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3D view window

The central part of the window provides a 3D view of all the active objects contained in your model.

Editing the model component properties: You can edit the properties of any object by double clicking it within the window. As you hover the mouse pointer over objects, they change colour to indicate you can select them (line) or bounding-box appears (vessels etc). Double-clicking then opens the contextual properties window appropriate to the type of object.

Adjusting the viewpoint: The 3D view window allows to adjust the viewpoint, by using the CTRL key and the mouse buttons, as follows :

  • Translate the viewpoint: Hold on the CTRL key and left mouse button, then move the mouse to translate the point of view.

  • Rotate the viewpoint: Hold on the CTRL key and right mouse button, then move the mouse to rotate the point of view

  • Zoom in/out (1): Hold on the CTRL key and use the mouse wheel to zoom in or out. In case your mouse is not equipped with a wheel, you may press both left and right buttons and move the mouse instead of using the wheel.

  • Zoom in/out (2): You can use the zoom box button in the toolbar, as follows: click the button , and then drag the mouse over the 3D View window to define a rectangular zoom box. (Alternatively you can hold the SHIFT key while dragging - in this case you do not need to click the zoom button).

Default views: The global X, Y and Z axes are shown in the upper right corner of the 3D view window. Clicking on any of the axes is a convenient way to get one of the XY, XZ or YZ plane default viewpoints. Clicking the ISO yellow line display the initial isometric visualization. These icons will change colour when you hover the mouse over them, to indicate you can click to select.

Using the pop-up menu: Right clicking over the 3D view window will display the following pop-up menu.

With this menu, you can do the following :

  • XY plane, ..., Isometric view: access any of the default views, i.e. XY plane, XZ plane, YZ plane or isometric views.

  • Set as rotation center: you can change the default point used as the center of rotation in the 3D view window, so that rotations become centered on any object from the model (for instance, a vessel or a buoy).

  • Edit view parameters: customize the display parameters of the 3D view.

Example

Specifying a support vessel as the center of rotation may be done as follows : first click the vessel using the left mouse button (a red bounding box will appear), then right click to display the pop-up menu and select Set rotation center. Note that nothing will happen unless the red bounding box is displayed.

  • Show local axes: display the local axes associated with all the relevant components in your model (for instance the local axes system for a floater, a rigid body...).

Note

when activated, this option also displays the local axes for lines ends at fairleads /hang-off points attached to your floaters, buoys and rigid bodies. The local Z-axis corresponds to the local orientation of the line.

  • Show nodes along line: to show the finite element segmentation along all lines in the model.

  • Use 3D lines display: to display the lines using their actual diameter.

  • Move orthonormal: to move the orthonormal axis to the mouse cursor position or to its default position (upper right corner of the 3D view).

  • Scale: to show/hide the scale and to move it to the mouse cursor position or to its default position (upper right corner of the 3D view).

  • Show compass: to display the compass showing the true North direction. The orientation of the compass with respect to the global X-axis may be modified by clicking it from the 3D view window. (Beware that this is not related to the direction(s) applied in the model, and is provided for convenience only).

  • Show pressure: to display the pressure values with modified colors. The sections colors are modified according to the pressure values computed in a hull pressure study. To switch back to the original display, click on the selected hull pressure study menu item to uncheck it.

  • Show line connections: to display the connections types. To switch back to the original display, click on the same menu item to uncheck it.

Only available when right clicking on floaters, a Set transparency menu item allows to set a partial transparency on the corresponding floater.

The transparency level can be customized by changing the transparency value in the Light properties dialog box.

To switch back to the standard transparency, click on the same menu item to uncheck it.