Plot types

All objects occupy three-dimensional space. Different plot view types allow you to see and work with your drawing from different perspectives.

There are six types of plot views accessible from the CAD Options toolbar. The following definitions identify the working axes X, Y, and Z and the missing coordinate for each plot type. The missing coordinate can be defined as the axis for which a value cannot be set simply by clicking on the work space. For details, see The missing coordinate.

 Plan View

Plan views display the plot from above looking down. This is similar to a plan view drawing on paper. In plan views the working axes are X and Y and the missing coordinate is Z.

 Left View

Left views display the plot looking from the left side through the venue. This is similar to a section on paper. In left views the working axes are Y and Z and the missing coordinate is X.

 Right View

Right views display the plot looking from the right side through the venue. This is similar to a section on paper. In right views the working axes are Y and Z and the missing coordinate is X.

 Front View

Front views display the plot looking from the front side through the venue. This is similar to an elevation on paper. In front views the working axes are X and Z and the missing coordinate is Y.

 Back View

Back views display the plot looking from the back side through the venue. This is similar to an elevation on paper. In back views the working axes are X and Z and the missing coordinate is Y.

 Isometric View

An Isometric view is a 3D perspective drawing. Despite this, you are still limited to two working axes. In isometric views, the working axes and the missing coordinate are dependent on the workplane selected. The workplanes available are:

Workplane Plan

Workplane Selection

Workplane Elevation

If a plan workplane is selected, the working axes are X and Y and the missing coordinate is Z.

If a side workplane is selected, the working axes are Y and Z and the missing coordinate is X.

If a front workplane is selected, the working axes are X and Z and the missing coordinate is Y.

The crosshairs of your cursor change to reflect the selected workplane.

Note: Isometric views are not available in WYSIWYG Report.

Isometric view angle

You can rotate the isometric angle of the Isometric View using your keyboard CTRL and arrow keys or CTRL keys and the third mouse button.

When using your mouse, you can also change the rotation speed when you increase or decrease the amount of pixels your mouse needs to travel to rotate the view on the screen using the CTRL keyboard and + or - keys in the keypad.

To rotate the isometric angle

Hold down the CTRL key and tap the arrow keys on your keyboard.

or

Hold down the CTRL key, and then click and drag the third mouse button (scroll wheel) towards the direction of the angle change.

Result: The isometric angle of the Isometric View changes according to the direction of the mouse movement.

Tip: If you add SHIFT to either method, the rotation slows down for both keyboard and mouse movement.

Notes:

• Rotation direction is determined by the dominant direction of mouse movement. For example, the view rotates in the left-right angle if the mouse is dragged towards the left and slightly up. The view rotates in the up-down angle if the mouse is dragged upwards and slightly left.
• Once the rotation direction has been determined and the rotation has started, the rotation cannot “switch” to the other direction. You have to release the mouse button and then click and drag again.

To change the mouse cursor speed and travel distance

Press and hold CTRL + SHIFT and tap the + keypad key (i.e. not the + at the top of the keyboard, by the DELETE key) to increase the number of pixels your mouse cursor needs to travel to rotate the view on your screen and slow down the view rotation.

or

Press and hold CTRL + SHIFT and tap the - keypad key (i.e. not the - at the top of the keyboard, by the DELETE key) to decrease the number of pixels your mouse cursor needs to travel to rotate the view on your screen and speed up the view rotation.

Result:

The number of pixels value is displayed on the Status Bar as you increase or decrease with your keyboard keys.

It is faster for your mouse cursor to rotate the view when the travel distance is shorter because of the lesser amount of pixels set.

It is slower for your mouse cursor to rotate the view when the travel distance is longer because of the greater amount of pixels set.

Note: The default amount of mouse cursor travel distance in pixels is 20.