model is also used to define the direction of the face views on the ViewCube tool.
To reorient the current view to a preset orientation ■ Click one of the faces, edges, or corners on the ViewCube tool. To view an adjacent face NOTE: Make sure a face view is current. ■ Click one of the triangles displayed near the edges of the ViewCube tool. To interactively reorient the view ■ Click the ViewCube tool, hold down the left mouse button, and drag in the direction that you want to orbit the model.
When checked, transitions from one view to another appear animated when clicking a predefined area on the ViewCube tool. 3 Click OK. To automatically fit the model after a view orientation 1 Right-click the ViewCube tool, and click ViewCube Options. 2 In the Options Editor, the ViewCube page under the Interface node, select Fit-to-View on Change. 3 Click OK. To roll a face view NOTE: Make sure a face view is displayed. ■ Click one of the roll arrows displayed above and to the right of the ViewCube tool.
perspective projection. So when you want to generate a rendering or hidden line view of a model, using perspective projection will give the model a more realistic look. The following illustration shows the same model viewed from the same viewing direction, but with different view projections.
Examine Individual Objects with ViewCube You can lock the ViewCube tool to a set of selected objects. Locking a selection of objects to the ViewCube tool defines the center of the current view and the distance from center for the view based on the selected objects. To turn off Lock to Selection, you can click the Lock to Selection button next to the Home view button.
Overview of Navigation Bar The navigation bar is a user interface element where you can access both unified and product-specific navigation tools. Unified navigation tools (such as Autodesk® ViewCube®, 3Dconnexion®, and SteeringWheels®) are those that can be found across many Autodesk products. Product-specific navigation tools are unique to a product. The navigation bar floats over and along one of the sides of the Scene View.
To display or hide the navigation bar ■ Click View tab ➤ Navigation Aids panel ➤ Navigation Bar . Reposition and Reorient the Navigation Bar The position and orientation of the navigation bar can be adjusted by linking it to the ViewCube tool, docking it when the ViewCube tool is not displayed, or freely positioning it along one of the edges of the current window. When linked to the ViewCube tool, the navigation bar is positioned below the ViewCube tool and in a vertical orientation.
To link the position of the navigation bar to ViewCube 1 On the navigation bar, click Customize. 2 Click Customize menu ➤ Docking Positions ➤ check Link to ViewCube. When Link to ViewCube is checked, both the navigation bar and ViewCube are repositioned together around the current window. To freely reposition the navigation bar along the edge of the current window TIP In a 2D workspace, click the grip handle and drag the navigation bar to reposition it. 1 On the navigation bar, click Customize.
To customize the navigation bar 1 On the navigation bar, click Customize. 2 On the Customize menu, click the navigation tool you want to display on the navigation bar. A check mark next to a navigation tool’s name indicates it is displayed on the navigation bar. Uncheck the navigation tool to remove it from the navigation bar. You can display a shortcut menu for tools on the navigation bar by right-clicking them.
The following illustrations show the different wheels available: 2D Navigation Wheel Full Navigation Wheel Mini Full Navigation Wheel View Object Wheel (Basic Wheel) Mini View Object Wheel Tour Building Wheel (Basic Wheel) Mini Tour Building Wheel NOTE SteeringWheels and classic navigation modes (page 264) are mutually exclusive, so activating a SteeringWheel deactivates the currently selected Classic navigation mode.
Control the Appearance of Wheels You can control the appearance of the wheels by switching between the different styles of wheels that are available, or by adjusting the size and opacity. Wheels are available in two different styles: big and mini. The big wheel is larger than the cursor, and labels are shown on the wheel wedges. The mini wheel is about the same size as the cursor, and labels are not displayed on the wheel wedges.
Toolbar: Classic user interface: Navigation Mode ➤ SteeringWheels To close a wheel ■ Press SHIFT+W To change the size of a wheel 1 Display a wheel. 2 Right-click the wheel, and click SteeringWheels Options. 3 In the Options Editor, the SteeringWheels page under the Interface node, select an option from the Size drop-down list in the Big Wheels or Mini Wheels area. 4 Click OK. To change the opacity of a wheel 1 Display a wheel. 2 Right-click the wheel, and click SteeringWheels Options.
3 In the Options Editor, the SteeringWheels page under the Interface node, select the Show Tool Messages check box in the On-Screen Messages area. Messages are displayed when you use the navigation tools. 4 Click OK. To enable tool cursor text for wheels 1 Display a wheel. 2 Right-click the wheel, and click SteeringWheels Options. 3 In the Options Editor, the SteeringWheels page under the Interface node, select the Show Tool Cursor Text check box in the On-Screen Messages area.
■ Advanced Wheels. Displays the mini View Object, Tour Building, or Full Navigation wheel. ■ Home. Goes to the Home view saved with the model. NOTE This is the Home view as set using the ViewCube. ■ Fit to Window. Resizes and centers the current view to display all objects in the Scene View. This is equivalent to clicking View All Navigation Tools toolbar in the Classic user interface. on the ■ Restore Original Center. Restores the center point of the view to the extents of the model.
Big View Object Wheel The big View Object wheel wedges have the following options: ■ Center (page 247). Specifies a point on a model to adjust the center of the current view or change the target point used for some of the navigation tools. ■ Zoom (page 261) . Adjusts the magnification of the current view. ■ Rewind (page 256). Restores the most recent view orientation. You can move backward or forward by clicking and dragging left or right. ■ Orbit (page 251).
Toolbar: Classic user interface: Navigation Mode ➤ Mini View Object Wheel To switch to the big View Object wheel ■ Right-click the wheel, and click Basic View Object Wheel.
■ Rewind. Restores the most recent view. You can move backward or forward by clicking and dragging left or right. ■ Up/DownTool. Slides the current view of a model along the Z axis of the model. Mini Tour Building Wheel The mini Tour Building wheel wedges have the following options: ■ Walk (Top wedge). Simulates walking through a model. ■ Rewind (Right wedge). Restores the most recent view. You can move backward or forward by clicking and dragging left or right. ■ Up/Down (Bottom wedge).
Menu: Classic user interface: View ➤ SteeringWheels ➤ Tour Building Wheel Toolbar: Classic user interface: Navigation Mode ➤ Tour Building Wheel Full Navigation Wheels The Full Navigation wheels (big and mini) contain common 3D navigation tools used for both viewing an object and touring a building. The big and mini Full Navigation wheels are optimized for experienced 3D users.
■ Up/Down. Slides the current view of a model along the Z axis of the model. Mini Full Navigation Wheel The mini Full Navigation wheel wedges have the following options: ■ Zoom (Top wedge). Adjusts the magnification of the current view. ■ Walk (Upper right wedge). Simulates walking through a model. ■ Rewind (Right wedge). Restores the most recent view. You can move backward or forward by clicking and dragging left or right. ■ Up/Down (Lower right wedge).
Ribbon: Viewpoint tab ➤ Navigate panel ➤ Steering WheelsFull Navigation Menu: Classic user interface: View ➤ SteeringWheels ➤ Full Navigation Wheel Toolbar: Classic user interface: Navigation Mode ➤ Full Navigation Wheel 2D Navigation Wheel With this wheel you can access basic 2D navigation tools; it is particularly useful when you do not have a pointing device with a scroll wheel. The 2D Navigation wheel wedges have the following options: ■ Pan. Repositions the current view by panning. ■ Zoom.
When a view change occurs with the 3Dconnexion 3D mouse, the ViewCube tool is reoriented to reflect the current view. You can change the behavior of the 3Dconnexion 3D mouse from the navigation bar. 3Dconnexion options on the navigation bar Option Description Example Object Mode Navigates and reorients the view in the direction of the controller cap. Move the controller cap right to pan the view to the right. Walk Mode Simulates walking through a model.
3Dconnexion options on the navigation bar Option Description Example 2D Mode Navigates the view using only 2D navigation options. The view moves in the direction of the controller cap. Move the controller cap to pan and zoom the view. Center Tool Specifies a point to define the pivot point and centers the model on that point. This pivot point is used by subsequent navigation tools until it is moved. Click in the model. The view is centered on the model based on the specified point.
■ Maintain selection sensitivity. Reorients the model around a defined pivot point based on the current selection. ■ Maintain lock to selection. When Lock to Selection option is activated in the ViewCube tool, the view of the object reorients around the predefined center of the selected object. Camera Autodesk Navisworks offers you a number of prefixed options to control the camera projection, position, and orientation during navigation.
Control the Field of View You can define the area of the scene that can be viewed through the camera in a 3D workspace only. For the current viewpoint, you can move the FOV slider on the ribbon to adjust the Horizontal Field of View. For previously saved viewpoints, you can use the Edit Viewpoint dialog box (page 692) to adjust the values for both vertical and horizontal angles of view.
Rotate Camera You can adjust the angle of the camera during navigation in a 3D workspace only. For the current viewpoint, use the Tilt window to rotate the camera up/down, and the Roll entry box on the ribbon to rotate the camera left/right. For saved viewpoints, you can use the Edit Viewpoint dialog box (page 692) to adjust the camera values. Tilt Window The tilt angle is indicated in the scene's units below (negative) or above (positive) horizontal (0) at the base of the window.
You can also type values directly the entry box at the base of the Tilt window. A positive value rotates the camera upwards, and a negative value rotates camera downwards. Typing 0 straightens the camera. To roll camera left/right ■ Click the Viewpoint tab, and slide out the Camera panel. ■ Type in a value into the Roll entry box to rotate the camera around its front-to-back axis. A positive value rotates the camera counterclockwise, and a negative value rotates it clockwise.
TIP The same effect can be achieved by typing 0 at the base of the Tilt window. To straighten camera ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Camera panel ➤ Align Camera drop-down ➤ Straighten . Predefined Camera Views In Autodesk Navisworks, you can align a camera to one of the axis, or select one of six predefined face views to instantly change the camera’s position and orientation in the scene. This functionality is available in a 3D workspace only.
Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Navigation Tools ➤ Align Z To look from a preset face view ■ Right-click the Scene View, and click Viewpoint ➤ Look From. ■ Click one of the face views. Choose from: ■ Top ■ Bottom ■ Front ■ Back ■ Left ■ Right Navigation Aids Head-Up Display Head-up display elements are on-screen displays that provide information about your location and orientation in a 3D workspace. This functionality is not available in a 2D workspace.
To toggle XYZ Axes 1 Click View tab ➤ Navigation Aids panel ➤ HUD drop-down. 2 Select or clear the XYZ Axes check box. To toggle Position Readout 1 Click View tab ➤ Navigation Aids panel ➤ HUD drop-down. 2 Select or clear the Position Readout check box. Reference Views Reference views are useful to get an overall view of where you are in the whole scene and to quickly move the camera to a location in a large model. This functionality is available in a 3D workspace.
2 Drag the triangular marker on the reference view into a new location. The camera in the Scene View changes its position to match the position of the marker in the view. Alternatively, navigate to a different location in the Scene View. The triangular marker in the reference view changes its position to match the camera position in the Scene View. 3 To manipulate a reference view, right-click anywhere in the Plan View window. Use the shortcut menu to adjust the view as desired.
Alternatively, navigate to a different location in the Scene View. The triangular marker in the reference view changes its position to match the camera position in the Scene View. 3 To manipulate a reference view, right-click anywhere in the Section View window. Use the shortcut menu to adjust the view as desired. Command entry: CTRL + F10 Right-clicking the Section View or the Plan View window opens the shortcut menu with the following options.
Option Description Help Opens context-sensitive help. Focus You can put the Scene View into focus mode until the next click. When you are in focus mode, clicking on an item swivels the camera so that the point clicked is in the center of the view. This point becomes the focal point for the Orbit tools (SteeringWheels and navigation bar) in a 3D workspace only.
The selected objects are now held and will move with you through the model when you use navigation tools, such as Walk, Pan and so on. 3 To release the held objects, click Hold on the ribbon again. 4 If you want to reset the objects to their original position, click Item Tools tab ➤ Transform panel ➤ Reset Transform .
When walking or flying around the model with collision activated, you may encounter object that are too low to walk under, a low pipe for example. This function enables you to crouch under any such objects. With crouching activated, you will automatically crouch under any objects that you cannot walk under at your specified height, thereby not impeding your navigation around the model. TIP To temporarily crouch under a low object, hold down the Space bar to allow navigation to proceed.
The dimensions of the collision volume can be customized for the current viewpoint or as a global option. NOTE Collision can only be used with the Walk and Fly navigation tools. When collision is turned on, rendering prioritization is changed so that objects around the camera or avatar are displayed with much higher detail than normal. The size of the region of high detail is based on collision volume radius and speed of movement (needing to see what is about to be walked into).
Using third person in connection with collision and gravity makes this a very powerful function, allowing you to visualize exactly how a person would interact with the intended design. You can customize settings, such as avatar selection, dimension, and positioning, for the current viewpoint or as a global option. When third person view is turned on, rendering prioritization is changed so that objects around the camera or avatar are displayed with much higher detail than normal.
To add and use a custom avatar ATTENTION: Autodesk does not recommend or support usage of the custom avatars. 1 Open the file you want to use as your avatar (DWG, SKP, and so on) in Autodesk Navisworks. 2 Click the application button ➤ Save As. 3 In the Save As dialog box, select .nwd in the Save as Type box. 4 Browse to the Autodesk Navisworks installation directory, for example: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Navisworks Simulate 2012\avatars\my_new_folder_name.
5 Click OK to return to the Options Editor. 6 Click OK. 7 Restart Autodesk Navisworks To change an avatar for the current viewpoint 1 In Autodesk Navisworks, click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Edit Current Viewpoint on the ribbon. 2 In the Edit Viewpoint dialog box, click the Settings button in the Collision area. 3 In the Collision dialog box, select the Enable check box in the Third Person area. 4 Select a new avatar in the Avatar drop-down list.
Control Model Appearance and Render Quality 6 Control Model Appearance You can use the tools on the Render Style panel on the Viewpoint tab to control how your model is displayed in the Scene View. You have a choice of one of four interactive lighting modes (Full Lights, Scene Lights, Head Light, or No Lights), four rendering modes (Full Render, Shaded, Wireframe, or Hidden Line) and you can individually turn each of the five primitive types (Surfaces, Lines, Points, Snap Points, and Text) on and off.
Full Render In Full Render mode, the model is rendered with smooth shading including any materials that have been applied using the Presenter tool, or have been brought through from the native CAD file. NOTE Autodesk Navisworks does not convert all native CAD file’s textures. For more details, see Use File Readers (page 170) and Use File Exporters (page 192). To select Full Render mode ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Mode drop-down, and click Full Render .
Wireframe In Wireframe mode, the model is rendered in wireframe. As Autodesk Navisworks uses triangles to represent surfaces and solids, all triangle edges are visible in this mode. To select Wireframe mode ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Mode drop-down, and click Wireframe .
Full Lights This mode uses lights that have been defined with the Presenter tool. To use lights defined with the Presenter tool ■ Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Lighting drop-down, and click Full Lights . Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Lighting ➤ Full Lights Scene Lights This mode uses the lights that have been brought through from the native CAD file. If no lights are available, two default opposing lights are used instead.
TIP Turning on scene lights mode before following this procedure lets you instantly see the effect your changes have on the scene rendering. 4 Click OK. Head Light This mode uses a single directional light located at the camera that always points in the same direction as the camera. You can customize the Head Light properties in the File Options dialog box (Home tab ➤ Project panel). To use Head Light mode ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Lighting drop-down, and click Head Light .
3 Move the Ambient slider to adjust the brightness of the scene, and the Headlight slider to adjust the brightness of the directional light. TIP Turning on Head Light mode before following this procedure lets you instantly see the effect your changes have on the scene rendering. 4 Click OK. No Lights This mode switches off all lights. The scene is shaded with flat rendering. To turn off all lights ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Lighting drop-down, and click No Lights .
Select Background Effect In Autodesk Navisworks, you can choose a background effect to use in the Scene View. Currently, the following options are available: ■ Plain - the background of the scene is filled with the selected color. This is the default background style. It can be used for 3D models and 2D sheets. Plain background ■ Graduated - the background of the scene is filled with a smooth gradient between the two selected colors. This background can be used for 3D models and 2D sheets.
Horizon background To set a plain background 1 Click View tab ➤ Scene View ➤ Background . 2 In the Background Settings dialog box, select Plain in the Mode drop-down list. 3 Select the required color from the Color palette. 4 Review the new background effect in the preview box, and click OK. To set a graduated background 1 Click View tab ➤ Scene View ➤ Background . 2 In the Background Settings dialog box, select Graduated in the Mode drop-down list. 3 Select the first color from the Top Color palette.
Adjust Displaying of Primitives You can enable and disable the drawing of Surfaces, Lines, Points, Snap Points, and 3D Text in the Scene View. Points are “real” points in the model, whereas Snap Points mark locations on other primitives, for example the center of a circle, and are useful for snapping to when measuring. Surfaces Surfaces are the triangles that make up the 2D and 3D items in the scene. You can toggle the rendering of surfaces in the model.
3 On the Display page, Primitives area, enter a number between 1 and 9 in the Line Size box. This sets the width in pixels for lines drawn in the Scene View. 4 Click OK. Points Points are real points in the model, for example, the points in a point cloud in a laser scan file. You can toggle the rendering of points in the model. You can also change the size of drawn points by using the Options Editor. To toggle the rendering of points ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Points .
To toggle the rendering of snap points ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Render Style panel ➤ Snap Points . To change the size of snap points 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Display option. 3 On the Display page, Primitives area, enter a number between 1 and 9 in the Snap Size box. This sets the size in pixels of snap points drawn in the Scene View. 4 Click OK. Text You can toggle the rendering of text in 3D models.
■ Backface - by default, only the front face of every polygon is drawn in Autodesk Navisworks. Sometimes, during the conversion process the front and back face of polygons get mixed, in which case, you need to adjust the Backface option. ■ Near and Far Clipping Planes (frustum culling) - objects closer to the camera than the near clipping plane or beyond the far clipping plane are not drawn.
2 In the File Options dialog box, Culling tab, select Solid in the Backface area. 3 Click OK. To constrain the position of the clipping planes automatically in a 3D workspace 1 Click Home tab ➤ Project panel ➤ File Options . 2 In the File Options dialog box, click the Culling tab. 3 Select Automatic for the Near clipping plane. 4 Select Automatic for the Far clipping plane. 5 Click OK.
IMPORTANT Autodesk Navisworks uses the provided values even if doing so affects the system performance (for example, makes the whole model invisible). Make Objects Required Although Autodesk Navisworks intelligently prioritizes objects for culling in the scene, sometimes it drops out geometry that needs to remain visible while navigating. You can make sure the objects are always rendered during interactive navigation by making them required.
Control Rendering of Objects Adjust Scene Rendering During Navigation Your models can range in size from small models to complex supermodels. As you navigate a scene in real time, Autodesk Navisworks automatically calculates which items to render first, based on the size of items, distance from the camera, and the specified frame rate. This customizable frame rate is guaranteed by default, but can be turned off, if necessary. Items that Autodesk Navisworks does not have time to render are dropped out.
2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Display option. 3 On the Display page, Detail area, select the Guarantee Frame Rate check box to maintain the target frame rate during navigation. If this check box is clear, the complete model is rendered during navigation, no matter how long it takes. 4 Select the Fill in Detail check box to render a complete model when navigation stops. If this check box is clear, the items dropped out during navigation are not filled in when it stops.
Accelerate Display Performance If your video card supports OpenGL, you can improve the graphical performance by turning on hardware acceleration and occlusion culling. Using the hardware acceleration usually gives you better and faster rendering. However, some graphics cards may not function well in this mode in which case switching this option off is recommended. Occlusion culling can significantly improve performance in situations when much of the model is not visible.
NOTE Occlusion culling can only be used on a machine with an OpenGL 1.5 compliant graphics card. Also, occlusion culling is not used in a 2D workspace. Adjust Presenter Materials You can adjust the appearance of Presenter materials in the Scene View to get optimum performance from your graphics card when navigating around heavily textured scenes.
To enable stereo rendering ■ Click View tab ➤ Stereo panel ➤ Enable Stereo . NOTE This option is only available if you have the required hardware, and the correct driver and display settings. To adjust the stereo effects 1 Click View tab ➤ Stereo panel ➤ Stereo Options tool launcher . 2 In the Stereo Options dialog box, move the Magnitude slider to vary the strength of the effect.
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Review Your Model 7 Select Objects With large models it is potentially a very time-consuming process to select items of interest. Autodesk Navisworks makes this a much simpler task by providing a range of functions for quickly selecting geometry both interactively and by searching the model manually and automatically. Interactive Geometry Selection In Autodesk Navisworks, there is a concept of an active selection set (the currently selected items, or the current selection) and saved selections sets.
You can also customize the level at which you select items (selection resolution) (page 345), and modify the highlighting method for the items selected in the Scene View. Selection Tree Window The Selection Tree is a dockable window, which displays a variety of hierarchical views of the structure of the model, as defined by the CAD application in which the model was created.
Additional customized Selection Tree tabs can be added by using the Autodesk Navisworks API. Naming of items reflects the names from the original CAD application, wherever possible. You can copy and paste names from the Selection Tree. To do this, right-click an item in the Selection Tree, and click Copy Name on the context menu. Alternatively, you can click an item in the Selection Tree, and press CTRL + C. The name is now copied to the clipboard.
2 Right-click any item in the tree and click Scene ➤ Sort. The contents of the tab is now ordered alphabetically. NOTE You cannot use the Undo to reverse this action. option on the Quick Access toolbar To customize the contents of the Compact tab 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Selection option. 3 On the Selection page, select the required level of detail in the Compact Tree box.
Icon Description An instanced item of geometry, such as an instance from 3D Studio. A composite object. A single CAD object that is represented in Autodesk Navisworks by a group of geometry items. Saved selection set. Saved search set. Selection Tools There are two selection tools (Select and Select Box ) available from Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel to control the way you select geometry.
Select Tool The Select tool lets you select items in the Scene View with a mouse click. The tool is activated by clicking Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel ➤ Select drop-down ➤ Select . Once a single item is selected, its properties are shown in the Properties window. Select Box Tool In select box mode, you can select multiple items in the model by dragging a rectangular box around the area you want to make your current selection.
To set the pick radius 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Selection option. 3 On the Selection page, enter the radius in pixels that an item has to be within in order to be selected. The valid values are between 1 and 9. 4 Click OK. Selection Commands Selection commands enable you to quickly alter the current selection using logic.
To select all items with the same name as the currently selected item 1 Click Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel ➤ Select Same drop-down ➤ Same Name . To select all items with the same type as the currently selected item ■ Click Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel ➤ Select Same drop-down ➤ Same Type . To select all items with the same property as the currently selected item ■ Click Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel ➤ Select Same drop-down ➤ Same .
NOTE Using the Select Same command works by comparing items' properties. If you have multiple items selected when you perform a selection command of same name or type and so on, all the types, names and properties of the items in the current selection are compared with all items’ properties in the scene. The items with properties matching any properties of the currently selected items are selected.
To change the default selection resolution with the ribbon tools 1 Click the Home tab and expand the Select & Search panel. 2 Click the Selection Resolution drop-down, and select the required option. The available options for selection resolution are as follows: ■ File. Makes the object path start at the file level; as a result, all objects at the current file level are selected. ■ Layer. Makes the object path start at the layer node; as a result all objects within a layer are selected. ■ First Object.
■ Tinted To toggle highlighting of selected objects 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Selection option. 3 On the Selection page, Highlight area, select the Enabled check box, if you want the selected items to be highlighted in the Scene View. Clear this check box, if you don’t want any highlighting. 4 Click OK. To customize the way objects are highlighted 1 Click the application button ➤ Options.
5 Click the Color palette to select the highlight color. 6 If you selected Tinted in the Method box, use the slider to adjust the Tint Level. 7 Click OK. Hide Objects Autodesk Navisworks provides tools that can be used to hide and display objects or groups of objects. Hidden objects are not drawn in the Scene View. Hide Selected Objects You can hide the objects in the current selection so that they are not drawn in the Scene View. This is useful when you want to remove specific parts of the model.
To make unselected items hidden 1 In the Scene View, select all items you want to review. 2 Click Home tab ➤ Visibility panel ➤ Hide Unselected . Only the selected geometry remains visible. TIP Clicking Hide Unselected again displays the invisible objects. Menu: Classic user interface: Edit ➤ Hide Unselected Shortcut menu: Hide Unselected To reveal all hidden objects ■ Click Home tab ➤ Visibility panel ➤ Unhide All drop-down ➤ Unhide All .
The left pane contains the Find Selection Tree with several tabs at the bottom, and enables you to select the level of item to start searching at; this can be a file, a layer, an instance, a selection set, and so on. The tabs are the same as on the Selection Tree window: ■ Standard. Displays the default tree hierarchy, including all instancing. ■ Compact. Displays a simplified version of the tree hierarchy. ■ Properties. Displays the hierarchy based on the items’ properties. ■ Sets.
Each category and property name has two parts - a user string which is shown in the Autodesk Navisworks interface, and an internal string which is not shown, and is mainly used by the API. By default, the items are matched on both parts, but you can instruct Autodesk Navisworks to match only on one part, if necessary. For example, you can ignore user names in searches, and match items on their internal names only.
comprise the model. If you want to limit your search to a selection set, click the Sets tab, and click the required set. 3 Define a search statement: a Click the Category column, and select the property category name from the drop-down list, for example, ‘Item’. b In the Property column, select the property name from the drop-down list, for example, ‘Material’. c In the Condition column, select the condition operator, for example, “Contains”.
3 Enter a name for your file, and click Save. To import a saved search 1 Click the application button ➤ Import ➤ Search XML. 2 In the Import dialog box, browse to the folder containing the file with the save search criteria, and select it. 3 Click Open. Search Options Category Selects the category name. Only the categories that are contained in the scene are available in the drop-down list. Property Selects the property name.
Value You can either type in a value freely in this box, or choose a pre-defined value from the drop-down list which shows all values in the scene available within the category and property you defined earlier. If you used Wildcard as the condition operator, you can type a value with wildcards. To match one single unspecified character use the symbol “?” (question mark). To match any number of unspecified characters, use the symbol * (asterisk).
Ignore Category User Name Instructs Autodesk Navisworks to use internal category names and ignore the user category names for the selected search statement. Ignore Category Internal Name Instructs Autodesk Navisworks to use user category names and ignore the internal category names for the selected search statement. Ignore Property User Name Instructs Autodesk Navisworks to use internal property names and ignore the user property names for the selected search statement.
2 In the Quick Find text box, type in the string to search for in all item’s properties. This can be a word or a few words. The search is not case-sensitive. 3 Click Quick Find . Autodesk Navisworks finds and selects the first item in the Selection Tree that matches the entered text, selects it in the Scene View, and stops the search. 4 To find more items, click Quick Find again.
Find Items in Other Sheets and Models Window The Find Items in Other Sheets and Models is a dockable window that enables you to search for an object across all prepared sheets/models in the Project Browser. The label at the top of the window indicates the object currently selected in the Scene View. The geometry type is represented with an icon (page 340) next to the object's name. The icons are the same as the icons used on the Selection Tree window.
3 Right-click the object, and click Find Item in Other Sheets and Models on the shortcut menu. 4 If you see a warning status icon in the Find Item in Other Sheets and Models window, click the Prepare All button. Once all sheets/models have been prepared, you will see a list of all sheets/models that contain the object. 5 Select the sheet/model in the list, and click View to open it. Autodesk Navisworks zooms you to the selected object.
Buttons Prepare All Prepares all unprepared sheets and models in the currently open multi-sheet file. View Opens the currently selected sheet or model in the Scene View. Status Icons Not all sheets/models can be searched in the currently open multi-sheet file; at least one sheet or model has not yet been prepared. All sheets/models in the currently open multi-sheet file have been searched, and the results are up-to-date.
Create and Use Sets of Objects In Autodesk Navisworks, you can create and use sets of like objects. This makes it easier to review and analyze your model. Selection Sets Selection sets are static groups of items, and are useful for saving a group of objects that you want to regularly perform some action on, such as hiding them, changing transparency and so on. They simply store a group of items for later retrieval.
The selection sets are identified by this icon: identified by this icon: , and the search sets are . NOTE The list of the items on the Sets window is exactly the same as the list on the Sets tab of the Selection Tree. You can customize the names of selection and search sets, and add comments. You can copy and paste names from the Sets window. To do this, right-click an item in the Sets window, and click Copy Name on the context menu.
2 Right-click any item in the list, and click Sort. The contents of the tab is now ordered alphabetically. The Sets shortcut menu has the following options: ■ New Folder. Creates a folder above the selected item. ■ Add Current Selection. Saves the current selection as a new selection set in the list. This set contains all currently selected geometry. ■ Add Current Search. Saves the current search as a search set in the list. This set contains the current search criteria. ■ Make Visible.
Search and selection sets can be updated. You can modify your current selection in the Scene View, or the current search criteria, and change the contents of your set to reflect this. You can also export search sets and reuse them. For example, if models contain the same components, such as steel structure, ventilation ductwork, and so on, you can define generic search sets, export them as an XML file, and share with other users.
To organize selection and search sets into folders 1 Open the Sets window. 2 Right-click, and click New Folder on the shortcut menu. The folder is added to the list. If, when you right-click, the item selected is a folder, then the new folder is created inside it, otherwise it is added above the selected item. You can have as many folders as you like. 3 Type a name for your folder, and press ENTER. TIP Use names that can help you to identify your sets in future.
To import search sets 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Import dialog box, browse to the folder containing the file with the search sets, and select it. 3 Click Open. Compare Objects You can look for differences between any two selected items in the scene. These items can be files, layers, instances, groups, or just geometry. You can also use this feature to investigate the differences between two versions of the same model.
NOTE The Overridden Material and Overridden Transform check boxes relate to changing the color and transparency in Autodesk Navisworks, and changing a file's origin, scale or rotation since loading into Autodesk Navisworks, respectively. These check boxes are clear by default. All the other criteria relate to properties of items from the original CAD model. 6 In the Results area, select the check boxes to control how the comparison results are displayed: ■ Save as Selection Sets.
To compare two items in the model 1 Select exactly two items in the scene. 2 Click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ Compare . 3 Use the Compare dialog box to set up the comparison search. 4 Click OK. Object Properties Autodesk Navisworks supports the conversion of object properties for many file formats. For more details on supported/unsupported entities, see Use File Readers (page 170). Properties Window Once brought into Autodesk Navisworks, the object properties can be examined in the Properties window.
You can also bring more object properties into Autodesk Navisworks from external databases, and show on the database-specific tabs in the Properties window. To toggle the Properties window ■ Click View tab ➤ Workspace panel ➤ Windows drop-down, and select or clear the Properties check box. Menu: Classic user interface: View ➤ Control Bars ➤ Properties Command entry: SHIFT + F7 To examine object properties 1 Select the object of interest in the Selection Tree, or in the Scene View.
■ Delete New User Data Tab. Deletes the currently selected custom property tab from the Properties window. ■ Insert New Property. Adds a custom property. ■ Delete Property. Deletes the currently selected custom property. ■ Edit Property Value. Enables you to edit the value for all property types except Boolean. ■ Set Value. Enables you to edit the value for Boolean property type. ■ Rename Property. Renames the currently selected custom property. ■ Rename Tab.
2 Click the custom tab you want to delete. 3 Right-click the properties area, and click Delete User Data Tab. To add a custom property 1 Open the Properties window. 2 Click the custom tab where you want to add a property. 3 Right-click the properties area, click Insert New Property, and click the property type you want to add. Choose: ■ String - if the property value is a string ■ Boolean - if the property value is Yes or No ■ Float - if the property value is a decimal value, for example: 1.
External Database Links Databases are commonly used to store large amount of data, such as equipment specifications, catalogue data, and maintenance manuals. You can connect to external databases directly from your Autodesk Navisworks files, and create links between objects in the scene and fields in the database tables to bring through extra properties.
2 If you want to add a database link globally: a Click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ DataTools . b In the DataTools dialog box, click the New button.
3 In the New Link dialog box, enter a Name for the new link, for example, 'Service Information'. This is the name of the tab that will appear on the Properties window. You are now ready to configure the database link.
4 Click OK to save the link and return to the previous dialog box. To configure a database link 1 To configure a file-based database link: 1 Click Home tab ➤ Project panel ➤ File Options . 2 In the File Options dialog box, DataTools tab, click the link you want to configure in the DataTools Links area, and click the Edit button. NOTE If you haven't added any links yet, click the New button, and follow the procedure for adding database links first.
NOTE If you haven't added any links yet, click the New button, and follow the procedure for adding database links first. 3 Configure the ODBC Driver: a In the Edit Link dialog box, select the appropriate ODBC Driver to define the type of the database to link to, for example Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb). b Click the Setup button. The driver wizard opens, and guides you through the setup options. If you have difficulties setting up your connection details, contact your database administrator.
4 Select the Hold Open for Application Lifetime check box, if you want to keep the database link open until you exit Autodesk Navisworks.
IMPORTANT The model is not linked to the external data source until you have activated the database link. To delete a database link 1 To delete a file-based database link: a Click Home tab ➤ Project panel ➤ File Options . b In the File Options dialog box, DataTools tab, click the link you want to remove in the DataTools Links area, and click the Delete button. 2 To delete a global database link: a Click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ DataTools .
2 In the File Options dialog box, DataTools tab, click the link you want to export in the DataTools Links area, and click the Export button. 3 In the Save As dialog box, browse to the desired folder, and enter a name for the datatools file. You can also select the name of an existing datatools file to overwrite it with your modified configuration.
4 Click Save. 5 Click OK to close the File Options dialog box. To import a database link 1 Click Home tab ➤ Project panel ➤ File Options . 2 In the File Options dialog box, DataTools tab, click the Import button.
3 In the Open dialog box, browse to the folder containing the required datatools file, select it, and click Open. 4 Click OK to close the File Options dialog box.
Property Tags %prop("category","property") Property of the currently selected object. Category is the name of the tab in the property windows (for example, Item or Entity Handle) and property is the name of the property in that tab (for example, Value or Layer). %intprop("category","property") Property of the currently selected object. This is the same as the previous tag except instead of using the publicly visible category and property name use the internal Autodesk Navisworks names.
String Manipulation Tags %join("text","text") This tag simply joins the two pieces of text together. For example, %join(“c:\”,”model.nwd”) returns c:\model.nwd. Query Examples The examples below illustrate how tags could be used with SQL queries.
Autodesk Navisworks files. You have an option of resetting object attributes back to the state they were in when imported from the original CAD files. Manipulating Object Attributes During Object Animation You can temporarily modify position, rotation, size, and appearance of geometry objects for animation purposes. These changes are not global, and can only be saved (or captured) as animation keyframes.
■ To move the gizmo itself rather than the selected objects, hold down the CTRL key while dragging the ball in the middle of the gizmo. The move gizmo will snap to other objects as you do this. To move an object numerically 1 Select the object you want to move in the Scene View. 2 Click the Item Tools tab, and slide out the Transform panel.
4 Click the second point in the scene. This is the point where the object will be moved to. There is now a line connecting the start point and the end point in the Scene View. 5 If you want to be able to move the object several times, create more points in the scene. NOTE You can only select a point on another object in the scene. Selecting a point in 'space' is not a valid option.
increase/decrease the translation along that axis. This will move the gizmo itself. Dragging the ball in the middle of the rotate gizmo enables you to move it around, and snap it to points on other geometry objects. ■ Once the rotate gizmo is positioned correctly, place the mouse over one of the curves in the middle, and drag it on the screen to rotate the selected objects. The curves are color-coded, and match the color of the axis used to rotate the object around.
This diagram illustrates how the selected object (position A) is rotated. Lines from the first to the second point (1 to 2) and from the second to third point (2 to 3) define the angle by which the object is rotated (for example, 90 degrees). The second point (2) is used as the rotation center point. 4 Slide out the Measure panel, and click Transform Selected Items . This rotates the selected object from position A into position B (as shown in the previous diagram).
To resize an object numerically 1 Select the object you want to resize in the Scene View. 2 Click the Item Tools tab, and slide out the Transform panel. 3 Type in numerical values into the manual entry boxes to move the object by the amount entered: ■ Scale X, Y, Z represent a scaling factor (1 being the current size, 0.5 half, 2 being double, and so on). ■ Transform Center X, Y, Z represent the scaling center point.
Menu: Classic user interface: Edit ➤ Override Item ➤ Override Transparency Snapping Snapping gives you control when measuring, moving, rotating, and scaling objects in Autodesk Navisworks. Points and snap points are automatically snapped to. You can set the cursor to snap to the nearest vertex, edge, or line when you pick geometry. You can also adjust the snapping angle and the snapping tolerance that are used when you rotate geometry.
2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Snapping option. 3 On the Snapping page, Picking area, select the check boxes for all required snaps, and enter the snapping Tolerance. The smaller the value, the closer the cursor must be to a feature in the model before it snaps to it. 4 In the Rotation area, enter the multiplier for the snapping angle into the Angles box, and the snapping tolerance into the Angle Sensitivity box.
To reset transform for all objects in your scene ■ Click Home tab ➤ Project panel ➤ Reset All drop-down ➤ Transforms . Measure Tools Measure tools enable you to measure between points on items in the model. All measurements are made in display units (page 157). Using measure tools is mutually exclusive to using navigation tools (see Product-Specific Navigation Tools (page 241)), so that when you are measuring you cannot navigate and vice versa.
To toggle the Measure Tools window ■ Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure Options tool launcher . Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ Measure Button Description Measures the distance between two points. Measures the distance between a base point and various other points. Measures a total distance between multiple points along a route. Calculates the sum total of several point-topoint measurements. Calculates an angle between two lines. Calculates an area on a plane.
Measuring You can use measuring tools to make linear, angular, and area measurements, and to automatically measure the shortest distance between two selected objects. NOTE When you measure, you must click on a point on an item to register a point - clicking on the background will not register anything. You can reset a measure command at any time by right-clicking instead of left-clicking in the Scene View.
Dimension Labels For distance-based measurements, the dimension label is drawn for each line segment. For accumulative measurements, the dimension label shows the totals, and is drawn for the last line segment. The text is positioned relative to the center point of the line. For angular measurements, an arc indicator is shown inside the angle, with the centre of the text positioned on the invisible line bisecting the angle. If an angle is too acute, the label is drawn outside the angle.
To measure a distance between two points 1 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure drop-down ➤ Point to Point . 2 Click the start and end point of the distance to be measured in the Scene View. The optional dimension label displays the measured distance. Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Measure ➤ Point to Point To keep the same start point as you measure a distance between two points 1 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure drop-down ➤ Point to Multiple Points .
2 Click the start and the second point to be measured. 3 Click the next point along the route. 4 Repeat this to measure the entire route. The optional dimension label displays the total distance along the selected route. TIP If you want to change the start point, right-click in the Scene View, and select a new start point. Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Measure ➤ Point Line To calculate an angle between two lines 1 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure drop-down ➤ Angle .
To calculate the sum total of several point-to-point measurements 1 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure drop-down ➤ Accumulate . 2 Click the start and end points of the first distance to be measured. 3 Click the start and end points of the next distance to be measured. 4 Repeat to measure more distances if necessary. The optional dimension label displays the sum of all point-to-point measurements.
Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Measure ➤ Measure Area To measure the shortest distance between two objects 1 Press and hold the CTRL key, and select two objects in the Scene View with the Select tool . 2 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure Shortest Distance . The optional dimension label displays the shortest distance between the selected objects.
To clear measuring lines ■ Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Measure drop-down ➤ Clear . Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Measure ➤ Clear To convert measurements into redlines 1 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel, and take the desired measurements, for example, distance between two points. 2 Click Review tab ➤ Measure panel ➤ Convert to Redline . The end markers, lines, and dimension label (if any) of your current measurement are now converted to a redline, and stored in the current viewpoint.
Comments Window The Comments window is a dockable window that enables you to view and manage comments. The Comments window shows the name, time and date, author, ID, status, and subject (or first line) of each comment. There are different icons helping you to identify the source of each comment at a glance. The Comment shortcut menu has the following options: ■ Add Comment. Opens the Add Comment dialog box. ■ Edit Comment. Opens the Edit Comment dialog box for the selected item. ■ Delete Comment.
2 Right-click the desired viewpoint in the Saved Viewpoints window, and click Add Comment. 3 In the Comments window, type in your comment. By default, it is assigned New status. 4 Click OK. To add a comment to a viewpoint animation 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Saved Viewpoints tool launcher to open the Saved Viewpoints window. 2 Right-click the desired viewpoint animation in the Saved Viewpoints window, and click Add Comment. 3 In the Comments window, type in your comment.
2 Go the source of your comments. For example, open the Saved Viewpoints window. 3 As you click the source items, for example, viewpoints, the associated comments are displayed in the Comments window.
In the classic user interface, you can use the Redline Tools dockable window to add redlines, and tags. The Thickness and Color controls enable you to modify the redline settings. These changes do not affect already drawn redlines. Also, thickness only applies to lines; it does not affect redline text, which has a default size and weight and cannot be modified. All redlines can only be added to a saved viewpoint or to a clash result which has a saved viewpoint.
4 Enter your annotation into the box provided, and click OK. The redline is added to the selected viewpoint. NOTE Text can only be added in a single line with this redline tool. To display text on multiple lines, write each line individually. 5 If you want to move the annotation, right-click the redline, and click Move. Clicking a different location in the Scene View moves the text there. 6 If you want to edit the annotation, right-click the redline, and click Edit.
Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Redline ➤ Freehand To draw a line 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Saved Viewpoints drop-down, and choose the viewpoint that you want to review. 2 Click Review tab ➤ Redline panel ➤ Draw drop-down, and click Line . 3 Click in the viewpoint at line start and end points.
Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Redline ➤ Line To draw a string of lines 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Saved Viewpoints drop-down, and choose the viewpoint that you want to review. 2 Click Review tab ➤ Redline panel ➤ Draw drop-down, and click Line String . 3 Click in the viewpoint to begin. Each time you click, a new point is added to the line string. When the string is complete, click the right mouse button to end the line, and you can then start a new line string.
Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Redline ➤ Line String To draw an ellipse 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Saved Viewpoints drop-down, and choose the viewpoint that you want to review. 2 Click Review tab ➤ Redline panel ➤ Draw drop-down, and click Ellipse . 3 Click and drag a box in the viewpoint to outline the ellipse. 4 Release the mouse to place the ellipse in the viewpoint.
Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Redline ➤ Ellipse To draw a cloud 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Saved Viewpoints drop-down, and choose the viewpoint that you want to review. 2 Click Review tab ➤ Redline panel ➤ Draw drop-down, and click Cloud . 3 Click in the viewpoint to begin drawing the arcs of the cloud. Each time you click, a new point is added. Clicking clockwise draws regular arcs, clicking counterclockwise, draws inverted arcs.
Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Redline ➤ Cloud Tool Description Adds text to a viewpoint. Enables you to draw freehand in a viewpoint. Draws a line in a viewpoint. Draws a string of lines in a view point. Draws an ellipse in a viewpoint. Draws a cloud in a viewpoint. Erases redlines. View Redlines and Tags To view redlines and tags you need to recall the viewpoint that contains them.
To view redlines 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Saved Viewpoints tool launcher . 2 Click the desired viewpoint in the Saved Viewpoints window. All attached redlines (if any) are displayed in the Scene View. Tags Panel The Tags panel on the Review tab enables you to add and manage tags. Tags combine the features of redlining, viewpoints and comments into a single, easy to use review tool. This allows you to tag anything you want to identify in the model scene.
4 In the Add Comments dialog box, enter the text to be associated with the tag, set the tag Status from the drop-down list, and click OK. Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Redline ➤ Tag To view tags 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Saved Viewpoints tool launcher . 2 Click the desired viewpoint in the Saved Viewpoints window. All attached tags (if any) are displayed in the Scene View.
4 Use the Status box to change the status. 5 Click OK. Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Comments ➤ Edit Comment To delete a comment or tag 1 View the comment or tag you want to delete in the Comments window. 2 Right-click the comment or tag, and click Delete Comment. Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Comments ➤ Delete Comment Edit Redlines Added redlines cannot be edited with the exception of text, which can be moved and changed as needed.
2 Click Review tab ➤ Redline panel ➤ Draw drop-down, and click Erase . 3 Drag a box over the redline you want to delete, and release the mouse. Menu: Classic user interface: Review ➤ Redline ➤ Erase Find Comments and Tags You can use the Find Comments window to set up and run a search for tags and comments. You can also use the controls on the Tags panel to navigate through tags.
Three tabs on the top enables you to set up the search criteria. Pressing the Find button runs the search. Any found results are displayed in a multi-column table at the bottom of the window. You can use the scroll bars at the right and at the bottom of the tab to move through the comments. There are different icons helping you to identify the source of each comment at a glance. These icons are the same as the ones used in the Comments window.
To find comments 1 Open the Find Comments window. 2 Set up the search criteria: ■ Use the Comments tab if you want to search for a specific text, author, comment ID, or status. ■ Use the Date Modified tab to only search for comments created within the specified timeframe. ■ Use the Source tab to only search for comments attached to the selected sources. 3 Click Find. To find tags by using the Find Comments window 1 Open the Find Comments window.
Status Selects the comment status to search for. Match Case Select this check box if you want the search to respect lower and upper case characters in the search. Date Modified Tab Use this tab to specify a date range within which the comments must have been made. All Comments The search returns all comments. This is the default option. Between Select this radio button if you want to search for all comments modified between the specified dates.
Quick Find Comments To locate comments that match a specified search term quickly, use the Quick Find Comments feature. To quickly find comments 1 Click Review tab ➤ Comments panel. 2 In the Quick Find Comments text box, type in the string to search for in all comments. This can be a word or a few words. 3 Click Quick Find Comments . The Find Comments window opens with a list of all comments that match the entered text. Clicking on the comment in the list takes you to the appropriate viewpoint.
Find Tags You can search for tags the same way as you search for comments. You can also find tags by their ID numbers, and navigate through tags using the controls on the Tags panel. To find tags by tag ID 1 Click Review tab ➤ Tags panel. 2 Enter the tag ID into the text box, and click Go to Tag . You are automatically taken to the appropriate viewpoint. To navigate through tags 1 Click Review tab ➤ Comments panel ➤ View Comments open the Comments window.
3 To navigate through the tags in your scene: ■ Click Review tab ➤ Tags panel ➤ Next Tag following the current tag. to find the tag ■ Click Review tab ➤ Tags panel ➤ Previous Tag tag preceding the current tag. ■ Click Review tab ➤ Tags panel ➤ Last Tag in the scene. to find the to find the last tag Manage Comment and Tag IDs When you add a tag or comment to your scene, it is automatically assigned a unique ID.
Links There are several sources of links in Autodesk Navisworks: original links that have been converted from the native CAD files, links that have been added by Autodesk Navisworks users, and links that have been automatically generated by the program (for example, selection set links, viewpoint links, TimeLiner task links and so on). The links converted from the native CAD files, and the links added by Autodesk Navisworks users are treated as object properties.
Display Links You can switch links in the Scene View on and off. You can also toggle the display of each of the link categories. Autodesk Navisworks remembers the selected visibility setting between sessions. When links are switched on, you can reduce the screen clutter by restricting a number of links can be shown in the Scene View, hiding colliding icons, and using culling.
NOTE If no user-defined categories have been added, this page is empty. 4 Click OK. To reduce the screen clutter 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Links option. 3 On the Links page, enter the number of links into the Max Icons box. By default, 25 links can be visible. 4 To hide links that appear overlapped in the Scene View, select the Hide Colliding Icons check box. 5 In the Cull Radius box enter the desired value.
Attachment Points By default, links are attached to the default center of the item's bounding box. You can override this with more convenient attachment points. If you add more than one attachment point, the link is displayed attached to the closest attachment point to the camera during navigation. This allows you to set up links so that they are always available for following when drawn in 3D mode during navigation, and do not disappear behind objects.
4 Click OK. To customize appearance of standard links 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, expand the Links node, and click the Standard Categories option. 3 On the Standard Categories page, use the Icon Type box to specify how you want a link to be drawn for each of the available categories. You can choose between an icon and text. By default, label links are shown as text, and the rest of the link categories are shown as icons. 4 Click OK.
The table below shows the icons that can be used to represent different link categories in the Scene View. Icon Description Represents links that have hyperlink, label, or any user-defined category (and points to a web address). Represents links that have hyperlink, label, or any user-defined category (and points to an external file). Represent links with TimeLiner category (task with attached items). Represent links with TimeLiner category (task with valid links).
To add a link to an object 1 In the Scene View, select the desired geometry item. 2 Click Item Tools tab ➤ Links panel ➤ Add Link . 3 In the Add Link dialog box, enter the name for the link in the Name box. 4 In the Link to File or URL box, type in the full path to the required data source or the URL address. You can also browse containing the desired external file. to the folder 5 Choose the category for your link from the Category drop-down list. by default, your link has hyperlink category.
To add several links to the same object 1 In the Scene View, select the desired geometry item. 2 Right-click and click Links ➤ Add Link. 3 Use the Add Link dialog box to add the first link. This is the default link, and it’s the only link that will be visible in the Scene View. You can choose a different default link later, if necessary. 4 Right-click the object again, and repeat the previous steps to add all required links.
To follow a default link from the Properties window Note: You can use this procedure to follow links from original CAD files, or links that you have added yourself. 1 In the Scene View, select the object with a link. 2 Open the Properties window, right-click any tab, and click Follow Default Link. To find links 1 Click Home tab ➤ Select & Search panel ➤ Find Items . 2 In the Find Items window, click the Standard tab, press and hold CTRL, and click all files that comprise the model.
You can delete any links that have been added to your file by Autodesk Navisworks users, and the links that have been converted from original CAD files. You cannot delete automatically generated links, but you can turn them off, so they don’t clutter the Scene View. To edit a link 1 In the Scene View, right-click the link you want to edit, and click Edit Link. 2 In the Edit Links dialog box, click the link you want to change, and click the Edit button.
To change the default link 1 In the Scene View, right-click the default link, and click Edit Link. 2 In the Edit Link dialog box, select the link that you want to be shown in the Scene View, and click the Make Default button. NOTE You can also move links up and down the list using the Move Up and Move Down buttons, or by dragging them to their new position in the list. The link at the top of the list is the default link. 3 Click OK.
Quick Properties You can switch quick properties in the Scene View on and off. Autodesk Navisworks remembers the selected visibility setting between sessions. When Quick Properties are switched on, you can view property information in a tooltip style window as you move your cursor over objects in the Scene View. You don’t need to select objects first. The quick properties tooltip disappears after a few seconds.
2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, expand the Quick Properties node, and click the Definitions option. 3 On the Definitions page, click Grid View properties definitions as table rows. 4 Click Add Element to display quick . A new row is added to the top of the table. 5 Click the Category column, and select the property category from the drop-down list, for example ‘Item.’ The options available depend on the property categories in your model.
4 Click OK. SwitchBack SwitchBack enables you to select an object in Autodesk Navisworks, and then locate and zoom into the same object in a native CAD package. You can use the SwitchBack functionality with AutoCAD (version 2004 or later), Revit (version 2012 or later), and MicroStation-based CAD products (/J and v8). IMPORTANT The native CAD package must be installed on the same machine as Autodesk Navisworks for SwitchBack to work.
NOTE Some objects cannot be selected in AutoCAD (for example, blocks) which may mean that running SwitchBack may be unsuccessful with a given selected object. If this is the case, try selecting further up the object tree and trying again. Shortcut menu: SwitchBack To use SwitchBack with MicroStation 1 For MicroStation (/J and v8) or products based on it, open the product in the usual manner. 2 Click Utilities ➤ Key In. 3 In the Key-In dialog box, type mdl load nwexport9 to load the nwexport plugin.
2 Click Add-Ins tab ➤ External Tools ➤ Navisworks SwitchBack to enable it. You can now close the project, but don't close Revit. 2 Return to Autodesk Navisworks and open the desired file. As long as you are working with an NWC file exported from Revit, or a saved NWF or NWD file, you can SwitchBack to Revit. 3 Select an object in the Scene View, and click Item Tools tab ➤ SwitchBack panel ➤ SwitchBack . Revit will load the relevant project, find and select the item, and zoom to it.
Appearance profile selectors define the object selection criteria and appearance settings. The object selection can be based on property values or on search and selection sets available in your Autodesk Navisworks file. Using property values is more flexible, because search and selection sets need to be added to your model first, and are frequently designed to cover a specific area of the model (level, floor, zone and so on).
To save an appearance profile 1 Open the Appearance Profile dialog and define all required sectors. 2 Click the Save button. 3 In the Save As dialog, enter a file name and location. 4 Click Save. To open an existing appearance profile 1 Open the Appearance Profile dialog. 2 Click Load. 3 In the Open dialog, locate the desired appearance profile DAT file. 4 Click Open. To color-code model by property values 1 Open the Appearance Profile dialog. 2 Click the By Property tab in the Selector area.
To color-code model by search and selection sets 1 Open the Appearance Profile dialog. 2 Click the By Set tab in the Selector area. 3 Select the set you want to use in the list, and click Test Selection. All objects that satisfy the criteria are selected in the Scene View. 4 If you are satisfied with the results, use the Appearance area to configure the color and transparency overrides for your selector. 5 Click Add. The selector is now added to the Selector list.
Use Viewpoints and Sectioning Modes 8 Viewpoints are an important feature of Autodesk Navisworks. They allow you to save and recall different settings related to the view of the model and settings for navigation. You also have the option to save item visibility and appearance overrides within viewpoints. Create and Modify Viewpoints Overview of Viewpoints Viewpoints are snapshots taken of the model as it is displayed in the Scene View.
View of the Model ■ Camera position, projection mode, field of view and orientation ■ Lighting mode, render mode and toggles for the display of different geometry types (surfaces, lines, points) ■ Sectioning configuration Additionally, the following item overrides can be saved with the viewpoint (this is optional): ■ Visibility (hidden / required) ■ Appearance (color and transparency) Navigation ■ Linear and angular speeds of motion ■ Realism settings (collision, gravity, third person, crouch)
Viewpoint animations are also saved with the viewpoints, as they are simply a list of viewpoints treated as keyframes. In fact, viewpoint animations can be made by simply dragging preset viewpoints onto an empty viewpoint animation. You can organize your viewpoints and viewpoint animations using folders. Icons are used to represent different elements: represents a folder which may contain all other elements (including other folders). represents a viewpoint saved in orthographic mode.
animations onto viewpoint animations or folders. Holding down the CTRL key during this operation will copy the element being dragged. This allows fairly complex hierarchies of viewpoint animations and folders to be easily composed. Viewpoints, folders and viewpoint animations can all be renamed by slow clicking (clicking and pausing without moving the mouse) the element, or clicking it and pressing F2.
Add Cut Adds an animation cut above the selected viewpoint. Cuts are used as pauses in the viewpoint animations, and are 1 second long by default. Add Copy Creates a copy of the selected viewpoint in the Saved Viewpoints window. The copy is named the same as the selected viewpoint, but includes the version number in brackets. For example, View1(1), View1(2) and so on. Add Comment Adds a comment regarding the selected viewpoint. See Comments, Redlines, and Tags (page 399) for more information on comments.
Add Comment Adds a comment regarding the selected viewpoint animation. See Comments, Redlines, and Tags (page 399) for more information on comments. Edit Comment When available, opens the Edit Comment dialog box. Edit Opens the Edit Animation dialog box, and enables you to set the duration of the selected viewpoint animation, the type of smoothing, and whether it loops or not.
Add Copy Creates a copy of the selected folder in the Saved Viewpoints window. The copy is named the same as the selected folder, but includes the version number in brackets. For example, Folder1(1), Folder1(2) and so on. Add Comment Adds a comment regarding the selected folder. See Comments, Redlines, and Tags (page 399) for more information on comments. Edit Comment When available, opens the Edit Comment dialog box.
Recall Viewpoints You can return to any of previously saved viewpoints. On recalling viewpoints the navigation mode that was active when the viewpoint was created will be re-selected. Any redlines and comments associated with the viewpoint will also be reinstated. To recall a viewpoint from the ribbon ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Current Viewpoint drop-down, and choose the saved viewpoint from the list. It is now displayed in the Scene View.
To organize viewpoints into folders 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Current Viewpoint drop-down ➤ Manage Saved Viewpoints. This opens the Saved Viewpoints window, and makes it the active window. 2 Right-click an empty space in the Saved Viewpoints window, and click New Folder. 3 Type in a new name, and press Enter. TIP Use names that can help you identify your viewpoints in future. 4 Drag the required viewpoints into your new folder.
To edit current viewpoint 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Edit Current Viewpoint . 2 Use the Edit Viewpoint dialog box (page 692) to adjust the viewpoint’s attributes. 3 Click OK. To edit a viewpoint 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Current Viewpoint drop-down ➤ Manage Saved Viewpoints. 2 In the Saved Viewpoints window, right-click the viewpoint you want to modify, and click Edit.
4 Click OK. To delete a viewpoint 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Current Viewpoint drop-down ➤ Manage Saved Viewpoints. 2 In the Saved Viewpoints window, right-click the viewpoint you want to remove, and click Delete. Default Viewpoint Options Two view attributes can be saved with a viewpoint: ■ Hide/Required - whether items are hidden or required. ■ Override Materials - the color and transparency of items.
By default these attributes are not stored with new saved viewpoints. If you do wish them to be saved by default, then this can be set in the Options Editor. Default collision settings can also be saved with a viewpoint, including whether collision, gravity, crouching, and third person view are enabled. These settings are only used in a 3D workspace. You can set a viewpoint to save any of these settings by editing the viewpoint, in the same way as the view attributes.
3 Select the Save Hide/Required Attributes check box if you want to save the hidden and required items with the viewpoints you save. This means that when returning to those viewpoints, the items that were hidden when the viewpoint was saved will be hidden again and those that were drawn will be drawn again. By default, this check box is clear, as it requires a relatively large amount of memory to save this state information with each viewpoint.
6 The Default Angular Speed can be set to any number of degrees per second. This affects the speed at which the camera turns. 7 Click OK. To set the default collision options 1 Click the application button ➤ Options. 2 In the Options Editor, expand the Interface node, and click the Viewpoint Defaults option. 3 On the Viewpoint Defaults page, click the Settings button. 4 In the Default Collision dialog box (page 688), select the default options you want Autodesk Navisworks to initialize with.
Sectioning Autodesk Navisworks enables you to turn on sectioning for the current viewpoint and to create cross sections of your model in a 3D workspace. The sectioning functionality is not available for 2D sheets. A cross section is a cut-away view of a 3D object that enable you to see inside it. You can turn sectioning on and off for the current viewpoint by clicking Viewpoint tab ➤ Sectioning panel ➤ Enable Sectioning .
To turn sectioning on or off for the current viewpoint ■ Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Sectioning panel ➤ Enable Sectioning . Toolbar: Classic user interface: Workspace ➤ Enable Sectioning Enable and Use Section Planes To view cross-sectional cuts of your model, you can enable up to six section planes. When a plane is ‘enabled’ it means that it affects (cuts through) the scene. The current plane is the one that is rendered visibly in the Scene View.
To use a plane to cross-section a 3D model for the first time 1 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Sectioning panel ➤ Enable Sectioning . Autodesk Navisworks opens the Sectioning Tools tab on the ribbon, and draws a section plane through the model in the Scene View. Default alignment for Plane 1 is Top. Default position is through the center of the visible area of the model. Move is the default gizmo. 2 Drag the gizmo to position the current plane as needed.
TIP To see which planes are enabled, expand the Current Plane drop-down on the Planes Settings panel. Enabled plane has a lit light bulb next to its name. icon To enable or disable additional section planes 1 Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Mode panel ➤ Planes . 2 Click the Current Plane drop-down on the Planes Settings panel, and click the bulb icons next to all required planes. When a bulb is lit, the corresponding section plane is enabled and cuts through the model in the Scene View.
NOTE If you want to move all planes together, you can link them. Otherwise, you can only move one (the current) plane at a time. Customize Section Plane Alignment By default, section planes are mapped to one of the six primary directions as follows: Plane No Plane Name Default Alignment 1 Plane 1 Top 2 Plane 2 Bottom 3 Plane 3 Front 4 Plane 4 Back 5 Plane 5 Left 6 Plane 6 Right You can select a different alignment for the current section plane.
■ Align To Line - enables you to pick a line, and place the current plane ‘on’ that line, at the point where you clicked, and aligned so that its normal is on the line itself, facing towards the camera. To align a section plane to one of the pre-fixed directions 1 Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Mode panel ➤ Planes . 2 Click the Current Plane drop-down on the Planes Settings panel, and select the plane you want to customize, for example, Plane 1. This plane becomes the current plane.
2 Click the Current Plane drop-down on the Planes Settings panel, and select the plane you want to customize, for example, Plane 1. This plane becomes the current plane. 3 Click the Alignment drop-down on the Planes Settings panel, and click Align To Surface . The cursor changes to a crosshair . 4 In the Scene View, click somewhere on an object you want to align to. Autodesk Navisworks updates the position and alignment of the section plane so that it is placed ‘on’ the surface of the selected object.
You can only manipulate one plane at a time (the current plane), but it is possible to link section planes together to form slices. The following table illustrates how the sectioning gizmos work with the section planes. Gizmo Behavior Move Perpendicular arms and faces move the current plane and the gizmo. Parallel arms and face move only the gizmo. Rotate The position of the gizmo signifies the center of rotation. Perpendicular arcs rotate the current plane and the gizmo.
3 Slide out the Transform panel, and type in numerical values into the Position manual entry boxes to move the current plane by the amount entered. To rotate a section plane with gizmo 1 Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Mode panel ➤ Planes . 2 Click the Current Plane drop-down on the Planes Settings panel, and select the plane you want to use, for example, Plane 3. This plane becomes the current plane. 3 Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Click Transform panel ➤ Rotate .
To rotate a section plane numerically 1 Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Mode panel ➤ Planes . 2 Click the Current Plane drop-down on the Planes Settings panel, and select the plane you want to use, for example, Plane 3. This plane becomes the current plane. 3 Slide out the Transform panel, and type in numerical values into the Rotation manual entry boxes to rotate the current plane by the amount entered.
3 Click Link Section Planes on the Planes Settings panel. All enabled planes are linked now together into a slice. 4 If the move gizmo is not visible in the Scene View, on the Transform panel, click Move . 5 Drag the gizmo to move the current section plane. All section planes are now moving together, effectively creating a slice through the model. 6 Optional: Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Save panel ➤ Save Viewpoint to save the current sectioned viewpoint.
gizmos share the same location/rotation. This means that moving one gizmo affects the position of others. When the section box is first created, the default size of the box is based upon the bounds of the current viewpoint. The box is created to fill the view such that no part of the box is drawn off-screen. Afterwards, enabling a section box restores the saved position, rotation, and scale information used if it is available for the current viewpoint.
4 Optional: Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Save panel ➤ Save Viewpoint to save the current sectioned viewpoint. To move the section box with gizmo 1 Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Mode panel ➤ Box 2 On the Transform panel, click Move . . 3 Drag the gizmo arms or faces to move the box as needed. To move the section box numerically 1 Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Mode panel ➤ Box .
3 Drag the gizmo to rotate the box as needed. 4 Optional: Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Save panel ➤ Save Viewpoint to save the current sectioned viewpoint. To rotate the section box numerically 1 Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Mode panel ➤ Box . 2 Slide out the Transform panel, and type in numerical values into the Rotation manual entry boxes to rotate the box by the amount entered.
4 Optional: Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Save panel ➤ Save Viewpoint to save the current sectioned viewpoint. To scale the section box numerically 1 Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Mode panel ➤ Box . 2 Slide out the Transform panel, and type in numerical values into the Size manual entry boxes to scale the box by the amount entered.
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Record and Play Animations 9 In Autodesk Navisworks there are two types of animation: viewpoint animation and object animation. Viewpoint Animation Viewpoint animation is a quick and efficient way of recording both your movement through the model and views of the model.
specific viewpoints for Autodesk Navisworks to interpolate into a viewpoint animation later. Viewpoint animation is controlled through the Animation tab and the Saved Viewpoints window. It is worth remembering that you can hide items in viewpoints, override colors and transparencies and set multiple section planes and these will all be respected by a viewpoint animation. This way you can easily create powerful viewpoint animations.
The resulting viewpoint animation will contain a cut (page 469) for the duration of the pause. 4 When finished, click Animation tab ➤ Recording panel ➤ Stop . The animation is saved automatically in the Saved Viewpoints window (click View tab ➤ Workspace panel ➤ Windows drop-down ➤ Saved Viewpoints). Your new viewpoint animation is called “AnimationX”, where “X” is the latest available number. The name will be editable at this point if you want to name it yourself.
If you drop them onto the viewpoint animation icon itself, then the viewpoints will become frames at the end of the animation, but you can drop the viewpoints anywhere on the expanded animation to put them where you wish. 5 At this point, you can use the Playback Position slider on the Playback panel of the Animation tab to move backward and forward through the viewpoint animation to see how it looks.
6 Click OK. To insert cuts (pauses) into a viewpoint animation 1 If necessary, display the Saved Viewpoints window (click View tab ➤ Workspace panel ➤ Windows drop-down ➤ Saved Viewpoints). 2 Below the animation frame where you want to insert the cut, right-click and select Add Cut. 3 Type in the name of the cut, or press Enter to accept the default name, which will be “CutX”, where “X” is the next available number. 4 The default duration of a cut is 1 second.
Control Purpose Records the viewpoint animation. Stops animation playback or recording. Pauses animation playback or recording. Plays the currently selected animation. Steps forwards one frame or keyframe in the animation. Moves forward to the end of animation. The playback time slider. The playback time spinner. To play an animation 1 Click Animation tab ➤ Playback panel ➤ Available Animations drop-down list and select the animation you want to play back. 2 On the Playback panel, click Play .
camera to that point in time in the viewpoint animation and continue playing back from there. To enable animation scripts ■ Click Animation tab ➤ Scripts panel ➤ Enable Scripts . You can now interact with your model. For example, if there is a script to open a door on pressing a specific key on the keyboard, pressing this key will open the door. Share Animations You can export the animations to AVI files for playback with Windows Media Player.
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Work Within a Team 10 Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 enables multiple users to participate in a single design review session across a Local Area Network (LAN). The Collaborate tool has two noteworthy limitations. ■ Collaboration between different versions of Autodesk Navisworks is not supported. ■ This feature is only available for Windows XP users, as it utilizes the shared program features of Windows NetMeeting, which is unavailable in the Vista and Windows 7 operating systems.
participants’ machines. Any viewpoints or redlines, for example, added during the session can be updated on all participants’ machines at the click of a button. NOTE If a collaborative review session, as outlined here, is not conducted in single room, then additional teleconferencing provisions could be necessary. This may be using the NetMeeting Whiteboard, or your own telephone system.
To place a call, inviting attendees to join 1 Having initialized Windows NetMeeting, click the Call button the NetMeeting dialog box. in 2 In the Place a Call dialog box, enter the machine name or IP address of the machine you wish to join the meeting into the To box. 3 Click the Call button to send the invite. Once the person receiving the invite accepts this, both their name and yours will be listed in the NetMeeting dialog box. 4 Repeat this procedure to invite all required participants.
To become the driver During a collaboration meeting, anyone in the call can take control of the session and become the driver. The driver will control navigation of the shared model on all machines in the call. 1 Click Review tab ➤ Collaborate panel ➤ Drive . 2 Upon clicking the drive button, all other users in the call will receive a message advising that you are requesting control. They will have to answer Yes to this message if you are to drive Autodesk Navisworks on their machine.
Share Data 11 Print You can print a hard copy of the current viewpoint to any printer or plotter. Print Preview Before you print out a copy of the model or sheet you are working on, you may wish to see how it will appear. To preview model/sheet before printing 1 Click Output tab ➤ Print panel ➤ Print Preview . 2 Use the Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons to do just that with the preview image. 3 Click Print. 4 In the Print dialog box, click OK.
2 In the Print Setup dialog box, make changes as required to the paper and orientation. 3 Click the Properties button if you want to change printer-specific settings. 4 Return to the Print dialog box, and click OK. Print Current Viewpoint When the print option is selected, Autodesk Navisworks prints the current viewpoint scaled to fit and centered on the page. NOTE If you would prefer to export an image for printing, see Export an Image (page 492) for more information.
Search Criteria Files Search criteria can be imported into Autodesk Navisworks. This will populate the Find Items window. The search can then be run on the current model, finding any items that match the specific criteria. See Find Items Window (page 349) for more information on searching the model for items based on their properties. To import saved search criteria 1 Click the application button ➤ Import ➤ Search . 2 In the Import dialog box, locate the desired search XML file. 3 Click Open.
and search the current model accordingly. See Find Items Window (page 349) for more information on searching the model for items based on their properties. To import saved search sets 1 Click the application button ➤ Import ➤ Search Sets . 2 In the Import dialog box, locate the desired search sets XML file. 3 Click Open. PDS Display Set Files Display sets from Intergraph PDS contain detailed criteria, defining item selections.
To import PDS display sets 1 Click the application button . ➤ Import ➤ PDS Display Sets 2 Use the Import dialog box to locate the desired DST file. 3 Click Open to import the PDS display sets. PDS Tag Files Tag information from Intergraph PDS contains a unique ID, saved viewpoint and corresponding comments. Tag information created in Autodesk Navisworks may also be exported to be used in Intergraph PDS. See PDS Tag Files (page 498).
3 Click Open to import the PDS data. Viewpoints Files Viewpoints can be imported into Autodesk Navisworks via an XML file, enabling you to bring viewpoints into the current scene from another model file. For example, if you are working on different versions of the same model, you can save viewpoints in one version of the file, export them and then import them into the other version.
3 Click Open. Export Files 3D DWF/DWFx Format You can export the current 3D model as a DWF or DWFx file. DWF files are highly compressed and retain detailed design information and scale. DWFx files include additional information to display design data in the Microsoft XPS Viewer. As such, DWFx files are larger than corresponding DWF files.
NOTE 2D DWF/DWFx file export is not currently supported. To export a 3D DWF/DWFx file 1 Click Output tab ➤ Export Scene panel ➤ 3D DWF/DWFx . 2 In the Export dialog box, enter a new filename and location, if you want to change from those suggested. 3 Click Save. Google Earth KML Format Google Earth KML files can be exported from Autodesk Navisworks. The exporter creates a compressed KML file with the extension .
NOTE When positioning a model relative to sea level, the height of the Google Earth reference points must also be measured relative to sea level. When positioning a model relative to the ground, the Google Earth reference points must be measured relative to the ground. Google Earth always places new placemarks at an altitude of zero, irrespective of whether that is relative or absolute.
Clicking the Home tab, sliding out the Project tab, and clicking Scene Statistics in Autodesk Navisworks shows the number of triangles and/or lines in the current project. By setting a polygon limit you are choosing to export only some of these items. 5 The Origin position values are the first pair of reference points on the Google Earth surface, and must always be defined. The Autodesk Navisworks reference point will always be positioned to exactly overlay the Google Earth reference point.
■ Materials (color, flat transparency, and wrapped image texture only) ■ Viewpoints ■ Lights ■ Model Hierarchy NOTE FBX does not support point cloud geometry. To export an FBX file 1 In Autodesk Navisworks application, click Output tab ➤ Export Scene panel ➤ FBX . 2 In the FBX Options dialog box, select the Enable check box in the Polygon Limiting area to restrict the amount of geometry exported into the output file.
5 Click OK. 6 In the Export dialog box, enter a new filename and location, if you want to change from those suggested. 7 Click Save. Export Images and Animations Export an Image To export an image as a bitmap, PNG, or JPEG file 1 Display the view you want to export in the Scene View, and click Output tab ➤ Visuals panel ➤ Image . 2 In the Image Export dialog box, select the Format of the image you want to export.
3 Use the Size and Options area to set the image size. See Image Export Dialog Box (page 701). For PNG files, click the Options button, and use the PNG Options dialog box to specify the Interlacing and Compression settings. For JPEG files, click the Options button, and use the JPEG Options dialog box to specify the Compression and Smoothing settings. 4 Click OK. 5 In the Save As dialog box, enter a new filename and location, if you want to change from those suggested. 6 Click Save.
Export a Rendered Image Scenes rendered in Presenter can be exported out as images, so they can be used in presentations, on websites, in print, and so on. For more information, see Photo-Realistic Scene Rendering (page 549). NOTE This option is only available for 3D models. Export an Animation To export an animation to an AVI file, or a sequence of image files 1 Click Output tab ➤ Visuals panel ➤ Animation . The Animation Export dialog box opens.
3 Set up the rest of the boxes in the Animation Export dialog box, and click OK. For more information, see Animation Export Dialog Box (page 679). 4 In the Save As dialog box, enter a new filename and location, if you want to change from those suggested. 5 Click Save. Piranesi EPix Format This option is only available for 3D models. To export an EPX file for rendering in Informatix’s Piranesi 1 Output tab ➤ Visuals panel ➤ Piranesi EPix .
Current Search Criteria The search criteria specified in the Find Items window can be exported to an XML file. This can then be imported into other Autodesk Navisworks sessions. For example, if you have specified a complicated search criteria, containing various logic statements, that relates to all projects you work on, then this feature allows you to specify it once and use it on all projects. For more information, see Find Items Window (page 349). To export current search criteria .
These viewpoints contain all associated data, including camera positions, sections, hidden items and material overrides, redlines, comments, tags and collision detection settings. Once the viewpoint data is exported to this text-based file format, it can either be imported into other Autodesk Navisworks sessions, or it can be accessed and used in other applications. For example, you may want to set up the same viewpoints in your CAD application.
TimeLiner CSV You can export CSV data from TimeLiner. Data is exported in default order, without taking account of TimeLiner column order or selection. NOTE When exporting a CSV from TimeLiner, the hierarchy of tasks is not represented. All available tasks are exported without any hierarchical structure. This means that collapsing/expanding task nodes in the TimeLiner grid does not affect whether or not tasks are output to CSV.
Animate Objects 12 In Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 you can animate your model and interact with it. For example, you could animate how a crane moves around a site, or how a car is assembled or dismantled, and so on. With a few mouse clicks, you can also create interaction scripts, which link your animations to specific events, such as “On Key Press” or “On Collision”.
■ Opening/closing of multiple doors without having to create a separate script and animation for each door. Currently there are no cut-and-paste capabilities in scripting. ■ Linking to TimeLiner to have different TimeLiner tasks trigger animations that depend on each other (for example, one task moves crane to a specific point, another task moves arm of crane). ■ Real-time collision checking where you turn it on, play an animation and have animation stop when moving object first hits something.
Control Purpose ferent object manipulation mode from the toolbar. Puts Animator into rotation mode. The Rotation gizmo is displayed in the Scene View, and enables you to modify the rotation of the geometry objects. This mode remains active until you select a different object manipulation mode from the toolbar. Puts Animator into scale mode. The Scaling gizmo is displayed in the Scene View, and enables you to modify the size of the geometry objects.
Control Purpose Controls the current position of the time slider in the timeline view. Rewinds the animation back to the beginning. Rewinds one second. Plays the animation backward from the end point to the start, and then stops. This does not alter the direction that the animated elements face. Pauses the animation. To continue playing, click Play again. Stops and rewinds the animation to the beginning. Plays the animation forward from the starting point to the end.
Hierarchical List You can use the Animator tree view to create and manage your animation scenes. The scene trees display the scene components such as animation sets, cameras, and section planes in a hierarchical structure. To work with an item in the tree view, you must first select it. Selecting a scene component in the tree view selects all the elements contained within that component in the Scene View.
Command Purpose folders. When you add a scene folder, if you do this while having an empty scene folder selected, Autodesk Navisworks creates the new scene folder at the very top of the tree, otherwise it creates it beneath your current selection. Active Enables or disables a scene component. Loop Selects loop mode for scenes and scene animations. The animation plays forward to the end, then restarts again from the beginning, looping indefinitely.
Icons Icon Purpose Opens a shortcut menu that enables you to add new items to the tree view, such as Add Scene, Add Camera and so on. Deletes the currently selected item in the tree view. NOTE If you accidentally delete an item, click Undo on the Quick Access toolbar to restore it. Moves the currently selected scene up in the tree view. Moves the currently selected scene down in the tree view. Zoom in on the timescale bar. The actual value is displayed in the Zoom box to the right.
Loop This check box is available for scenes and scene animations. It enables you to control the playback mode. Check this check box to use loop mode. When the animation reaches the end, it will reset back to the start and run again. P.P. This check box is available for scenes and scene animations. It enables you to control the playback mode. Check this check box to use ping-pong mode. When the animation reaches the end, it will run backward until it reaches the start.
is halved when you zoom in, and doubled when you zoom out. You can return to the default timescale by deleting the Zoom box value, and pressing Enter. Keyframes The keyframes are shown as black diamonds in the timelines. You can change the time when a keyframe occurs by dragging the black diamond left or right in the timeline view. As you drag a keyframe, it changes the color from black to a lighter grey. Left-clicking a keyframe moves the time slider to that position.
Sliders You can use two sliders in the timeline view: Time Slider The black vertical line is the time slider, representing the current position in the playback. This can be adjusted by either using the VCR controls on the Animator toolbar, by dragging the time slider left or right in the timeline view, or by selecting the time slider in the timeline view and using the left and right arrow keys.
■ Cut, Copy, Paste - standard cut, copy, and paste commands. They only work inside the selected timeline. ■ Delete - deletes the selected keyframe. ■ Interpolate - determines whether Autodesk Navisworks automatically interpolates between the current and the last keyframes. This is the default option. When disabled, there will be no gradual transition between the two keyframes; instead the animation will instantly jump to the position/view of the second keyframe when it’s reached.
NOTE 0,0,0 represents world up. Scale X, Y, Z Enter the scaling factor around X, Y, and Z axis; 1 being the current size, 0.5 half, 2 being double and so on. cX, cY, cZ Enter the X, Y, and Z coordinate values to move the origin (or center point) of the scaling into this position. Color Color This check box indicates whether or not clicking Capture Keyframe will record color change in the keyframe. Unchecking this check box resets the color back to its original state.
Scripter Window Use the Scripter window to add interactivity to animated objects in your model. Ribbon: Animation tab ➤ Script panel ➤ Scripter Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ Scripter Toolbar: Classic user interface: Workspace ➤ Scripter The Scripter Tree View The Scripter tree view contains all scripts available in your Autodesk Navisworks file in a hierarchical list view. Use it to create and manage animation scripts.
Shortcut Menu You can display a shortcut menu for any item in the tree by right-clicking an item. The following commands are available on the shortcut menu whenever they are applicable: Command Purpose Add New Script Adds a new script to the tree view. Add New Folder Adds a folder to the tree view. Folders can hold scripts and other folders. Rename Item Enables you to rename the currently selected item in the tree view. Delete Item Deletes the currently selected item in the tree view.
Icon Purpose Deletes the currently selected item in the tree view. NOTE If you accidentally delete an item, click Undo on the Quick Access toolbar to restore it. Check Boxes Active Use this check box to specify which scripts you want to use. Only active scripts are executed. If you organized your scripts into folders, you can quickly turn the scripts on and off by using the Active check box next to the top-level folder.
Icon Purpose Adds variable events. Adds animation events. Moves the currently selected event up in the Events view. Moves the currently selected event down in the Events view. Deletes the currently selected event in the Events view. Shortcut Menu Right-click in the Events view to display a shortcut menu. The following commands are available on the shortcut menu whenever they are applicable: Command Purpose Add Event Enables you to select an event to add.
The Actions View The Actions view shows the actions associated with the currently selected script. Use the Actions view to define, manage, and test actions. Icons Icon Purpose Adds play animation actions. Adds stop animation actions. Adds show viewpoint actions. Adds pause actions. Adds send message actions. Adds set variable actions. Adds store property actions. Adds load model actions. Moves the currently selected action up in the Actions view.
Shortcut Menu Right-click in the Actions view to display a shortcut menu. The following commands are available on the shortcut menu whenever they are applicable: Command Purpose Add Action Enables you to select an action to add. Delete Action Deletes the currently selected action. Test Action Executes the currently selected action. Stop Action Stops execution of the currently selected action (when you Test Action). Move Up Moves the currently selected action up in the Actions view.
On Timer Interval (Seconds) Defines the length of time in seconds between timer triggering. Regularity Specifies the event frequency. Choose from: ■ Once After - an event happens once only. Use this option to create an event that starts after a certain length of time. ■ Continuous - an event is continuously repeated at specified time intervals. You can use this, for example, to simulate cyclic work of a factory machine. On Key Press Key Click in this box and press the key to link it to your event.
On Hotspot Hotspot Defines the hotspot type. Choose from: ■ Sphere - a simple sphere from a given point in space. ■ Sphere on Selection - a sphere around a selection. This option doesn't require you to define the given point in space. This hotspot will move as the selected objects move in the model. Trigger When Defines how the event is triggered. Choose from: ■ Entering - an event is triggered when you enter the hotspot. This is useful for opening doors, for example.
Radius (m) Radius of hotspot. On Variable Variable The alphanumeric name of the variable to be evaluated. Value An operand to use. Enter a value to be tested against your variable. Alternatively, enter a name of another variable. Its value will be tested against the value in your variable. The following rules apply: ■ If you enter a number (for example 0, 400, 5.3), the value is treated as a numeric value.
■ Ending - an event is triggered when the animation ends. This is useful for chaining animations together. See also: Event Types (page 540) Actions Properties Currently, there are eight action types in Autodesk Navisworks. When an action is added, the Properties view displays the properties for that action type. The action properties can be configured immediately, or at a later time. Play Animation Animation Selects the animation to play.
Specific End Time (Seconds) The finishing position of a playback segment. Stop Animation Animation Selects the animation to stop. If you don’t have any object animation in your Autodesk Navisworks file, this property is not available. Reset To Defines the playback position of the stopped animation. Choose from: ■ Default Position - the animation is reset to its starting point. ■ Current Position - the animation remains at the position it was stopped at.
Modifier Assignment operators for your variable. You can use any of the following operators with numbers and Boolean values. However, using strings is limited to the Set Equal To operator only. ■ Set Equal To ■ Increment By ■ Decrement By Store Property Selection to Get Property From Click the Set button, and use the shortcut menu to define the objects, which are used to get the property from: ■ Clear - clears the current selection.
See also: Action Types (page 542) Create Object Animations An animation is a prepared sequence of changes to the model. The changes you can make in Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012 are: ■ Manipulating geometry objects by modifying their position, rotation, size, and appearance (color, and transparency). This type of change is referred to as an animation set. ■ Manipulating viewpoints by using different navigation tools (such as orbiting or flying), or by using existing viewpoint animations.
The Animator window contains the following components: the toolbar (page 500), the tree view (page 502), the timeline view (page 506), and the manual entry bar (page 509). Work with Animation Scenes Scenes act as containers for your object animations. Each scene can contain the following components: ■ One or more animation sets ■ A single camera animation ■ A single section plane set animation The scenes and the scene components can be grouped into folders.
To add an animation scene 1 If the Animator window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Create panel ➤ Animator . 2 Right-click in the Animator tree view, and click Add Scene on the shortcut menu. 3 Click the default scene name, and type in a new name. TIP Use names that can help you to identify your scenes in future. Pointing device: Click , and click Add Scene on the shortcut menu.
To organize scene components into folders 1 If the Animator window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Create panel ➤ Animator . 2 To add a subfolder to a scene, right-click it, and click Add Folder on the shortcut menu. To add a subfolder to a scene component, right-click it, and click Add Folder on the shortcut menu. 3 To move a subfolder, right-click it, and click Cut on the shortcut menu. Right-click the new location, and click Paste on the shortcut menu.
TIP Use names that can help you to identify your scene components in future. Work with Animation Sets An animation set contains a list of geometry objects to be animated, and a list of keyframes that describe how it is to be animated. Your scene can have as many animation sets as you want, and you can also have the same geometry objects in different animation sets within the same scene.
To add an animation set based on current selection 1 If the Animator window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Create panel ➤ Animator . 2 Select the desired geometry objects in the Scene View, or from the Selection Tree. 3 Right-click the scene name, and click Add Animation Set ➤ From Current Selection on the shortcut menu. 4 If desired, type a name for the new animation set and press Enter.
To update an animation set based on current search set or selection set 1 If the Animator window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Create panel ➤ Animator . 2 Select the desired search set or selection set from the Sets window. 3 Right-click the scene name, and click Update Animation Set ➤ From Current Search/Selection Set on the shortcut menu.
4 In the timeline view, move the black time slider to the right to set the desired time. on the Animator toolbar. 5 Click Translate Animation Set 6 Use the Translation gizmo to change the position of the selected objects. 7 To capture the current object changes in a keyframe, click Capture Keyframe on the Animator toolbar. To capture object rotation 1 If the Animator window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Create panel ➤ Animator .
4 In the timeline view, move the black time slider to the right to set the desired time. 5 Click Scale Animation Set on the Animator toolbar. 6 Use the Scale gizmo to resize the selected objects. 7 To capture the current object changes in a keyframe, click Capture Keyframe on the Animator toolbar. To capture color changes 1 If the Animator window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Create panel ➤ Animator . 2 Select the desired animation set in the Animator tree view.
4 In the timeline view, move the black time slider to the right to set the desired time. 5 Click Change Transparency of Animation Set toolbar. on the Animator 6 Use the Transparency slider on the Manual Entry bar to adjust how transparent or opaque the selected objects are. 7 To capture the current object changes in a keyframe, click Capture Keyframe on the Animator toolbar. Work with Cameras A camera contains a list of viewpoints, and an optional list of keyframes to describe how the viewpoints move.
3 Right-click the desired scene name, and click Add Camera ➤ From Current Viewpoint Animation on the shortcut menu. Autodesk Navisworks automatically adds all necessary keyframes to the timeline view. To capture camera viewpoints 1 If the Animator window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Create panel ➤ Animator . 2 Select the desired camera in the Animator tree view. on the Animator toolbar to create a 3 Click Capture Keyframe keyframe with the current viewpoint.
2 Right-click the desired scene name, and click Add Section Plane on the shortcut menu. You are now ready to capture cross-sectional cuts. To capture cross-sectional cuts by moving a section plane 1 If the Animator window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Create panel ➤ Animator . 2 Select the desired section plane set in the Animator tree view. 3 Click Viewpoint tab ➤ Sectioning panel ➤ Enable Sectioning .
Autodesk Navisworks opens the Sectioning Tools tab on the ribbon, and draws a section plane through the model in the Scene View. 4 Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Mode panel ➤ Box . 5 Click Sectioning Tools tab ➤ Transform panel and click the sectioning gizmo you want to use (move ). By default, the move gizmo is used. , rotate , or scale Drag the gizmo to adjust the initial position of the section box in the Scene View.
Keyframes are relative to each other and to the model’s starting position. This means that if an object is moved in the scene (when, for example, a new version of the model is opened, or if movement tools are used in Autodesk Navisworks), the animation is done relative to the new starting location rather the animation’s original start position. The translation, scaling and rotation operations are cumulative.
To play a scene in the Animator window 1 If the Animation window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Create panel ➤ Animator . 2 From the Scene Picker drop-down list, select the scene you want to play in the Animator tree view. 3 Click Play on the Animator toolbar. To play a scene from the Animation tab 1 Click Animation tab ➤ Playback panel. 2 From the Available Animations drop-down list, select the scene you want to play. 3 Click Play on the Animation toolbar on the Playback panel.
Add Interactivity The Scripter window is a floating window that enables you to add interactivity to object animations in your model. Ribbon: Animation tab ➤ Script panel ➤ Scripter Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ Scripter Toolbar: Classic user interface: Workspace ➤ Scripter The Scripter window contains the following components: the tree view (page 511), the Events view (page 513), the Actions view (page 515), and the Properties view (page 516).
Each script can contain the following components: ■ One or more events ■ One or more actions Your model can have as many scripts as you want, but only the active scripts are executed. You can group the scripts into folders. This has no effect on their execution, except that the contents of a folder can be easily activated/deactivated to save time. To add a script 1 If the Scripter window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Script panel ➤ Scripter .
2 Right-click in the tree view, and click Add New Folder on the shortcut menu. 3 Click the default folder name, and type in a new name. TIP Use names that can help you to identify your scripts in future. 4 Select a script you want to add to your new folder. Hold down the left mouse button, and drag the mouse to the folder name. When the mouse pointer changes to an arrow, release the mouse button to drop the script into the folder. Alternatively, select the script, and hold down the right mouse button.
Event Types The following event types are available in Autodesk Navisworks: ■ On Start - event triggers a script as soon as scripting is enabled. If scripting is enabled when a file is loaded, then any start events in the file will be triggered immediately. This is useful for setting up the initial conditions of your script, such as giving initial values to variables, or moving the camera to a defined start point. ■ On Timer - event triggers a script at predefined time intervals.
To add an event 1 If the Scripter window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Script panel ➤ Scripter . 2 Select the desired script in the tree view. 3 Click the desired event icon at the bottom of the Events view. For example, click to create an On Start event. 4 Review the event properties in the Properties view, and adjust them as necessary (page 516). To test event logic 1 If the Scripter window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Script panel ➤ Scripter .
NOTE Autodesk Navisworks does not wait for the current action to be completed before moving on to the next action. Action Types The following action types are available in Autodesk Navisworks: ■ Play Animation - action specifies which animation to play back when a script is triggered. ■ Stop Animation - action specifies which currently playing animation to stop when a script is triggered. ■ Show Viewpoint - action specifies which viewpoint to use when a script is triggered.
To test an action 1 If the Scripter window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Script panel ➤ Scripter . 2 Select the desired script in the tree view. 3 Right-click the Actions view, and click Test Action on the shortcut menu. Autodesk Navisworks executes the selected action. To delete an action 1 If the Scripter window is not already open, click Animation tab ➤ Script panel ➤ Scripter . 2 Select the desired script in the tree view.
Create Photorealistic Visualizations 13 You can use the Presenter to apply texture materials, lighting, Rich Photorealistic Content (RPC), and background effects to your model. NOTE Presenter materials are only available when using Presenter graphics system. Overview of the Presenter Tool Presenter Window The Presenter dockable window is used to set up materials and lights in your scene and render it with more realism and effects.
The Presenter window contains the following tabs: Materials. Includes a variety of materials, which can be selected and applied to individual or groups of model items. You can also use this tab to create new materials, or customize existing materials. ■ ■ Lighting. Includes a variety of lighting options, which can be selected and applied to the model. You can also customize lighting options, if you want. ■ RPC.
The Materials, Lighting, Effects, and Rendering tabs are divided into two panes. The left pane contains the archives (page 548) and the right pane contains the palette, which defines what materials, lighting, effects, and render styles are used in the scene. Archives are shown in a tree structure and are defined in the LightWorks Archive (.lwa) format. Model Appearance While Presenter can be used for photo-realistic renderings, it can also be used for OpenGL interactive rendering.
Although materials, lights, effects, and render styles cannot be edited in archives, once dragged into the scene’s palette, they can be edited and saved with the scene in an NWF file, or published as an NWD file. You can save your own edits to materials into an NWP file format. See Organize and Manage Materials (page 555) for more information on how to do this. The User Archives The user archives allow you to save your own edited materials, lights, effects, and render styles for use in other scenes.
To add archives ■ To download an archive from the Lightworks-User website, in the left pane, right-click any archive, and click Download Archive on the shortcut menu. Then follow the instructions given on the site. ■ To import a downloaded archive into Presenter, in the left pane, right-click any archive, and click Import Archive on the shortcut menu. Use the standard Open dialog box to select the LWA file to import.
Or Use the Rules tab to set up rules which define project-wide material application (see Use Presenter Rules (page 596) for more details). ■ Use the Texture Space tab to more accurately map materials onto items in the scene (see Use Presenter Texture Space (page 594) for more details on this). ■ Use the Lighting tab to set up additional lighting (see Use Presenter Lights (page 564) for more details).
2 When the scene is rendered, click the Output tab ➤ Visuals panel ➤ Rendered Image . 3 In the Export Rendered Image dialog box, select the desired file type from the Type drop-down list. For more information, see Export Rendered Image Dialog Box (page 694) 4 Browse to a location and enter the name of the file you want to render to. 5 Set the Size of the rendered file.
Ribbon: Output tab ➤ Visuals panel ➤ Animation Menu: Application button ➤ Export ➤ Images & Animations ➤ Animation Use Presenter Materials Materials Tab Like the Lighting (page 564), Effects (page 583), and Rendering (page 590) tabs, the Materials tab is divided into two panes. The left pane describes the predefined archives (page 548) of materials that are installed and the right pane shows the current palette of materials that have been defined and are being used in the scene.
If you drag the material from an archive, it will appear in the palette where it can be edited and saved with the scene, if necessary. Presenter uses Autodesk Navisworks selection resolution to decide which items to apply the material to when dragging from an archive or palette into the main view. When hovering over any item in the main view, the proposed selection will change into the selection color (blue by default).
To apply materials to model geometry 1 Select the geometry items directly in the Scene View or in the Selection Tree. 2 Open the Presenter window, and click the Materials tab. 3 Select your material from an archive or palette, right-click this material, and click Apply to Selected Items on the shortcut menu to assign the material to the current geometry selection. NOTE Selected material will only be applied to the selected geometry item and not to every instance of the item.
Organize and Manage Materials Custom Folders You can organize materials into custom folders for easy reference and management. By doing this, you are, effectively, customizing a user archive. For more information, see Use the Presenter Archives (page 547). The Material Palette On the Materials tab, the right pane, or material palette, is where you edit and manage your materials for your scene. Materials are taken from the archives into the palette where they are edited.
NOTE You can also copy materials between the folders in the left pane by either dragging and dropping them, or using the Copy and Paste options on the shortcut menu. To manage palette materials 1 Right-click a material in the right pane of the Materials tab (the palette). ■ Click Copy to copy the material to the clipboard. Right-click an empty space in the palette and click Paste to paste a copy of the material with the same name suffixed with the next number in the list.
■ Click Select All Instances to select the items in the scene which have this particular material assigned to them. ■ Click Load Palette to load a previously saved palette of materials into the current scene. This will delete any materials currently in the palette. The standard File Open dialog box opens, allowing you to browse to an NWP file. ■ Click Append Palette to load a palette from an NWP file, while keeping all the existing materials in the current palette.
for the Breeze Block procedural texture is shown below and this will be used as an example of how to edit a material. NOTE If the Presenterprofile in the Options Editor (see Presenter Page for more information) is set to Advanced, there are more tabs and parameters to edit in this dialog box.
checkered background. Though not interactive, the preview will show how the material will look when rendered photorealistically. ■ Click Active Preview to get an OpenGL interactive preview of the material on the standard ball against checkered background. This is updated interactively while you change the parameters. The preview will resemble the quality of material shown in Autodesk Navisworks during navigation, but the quality will not be as high as the photorealistic render.
5 At any time, click Apply to apply the parameter edits to the material in the scene. 6 Click OK to keep the changes made or Cancel to discard any changes made (since the last time you clicked Apply at least). To create a texture using your own image 1 Expand the Templates material archive, and double-click the Plain Texture material to add the material to the scene’s palette, and to open the Material Editor. 2 On the Material tab (or Color tab, if in Developer profile) click the Browse button (...
3 Browse to and select your image file, and click Open. 4 You may then need to adjust some of the texture parameters of the new material, for example its scale, rotation, offset or reflection (if it’s back to front). These may all be edited in the Texture tab. See Edit Presenter Materials (page 557) for more information. Advanced Materials Internally, a material is defined by four shaders from different classes: Color, Transparency, Reflectance and Displacement.
surface towards the viewer. Shaders of this class may be thought of as defining a surface’s “finish”, and are used to model properties such as matte, metal, and plastic. ■ A transparency shader is used to define how transparent or opaque a surface is, and thus how much light is able to pass through it. Transparency shaders range from a simple uniform transparency to more complex regular or irregular eroded patterns that would be more difficult to represent using modelling techniques.
In the Presenter window, materials that include a wrapped shader also have a layout texture space shader associated with them. Normal texture space shaders are associated with objects. NOTE A complete reference manual for all types of rendering styles is included with the Autodesk Navisworks API, (see \API\COM\documentation\shaders.chm).
Use Presenter Lights Lighting Tab Like the Materials (page 552), Effects (page 583) and Rendering (page 590) tabs, the Lighting tab is divided into two panes, with the archives on the left and the palette on the right. The archive contains individual lights, as well as light studios. A light studio is a combination of lights that work well together. The palette contains all the lights that are active in the scene.
Add and Position Lights Lights and light studios can be taken directly from the archives and applied to the model by dropping them into the palette. These can then be repositioned as needed.
3 Drag the light and drop it into the palette (right pane of the Lighting tab). This will automatically be added to the scene. NOTE If you drag a light studio into the palette, this will replace any existing lights with those that make up the light studio. As a general guide, the more lights there are in a scene, the longer it will take to render it photorealistically.
of the Lighting tab), and click Position as Camera on the shortcut menu. NOTE Not only will this position the light in the same location as the camera, if the light has a To parameter, this will also be set to the focal (or Look At) point of the camera. Organize and Manage Lights Manage Folders You can organize lights into custom folders for easy reference and management. By doing this, you are, effectively, customizing a user archive. For more information, see Use the Presenter Archives (page 547).
2 Release the left mouse button to drop the lighting effect into the folder. NOTE You can also copy lighting effects between the folders in the left pane by either dragging and dropping them, or using the Copy and Paste options on the shortcut menu. To manage palette lights 1 Right-click a light in the right pane of the Lighting tab (the palette). ■ Click Copy to copy the light to the clipboard.
Edit Lights You can edit a light in the palette by double-clicking it, or right-clicking and choosing Edit on the shortcut menu. There are six types of light visible in both OpenGL interactive renders and photorealistic renders: ■ Ambient lights give a general background light to the scene and therefore only have Intensity and Color parameters. ■ Distant lights are directional and so have a location and target.
not included, its location will determine the appearance of the sky hemisphere. If the Intensity is left at 0, Presenter will calculate an accurate intensity for you based on the sun’s position. ■ Goniometric lights can emit widely varying amounts of light energy in different directions. One goniometric source could behave exactly like a point light, another could behave exactly like a spot light, and a third could look nothing like either of those.
Point, distant, spot and projector lights have a Location parameter. Distant and spot lights additionally have a To parameter. See Add and Position Lights (page 565) for more information. NOTE If the Presenter profile in the Options Editor (see Presenter Page for more information) is set to Advanced, the dialog box will include a full list of available parameters and allow you to change the type of a light. Point, distant, spot, sky, sun, projector and goniometric lights have the Shadows parameter.
Editing parameters in the dialog box will interactively alter the scene with those changes. At any time, click Apply to apply the parameter edits to the light in the scene. You can save an edited light for use in other scenes by dragging it onto the My Lighting user archive. Shadow Casting Selecting the Shadows check box in the Light Editor of a light that supports shadows (point, distant, spot, sky, sun, projector and goniometric) results in the selected light casting shadows in the scene.
shadow casting On for a group, and the geometry contained within that layer is set to Inherit, then the geometry will also cast shadows, as it inherits the On option from its parent (the group). NOTE If all items in the scene are set to Inherit, then the default setting is On. NOTE The item selected will depend on your Selection Resolution setting. See Set Selection Resolution (page 345) for more information.
Soft Shadows Presenter includes shadows generated from pre-calculated, shadow maps for each shadow-casting light source. The use of shadow maps enables rapid rendering of shadows with soft or graduated edges. The shadow resolution can be controlled to balance performance and image quality. Soft shadows are only suitable for use with small models, and are disabled by default. For large models, the generation of the shadow maps can use excessive amounts of time and memory.
different lighting conditions. The aim is to produce an image on film that is representative of how that scene would have looked to a human observer. Presenter includes the Auto Exposure option (see Auto Exposure (page 594)). When enabled, Presenter will render the image twice. Once to sample the range of luminance values in the output image, then a second time to render the actual image with the luminance values adjusted to match the behavior of the human eye.
■ For fast previews, set the Error Bound parameter high, and the Min LOD parameter small. ■ For best results, set the Fall Off option to Inverse Square Law, and turn on Auto Exposure. Image-based Lighting Image-based lighting is where an image is used to light a scene. In the real world, every object is lit not only by light sources like the sun, lamps, and so on, but also by everything around.
A model lit with normal lights Use Presenter Lights | 577
The same model lit with image-based lighting You can see the difference this form of lighting can make to rendered images. And the enormous advantage here is that it is much easier to set up than traditional lighting. To set up image-based lighting 1 Open the Presenter window, and click the Lighting tab. 2 Expand the Recommended archive in the left pane of the Lighting tab. 3 Drag the Environment Light Studio into the palette on the right.
than traditional lighting methods, but the results are worth the extra time invested. 5 To use an alternative sample image, expand the Environment folder in the left pane to view another two example environment lights; Sky and City. Drag the City light into the palette on the right to replace the Environment light in the palette. NOTE Before rendering, either delete the Environment light from the palette, or deselect the check box.
■ 3D RPCs are objects that have a high number of frames allowing the camera to move around the object and see it from all angles. ■ 2.5D RPCs are animated, single-direction 2D photographs. Animated RPCs will only animate visually when exported as a rendered animation. ■ 3.5D RPCs include animation and views from all around the object. ■ 3D+ RPCs, often called smart content, are not currently supported.
IMPORTANT When publishing a scene using the Publisher dialog box, any RPCs included in that scene are not published to the _Presenter_Maps directory nor embedded in the NWD file. The size of the files, and the fact that most RPCs are licensed, currently prohibits this. Like the Materials (page 552), Lighting (page 564), and Rendering (page 590) tabs, the RPC tab is divided into two panes, with the archives on the left and the palette on the right. This tab is where you set up RPCs.
5 In the Open RPC File dialog box, locate the desired RPC file, and click Open. Autodesk Navisworks has a small selection of free, example RPC files in the resources area of the product DVD. You can use them to make up a simple scene with some people, plants, and trees. 6 Adjust the settings in the RPC Editor as needed, and click OK. To add an RPC to a model 1 Open the Presenter window, and click the RPC tab.
To edit an RPC 1 Open the Presenter window, and click the RPC tab. 2 Double-click the required RPC in the palette. 3 Use the RPC Editor to adjust the settings as needed. For example, you can use Rotation to set which direction people are facing, or you can change the Scale size. 4 Click OK. To delete an RPC ■ Right-click the RPC you want to delete in the Scene View, and click Delete on the shortcut menu.
NOTE A complete reference manual for all types of foregrounds, backgrounds and rendering styles is included with the Autodesk Navisworks API (see \API\COM\documentation\shaders.chm). The Autodesk Navisworks API is included with Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012; it’s an optional feature in the installer, and is installed by default into the API subfolder in the Autodesk Navisworks installation folder.
In the Background Editor, you can change backgrounds by clicking the Browse button (...) next to the File Name field and open a new image as the background. Editing parameters in the Background Editor will interactively alter the scene with those changes. At any time, click Apply to apply the parameter edits to the scene. You can save an edited background for use in other scenes by dragging it into the Backgrounds folder inside the My Effects user archive.
Another benefit of using environment backgrounds is that reflection properties of materials in the model are able to reflect the environment (for example, when looking up, towards the top of a glass-fronted building, the sky is reflected in the glass.
Environment backgrounds are images wrapped around the model. The recommended images to use are vertical cross maps. These images are automatically placed on the inside of a cube that then surrounds the scene. Due to the nature of the feature, edges and corners become indistinguishable. A wide variety of environment maps are available for purchase on the Internet.
3 Drag your chosen background into the palette on the right side. Most backgrounds can be rendered interactively in OpenGL so you have a good preview of how the background will be fully rendered. 4 Click Render to apply the background to the model. To edit a background effect 1 Open the Presenter window, and click the Effects tab. 2 Double-click the required background in the palette. 3 Use the Background Editor to adjust the settings as needed. Each editor will be different for each type of background.
Once this is complete, moving around the model will see the background moving appropriately in real-time. With a modern graphics card, if there are reflective surfaces in the scene, setting the PresenterHardware Shading in the Options Editor to Lighting will show the newly set up background reflected in all such surfaces (see Presenter Page). TIP Click Render to show this background in the photorealistic output.
Adding foreground effects is similar to adding background effects. Double-click an effect in the palette to open the Foreground Editor. Each editor will be different for each foreground type. The Fog editor is shown here: NOTE If the Presenter profile in the Options Editor (see Presenter Page for more information) is set to Advanced, the dialog box will include the full list of parameters and allow you to change the type of foreground. At any time, click Apply to apply the parameter edits to the scene.
NOTE A complete reference manual for all types of rendering styles is included with the Autodesk Navisworks API, (see \API\COM\documentation\shaders.chm). The Autodesk Navisworks API is included with Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012; it’s an optional feature in the installer, and is installed by default into the API subfolder in the Autodesk Navisworks installation folder.
NOTE If the Presenter profile in the Options Editor (see Presenter Page for more information) is set to Advanced, the dialog box will include the full list of parameters and allow you to change the type of foreground. At any time, click Apply to apply the parameter edits to the scene. You can save an edited rendering style for use in other scenes by dragging it onto the My Render Styles user archive.
■ Medium Quality. Choose this rendering style for a medium-quality render. This includes all reflections and transparencies and anti-aliasing only on shadows. You may use this style for a final preview of the scene, prior to exporting your final rendered output. The Standard archive contains many rendering styles that simulate hand drawing and other non-photorealistic styles. These styles use a mixture of shaded, vector, and image based rendering techniques.
Auto Exposure Select the Auto Exposure check box to render the scene with balanced brightness and contrast. This is essential when using physically accurate lighting, such as a Sky or Sun light. If adding either of these lights to your scene, you will be prompted to turn Auto Exposure on, if it is not already. Use Presenter Texture Space Texture space describes the way in which a texture is applied to an item.
To edit texture space 1 Select the item (see Interactive Geometry Selection (page 337) for more information) and go to the Texture Space tab in the Presenter window to choose another texture space. Alternatively, right-click an item which has a texture applied to it and click a new texture space on the Presenter ➤ Texture Space shortcut menu. 2 You can fine-tune an item’s texture space further by clicking Edit on the Texture Space tab of the Presenter window. The relevant Texture Space Editor opens.
3 Edit each of the individual parameters and click Apply to see the results of the edit. Clicking Pick allows you to interactively pick a point in the model rather than individually typing in X-, Y-, and Z- coordinates. 4 Click OK. 5 Once edited, you can always reset a texture space to the Autodesk Navisworks-defined version by clicking Reset on the Texture Space tab. 6 Click Ortho if you want Autodesk Navisworks to align the texture space with the nearest axis.
All materials can be saved in a Autodesk Navisworks “palette” NWP file, which allows you to set up a palette of materials once for a project and re-apply them to a model as it evolves, or to another model in the same project that has been set up with the same layer names, colors, selection sets and/or properties. See Organize and Manage Materials (page 555) for more information. Predefined Rules You can apply as many rules at once, as all rules depend on material names.
If a Presenter material has the same name as a Autodesk Navisworks material in the model (for example, “AutoCAD Color Index 7”), then all items with this original Autodesk Navisworks material name in the scene receive this Presenter material from the palette when you select the rule Autodesk Navisworks Materials by Name, and click Apply. ■ Selection Sets by Name enables you to apply a material to selection sets.
2 Enter a new name for your rule in the Rule name box. NOTE If you choose not to enter a name, upon selecting a rule template, the name of that template will be used. 3 From the Rule Templates list, choose a template from which your rule will be based upon. NOTE The Layers by Name, Materials by Name, and Selection Sets by Name templates are those used for the predefined Presenter rules. The Materials by Property template enables you to specify a property within the model scene.
■ ''. Choose from the available list, which property you want to define. Again, only the properties in the scene within the chosen category will be available. 5 Click OK. The Presenter Rules Example To follow this procedure, open the file called gatehouse_pub.nwd located under the Examples\Gatehouse folder in the Autodesk Navisworks installation directory.
d Click '' and choose Material from the drop-down list and click OK. e Click '' and choose Name from the drop-down list and click OK. f Click OK to save the custom rule. 3 Create another rule called “Color Index 32” using the same settings as before. 4 Set up the necessary materials: 1 From the Recommended\Glass archive on the Materials tab, drag the Window Glass material into the palette, press F2, and rename it as “AutoCAD Color Index 9”. Press Enter to save the new name.
6 Ensure that only Override Any Current Exact Mappings is selected and click Apply, to apply the rules. All items within the model scene that have the AutoCAD Color Index 9 and AutoCAD Color Index 32 properties should now have the corresponding Presenter materials applied to them.
Simulate Construction Scheduling 14 The TimeLiner tool enables you to link your 3D model to an external construction schedule for visual 4D planning. Overview of TimeLiner Tool The TimeLiner tool adds 4D schedule simulation to Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012. TimeLiner imports schedules from a variety of sources. You can then connect tasks in the schedule with objects in the model to create a 4D simulation.
TimeLiner Window The TimeLiner dockable window enables you to attach items in the model to project tasks, and simulate project schedules. To toggle the TimeLiner window ■ Click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ TimeLiner . Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ TimeLiner To set the TimeLiner options 1 Click ➤ Options. 2 Expand the Tools node in the Options Editor, and click the TimeLiner option.
6 Select the Enable Find check box if you want the find option to be available when you right-click in the Tasks tab. 7 Select the time that you want the working day to finish using the End of Working Day (24h) option. 8 Select the Report Data-Source Import Warnings check box to enable the displaying of warning messages if an issue is encountered when importing data in the TimeLiner window, Data Sources tab. 9 Select the Show Time check box to display the time in the date columns in the Tasks tab.
■ Add new user columns to the default column set TIP You can move between entries with the keyboard. Simply select a task, and use Tab and SHIFT + Tab keyboard keys to move forwards and backwards between fields. The keyboard can then be used to edit and set each entry where necessary. The Task Hierarchy Autodesk NavisworksTimeLiner supports a hierarchical task structure, as imported from a data source, for example Microsoft Project™ (see the Data Sources Tab (page 609) for more information).
The Shortcut Menus Right-clicking within the tasks area on the tab, opens a shortcut menu that enables you to work with tasks in your schedule. ■ Copy Date/Time - copies date/time values in the selected field. This option is only available when you right-click one of the date fields (for example, Planned Start). NOTE Currently, you cannot use the CTRL + C keyboard shortcut to copy date/time values. ■ Paste Date/Time - pastes date/time values.
NOTE See Select Objects (page 337) for more information on how to select items in Autodesk Navisworks. ■ Clear Attachment - removes the attachment from this task. ■ Add Comment - adds a comment to the task. See Use Comments, Redlines, and Tags (page 399) for more information. ■ Fill Down - sets the Task Type of all currently selected tasks in the Tasks view to match that of the task that is currently 'in focus'. ■ Insert Task - inserts a new task above the one currently selected in the Task view.
Gantt Chart The Display Dates The Display Dates drop-down enables you to switch between Actual, Planned, and Planned vs Actual Gantt charts. The Zoom Slider The Zoom slider enables you to adjust the resolution of the displayed Gantt chart. The utmost left position selects the smallest available increment in the timeline (for example, days); the utmost right position selects the largest available increment in the timeline (for example, years). Show Click the Show check box to show or hide the Gantt chart.
The Data Source View The data sources are shown in a multi-column table. The columns show name, source (for example, Microsoft Project™) and project (e.g. my_schedule.mpp). Any further columns (there may be none) identify the fields from the external schedule which specify the task type, unique id, start date and end date for each imported task. You can move and resize columns, if necessary. The Data Source Buttons Add Creates a new connection to an external project file.
The Shortcut Menus Right-clicking within the data source area on the tab opens a shortcut menu that enables you to manage data sources. ■ Rebuild Task Hierarchy - reads all of the tasks and associated data (as defined in the Field Selector Dialog Box) from the selected data sources and adds these to the Tasks tab. Choose this option also to synchronize with the selected project file when new tasks have been added to the project file.
Task Types The tasks types are shown in a multi-column table. You can move and resize table columns, if necessary. NOTE You can double-click on the Name column to rename a task type, or double-click on any other column to change the task type appearance. TimeLiner comes with three predefined task types: ■ Construct - for tasks where the attached items are to be constructed.
Appearance Definitions Opens the Appearance Definitions Dialog Box (page 628) where you can set up and change appearance definitions. Simulate Tab The Simulate tab enables you to simulate your TimeLiner sequence throughout the duration of the project schedule. The Playback Controls Use the standard VCR buttons to step and play forwards and backwards through the simulation: Rewind will rewind the simulation back to the beginning. Step Back will step back a single step size.
Step Forwards Forward will step forwards a single step size. will fast forward the simulation to the end. You can use the Simulation Position slider to quickly move forwards and backwards through the simulation. Full left is at the beginning and full right is at the end. The Date/Time box next to the VCR buttons shows the point in time through the simulation. You can click on the drop-down icon to the right of the date to display a calendar, from which you can select a date to 'jump' to.
Choose TimeLiner Columns Dialog Box Use this dialog box to customize the columns display in the TimeLiner Tasks tab. To access it, click the Column Set drop-down ➤ Choose Columns button on the Tasks tab. Column List Displays all the available columns. Click a column check box to select it for display in the Tasks tab. Move Up Moves the selected column(s) up the list by one place. Move Down Moves the selected column(s) down the list by one place. Show All Selects all check boxes in the list.
Field Selector Dialog Box The Field Selector dialog box determines various options used when importing data from an external project schedule. The options available may be different for each type of data source. The Field Selector Dialog Box for importing data from an external scheduling software.
The Field Selector Dialog Box for importing CSV data Options CSV Import Settings Row 1 Contains Headings Select the Row 1 Contains Headings check box if you want the first row of data in your CSV file to be treated as column headings. TimeLiner will use it to populate the External Field Name options in the grid. If the first row of data in your CSV file does not contain column headings, clear this check box.
NOTE If one or more date/time-based columns are found to contain fields where the data cannot be mapped to a valid date/time value using the manually-specified format, TimeLiner will 'fall back' and attempt to use the automatic date/time format. The Field-Mapping Grid The field-mapping grid is a grid containing, in the left column, all the columns from the current TimeLiner schedule and, in the right column, a number of drop-down menus enabling you to map the incoming fields to the TimeLiner columns.
Actual End Date Some project sources support multiple end dates for different purposes. The default behavior is to use the most appropriate available date for each source. This field may be used to specifically define an Actual End date, should it be different to that selected by default. User 1 to 10 Ten user fields are available to link any custom data fields from the project source.
s, %s The second. Single-digit seconds will NOT have a leading zero. ss The second. Single-digit seconds will have a leading zero. t, %t The first character of the AM/PM designator, if any. tt The AM/PM designator, if any. z The GMT time zone offset (“+” or “-” followed by the hour only). Single-digit hours will NOT have a leading zero. zz The time zone offset. Single digit hours will have a leading zero. zzz The full time zone offset in hours and minutes.
It is possible to override the Start and End dates that the simulation runs between. Selecting the Override Start/End Dates check box enables the date boxes and allows you to choose the start and end dates. By doing this, you can simulate a small sub-section of the overall project. The dates will be shown on the Simulate tab. These dates will also be used when exporting animations. You can define the Interval Size to use when stepping through the simulation using the playback controls.
It is also possible to highlight all the tasks that are being worked on during the interval. By selecting the Show All Tasks in Interval check box, and, for example, setting the Interval Size to 5 Days, all tasks being worked on during those 5 days will be set to their Start Appearance in the Scene View, including those that begin and end within the bounds of the interval. The Simulation slider will show this by drawing a blue line under the slider.
The following options can be selected in the Animation field: ■ No Link - no viewpoint animation or camera animation will be played. ■ Saved Viewpoints Animation - links your schedule to the currently selected viewpoint or viewpoint animation. ■ Scene X - ➤ Camera - links your schedule to a camera animation in the selected animation scene. You can pre-record suitable animations for use with the TimeLiner simulation (see Record and Play Animations (page 469)).
■ Planned. Choose this view to simulate the Planned schedule only (that is, only use the Planned Start and Planned End dates). ■ Planned (Actual Differences). Choose this view to simulate the Actual schedule against the Planned schedule. This view will only highlight the items attached to the task over the Planned date range (that is, between PlannedStart and Planned End. See diagram below for graphical representation).
■ Planned Against Actual. Choose this view to simulate the Actual schedule against the Planned schedule. This will highlight the items attached to the task over the entire Planned and Actual date range (that is, between the earliest of Actual and PlannedStart dates and the latest of Actual and PlannedEnd dates. See diagrams below for graphical representation).
Overlay Text Dialog Box You have the option to define the text overlaid in the Scene View during simulation, by clicking Edit in the Simulation Settings Dialog Box (page 620). By default the date and time are displayed using the format specified in Control Panel ➤ Regional Settings. You can specify the exact format to use by entering text into the text box. Most text will appear as entered, except that words prefixed with a “%” or “$” character act as keywords and are replaced with various values.
shown next to the Font button, and during the TimeLiner simulation, all text on the overlay will be shown using this font. Date/Time Keywords %a Abbreviated weekday name. %A Full weekday name. %b Abbreviated month name. %B Full month name. %c Date and time representation appropriate for locale. %d Day of month as decimal number (01 - 31). %H Hour in 24-hour format (00 - 23). %I Hour in 12-hour format (01 - 12). %j Day of year as decimal number (001 - 366). %m Month as decimal number (01 - 12).
Color Keywords $COLOR_RED Sets the overlay display text color to be red. $COLOR_BLUE Sets the overlay display text color to be blue. $COLOR_GREEN Sets the overlay display text color to be green. $COLOR_WHITE Sets the overlay display text color to be white. $COLOR_BLACK Sets the overlay display text color to be black. $RGBr,g,b$RGB Sets the overlay display text to any color specified using explicit RGB values between 0 and 255. For example, “$RGB127,127,127$RGB” sets the color to grey.
Add Click to add an appearance definition. Delete Click to delete the currently selected appearance definition. Default Simulation Start Appearance This drop-down box specifies a default appearance to apply to all objects in the model at the start of the simulation. The default is Hide, which is ideal for simulating most construction sequences.
You can use the Data Sources Tab (page 609) to import tasks from an external source, such as Microsoft Project™. You can choose a field from the external schedule to define the types of the imported tasks, or you can set task types by hand. You can edit task parameters directly in TimeLiner. You can also update the schedule externally and refresh the tasks in TimeLiner to align them with those from the external source.
Alternatively, you can Use Rules to Attach Tasks (page 642) automatically. 4 Simulate your schedule (page 656). You can visualize your model at any date in your schedule with the currently active tasks highlighted. Run through the entire schedule using familiar VCR controls. You can Add Animation (page 660) to your construction schedules, and enhance the quality of simulations.
5 Adjust the way your simulation plays (page 657). You can use the Configure tab to create new task types and edit old ones. The task type defines what happens at the start and end of each task of that type. You can hide attached objects, change their appearance or reset them to the appearance specified in the model. 6 Create image and AVI files. Export (page 660) the current simulation view as an image, or the entire simulation as an AVI. 7 Keep up to date with changes in your project.
TimeLiner Tasks The Tasks tab can be used to create and edit tasks, to attach tasks to geometry items, and to validate your project schedule. You can adjust the Task View. You can also add new user columns to the default column set. This is useful when you import data from external project files that contain more fields than TimeLiner. To move a column 1 Open the TimeLiner window, and click the Tasks tab. 2 Position the mouse over the header of the column you want to move, and press the left mouse button.
To specify sort order 1 Click the header of the column you want to use, and click again to alternate between ascending/descending. Ascending order sorts the column starting with the smallest value and ending with the largest value (for example: a-z, 0-9, Monday-Friday). Descending order sorts the column starting with the largest value and ending with the smallest value.
Create Tasks In TimeLiner tasks can be created in one of the following ways: ■ Manually, one at a time. ■ Automatically, based on object structure in the Selection Tree, or the selection and search sets. ■ Automatically, built from data sources added to TimeLiner. TIP Unlike manual tasks, which need to be attached to geometry in your model, automatic tasks will be attached to the corresponding geometry as soon as they are created.
To add tasks based on the Selection Tree Structure 1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ TimeLiner . 2 In the TimeLiner window, the Tasks tab, right-click in the Task View, and click Auto-Add Tasks on the shortcut menu. 3 Click For Every Topmost Layer if you want to create tasks with the same names as each topmost layer in the Selection Tree. Click For Every Topmost Item if you want to create tasks with the same names as each topmost item in the Selection Tree.
NOTE PlannedStart and End dates will be automatically created, starting from the current system date and incrementing by one day for each subsequent end and start date. The Task Type will be set to Construct. Edit Tasks You can edit any of the task parameters directly in TimeLiner. However, the changes you make to tasks imported from external project files will be overwritten next time you refresh the corresponding data sources.
Use the left and right arrow buttons at the top of the calendar to move backwards and forwards a month, respectively, then click on the day you require. 3 To change the start or end time, click the time unit you want to modify (hours, minutes or seconds), and enter the value. You can use the left and right arrow keys to move between the units in the time field.
NOTE You can quickly change the task type for all selected tasks. To do this, press SHIFT or CTRL key and select required tasks, right-click the selection, and click Fill Down on the shortcut menu. The task type specified for the first selected task will be used for all tasks in the range. To delete a task 1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ TimeLiner .
2 Select Planned in the Display Dates drop-down. To view a Gantt chart for Planned vs Actual dates 1 Click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ TimeLiner Tasks tab in the TimeLiner window. , and click the 2 Select Planned vs Actual in the Display Dates drop-down. To change a resolution of a Gantt chart 1 Click the Tasks tab in the TimeLiner window. 2 Optional: Use the Display Dates drop-down to customize the displayed Gantt chart. By default, Planned dates are used.
Attach Tasks Manually To attach a task to a current selection 1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ TimeLiner . 2 Select the desired geometry objects in the Scene View, or on the Selection Tree. 3 In the TimeLiner window, the Tasks tab, right-click the required task, and click Attach Current Selection on the shortcut menu. To attach a task to a selection set or a search set 1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ TimeLiner .
3 In the TimeLiner window, the Tasks tab, right-click the required task, and click Attach Current Search. To attach multiple tasks to a selection set or a search set 1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ TimeLiner . 2 In the TimeLiner window, the Tasks tab, hold the CTRL or SHIFT key to select all required tasks. 3 Right-click the task selection, click Attach Set, and click the required selection set or a search set.
Predefined Rules ■ Items By Task Name. Choose this rule to attach each geometry item in the model to each task with the same name in the specified column. The default is to use the Name column. ■ Selection Sets By Task Name. Choose this rule to attach each Selection and Search Set in the model to each task with the same name in the specified column. The default is to use the Name column. ■ Layers By Task Name.
NOTE If you choose not to enter a name, upon selecting a rule template the name of that template will be used. 4 From the Rule Templates list, choose a template from which your rule will be based upon. NOTE The Attach Items to Tasks template is the one used for the first three pre-defined TimeLiner rules, that is, Items, Selection Sets and Layers By Task Name. The Attach Items to Tasks by Category/Property template enables you to specify a property within the model scene.
6 Click OK to add the new TimeLiner rule, or Cancel to return to the TimeLiner Rules dialog box. To apply TimeLiner rules 1 Open the TimeLiner window, and click the Rules button on the Tasks tab. 2 Select the check boxes for all rules you want to apply. The rules will be applied in order. NOTE You can also click Import/Export Attachment Rules button which enables you to import/export rules to/from an XML file. Imported rules will overwrite any current rules with the same name.
3 Select one of the available options: ■ Unattached/Uncontained Items. Choose this to select any items in the scene that are not attached to a task, or are not contained within any other item attached to a task. NOTE A Contained item is the child of another item. For example, if you select a Group, Block or Cell which is comprised of various pieces of geometry, then that geometry is contained within the Group, Block or Cell.
NOTE When opening files in Autodesk Navisworks 2012 that were created inAutodesk Navisworks 2011 or previous, you may find that the Planned and Actual dates have been swapped. Autodesk Navisworks now uses Planned dates by default instead of Actual dates , as is consistent with most planning applications.
Microsoft Project MPX TimeLiner can read Microsoft Project™ MPX files directly, without needing a copy of Microsoft Project™ (or any other scheduling software) installed. Primavera SureTrak™, Primavera Project Planner and Asta Power Project™ can all export MPX files. NOTE Primavera SureTrak™ exports its unique id in the text10 field of the MPX file, rather than the unique id field.
installed and setup from the Project Management CD by taking the following steps: 1 Insert Project Management CD, enter the Product Key and accept the License Agreement. 2 Make sure Primavera Applications or Components is selected, and click Next. 3 Select Other Components, and click Next. 4 Select Software Development Kit, and click Next. 5 Continue through clicking Next until the install starts. 6 Once installation is complete, click OK to start the Database Configuration wizard.
This data source requires you to set up a Primavera Web Server. Refer to the Primavera P6 Web Server Administrator Guide (available in your Primavera documentation). Asta Power Project 8 - 10 This data source requires the corresponding version of Asta Power Project™ to be installed. CSV Support The TimeLiner tool supports importing and exporting schedules in CSV/Excel formats. You need to use commas (“,”) when saving a CSV file, otherwise you will have problems importing it into TimeLiner.
2 In the TimeLiner window click the Data Sources tab. 3 Click the Add button and choose the required option from a list of the project sources that may be connected to on the current PC. NOTE For more information on which sources are typically available, see Supported Scheduling Software (page 647). 4 Use the standard Open dialog box to browse to and open the desired project file.
TIP The Server Address is the name of a machine on your domain or an IP address for the server. 5 In the Primavera P6 Database Instance Selection dialog box double-click the desired Instance ID to select it. 6 In the Primavera P6 Project Selection dialog box double-click the desired project file to open it. 7 Use the Field Selector Dialog Box (page 616) to override some of the predefined data import options. TimeLiner connects to the selected project file.
NOTE The CSV import settings, including field mappings, are remembered by the system and pre-populated when the dialog box opens. If you are linking to a different CSV file than was previously used, TimeLiner will attempt to map any columns to similarly-named columns in the CSV file. It is recommended that you have a column in the CSV file containing unique data, for example an incrementing number, and map this to the External ID column.
Edit a Data Source To edit a data source 1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab . ➤ Tools ➤ TimeLiner 2 In the TimeLiner window, the Data Sources tab, right-click the data source you want to modify, and click Edit on the shortcut menu. The Field Selector Dialog Box (page 616) opens. Typically, this dialog box is used to customize the column mapping between the TimeLiner and the external project file.
Build Tasks from Data Sources To build tasks from a data source 1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ TimeLiner . 2 In the TimeLiner window, the Data Sources tab, click the Refresh button, select either Selected Data Source or All Data Sources then select Rebuild Task Hierarchy in the Refresh from Data Source Dialog Box (page 620) and click OK. This will import all of the tasks from the project file into TimeLiner.
5 In the Refresh from Data Source Dialog Box (page 620) select one of the following options and click OK. ■ Rebuild Task Hierarchy. Choose this to re-import all tasks and associated data from the selected project file(s), and rebuild the task hierarchy on the Tasks tab. ■ Synchronize. Choose this to update all existing tasks in the Tasks tab, with the latest associated data from the selected project file(s) (for example, Start and End dates).
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 .
To add a task type definition 1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ TimeLiner . 2 Click the Configure tab, and click the Add button. 3 A new task type is added to the bottom of the list; it will be highlighted, enabling you to enter a new name for it. 4 Select one of the Appearance fields, and click it to open a drop-down menu and assign the desired object behavior.
To add an appearance definition 1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ TimeLiner . 2 Click the Configure tab, and click Appearance Definitions. 3 Click Add 4 A new appearance definition is added to the bottom of the list; it will be highlighted, enabling you to enter a new name for it. 5 In the Transparency field, use the slider to set the transparency level, between 0 and 100 (where 0 is opaque and 100 is fully transparent).
Export You can export a static image at any time during a simulation by using one of the standard Autodesk Navisworks image exports, whilst the Simulation tab is active. See Export an Image (page 492) for more information. You also have an option to export an animation of an entire TimeLiner simulation. See Export an Animation (page 494) for more information. Add Animation In this section, you will learn how to add animation to the TimeLiner schedules.
Add Animation to an Entire Schedule The animation that you can add to an entire schedule is restricted to viewpoints, viewpoint animations, and cameras. Added viewpoint and camera animation will be automatically scaled to match the playback duration. Once you’ve added an animation to your schedule, you can simulate (page 656) it. To add a current viewpoint or a viewpoint animation 1 If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab ➤ Tools panel ➤ TimeLiner .
5 Click OK. To add a camera animation 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 In the Simulation Settings dialog box, click the drop-down arrow in the Animation field, and select the desired camera animation, for example Scene1 ➤ Camera. 4 Click OK.
Add Animation to Tasks The animation that you can add to individual tasks in TimeLiner is restricted to scenes and animation sets from the scenes. By default, any added animation is scaled to fit the task duration. You also got an option of playing an animation at its normal (recorded) speed, by matching its start or end point with the task. NOTE Animation keyframes may contain transparency and color overrides.
4 Click the drop-down arrow in the Animation Behavior field, and select how the animation will play during this task: ■ Scale - the duration of the animation is matched to the duration of the task. This is the default setting. ■ Match Start - the animation starts when the task starts. If the animation runs past the end of the TimeLiner simulation, the end of the animation will be clipped. ■ Match End - the animation starts early enough so that it ends just when the task end.
15 Use the Autodesk Vault Add-In The Autodesk Vault add-in enables you to perform common vault functions on Autodesk Navisworks files (.nwc, .nwd, .nwf). About the Autodesk Vault Add-In A vault is a repository where documents and files are stored and managed. Autodesk Vault is a data management system that offers file security, version control, and multi-user support.
Launching the Vault Application You can start the Autodesk Vault application from within Navisworks Simulate for vault administration and file maintenance. You need to have at least one Autodesk Vault product installed on your machine to do this. Multiple Vault products can be installed on your machine at the same time. If you are logged into a vault server, launching the Vault application will open the Vault Explorer for the standalone vault client that matches the current log in information.
6 If you have a Microsoft Windows Active Directory account, you can log into the Autodesk Vault Server using your Microsoft Windows user account credentials. To do this, select the Windows Authentication check box. NOTE This option applies only to Autodesk Vault Collaboration and Autodesk Vault Professional editions. ■ Windows Authentication is available only for Active Directory domains. ■ If you are not using Windows Authentication, then you must have a valid Autodesk Vault Server account.
when you open a file from a vault, the file is copied from the vault to a local folder called working folder. A working folder is defined by default, allowing you to begin working with a vault right away. The default working folder is: My Documents\Vault This means that each user has a unique working folder, isolated from other users.
To set up a shared working folder NOTE You must be assigned the role of Administrator to perform this action. 1 Launch Autodesk Vault and log in as an administrator. 2 Select Tools ➤ Administration. 3 In the Administration dialog box, click the Files tab. 4 In the Working Folder section, click Define. 5 Select Enforce a Consistent Working Folder for All Clients. 6 Specify the shared network location for the working folder in the Client Working Folder box or browse for a location.
Get Files from a Vault You can use the open, append and merge commands to get files from the vault. Files are downloaded to the local working folder which is defined by the vault (for example, C:\Users\\My Documents\Vault in Windows 7). The commands are located on the Vault tab, Access panel: ■ Open . Closes the file currently opened in Autodesk Navisworks and opens the file selected in the vault. You have a choice of opening the file as read-only, or checking it out for editing. ■ Append ■ .
To merge files from a vault into a current scene 1 Open an Autodesk Navisworks file. 2 Click Vault tab ➤ Access panel ➤ Merge . 3 In the Select File dialog box, use the Files of Type box to select the appropriate file type, and navigate to a vault location where the files you want to add are located. 4 Select the required files, and click Open. TIP To select multiple files, use SHIFT and CTRL keys.
that was checked in. Once a file is checked in, the version in the vault is incremented and the latest changes are now available for others to check out. Only one person can have a file checked out at one time. If you want to make a file currently checked out to you available to others without recording your changes, you can Undo Check Out. If no changes were made to a file that is checked back into the vault, the version history is not incremented. Use Autodesk Vault to see who has a file checked out.
To undo file check out 1 Click Vault tab ➤ File Status panel ➤ Undo Check Out . 2 If your local file has any unsaved edits, you are prompted to confirm that it will be overwritten with the data from vault. Click OK. 3 If your local file has already been saved, you are prompted to confirm that you want to overwrite new data with the older data from vault. Click OK. Vault Settings Log In Dialog Box Use this dialog box to log into the vault database.
Ribbon: Vault tab ➤ Access panel ➤ Log In Check In Dialog Box Use this dialog box to add your files to the vault. Use the Files Tree tab to view files hierarchically within the vault. When the files are shown as a tree, you can see the structure of the files as they will be added to the vault. The Files Table tab displays the files in the vault as a flat list. Keep Files Checked Out Keeps the files checked out after you check them into the vault.
Settings Dialog Box Use this dialog box to organize your files in the vault. Use Organized Folder Structure Places all files and folders under a single folder. The original folder structure is retained to the extent that all referenced files exist at the same level or beneath the folder the host file resides in. Files that are not located on the same level or above the host file are placed under the host file automatically. This is the default option.
OK Completes the select folder operation. The Check In dialog box is displayed. Cancel Cancels the select folder operation and closes the dialog box. Ribbon: Vault tab ➤ File Status panel ➤ Check In Create Folder Dialog Box Use this dialog box to creates a new folder under the currently selected directory in the Select Vault Location dialog box. New Folder Enter the name for the folder that will be created in the vault. The folder name must be unique within the currently selected directory.
Open Once you selected the file, click the Open button. If you can see the drop-down button next to the Open button you can choose to open your file as read-only or to check it out for edit. This option is not available when you merge or append files.
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Reference 16 Animation Export Dialog Box Use this dialog box to export an animation to an AVI file or a sequence of image files. Source Source Selects the source from which to export the animation. Choose from: ■ Current Animator Scene. The currently selected object animation. ■ TimeLiner Simulation. The currently selected TimeLiner sequence. ■ Current Animation. The currently selected viewpoint animation. Renderer Renderer Selects the animation renderer. Choose from: ■ Presenter.
■ Windows AVI. Exports animation as a commonly readable AVI file. Use the Options button to select the video compressor from the drop-down list, and adjust the output settings. NOTE If a video compressor is not available on your computer, the Configure button may be unavailable. ■ Windows Bitmap. Exports a sequence of static images, which are taken from individual frames in the animation. There are no Options for this format. Options Enables you to configure the options for the selected output format.
Anti-Aliasing This option applies to OpenGL renderer only. Anti-aliasing is used to smooth the edges of the exported images. Select the appropriate value from the drop-down list. The higher the number, the smoother the image, but the longer they take to export. 4x is adequate for most situations.
Test Selection Click this button to test the set you chose. All objects that satisfy the criteria will be selected in the model. Appearance Area Use this area to configure the appearance overrides that will be associated with an appearance profile selector. Color Use the color picker to choose the color that will be used to override appearance of the selected objects. Transparency Use the slider to choose transparency level (0 to 100%) that will be used to override appearance of the selected objects.
Background Settings Dialog Box Use this dialog box to choose a background effect to use in the Scene View. Mode Selects the type of background effect. Choose from: ■ Plain ■ Graduated ■ Horizon NOTE Horizon mode and the associated colors are only available for 3D models. Color Sets the color for a plain background. Top Color Sets the top color in a graduated background. Bottom Color Sets the bottom color in the graduated background. Sky Color Sets the sky color (top) in a horizon background.
Collision Select this check box to define a viewer as a collision volume in Walk and Fly modes. As a result, a viewer acquires some mass, and cannot pass through other objects, points, or lines in the Scene View. NOTE Selecting this check box changes the rendering prioritization so that objects around the viewer are displayed with much higher detail than normal. The size of the region of high detail is based on collision volume radius and speed of movement.
Pointing device: Edit Viewpoint dialog box ➤ Settings Convert Object Properties Dialog Box Use this dialog box to select third-party applications for the DWG and DXF file reader to read object information from. The DWG and DXF file reader can convert object information from a number of third-party applications that are built on AutoCAD. Select the check boxes for all required applications.
Automatically Generated Specifies whether or not Autodesk Navisworks automatically controls the Near Clip Plane position to give you the best view of the model. Far Clip Plane Closest Distance Specifies the closest distance between the camera and the Far Clip Plane position. Automatically Generated Specifies whether or not Autodesk Navisworks automatically controls the Far Clip Plane position to give you the best view of the model. TIP If you want to restore the default values, click the Defaults button.
Rename Displays the Rename Toolbar dialog box and enables you to rename a custom toolbar. Delete Enables you to delete the selected custom toolbar. Commands Tab Use this tab to add and remove commands from the Menu bar and the toolbars in the Classic user interface. NOTE You cannot add and remove commands from shortcut menus. Categories Contains the groups of commands that can be customized. Commands Contains all available commands for the selected category.
Personalized Menus and Toolbars Always Show Full Menus Indicates whether the Menu bar contains all commands or not. By default, this check box is selected. If you want to show only basic and frequently used commands on short versions of the menus, clear this check box. Show Full Menus After a Short Delay Activates when the Always Show Full Menus check box is clear. Select this check box if you want to show all commands on the menu after a brief delay when you rest the mouse pointer on an open menu.
NOTE Selecting this check box changes the rendering prioritization so that objects around the viewer are displayed with much higher detail than normal. The size of the region of high detail is based on collision volume radius and speed of movement. Gravity Select this check box to give a viewer some weight in Walk mode. This option works in conjunction with Collision. Auto Crouch Select this check box to enable a viewer to crouch under objects that are too low to pass under in Walk mode.
Edit Key Frame Dialog Box Use this dialog box to edit keyframes for animation sets, cameras, and section planes. The fields in this dialog box are context-sensitive, depending on the animation type, and enable you to edit the animation operations the selected keyframe represents. NOTE Animation sets and section planes are only available for 3D models. Edit Key Frame - Animation Set All values are relative to the previous keyframe, or, if it is the first keyframe, relative to the model’s starting position.
Enter the % value to adjust the transparency level (0 to 100%). A higher value makes the element more transparent; a lower value makes the element more opaque. If you don’t want to enter the transparency value manually, use the slider to adjust the transparency level. Interpolate Determines whether or not Autodesk Navisworks automatically interpolates between the current and the last keyframes. This is the default option.
Edit Key Frame - Section Plane Time Enables you to reposition the time of this keyframe. The value is the number of seconds since the start of the scene; it is not relative to the last keyframe. Section Planes A list of current section planes. Adds a section plane to the Section Planes list. Deletes the section plane selected in the Section Planes list. Distance The distance of the selected section plane across the model. Plane Selects the vector that represents the angle of the section plane.
Camera Position Enter the X, Y, and Z coordinate values to move the camera into this position. The Z coordinate values are not available in a 2D workspace. Look At Enter the X, Y, and Z coordinate values to change the focal point for the camera. The Z coordinate values are not available in a 2D workspace. Vertical Field of View, Horizontal Field of View Defines the area of the scene that can be viewed through the camera in a 3D workspace only.
NOTE Saving the state information with each viewpoint requires a relatively large amount of memory. Collision Settings Opens the Collision dialog box (page 683). This functionality is available in a 3D workspace only. Ribbon: Viewpoint tab ➤ Save, Load & Playback panel ➤ Edit Current Viewpoint Menu: Classic user interface: Viewpoint ➤ Edit Current Viewpoint Export Rendered Image Dialog Box Use this dialog box to export a rendered scene into one of the file types supported by Autodesk Navisworks.
NOTE The QTVR Panoramic Movie will effectively export 32 images, rotating about the current camera position to form a 360° panorama. Best results are achieved when the camera has zero tilt and is located in a position that has a 360° panoramic view, for example, in the center of a room.
File Options Dialog Box Use this dialog box to control the appearance of the model and the speed of navigation around it, and also to create and configure links to external databases. NOTE Some of the tabs are only available when working with 3D models. When you modify any of the options in this dialog box, your changes are saved in the currently opened Autodesk Navisworks file, and apply to this file only. Ribbon: Home panel ➤ Project tab ➤ File Options Menu: Classic user interface: Tools ➤ File Options.
Fixed Select this radio button to set the near clipping plane to the value provided in the Distance box. Distance Specifies the farthest distance between the camera and the near clipping plane position in constrained mode. Specifies the exact distance between the camera and the near clipping plane position in fixed mode. NOTE Nothing is drawn between the camera and the near clipping plane; when you override automatic mode, make this value small enough to display your data.
TIP If you can see through some objects, or some object parts are missing, turn off backface culling. TIP If you want to restore the default values, click the Reset to Defaults button. Orientation Tab Use this tab to adjust the real-world orientation of your model. NOTE This tab is only available for 3D models. Up X, Y, Z Specify the X, Y, and Z coordinate values. By default, Autodesk Navisworks takes the positive Z-axis as Up. North X, Y, Z Specify the X, Y, and Z coordinate values.
Headlight Tab Use this tab to change the intensity of the scene's ambient light and headlight for Head Light mode. NOTE This tab is only available for 3D models. Ambient Use the slider to control the overall brightness of the scene. Headlight Use the slider to control the brightness of the light located at the camera. NOTE To see the effect your changes have on the model in the Scene View, apply Head Light mode in the ribbon.
Buttons New Opens the New Link dialog box (page 705) where you can specify the link parameters. Edit Opens the Edit Link dialog box (page 692) where you can modify the parameters for the selected database link. Delete Deletes the selected database link. Import Lets you select and open previously saved datatools files. Export Saves the selected database link as a datatools file. NOTE If you want to restore the default values, click the Defaults button.
Rotation Enter the rotation angle. Select the rotation axis by entering values greater than 0. The model or sheet geometry rotates about its origin point. Positive numbers rotate the model or sheet counterclockwise; negative numbers rotate model or sheet clockwise. Scale Enter the scaling factor around X, Y, and Z axis for the file geometry; 1 being the current size, 0.5 half, 2 being double and so on. To scale proportionally, ensure the X, Y and Z scale values are equal.
Size Type Use the drop-down list to specify how to set the size of the exported image. Choose from: ■ Explicit. Gives you full control of the width and height (the dimensions are in pixels). ■ Use Aspect Ratio. Enables you to specify the height. The width is automatically calculated from the aspect ratio of your current view. ■ Use View. Uses the width and height of your current view. Width Enables you to enter the width in pixels, when available.
General Node Use the General node to select your current location, frequency for checking new online content and option to turn on or off animated transition effects for the InfoCenter panels. Please Indicate the Country/Region Nearest to Your Current Location Set the country in which Autodesk Navisworks users work. This is used for tailoring location-specific Communication Center content. Check for New Online Content Specifies how often Communication Center checks for new content.
Select Channels to Display in the Communication Center Panel Select the channels and the number of articles you want to display in the Communication Center panel. Pointing device: InfoCenter Settings dialog box ➤ Communication Center node ➤ Autodesk Channels page Balloon Notification Page Use the settings on this page to adjust balloon notifications. Enable Balloon Notification for These Sources Select this check box to enable balloon notifications in the product.
RSS Subscription Add. Specify the path for the RSS feed you want to add. After the RSS feed has been added to the RSS Subscription list, under Items to Display enter a numeric value to indicate the number of items to display. Remove. Remove a selected RSS feed from the RSS Subscription list. Pointing device: InfoCenter Settings dialog box ➤ Communication Center node ➤ RSS Feeds page New Link Dialog Box Use this dialog box to add a database link to the opened Autodesk Navisworks file.
Display Name Specifies the link category name shown on the Properties control bar. This name is automatically completed for you, but you can modify it, if necessary. Pointing device: File Options dialog box ➤ DataTools tab ➤ New Options Editor Dialog Box Use the Options Editor to adjust program settings for Autodesk Navisworks sessions. The settings that you set up in the Options Editor are persistent across all Autodesk Navisworks sessions.
Undo Page Use the settings on this page to adjust the buffer size. Pointing device: Options Editor dialog box ➤ General node ➤ Undo page Buffer Size (KB) Specifies the amount of space Autodesk Navisworks allocates for saving undo/redo actions. Locations Page Use the options on this page to share global Autodesk Navisworks settings, workspaces, datatools, avatars, Clash Detective rules, Presenter archives, custom Clash Detective tests, object animation scripts, and so on, with other users.
Auto-Save File Location Specifies how the backup files are saved. Select from the following options: ■ Auto-Save to a Specific Directory - this is the default option. Directory The default directory for auto-save is: \ Application Data\\AutoSave to open the Browse for Folder dialog box, and select the Click desired location for auto-save. Manage Disk Space Indicates whether the size of the disk space restricts the creation of backup files. This check box is selected by default.
Display Units Page Use this page to customize the units used by Autodesk Navisworks. Linear Units Use the drop-down list to select the desired linear value. Meters are used by default. Angular Units Use the drop-down list to select the desired angular value. Degrees are used by default. Decimal Places Specifies the number of decimal places used by units. Fractional Display Precision Specifies the level of fraction used by units. This box is enabled for fractional units only.
Compact Tree Specifies the level of detail shown on the Compact tab of the Selection Tree. Use one of the following options: ■ Models - the tree is restricted to displaying model files only. ■ Layers - the tree can be expanded down to the layer level. ■ Objects - can be expanded down to the objects level, but without the levels of instancing shown on the Standard tab. Highlight Enabled Indicates whether Autodesk Navisworks highlights the selected items in the Scene View.
When this check box is clear, the surface of the parametric objects is used for the shortest distance measurement instead. NOTE Changing this option does not affect any measurement currently in place. To see any changes, clear the measurement, and start again. Snapping Page Use the options on this page to adjust the cursor snapping. Picking Snap to Vertex Select this check box to snap the cursor to the nearest vertex. Snap to Edge Select this check box to snap the cursor to the nearest triangle edge.
By default, this check box is clear, as saving the state information with each viewpoint requires a relatively large amount of memory. Override Material Select this check box to save viewpoints with material override information. When you use a viewpoint again, the material overrides set when the viewpoint was saved are reapplied. By default, this check box is clear, as saving the state information with each viewpoint requires a relatively large amount of memory.
X Leader Offset, Y Leader Offset Links can be drawn with leader lines (arrows) pointing to the attachment point on the geometry that the link is attached to. Enter the X- and Y- values to specify the number of pixels to the right and up that these leader lines use. Standard Categories Page Use the settings on this page to switch the displaying of links based on their categories. Hyperlink Icon Type Specifies how to display this link category. Select one of the following options: and in the Scene View.
■ Text - links are represented by text boxes with link descriptions in the Scene View. Visible Select this check box to display this link category in the Scene View. Hide Icons Without Comments Select this check box to display only the links that have comments in the Scene View. Sets Icon Type Specifies how to display this link category.
Hide Category Clear this check box to include category names in the quick properties tooltips. If you don’t want to see category names in the quick properties tooltips, select this check box. Definitions Page Developer Page Use the options on this page to adjust the display of object properties. Show Internal Properties Indicates whether additional object properties are displayed in Autodesk Navisworks.
Fill In Detail Indicates whether Autodesk Navisworks fills in any discarded detail when navigation has stopped. Graphics System Auto-Select Autodesk Navisworks supports two graphics systems: Presenter Graphics and Autodesk Graphics. By default, this check box is selected and Autodesk Navisworks controls which graphics system to use. Clear this check box if you want to select the system yourself. This enables the System drop-down box.
Show Position Indicates whether the Position Readout is displayed in the Scene View. Primitives Point Size Enter a number from 1 through 9 to set the size (in pixels) of points drawn in the Scene View. Line Size Enter a number from 1 through 9 to set the width (in pixels) of lines drawn in the Scene View. Snap Size Enter a number from 1 through 9 to set the size (in pixels) of snap points drawn in the Scene View.
Presenter (OpenGL) This driver supports Presenter graphics system and only works on 3D geometries. If the check box is clear, Autodesk Navisworks will ignore this driver when rendering geometries. Autodesk (DirectX 9) This driver supports Autodesk graphics system, and works with both 2D and 3D geometries. If the check box is clear, Autodesk Navisworks will ignore this driver when rendering geometries.
Reflection Enabled Select this check box to enable the reflection color for Autodesk consistent material. Highlight Enabled Select this check box to enable the specular color for Autodesk consistent material. Bump Enabled Select this option if you want to use a bump map, which makes a rendered object appear to have a bumpy or irregular surface.
NOTE If your video card does not support higher MSAA, use lower MSAA that your video card can support automatically. 3Dconnexion Page Use the options on this page to customize the behavior of 3Dconnexion devices. NOTE All options are selected by default. If you make any changes you can click the Default button to reset to the original settings.
Use Classic Constrained Orbit (Turntable) Select this check box if you want to switch from the standard Constrained Orbit tool to the classic Autodesk Navisworks Turntable mode on the navigation bar. Walk Tool Use Classic Walk Select this check box if you want to switch from the standard Walk tool to the classic Autodesk Navisworks Walk mode on the navigation bar. Constrain Walk Angle When this check box is selected, the Walk tool will keep the camera upright while navigating.
NOTE In automatic mode, the size of the ViewCube is relative to the size of the Scene View, and ranges between medium and tiny. Inactive Opacity When the ViewCube is inactive, that is your cursor is distant from the ViewCube, it appears transparent. To control the opacity level, choose from the following options: ■ 0% ■ 25% ■ 50% ■ 75% ■ 100% Keep Scene Upright Indicates whether the upside-down orientations of the scene is allowed when you use the ViewCube.
Show the Compass Below the ViewCube Indicates whether the compass is displayed below the ViewCube tool. SteeringWheels Use the options on this page to customize the SteeringWheels menus. Big Wheels Size Specifies the size of big wheels. You can choose from the following options: ■ Small (64x64) ■ Normal (128x128) ■ Large (256x256). Normal is the default option. Opacity Controls the opacity level of big wheels. The default value is 50%.
■ 75% ■ 90% (mostly opaque) On-Screen Messages Show Tool Messages Toggles the display of tooltips for navigation tools. When this check box is selected, the tooltips are shown below the cursor as you use the tools. NOTE This setting is always on for View Object and Tour Building wheels, and cannot be turned off. Show Tooltips Toggles the display of wheel tooltips. When this check box is selected, the tooltips are shown when you hover over wedges on the wheels.
Zoom Tool Enable Single-Click Incremental Zoom In When this check box is selected, single clicking over the Zoom wedge increases the magnification of the model. When this check box is clear, nothing happens when you single click over the Zoom wedge. Orbit Tool Keep Scene Upright When this check box is selected, the Orbit tool behaves similarly to the classic Orbit mode, with orbiting constrained along the XY axis and in the Z direction.
Performance Page Use the options on this page to optimize Autodesk Navisworks performance. Memory Limit Auto Indicates whether Autodesk Navisworks automatically determines the maximum memory that can be used. Selecting this check box sets the memory limit to the lowest of your available physical memory or address space, less that required for your operating system. Limit (MB) Specifies the maximum memory that Autodesk Navisworks can use.
you also need to set File Readers ➤ DWG/DXF ➤ Line Processing drop-down to Separate All Lines. ■ Composite Objects - the tree is collapsed up to the level of composite objects. ■ All Objects - the tree is collapsed up to the level of objects. ■ Layers - the tree is collapsed up to the level of layers. ■ Files - the tree is collapsed up to the level of files.
NWD Page Use the options on this page to enable and disable geometry compression and select whether the precision of certain options is reduced when saving or publishing NWD files. Geometry Compression Enable Select this check box to enable geometry compression when NWD files are saved. Geometry compression results in less memory being required and therefore smaller NWD files. Reduce Precision Coordinates Select this check box to reduce the precision of coordinates.
Caching Read Cache Select this check box to use cache files when Autodesk Navisworks opens native CAD files. Clear this check box if you don’t want to use cache files. This ensures that Autodesk Navisworks converts native CAD files each time they are opened. Write Cache Select this check box to save cache files when native CAD files are converted. Generally, cache files are much smaller than original CAD files, therefore, selecting this option does not take up too much disk space.
DWG Page Use this page to adjust the options for the DWG file exporter. Convert Entity Handles Select this check box to convert entity handles, and attach them to object properties in Autodesk Navisworks. When this check box is clear, the file exporter ignores entity handles. Convert Frozen Select this check box to convert layers that are frozen in DWG and DXF files. They are automatically marked as hidden in Autodesk Navisworks. When this check box is clear, the file exporter ignores frozen layers.
Convert Views Select this check box to convert the named views into Autodesk Navisworks viewpoints. When this check box is clear, the file exporter ignores views. Convert XRefs Select this check box to convert any external reference files contained within the DWG file automatically. Clear this check box if you want to append files in Autodesk Navisworks later yourself.
Load Material Definitions Select this check box to extract material definitions from DWG files. When this check box is clear, the file exporter ignores material definitions. Material Search Paths Autodesk Navisworks automatically searches the default Autodesk material paths. Use this box to specify additional paths to texture files used in Autodesk Architectural Desktop materials. Separate the paths with semi-columns.
Clear this check box to keep the external reference files separate from the main DWG file in the Selection Tree. Render Type Specifies the render style used for objects when loading DWG files. Selecting Automatic means Autodesk Navisworks uses the render style saved in DWG files. If geometry is not correctly displayed, adjust the render style with one of the following options: Rendered, Shaded, or Wireframe. Split by Color Compound objects can be split into parts based on their color.
Convert Element Parameters Specifies how Revit parameters are read. Select from the following options: ■ None - the file exporter does not convert parameters. ■ Elements - the file exporter converts parameters for all found elements. ■ All - the file exporter converts parameters for all found elements, including the referenced elements. As a result, extra property tabs are available in Autodesk Navisworks. Convert Linked Files Revit projects can embed external files as links.
See also: Revit File Exporter (page 199) DGN Page Use this page to adjust the options for the 3D DGN file exporter. Align Global Origins Indicates whether Autodesk Navisworks aligns global origins in referenced DGN files to the origin of the master DGN file. When DGN files are appended together with this check box selected, their global origins are positioned in the same place. Convert Hidden Items Select this check box to convert hidden entities in DGN files.
Faceting Factor Enter the required value to control the level of faceting that takes place. The faceting factor must be greater or equal to 0, where 0 results in the faceting factor being turned off. The default value is 1. To get twice the number of facets, double this value. To get half as many facets, halve this value. Larger faceting factors result in more polygons to a model and larger Autodesk Navisworks files. Ignore Unres.
Shape Merge Threshold Specifies the number of vertices for MicroStation shapes. If the number of vertices is less than or equal to the Shape Merge Threshold value, Autodesk Navisworks merges all shapes on the same level or in the same cell and with the same color into a “Shape Set”. Show Hidden Items Select this check box, if you want to display all entities in converted DGN files, irrespective of whether they are hidden or not. NOTE To use this option, you must select the Convert Hidden Items check box.
Convert User Properties Select this check box to attach any user properties you have defined in Viz or Max to the converted Autodesk Navisworks items. When this check box is clear, the file exporter ignores user properties. Pre-Render Scene By default, this check box is clear. Select this check box if the exported file misses some texture maps. This forces Viz/Max to do an internal render, and cache all texture maps. As a result, all texture maps are exported with the model.
Selecting this check box gives users read-only access to document properties, enabling users to find out the details of the person they can request a password from. Clear this check box if you don’t want to provide the document information to users. Expires Select this check box to set an expiration date for the published file. This activates the Calendar box, where you can pick the required date. After the selected date is passed, the file cannot be opened.
Prevent Object Property Export Select this check box if you don’t want to include object properties that come from native CAD packages in the published file. This enables you to protect intellectual property. Ribbon: Output tab ➤ Publish panel ➤ NWD Ribbon: Application button ➤ Publish Toolbar: Classic user interface: Standard ➤ Publish Menu: Classic user interface: File ➤ Publish Piranesi EPix Dialog Box Use this dialog box to export the current view as a Piranesi EPix file.
Menu: Application button ➤ Export ➤ Images & Animations ➤ Piranesi EPix QTVR Object Movie Settings Dialog Box Use this dialog box to specify the number of pan frames and number of tilt frames that are used to export the QuickTime VR object movie. NOTE This dialog box is only available for 3D models. Pan Settings Pan Min and Pan Max Define how far the model can be revolved (as though on a turntable).
You can set the visibility and alignment of each section plane, select the current plane, and link visible section planes together. Link Section Planes Enables you to link section planes together. Controls the visibility of the corresponding section plane. When the check box is selected, the section plane's effect is visible (that is, it cuts the scene). When the check box is deselected, the section plane's effect is not visible and all other controls for that plane are disabled.
Glossary 17 Glossary of technical terms relating to Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2012. Display Terminology average frame rate This shows the current measured frame rate, averaged over the last second. average frame time This shows the time taken to render the last frame. average triangle rate This shows the rate at which triangles are being rendered and is a measure of how well your graphics card is working. culling Culling is a process for determining items not to draw during the render of a scene.
File Terminology cache files (.nwc) When any native CAD file is opened or appended, Autodesk Navisworks creates a cache file (.nwc) if the write cache option is set. When the file is next opened or appended, Autodesk Navisworks will read data from the corresponding cache file rather than re-converting the original data if the cache is newer than the original file. If the original file is altered, Autodesk Navisworks will re-create the cache file when it is next loaded.
To set the faceting factor on reading CAD files go to the Options Editor (click ➤ Options, expand the File Readers node, and choose the relevant file reader page). max facet deviation Maximum facet deviation is used in conjunction with faceting factor to ensure that larger objects, with too large a deviation from the original, have additional facets added. If a difference greater than the entered value is found in a model it adds more facets. The values are measured in the model units.
Navisworks merges all shapes on the same level or in the same cell and with the same color into a “Shape Set” if these shapes have less than or equal to the number of vertices given by the Shape Merge Threshold. Selection Terminology These are terms specific to Autodesk Navisworks that are used in relation to selecting items. composite objects A composite object is a group of geometry that is considered a single object in the selection tree.
aspect ratio Aspect ratio is the proportion of X-axis to Y-axis size. For example, in exporting a bitmap of a viewpoint, maintaining the aspect ratio would keep the proportion of the view even if the number of pixels was different. camera-centric Navigation modes in which the camera is moved around the model. field of view The field of view of a camera is the angle that the camera can see.
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Index 2D 212 2D Navigation wheel 298 2D/3D object associations 356 3D mouse devices 299 3D workspace 240 3Dconnexion options 720 3Dconnexion 3D mouse 299 3DS export options 737 4D 656 A ADN 26 align viewpoint 240 animation action types 543 actions 542 add sets 527 capture 529 create 523 create scenes 524 cuts 470 delete scenes 524 edit 469 enable scripts 473, 544 event conditions 541 event types 541 events 540 export settings 679 object 469 organize scenes 524 play 473, 523 record 469 scope 499 scripts 538
start 477 Windows NetMeeting 477 Collaborate Bar toolbar 124 collision 312 options 683 color 388 color-code 436 command line 88 comments 399 clash result 399 edit 411 find 413 IDs 419 review 413 search set 399 selection set 399 status 411 TimeLiner task 399 view 399 viewpoint 399 viewpoint animation 399 Communication Center 14 settings 22 Subscription Center 12 compare items 365 models 365 compass (ViewCube) 274 compatible CAD applications 164 configuration files 159 constrained orbit 271 convert object pro
viewpoints report 497 F face views 278 favorites links (InfoCenter) 16 field selector 616 file exporters 192 ArchiCAD 205 AutoCAD 192 DGN 204 Max 204 MicroStation 200 Revit 199 Viz 204 file formats NWC 163 NWD 163 NWF 163 supported CAD 168 supported laser scan 169 File menu 109 file options 150, 696 culling 696 DataTools 699 headlight 699 orientation 698 scene lights 699 speed 698 file readers 170 3DS 170 ASCII laser scan 171 Bentley AutoPLANT 172 CIS/2 172 DGN 179 DWF/DWFx 178 DWG/DXF 175 Faro Scan 180 F
displaying 17 print 21 procedures 17 quick reference 17 search 18 searching 11 training 25 hide objects 348 highlighting 346 Home view 282 horizon background 323 HUD 306 hyperlinks 420 I image export options 701 import PDS display sets 484 PDS tags 485 search criteria 483 search sets 483 viewpoints 486 InfoCenter about 10 favorite links 16 searching 11 settings 22 Subscription Center 12 InfoCenter Settings 702 Autodesk Channels 704 Balloon Notifications 704 Communication Center 703 RSS Feeds 705 installati
merge files 225 TimeLiner data 225 model units 222 Model Views toolbar 122 mouse devices 299 move objects 383 move toolbars 115 multi-sheet files 212 add sheets/models 213 append 218 delete 214 find objects 356 merge 218 navigation controls 138 prepare 214 Project Browser 214 rename 214 multiple-user installation 44 N navigation 239 navigation bar 284 Navigation Bar options 720 Navigation Mode toolbar 119 navigation modes 264 Constrained Orbit 271 Fly 271 Free Orbit 270 Look Around 266 Orbit 269 Pan 268 Tu
edit materials 557 effects 583 foreground effects 589 graphics 155 lighting 564 materials 552 position lights 565 predefined rendering styles predefined rules 597 rendering styles 591 shadows 572 texture space 594 user archives 548 preview 481 primitives 325 lines 325 points 326 snap points 326 surfaces 325 text 327 print 481 current viewpoint 482 preview 481 setup 481 privacy 15 product news 14 progress bar 138 project directory 154 properties custom 369 publish 209 options 738 592 Q QTVR Object Movie se
S save 209 automatically 86 search sets 362 selection sets 362 viewpoints 445 scene statistics 237 scene view 129 search InfoCenter 11 search directories 159 search sets 360 delete 362 export 362 import 362 rename 362 save 362 update 362 section plane settings 742 section plane sets 533 section planes align 459 disable 454 enable 454 link 462 move 459 slider step size 459 sectioning box attributes 463 boxes 463 modes 453 planes 454 Sectioning toolbar 122 selection 337 commands 344 options 709 pick radius 3
animation to tasks 663 appearance definitions 628 attach tasks 640 choose columns 615 configure 611 data sources 609, 650 external project files 646 rules 615 scripts to tasks 664 simulate 613 simulation playback 613 synchronize tasks with schedule 655 task types 612 tasks 605, 633 validate schedule 645 toolbar options 115 toolbars 115 Animation 123 Animator 500 Collaborate Bar 124 customize 126 delete 126 Model Views 122 Navigation Mode 119 Navigation Tools 125 new 126 Object Manipulation 125 Rendering Sty
viewpoint defaults options 711 Viewpoint menu 113 viewpoints 439 default collision options 449 default view attributes 449 delete 447 edit 447 export 452 folders 446 organize 446 save 445 use 446 views ViewCube orientation 277 W walk 265 Walk tool 258 wheels 287 window Animator 500 Comments 400 Edit Viewpoint 447 Find Comments 413 Find Items 349 Find Items in Other Sheets and Models 357 Measure Tools 391 Presenter 545 Project Browser 214 Properties 367 Redline Tools 402 Saved Viewpoints 440 Scripter 500 S
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