04: Basic Navigation and Visibility
This chapter covers everything you need to navigate and inspect your models effectively: camera controls, element selection, visibility management, section tools, and search.
Navigate in 3D Model
Navigation in the 3D view uses familiar mouse and keyboard combinations.
Orbit
Left Click + Hold
Zoom & Focus
Double Click
Pan
Right Click + Hold
Zoom
Mouse Wheel
Fast Zoom
Wheel + Ctrl
Selection Tools
Select Element
Left Click
Cycle Selection
Left Click → Tab
Add to Selection
Click + Ctrl
Multi Selection
Ctrl + Drag
Multi Issue Selection
Ctrl + Shift
Open Menu
Right Click
Hide and Isolate
You can hide or isolate elements by category or by selecting individual elements. Select the element, right-click, and choose the desired option from the context menu. "Category" refers to the IFC category of the selected element (e.g., walls, windows, slabs).
When you hide elements, an orange frame appears around the 3D viewer. To reset the view and show all elements again, click the label in the lower-left corner that displays how many elements are hidden.
Section Plane
To create a section plane, hover over an element surface, right-click, and choose Add Section Plane from the context menu. The plane will align to the element face. You can create multiple section planes in different directions.
To adjust a section plane, use the displayed arrow to move it back and forth. To remove all section planes, right-click and select Remove Section Planes.
Switch to Plan View
To switch from 3D to 2D, hover over an element surface, right-click, and choose Switch to Plan View. The view will be aligned and locked to the surface, allowing you to pan instead of rotating. To return to 3D, right-click and select Switch to Orbit View.
Section Box
A Section Box consists of six section planes surrounding the selected element. You can adjust individual planes using the corresponding arrows. To remove the section box, right-click and select Remove Section Planes.
Search Elements
Use the search field in the upper right corner of the 3D viewer to hide elements that don't match your search criteria. Only matching elements remain visible.
You can toggle between searching only currently visible elements or the entire model using the Search Visibility icon on the left side of the search bar.
When matching elements are found, an icon appears showing the number of matches. Click it to select all matching elements at once.
Supported Search Operators
| Operator | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| = | Equals | Name=Wall |
| != | Not equals | Type!=Door |
| > | Greater than | Height>3 |
| < | Less than | Width<1.5 |
| >= | Greater or equal | Area>=10 |
| <= | Less or equal | Volume<=50 |
Model Visibility
You can control the visibility of entire models by clicking the Models icon at the bottom center of the 3D viewer.
Hide/Show
Use the visibility toggle next to the model name to switch between hidden and visible states.
Ghost
The Ghost feature is located to the right of the visibility toggle and makes the selected model 50% transparent, allowing you to see through it while keeping it visible for reference.