Navigate the camera and standard views

Mouse controls

Drag with the middle mouse button to orbit. Hold Shift and middle-drag to pan in screen space. The mouse wheel zooms; in perspective it follows useful model geometry under the pointer when possible. Double-clicking with the primary button resets the current standard view.

Autostrek smooths camera motion, so let the view settle before recording a Planner page.

Standard directions

The quick views include isometric, opposite isometric, top, bottom, front, back, left and right. Use isometric for spatial inspection and an elevation direction for dimensions, openings or drawing pages. Fit model reframes the visible model when you have navigated too close or lost it off-screen.

3D and 2D projection

Perspective is the natural 3D working view. Orthographic removes perspective convergence and is the correct base for plan measurements, Quad View and scaled elevation output. Some tools—such as Opening Framer and Truss Builder—move to a front orthographic view because placement is clearer there.

The O shortcut toggles perspective/orthographic and selects Front. Use it with focus outside an input or text area, then verify the direction before measuring. It is not a projection-only switch that preserves any arbitrary camera angle.

Reliable page capture

For an internal view, use Section view to expose framing and connections. Look at section faces the cut directly; normal camera controls let you inspect it in 3D. Section view pauses in Planner, so the temporary cut is not recorded as a saved drawing section.

Set the projection, direction, visibility and line style first; then add or update the Project Planner page. A saved page records its own viewport state, so later camera changes do not have to alter the intended drawing view.