Cross-Sectional Views

Use

You can use the functions described here to provide a cross-sectional view of your scene. Using cross-sectional planes, you can exclude parts of your scene and thus provide dissected views of your scenes. Such planes can be freely moved to slice through a model in the X, Y, and Z planes.

To obtain the exact cross-sectional views you require, you can rotate the planes. For an even more specific and detailed view, you can use the best fit function in combination with the cross section functions, as well as manually zooming in.

Features

The following Cross Section functions are available in the 2D/3D Editor toolbar:

Menu Option Functional Description
X Selects cross-sectional views perpendicular to the X plane
Y Selects cross-sectional views perpendicular to the Y plane
Z Selects cross-sectional views perpendicular to the Z plane
Flip Reverses the direction of the cross-sectional view
Reset Resets the original starting position for cross-sectional activities for a particular plane
Settings Opens the Settings window, in which you can set various options for cross-sectional viewing

The following settings can be made in the Settings window:

Checkboxes and Fields Functional Description
Create Outline Creates an outline of a cross-sectional plane
Create Caps Creates caps

Objects Color

Maintains object color when performing the cross-section
Cross Section Outline Width Selects the width of the outline for a cross-sectional plane
Cross Section Outline Selects a display color for the outline of a cross-sectional plane
Cross Section Plane Selects a display color for the cross-sectional plane
Cross Section Opacity Determines the opacity of the cross section plane

If the Create Caps checkbox is selected, coverings are shown over openings in the cross section, for example, over the end of a pipe.

Activities

Selecting a Cross-Sectional Plane

In the 2D/3D Editor toolbar, choose Cross Section, and then click the required X, Y, or Z menu option.

Reversing the Direction of View at the Selected Cross-Sectional Plane

In the 2D/3D Editor toolbar, choose Start of the navigation pathCross Section Next navigation step FlipEnd of the navigation path

Resetting a Cross-Sectional Plane

In the 2D/3D Editor toolbar, choose Start of the navigation pathCross Section Next navigation step ResetEnd of the navigation path

Selecting Your Cross-Sectional Settings

In the 2D/3D Editor toolbar, choose Start of the navigation pathCross Section Next navigation step SettingsEnd of the navigation path. Make your entries in the Settings window and choose OK.

Ending Your Cross-Sectional Activities

Right-click the viewport, choose Display from the context menu, and then click (deselect) Cross Section.