Quick answer
To explore a model in 3D, open its page and click View in 3D. The viewer lets you change the point of view, cut by storey, color, isolate and measure elements, then save views with a thumbnail so you can come back to them later.
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Introduction
The 3D viewer displays a model, or several models of the same project, right in the browser. Use it to find your way around the building, isolate elements, measure them and keep views to come back to.
Open a model or a federated view
On a model's page, click View in 3D. If the 3D scene is not available yet, the viewer says so: the revision's processing must be finished.
To display several models together, open a Folder's "3D views" tab and use "Create a 3D view". The federated view shows the models side by side in a single scene. It creates no new file: each model remains a separate file. If a model is detached from the Folder, it is no longer displayed and the view says so.
Change the point of view
The view buttons give four points of view: "Isometric", "Top", "Front" and "Side". "Reset view" returns to the initial framing. The "Fullscreen" button enlarges the viewer; "Exit fullscreen" closes it.
Cut the model by storey
"Section cut" slides a horizontal cut: everything above the line is hidden. The "Section box" lets you set the faces of a box, everything outside being cut; it can also be placed around the selection.
The "Storey" selector lists the storeys measured in the scene. In "Plan" mode, picking a storey cuts and frames the view at that storey; in other modes, it cuts at that storey. This selector belongs to the viewer: it is not set in a Folder's setup, which defines the levels expected from models. For that setting, see Configure a Folder's BIM setup.
Color and isolate elements
The "Coloring" menu colors the scene by four criteria: by model, by IFC class, by storey and by system. If a view contains only one value, the model keeps its colors. If the models declare no IFC system, coloring by system shows nothing: use coloring by class.
"Isolate selection (fade out the rest)" fades the rest of the scene. Show all restores the display.
Measure distances, angles and areas
The "Measure" button offers several measurement types:
- "Distance": two points;
- "Angle (3 clicks)";
- "Area (clicks + Enter)";
- "Shortest distance (2 elements)": the shortest distance between two elements;
- "Distance to a face (face, then point)".
The "Measurements" panel lists the measurements. The unit can be set to "Auto", "mm", "cm" or "m". Each measurement can be zoomed to or deleted; "Clear all" empties the list. The Escape key cancels the measurement in progress.
Save views
"Save view (state + thumbnail)" records the viewer's state with a thumbnail, under a name you choose. The "Saved views" drawer lists them.
Try it on your model
Create a free account: repeat these steps on your own files in a few minutes.
Free 14-day trial, no credit card.