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Viewing Objects in the Examiner Viewer

The Examiner Viewer lets you view an object and rotate it while you remain stationary. For example, if you are viewing a 3D model of a globe, you can look at Africa and then rotate the globe so you're looking at Australia.

To rotate and manipulate objects in the Examiner Viewer, you use the Trackball, Arrow Pad, and Thumbwheel controls, and the Seek tool shown in Figure 1-8. Once you're familiar with the viewer, you can choose to hide the controls and use keyboard shortcuts by deselecting "Show Dashboard" from the Options menu.

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Figure 1-8 : A Sample Examiner Viewer Scene

The navigation controls are described in detail in the following sections:

Examining an Object

The Trackball control shown in Figure 1-9 lets you rotate or spin an object to view it from different angles. As you click and drag the Trackball, the object rotates in the same direction. Step-by-step instructions follow.

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Figure 1-9 : The Trackball Control in the Examiner Viewer

  1. Choose "Examiner Viewer" from the View menu.

  2. Press the left mouse button over the Trackball control and drag the cursor. The object spins as you move the cursor. The cursor resembles a hand when you're using this control.

  3. Release the mouse button when you are at the desired view.

    If you release the mouse button as you move the mouse, the object continues spinning. To stop the spinning, click anywhere in the window with the left mouse button.

Shortcut: To spin the object, press the <Alt> key while pressing the left mouse button and drag. Or press only the arrow keys (up, down, left, or right).

Panning Around an Object

The Arrow Pad, shown in Figure 1-10, controls the position of the camera along the y-axis (up or down) and along the x-axis (left or right). The camera's orientation does not change; it does not tilt or turn. Step-by-step instructions follow.

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Figure 1-10 : The Arrow Pad Control in the Examiner Viewer

  1. Choose "Examiner Viewer" from the View menu.

  2. Press the left mouse button over the Arrow Pad control and drag the cursor. The cursor changes to a hand.

Shortcut: To position the camera, press the <Alt> key while pressing the middle mouse button and drag. Or press the <Alt> key with the arrow keys (up, down, left, or right).

Viewing an Object Closely or From a Distance

If you want a closer view of the object you're viewing, use the Thumbwheel control shown in Figure 1-11. Similarly, use the Thumbwheel to view the object from a distance. Step-by-step instructions follow.

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Figure 1-11 : The Thumbwheel Control

  1. Choose "Examiner Viewer" from the View menu.

  2. Press the left mouse button over the Thumbwheel control and drag the cursor up. The object moves away from you.

  3. Press the left mouse button over the Thumbwheel control and drag the cursor down. The object moves toward you.

Shortcut: To move the object away from or toward you, press the <Alt> key while pressing the left and right mouse buttons and drag. Or press the <Ctrl> key while pressing the up or down arrows.

Moving to a Target Point Using the Examiner Viewer

The Seek Tool, shown in Figure 1-12, lets you move to a selected target quickly and easily without using the Trackball.

Click the Seek Tool and click a target in the scene, and the view moves smoothly to the selected target. When you reach the target point, the Seek tool turns off automatically. Notice that the selected target point becomes the center of rotation for the object.

If you wish to jump to the target instead of moving smoothly, select "Jump Cuts" from the Options menu. Step-by-step instructions follow.

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Figure 1-12 : The Seek Tool in the Examiner Viewer

  1. Choose "Examiner Viewer" from the View menu.

  2. Click the left mouse button over the Seek tool. The cursor changes to a target.

  3. Place the cursor over the target to which you want to move and click the left mouse button. The view moves to the selected target.

Shortcut: Place the cursor over the target. Press the <Alt> key while pressing the <Shift> key and click the left mouse button to move to the target.


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