MLCad Online Help > Generic Functions

Generic Functions

Zooming

Some times it is required to see the model in more or less detail - this is called zooming. The program allows zooming in four different ways. Neither of them changes the model itself, only the way how the program displays the model.

Unless otherwice noted this methode work for both the "place mode" and the "view mode".

Zooming one view using the mouse and keyboard

This is the best way to perform zooming.

Follow the steps to perform zooming:

- Move the mouse over the view, which size you want to change
- Press and hold down the SHIFT key
- Press and hold down the left mouse button
- The display of the model changes now
- Move the mouse up and down to zoom in and out
- Release the mouse button and the CTRL key when the model has the desired size

Zooming one view of the model from the menu

This is the quickest way to perform zooming.

- Move the mouse over the view, which size you want to change
- Press the right mouse button and navigate to Zoom in the pop-up menu
- Select one of the options of the sub-menu

The menu item zoom set allows to manually enter a zoom factor, while zoom fit calculates a zoom factor to have the full model centered in the view.

Zooming one view while in zoom mode

This works for zoom mode only!

- Activate the zoom mode.
- Move the mouse cursor over a view of the model
- Press and hold the left mouse button
- Move the mouse up and down to zoom in and out
- Release the mouse button
- Optionally zoom another view
- Deactivate zoom mode (switch to another mode)

Zooming all views of the model at the same time

All views can be set to a certain zoom factor at the same time, or the zoom factor of all views can be calculated for best fit of the model within the views.

To perform zooming select one option from the menu "Settings/Zoom/..." or use a button from the toolbar.

Moving the model

If the model is bigger than the view (so you see just a portion of the model), you might want to move the view over the model to see other portions of the model.

The program allows to move the view in two ways:

Moving one view using the mouse and keyboard

This is the best way to perform moving, and works for both the view mode and the place mode.

Follow the steps to perform moving:

- Move the mouse over the view, which model you want to move
- Press and hold down the SHIFT and the CTRL key
- Press and hold down the left mouse button
- The display of the model changes now
- Move the mouse in any direction to move the model within the view
- Release the mouse button and the keys when the model has the desired position

Moving one view while in move mode

- Activate the move mode.
- Move the mouse cursor over a view of the model
- Press and hold the left mouse button
- The display of the model changes now
- Move the mouse to move the model in the view
- Release the mouse button
- Optionally move another view
- Deactivate move mode (switch to another mode)

View angles

You can select a view angle for each of the four panes individually, but the 3D view has no editing support.

To change the view angle move the mouse over the view which angle you want to change.

Press and hold the right mouse button to activate the popup menu.

Select an entry from the "View" menu entry.

Additionally the model can be freely rotated in the 3D angle (all other view angles cannot be rotated). For the view mode this feature can be turned on or off in the program settings.

- Move the mouse over the view which shows the 3D angle
- Press and hold the left mouse button
- The display of the model changes now
- Move the mouse and the model will follow your mouse moves
- Release the mouse button to freeze this view angle