Main Change View functions

Eagle Eye

Frequently design file contains elements with different sizes. So when you perfectly see one element – small elements looks illegible or hardly readable. For example, small texts are often too small to read. Or you cannot say whether to lines are connected or not. In this case we need to open another window and zoom in the interesting area, or ruin our eyesight trying to discern the text.

Eagle Eye allows to zoom in the image with just one key press without changing the scale of the working view.

The functionality by default works in the following way – when your mouse cursor is above unreadable element, you press Ctrl + Shift and slightly move cursor over the element. Change View opens View 8, and shows zoomed in element in it. Image in View 8 is changing when you move the mouse, and it shows the elements, which are behind the cursor. After Ctrl+Shift are released, Change View closes View 8, if it was not opened before the operation.

Function has a lot of settings, which are described in the Settings chapter. So you can configure it even so, that Eagle Eye will show in static view zoomed out picture.

Automove

When working with MicroStation some operations require frequent view moving. For example when you draw very long element, but cannot decrease viewing scale. In this case it can be convenient to you to use Automove. This function will automatically change (move) the current view, after you will put the next dot near the view’s boundary. The view will be centered by the dot – your last dot will be in the center of the current view.

So if you had earlier to make 7 mouse clicks (5 data points and 2 additional clicks to move view), then now you will click 5 times. The benefit is about 30%!

Using Settings you can change the distance when Automove is activated, display this boundary, tune sensitivity for commands, which calls Automove. Also you can turn off this functionality in certain views.

Button assignment

By default MicroStation has only 3 commands, which can be called using mouse buttons. They are Data Point, Reset and Snap. But simple mouse with 3 buttons allows to program 8 different mouse clicks (Left Button, Middle Button, Right button, Left+Right Chord, and these combinations with Alt). And more – the modern mouse has now 5 and even 8 buttons. All these buttons combinations can work for you.

Change View allows you to assign any key-in to any button click. For that purpose you should to enter the certain Settings page (Settings->”Button Assignment” page). Then you can to fill Cursor 3 … Cursor 8 fields with your preferable key-ins. Then press “Assign Key-ins” button to assign Cursor 3… Cursor 8 key-ins with corresponding fields in “Button Assignments”.

Make sure than “Assign Key-ins” was successfully completed. You should to look at the message in message center. Correct message must be “Menu successfully attached”. If you see something else then please contact Molotov Project’s support.

Then press “Button Assignments” and assign Cursor 3… Cursor 8 slots with mouse buttons.

That’s all. Now your mouse will call your preferable key-ins!

This feature is not only convenient but it is profitable too. If you call your favorite operation (and bored enough) operation 1200 times per day, and assign this operation to mouse button – you will get not less than 0.5 seconds per call. Or 20 minutes per day! Or almost one additional working day per month!

AutoCAD Pan View

Most people who worked with AutoCAD for some time and now start to work with MicroStation think that AutoCAD has better tool for pan that MicroStation’s one. It’s simple. MicroStation has “PAN VIEW” key-in. You just need to assign it to mouse button using Change View.

Saved Scales

Change View allows to save/recall viewing scale. Also it allows storing scales in the file and load scales from it.

Buttons “Add”, “Del” and option button, which resides in the bottom of the main Change View’s dialog box, do that. “Add” button saves the viewing scale of the current dialog box. Option button activates the stored scale in the current window. “Del” button removes the currently selected Scale.

Move View with keyboard arrows

Sometimes it is very convenient to use keyboard’s buttons with arrows to navigate over drawing. Change View gives this functionality to you. You need to put input focus to the central Change View’s button (with circle picture). Now you can move the current View using keyboard arrows.

You can set moving percent in the Settings. Now you can move exactly in one direction without worrying of missing something.

You can put input focus onto central Change View’s button also with MP CHVIEW MOVEARR key-in. It can be recommended to make function key from the key-in if you prefer to navigate using keyboard.

Show/hide opened applications

Very frequent situation – you need to draw something, but all screen area is full of dialogs of executed applications. You need to close them to draw something, but you afraid that you will loose their current settings.

We are going to recommend one very simple decision. Call MP CHVIEW MUTABOR key-in. All applications will sink their dialogs. Call this key-in once again – dialogs are shown. We recommend to assign this key-in to function key.