View Point List

In VCollab Pro, users can define and create different viewpoints (.vpt files) for different types of views on a given model. These views can be retrieved through viewpoint states. A viewpoint story can also be built which can be exported into a PPT file. Creating these animated paths or walk-through models helps users to gain better insights on a model.

The first user defined viewpoint is the default viewpoint that is seen when the model is loaded. When a user exports the viewpoints to a VPT file, all the existing viewpoints are saved in it.

A view point state may contain

  • Notes

  • Annotation

  • Display mode

  • Probed CAE result labels

  • Pick and move part state

  • Exploded view

  • Measurements

  • Cut section

  • CAE result information.

  • Merged models view.

  • Background Mode and Image.

Note

Standard Views

  • These viewpoints are not stored in a CAX file.

  • All standard views are generated by default.

  • Users can add and update viewpoints using the Capture Camera option in the context menu.

  • Only viewing position and orientation are saved. Other states are not saved.

  • These viewpoints can be saved through profile and cannot be saved in CAX file.

Viewpoints Panel

Viewpoints panel is one of the tabs on the left span of VCollab Pro.

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Path

Lists all the paths added by the user

Elapsed

Denotes the elapsed time to complete animation of a path

Estimated Time in Secs

Displays estimated time. Users can edit this value.

Context Menu for Viewpoints

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Add ViewPoint

Adds current view to current path

Rename Viewpoint

Allows user to rename viewpoint

Insert Viewpoint

Inserts a viewpoint just before current viewpoint

Delete Viewpoint

Deletes current viewpoint

Update Viewpoint

Lets the user change the scene and update the same to existing

viewpoint.

Capture Camera

Capture a viewpoint using camera view and save it as viewpoint.It captures viewing position and orientation and applies the same. CAE states are ignored. Viewpoints in ‘Std. Views’ viewpath contain capture camera viewpoints only

Animate Path

Animate Path Animates the path

Stop

Stops animation

Slide Show

Switches viewpoint animation into slide show mode

Apply State

Applies or Skips CAE states during viewpoint animation

Apply View

Skips applying view/orientation if this flag is unchecked. Flag is checked by default

Loop Animation

Enables continuous animation play

Add Path

Adds new viewpath

Rename path

Allows user to rename the viewpath

Delete path

Deletes current path

Export Image As

Exports all viewpoint states as PowerPoint file or as VPT file

Import ViewPoints

Imports viewpoints from external VPT or CAX file or VCollab supported python scripts to run

Export ViewPoints

This option helps users to export

  • All viewpoints as images into a PPT(*.ppt) file.

  • All viewpoints in a VPT (*.vpt) file.

  • Filtered parts and results into a new CAX (*.cax) file.

    • Parts or Geometry and Results available across all viewpoints will be saved into CAX.

    • Other parts and results will not be saved.

AddVisibleLabelViewPt…

This option is applicable only if the selected viewpoint contains CAE probed labels. In the selected viewpoint, labels of attached positions that are not visible in the current view are suppressed. The suppressed labels are taken to a new viewpoint during hotspot generation.

  • This option is used to modify/split a viewpoint in such a way that multiple viewpoints can be created with visible hotspots.

  • Users need to select a viewpoint and change the view by using rotate / zoom / section options such that a set of hotspot labels are visible.

  • Thereafter, ‘Add Visible Label ViewPoint’ option helps to create a new viewpoint with only visible hotspots in this modified view. The remaining hotspots will remain in the original viewpoint.

  • By repeating these steps users can create multiple viewpoints without missing any hotspot.

Edit Mode

Selecting a viewpoint clears current view information. Accidental selection of viewpoint may result in loss of current scene information. To avoid this the user will be prompted before the new viewpoint is applied.

Auto Backup

This option helps to take backup of viewpoints during creating or updating viewpoints. If the user forgets to save viewpoints into CAX, he can retrieve the viewpoints created using this option. A VPT file with CAX file name will be created and updated. This file will be saved in %VCOLLAB_TEMP%VCollab.

Steps to create viewpoint states

  • Load a CAX Model.

  • Add notes through Tools | Label/Notes | Add Notes option

  • Click Edit | Viewpoints List.

  • Right click on the Viewpoints panel to open the context menu

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  • Click Add View Point which opens up the Add View Path dialog box if no view path exists.

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  • Enter a Path name,say ‘Path1’ .

  • Click OK to open up Add View Point dialog.

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  • Enter a view point name, say ‘ViewPoint-01’ .

  • The current view with the Notes will be stored in the viewpoint by the name ‘ViewPoint-01’. Path name and view point name will be displayed.

  • Follow the above steps to create more view points with different states.

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Animating Viewpoints

If multiple viewpoints are created, they can be played as animation

  • Right Click on Viewpoints Panel.

  • Click Animate path. The animation will start playing

Steps to retrieve a viewpoint state

  • Click on the Viewpoints tab.

  • Click on a view point and notice that the stored viewpoint state is retrieved and applied on viewer.

  • Below is a movie, which shows different viewpoint states with detailed information in each state.

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Steps to navigate viewpoints

Users can navigate viewpoints in four ways.

  • Using Viewpoints panel in the left span,

    • Click on a viewpoint in the list and view

    • Move the viewpoint animation slider

    • Click previous and next icons in the viewpoint animation control icons

  • Using Right click context menu,

    • Right Click inside the viewer to open the context menu

    • Click Viewpoints | Next View or Viewpoints | Previous View

  • Using Navigation icons in toolbar,

    • Click Previous and Next icons in the toolbar to browse viewpoints.

  • Using Navigation icons located at rightmost bottom corner of the viewer window,

    • Click Previous and Next icons available inside the viewer to view slides or viewpoints.

Steps to export all viewpoint states as images in PowerPoint

  • Right click to open the viewpoints context menu.

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  • Click Export Image As | PowerPoint….

  • Enter a filename in the save file browser dialog and click Save

  • Click Yes to provide a template or No to continue without template.

  • All the viewpoint states are inserted as images into PowerPoint.

  • First slide is left as an empty page for the title of the presentation if template is provided as shown below.

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  • If a viewpoint contains CAE Animation state, animation will be captured as an animated gif in the PPT file.

Steps to export viewpoints

  • Right click inside the viewpoints panel.

  • Select Export Viewpoints from the context menu.

  • It opens up the file browser dialog box.

  • Select file type as .vpt to store viewpoints

  • Select file type as .ppt to store viewpoints states into ppt image slides.

  • Click Save.

Steps to Import Viewpoints

  • Right click inside the viewpoints panel to open the context menu

  • Click Import viewpoints

  • It opens up the file browser dialog box.

  • Select any .cax or .vpt file to import view points.

  • Click Open and observe that view paths are imported.