Viewer Settings

Viewer Settings

Icon:
Ribbon: Model Viewer > Home Tab > Settings Panel > Viewer Settings

Introduction

Settings for Model Viewer can be managed by the user via the Viewer Settings command. These settings include customisation of the Model Viewer interface and assignment of default styles for when Model Viewer is first used on a project.

Ribbon Tab and Navigation

This command forms part of the following tab:

Information on navigation in the Model Viewer 3D environment is available when reviewing the Model Viewer command help.

Details

Upon selecting the command the following form is displayed:

Display Tab

Background

Users can customise the Model Viewer background by defining colours or an image from file.

Default Sets the Model Viewer background to utilise the default style

Specify Colour Allows the user to specify a top colour and a bottom colour to create a gradient for the background

Image Users can specify an image loaded from file for the background.

Interface

Allows user to toggle on/off some of the display tools in Model Viewer

Show Toolbar Users can toggle on/off the Model Viewer toolbar. This toolbar includes commands to zoom and pan around the model.

Show View Cube Users can toggle on/off the Model Viewer view cube. The view cube is a handy tool allowing the user to quickly navigate to different views in the model

Show Coordinate Icon Users can toggle on/off the Model Viewer coordinate icon. The coordinate icon is shown at the bottom-right corner of Model Viewer and displays the x,y, and z axis.

Graphics

Hardware Acceleration Turning on hardware acceleration will force Model Viewer to use the graphics card for processing of the 3d data. This can improve the performance of Model Viewer when used by certain modern graphics cards.

OK

Apply and exit.

Cancel

Exit the form

Defaults Tab

Surface Styles

When a Model Viewer is first used on a project, the Toggle Display form will show. The default styles set in this form can be specified by the user here.

Default Primary Allows the user to specify the default style for the Primary Surface. All available design styles are listed here.

Default Base Allows the user to specify the default style for the Base Surface. All material groups are listed here.

DIsplay

Allows user to customise the default display options for when Model Viewer is first displayed.

Visual Style Users can specify the default visual style.

Exaggeration Users can specify the default exaggeration value.

Auto Update Users can toggle on/off the auto update option.

Road Name Labels

Specify whether labels showing the road names will appear in Model Viewer on first load

Style Specify the default label style for road name labels.

Design Data Labels

Specify whether labels showing the design data for main road will appear in Model Viewer on first load

Style Specify the default label style for design data labels.

OK

Apply and exit.

Cancel

Exit the form

Drive Defaults Tab

Defaults

Speed Sets the default speed value when the Drive command is used

Eye Height Sets the default eye height value when the Drive command is used

Eye Offset Sets the default eye offset value when the Drive command is used

Target Height Sets the default target height value when the Drive command is used

Target Offset Sets the default target offset value when the Drive command is used

Target Distance Sets the default target distance value when the Drive command is used

Reverse Direction Sets whether the Drive command will default to driving from the reverse end of the alignment

Show Target Sets whether a yellow sphere is displayed at the target height and target offset when the Drive command is used

OK

Apply and exit.

Cancel

Exit the form

Base Surface Tab

Computation Method

Point Using this method, the Base Surface is formed by re-triangulating the points that make up the surface specified. This method is faster, however less accurate as the edges of the surface specified are not always honoured.

Edge Using this method, the Base Surface is created using the edges of the surface specified. This Base Surface formed is an accurate representation of the surface specified.

Surface Simplify

Toggle on/off surface simplification. This option will improve performance when displaying large surface data in Model Viewer.

Level Difference Triangles are removed from the Base Surface using a level difference method.

Grade Triangles are removed from the Base Surface using a grade difference method.

Fast Refresh The slowest part of running a refresh in Model Viewer is the re-calculation of the base surface when it is required to trim the triangulation. Users have the option to toggle off the trimming of the base surface to considerably increase the performance of Model Viewer refreshing. This option is recommended when working with really large terrain data or if only minor changes are expected to be made to the the surface models on refresh.

Cache When the software first calculates the base surface (inclusive of trimming), the software will record this information to memory. So on each refresh to the model. the cached base surface is used rather than a re-calculated base surface. This is recommended when working with large detailed surface data or when the job is almost complete and the user is simply working in Model Viewer to perform sight distance checks, import 3d models, or when it is not required to completely re-calculate the base surface.

Apply Transparency This option will turn off trimming of the base surface completely. The base surface will then be displayed with a transparency, so the user can still see design data that exists below the base surface.

OK

Apply and exit.

Cancel

Exit the form

Tooltips Tab

Show Tooltips

Toggle on/off the display of tooltips in Model Viewer. All very large projects with plenty of road objects, users can increase performance of the tooltip by toggling off some of the items listed below.

Primary Surface Elevation Toggle on/off the display of the primary surface elevation set in the toggle display command.

Base Surface Elevation Toggle on/off the display of the base surface elevation set in the toggle display command.

Additional Surfaces Elevation Toggle on/off the display of elevations for additional surfaces set in the toggle display command.

Chainage and Offset Toggles on/off the display of chainage & offset information for the nearest road object.

Design Crossfall Toggles on/off the display of code crossfall information for the nearest road object.

Hover Time Sets the hover time of the mouse before the tooltip is displayed.

OK

Apply and exit.

Cancel

Exit the form

API Keys Tab

Use Google Elevation API Key

The satellite from surface command uses the Google Elevations API to attain elevation data. By default, there is a limit of 10,000 points per surface when using this command. However, by specifying your own Google Elevations API key, you can turn off this point limit. A Google Elevations API key can be attained here.

Key Specify your Google Elevations API Key to turn off the point limit of 10,000 points per surface.

Google Maps Key

If you have a Google Maps Key, then you can specify it for when accessing aerial imagery in Model Viewer. This is required for users who exceed for than 25,000 map loads per 24 hours.

Key Specify your Google Maps API Key.

NearMap Credentials

When importing aerial imagery into Model Viewer, users have the option to reference NearMap data if they have a valid account. In order to reference NearMap data, it will be required to specify your username and password information.

Username Specify your NearMap account username.

Password Specify your NearMap account password.

OK

Apply and exit.

Cancel

Exit the form

Utilities Tab

Run Local

Allows the user to run Model Viewer from the -DATA folder. All styles, textures, and 3d models will be stored in the -DATA folder location. This command should be used when sending data to another Civil Site Design user or when sending the project to the technical support system.

Reset

If Model Viewer data has become corrupted, than this command will delete all Model Viewer related data for the current project allowing the user to restart.

OK

Apply and exit.

Cancel

Exit the form


Background	Users can customise the Model Viewer background by defining colours or an image from file.
Default	Sets the Model Viewer background to utilise the default style
Specify Colour	Allows the user to specify a top colour and a bottom colour to create a gradient for the background
Image	Users can specify an image loaded from file for the background.
Interface	Allows user to toggle on/off some of the display tools in Model Viewer
Show Toolbar	Users can toggle on/off the Model Viewer toolbar. This toolbar includes commands to zoom and pan around the model.
Show View Cube	Users can toggle on/off the Model Viewer view cube. The view cube is a handy tool allowing the user to quickly navigate to different views in the model
Show Coordinate Icon	Users can toggle on/off the Model Viewer coordinate icon. The coordinate icon is shown at the bottom-right corner of Model Viewer and displays the x,y, and z axis.
Graphics
Hardware Acceleration	Turning on hardware acceleration will force Model Viewer to use the graphics card for processing of the 3d data. This can improve the performance of Model Viewer when used by certain modern graphics cards.

OK	Apply and exit.
Cancel	Exit the form


Surface Styles	When a Model Viewer is first used on a project, the Toggle Display form will show. The default styles set in this form can be specified by the user here.
Default Primary	Allows the user to specify the default style for the Primary Surface. All available design styles are listed here.
Default Base	Allows the user to specify the default style for the Base Surface. All material groups are listed here.
DIsplay	Allows user to customise the default display options for when Model Viewer is first displayed.
Visual Style	Users can specify the default visual style.
Exaggeration	Users can specify the default exaggeration value.
Auto Update	Users can toggle on/off the auto update option.
Road Name Labels	Specify whether labels showing the road names will appear in Model Viewer on first load
Style	Specify the default label style for road name labels.
Design Data Labels	Specify whether labels showing the design data for main road will appear in Model Viewer on first load
Style	Specify the default label style for design data labels.

OK	Apply and exit.
Cancel	Exit the form


Defaults
Speed	Sets the default speed value when the Drive command is used
Eye Height	Sets the default eye height value when the Drive command is used
Eye Offset	Sets the default eye offset value when the Drive command is used
Target Height	Sets the default target height value when the Drive command is used
Target Offset	Sets the default target offset value when the Drive command is used
Target Distance	Sets the default target distance value when the Drive command is used
Reverse Direction	Sets whether the Drive command will default to driving from the reverse end of the alignment
Show Target	Sets whether a yellow sphere is displayed at the target height and target offset when the Drive command is used

OK	Apply and exit.
Cancel	Exit the form


Computation Method
Point	Using this method, the Base Surface is formed by re-triangulating the points that make up the surface specified. This method is faster, however less accurate as the edges of the surface specified are not always honoured.
Edge	Using this method, the Base Surface is created using the edges of the surface specified. This Base Surface formed is an accurate representation of the surface specified.
Surface Simplify	Toggle on/off surface simplification. This option will improve performance when displaying large surface data in Model Viewer.
Level Difference	Triangles are removed from the Base Surface using a level difference method.
Grade	Triangles are removed from the Base Surface using a grade difference method.

Fast Refresh	The slowest part of running a refresh in Model Viewer is the re-calculation of the base surface when it is required to trim the triangulation. Users have the option to toggle off the trimming of the base surface to considerably increase the performance of Model Viewer refreshing. This option is recommended when working with really large terrain data or if only minor changes are expected to be made to the the surface models on refresh.
Cache	When the software first calculates the base surface (inclusive of trimming), the software will record this information to memory. So on each refresh to the model. the cached base surface is used rather than a re-calculated base surface. This is recommended when working with large detailed surface data or when the job is almost complete and the user is simply working in Model Viewer to perform sight distance checks, import 3d models, or when it is not required to completely re-calculate the base surface.
Apply Transparency	This option will turn off trimming of the base surface completely. The base surface will then be displayed with a transparency, so the user can still see design data that exists below the base surface.

OK	Apply and exit.
Cancel	Exit the form


Show Tooltips	Toggle on/off the display of tooltips in Model Viewer. All very large projects with plenty of road objects, users can increase performance of the tooltip by toggling off some of the items listed below.
Primary Surface Elevation	Toggle on/off the display of the primary surface elevation set in the toggle display command.
Base Surface Elevation	Toggle on/off the display of the base surface elevation set in the toggle display command.
Additional Surfaces Elevation	Toggle on/off the display of elevations for additional surfaces set in the toggle display command.
Chainage and Offset	Toggles on/off the display of chainage & offset information for the nearest road object.
Design Crossfall	Toggles on/off the display of code crossfall information for the nearest road object.
Hover Time	Sets the hover time of the mouse before the tooltip is displayed.

OK	Apply and exit.
Cancel	Exit the form


Use Google Elevation API Key	The satellite from surface command uses the Google Elevations API to attain elevation data. By default, there is a limit of 10,000 points per surface when using this command. However, by specifying your own Google Elevations API key, you can turn off this point limit. A Google Elevations API key can be attained here.
Key	Specify your Google Elevations API Key to turn off the point limit of 10,000 points per surface.
Google Maps Key	If you have a Google Maps Key, then you can specify it for when accessing aerial imagery in Model Viewer. This is required for users who exceed for than 25,000 map loads per 24 hours.
Key	Specify your Google Maps API Key.
NearMap Credentials	When importing aerial imagery into Model Viewer, users have the option to reference NearMap data if they have a valid account. In order to reference NearMap data, it will be required to specify your username and password information.
Username	Specify your NearMap account username.
Password	Specify your NearMap account password.


OK	Apply and exit.
Cancel	Exit the form


Run Local	Allows the user to run Model Viewer from the -DATA folder. All styles, textures, and 3d models will be stored in the -DATA folder location. This command should be used when sending data to another Civil Site Design user or when sending the project to the technical support system.
Reset	If Model Viewer data has become corrupted, than this command will delete all Model Viewer related data for the current project allowing the user to restart.

OK	Apply and exit.
Cancel	Exit the form