Displaying and positioning the IFC Model pane
When you open a project that has an associated 3D model or IFC group model, unless you selected the Disable IFC model loading check box, a new pane appears in the Project Viewer window: the IFC Model pane. This pane shows a 3D depiction of the 3D model or IFC group model that has been saved with the project.
To display the IFC Model pane if it is not currently displayed, on the 4D tab, in the 3D Viewer group, click the IFC Model Pane dropdown and select IFC Model Pane.
The IFC Model pane appears initially to the right of the bar chart, as illustrated below:
Displaying the IFC Model pane in a different position
You can change the position of the IFC Model pane by clicking and dragging its title bar. You can click and drag the pane to a different position within the Project Viewer window or click and drag it so that it is displayed as a pane that floats above the Project Viewer window.
Examples of where the IFC Model pane can be positioned:
Above the project view and bar chart:
Below the project view and bar chart:
As a pane that floats above the Project Viewer window and that can be positioned away from the Project Viewer window (particularly useful if you use two monitors):
To display the IFC Model pane in a different position within the Project Viewer window:
- Click the mouse pointer in the title bar of the IFC Model pane:
- Keeping the left mouse button held down, drag the title bar of the IFC Model pane to a different location within the Project Viewer window. When you move the pane to a section of the window to which it can be anchored - for example, towards the top or right of the window - an outlined rectangle appears to indicate the position in which the pane will be anchored:
- Release the mouse button to move the pane to this position.
To display the IFC Model pane so that it floats above the Project Viewer window and can be positioned away from the Project Viewer window:
- Click the mouse pointer in the title bar of the IFC Model pane:
- Keeping the left mouse button held down, drag the title bar of the IFC Model pane to a different location within the Project Viewer window.
- Release the mouse button to move the pane to this position.
If Project Viewer is not maximised, or if you are using two monitors, you can drag the floating pane and position it away from the Project Viewer window. If you do so, you can drag it back and reincorporate it into the Project Viewer window at any time.
Synchronising the views in the IFC Model and IFC Comparison Model panes
Although you can display different views of a 3D model in the IFC Model and IFC Comparison Model panes, you may want to synchronise the panes so that they display exactly the same view.
- To set both panes to display the view that is currently displayed in the IFC Model pane, right-click the IFC Comparison Model pane and select Move to IFC Model Viewpoint from the menu that appears.
- To set both panes to display the view that is currently displayed in the IFC Comparison Model pane, right-click the IFC Model pane and select Move to IFC Comparison Viewpoint from the menu that appears.
Synchronising the panes in this way does not tie the viewpoints of the panes together from that point onwards; after you have synchronised the panes, you are again free to navigate around each pane independently.
Displaying and positioning the IFC Comparison Model pane
Switching between orthogonal and perspective modes
Navigating around 3D models in orthogonal mode
Navigating around 3D models in perspective mode
"Walking through" the interior of a 3D model
Specifying which items to display according to their IFC category
Hiding and displaying objects in a 3D model
Selecting 3D objects in a 3D model
Displaying the properties of selected 3D objects in a 3D model