User Guide
User Guide
User Guide
User Guide
User Guide
User Guide
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Several settings control the way in which SmartSolids and SmartSurfaces are treated. These control both the display and the method for selecting SmartSolids and SmartSurfaces, as well how they are treated when exported as visible edges.
The B-spline and 3D dialog box (Element > B-spline and 3D) controls the default display of SmartSolid/SmartSurface elements, as well as B-spline curves and surfaces.
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By default, SmartSolids and SmartSurfaces are displayed in Wireframe display mode. This is the more efficient mode for working with SmartSolids and SmartSurfaces in a design session. Surfaces display mode should be used only where the model is to be rendered with an earlier version of MicroStation (pre MicroStation/J).
In Wireframe (and Surfaces) display mode, curved surfaces are represented both by their edge lines and a defined number of iso lines. The iso lines provide a visual indication of a surface's curvature.
With the default setting of 4, for example, a full cylindrical solid is displayed with 4 surface rule lines, while the same solid cut in half displays with 2 surface rule lines. Planar surfaces, which do not have curvature, are represented by their edge boundaries only.
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In non-rendered views, curved surfaces are represented by iso lines. Top: Surface/Solid Iso Lines set to 4 (the default). Bottom: Surface/Solid Iso Lines set to 10. | |
This setting, in the Input category of the Preferences dialog box, affects the way that solids and closed elements are selected. Generally, you select elements by snapping to their edges. When Locate By Face is on, a data point anywhere on a solid or surface will select that face element. This is particularly useful in a rendered view, where you can identify a solid or surface with a data point anywhere on the displayed surface.
Options for Locate By Face are:
Never — in all views, solids and surfaces can be identified only with a data point on an edge or surface rule line.
Rendered Views Only (default) — where a view's default display mode is set to any of the rendering options, surfaces and solids may be identified with a data point anywhere on their surface, not necessarily on an edge line or surface rule line.
Always — in all views (whether rendered or not) faces may be identified with a data point anywhere on their surface.
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With Locate By Face: Off — solids and surfaces can be identified only with a data point on an edge or rule line (for example, 1). On — solids and surfaces may be identified with a data point anywhere on any face (for example, 2). | |
In the Operation section of the Preferences dialog box, the Optimized Fence Clipping setting affects the way that SmartSolids and SmartSurfaces are clipped. When this option is on (the default), fence operations that involve clipping (Clip and Void Clip) do not drop the solids or surfaces back to their basic components. In effect, the fence operation works like a boolean subtraction, where part of the solid or surface is removed.
As with other fence operations in 3D, the extent of the fence volume is defined by the fence, and the display depth of the view. When a circular fence is used, for example, it is similar to using a cylinder as the clipping template.
Optimized fence clipping is supported in all views, including camera views.
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Using optimized fence clipping. Top: A block with the fence in place ready to delete. Bottom: The result of deleting the fence contents with Optimized Fence Clipping turned off (left) and on (right). | |
When Exporting Visible Edges, from a model that consists primarily of SmartSolids, the SmartSolids option in the Method menu may prove faster. While processing all element types, it is optimized for SmartSolids.
 | Calculate Intersections is not supported with the SmartSolids option. Also, for files containing a large number of elements, another option may prove more suitable. You should experiment to determine which option is best for your application. |