Appearance
Navigating & viewing the 3D model
CivilKit Studio shows your structure in a live 3D viewport you can spin, zoom and tidy up. This page covers moving the camera and controlling what you see - no engineering knowledge needed.
Moving the camera
The viewport behaves like most 3D apps. Use the mouse straight on the model:
- Rotate (orbit): hold the left mouse button and drag to spin the model around.
- Pan (slide): hold the right mouse button and drag to slide the view sideways or up and down.
- Zoom: roll the mouse wheel. The view zooms toward whatever is under your cursor, so point at the part you care about and scroll in.
- Focus on something: double-click an element to zoom in on it. Double-click empty space to fit the whole model back in view.
The status bar along the bottom shows the same reminder: LMB rotate, RMB pan, wheel zoom, click to select.
Stop spinning the model by accident
While you are clicking on lots of elements it is easy to nudge the camera. Click Lock view in the top-left of the viewport to freeze the rotation - zoom and pan still work. Click it again to unlock.
Standard views and the view cube
Rather than hand-spinning to a clean angle, jump to a standard view from the View menu (under Camera), the view cube, or the number keys 1-4. Each one also frames the model at that angle:
- 1 - Iso - a three-quarter isometric angle (the default).
- 2 - Top - a dead-straight plan, looking straight down.
- 3 - Front and 4 - Side - look straight down each horizontal axis.
- Fit - frame the whole model neatly in the window at the current angle.
(The number keys are ignored while you're typing in a field or a dialog is open.)
The little view cube in the top corner of the viewport does the same thing visually: click a face to snap to that view, or drag the cube to orbit.
Render modes: Lines vs Solid
The View → Render toggle switches how members are drawn:
- Lines - a clean wireframe (centrelines). Fast and uncluttered, good for laying out and checking the frame.
- Solid - the real section shapes extruded along each member, so the model looks like the built steel.
Showing and hiding what you see
The lower part of the View menu turns layers on and off so you can declutter a busy model. Each is a toggle (click again to bring it back):
- Toggle nodes (the joints), Toggle members, Toggle plates
- Toggle supports (where the structure is held down)
- Loads (cycle) - steps through showing loads, then off
- Toggle hinges (pin releases in members)
- Connections - the detailed joints, when present
You can also turn on labels, cycle dimensions, and toggle the grid (the reference lines and letters/numbers on the floor) from the same menu.
Concentrate on one part
Select an element or a few elements, then choose Isolate selection (X) to hide everything else. When you are done, Show all (A) brings the whole structure back. A banner appears across the viewport whenever something is hidden - click it to show everything again.
Measuring and colouring
Two more View tools help you read the model:
- Measure distance and Measure angle - click points in the model to read off a length or an angle, handy for a quick sanity check.
- Colour by section - tints members by their section size and shows a colour key, so you can see at a glance where each section is used.
To see members coloured by how hard they are working (their result colours), solve the model and use the utilisation contour.
Light or dark background
The viewport opens on a dark background. Toggle Light background (B) in the View menu for a white scene - better for printing or screenshots in a report.
Hotkeys
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
1 | Isometric view |
2 | Top view |
3 | Front view |
4 | Side view |
F | Fit model to window |
L | Toggle labels |
G | Dimensions (cycle) |
O | Toggle nodes |
H | Toggle hinges |
P | Toggle supports |
D | Loads (cycle) |
C | Toggle connections |
X | Isolate selection |
A | Show all |
B | Light background |
[ | Model tree panel |
] | Inspector panel |
\ | Results panel |
See the full list any time
Press ? in Studio to open the keyboard shortcuts card, which lists every key, not just the viewing ones.
Where to next
- New here? Start with getting started.
- For the panels and menus around the viewport, see the interface tour.
- Once you solve, read analysis and results.