Procedure – user interface


The user interface consists of two workspaces: Document window and 3D/2D window. Each workspace has its own control elements described below. Please note that the appearance of the user interface depends on the information standard that was used to create this interactive procedure.

Document window

The Document window displays a document created in accordance with the specified information standard. The document provides a step-by-step procedure for an employee to perform a task. The procedure steps can contain some interactive elements. Click the hyperlink to see the current step in the 3D window or a 2D image in the 2D window.

Button Description
Filter Filtering by the conditional processing attribute for procedures based on the DITA documents. Filtering by the applicability for procedures based on the S1000D data modules.
3D window

The 3D window provides a 3D representation of the procedure described in the Document window. In the 3D window you can play the procedure using buttons on the Playback bar and navigate using the mouse. The locator (for example, axis tripod) at the top right corner of the 3D window allows you to determine the spatial position of the unit or part.

If the 3D window is closed when you first open the procedure, click the corresponding control element in the Document window.

Playback bar

Buttons for controlling the procedure playback in the 3D window.

Command Purpose
Play Starts the playback of the procedure if it is stopped or paused.
Pause Stops the playback at the current step.
Previous Returns to the previous step.
Next Moves the procedure to the next step.
Settings Shows or hides the Settings list.

Speed. Sets the playback speed.

Freeze viewpoint. If selected, locks the camera to the current view thus preventing the camera's movement during the procedure playback.

One step playback. If selected, locks the playback of the current step.

Disable alert messages. If selected, suppresses messages that notify you about alerts of the procedure during its playback.

Show inline comments. If selected, the procedure comments are displayed in the 3D window.

Show navigation cube. Shows or hides the Navigation Cube in the 3D window. The Navigation Cube has three different types of hotspot areas: Edge, Corner, and Face. When you position the pointer over the edge, corner, or face of the Navigation Cube, the corresponding area is highlighted. With these areas you can switch between standard views and make rotations.

Show surface edges. If selected, displays surface boundaries in the 3D window.

Anti-aliasing. Activates a technique for minimizing the distortion artifacts in the 3D window.

Ambient occlusion. Activates ambient occlusion shading and rendering technique in the 3D window.

Selection mode. Specifies objects representation for selection in the 3D window.

Highlight with color – the selection is highlighted.

X-ray selected objects – objects appear gray and translucent, except for the selection.

Translucent shell – the outer shell of the entire model appears translucent, non-selected internal objects are hidden.

Outline hovered objects. The selection is outlined.

Playback progress bar The progress bar indicates the relative progress of the procedure. Drag or click the progress bar to seek the required procedure step.
Help Provides the help system for the user interface.
Expand, Collapse Expands or collapses the 3D window relative to the viewer window frame.

Selection bar

Buttons for fitting, showing, hiding and making transparent objects selected in the 3D window.

User interface Purpose
Show selected objects in separate window If enabled, displays the selection in the secondary 3D window.
Ignore transparency If enabled, allows you to click through the transparent items in the 3D window, as the transparent items become insensitive to the user click.
Restore all Shows all hidden and semitransparent objects.
Fit Fits the bounding box of the selected items to the 3D window.
Show Makes visible the selected items previously hidden in the 3D window.
Hide Hides the selected items in the 3D window.
Select none Deselects all items.
Transparency Allows you to set the transparency value for the selected items. The Transparency command is available if one or more items are selected in the 3D window.

Navigation in 3D window

Operation User action
Zoom in/out Rotate the mouse wheel forward or backward. On Apple computers, use the Control modifier key.
Pan Move the mouse with the mouse wheel pressed. On Apple computers, use the Option modifier key.
Spin Move the mouse while holding down its left button.
Set rotation center Holding the ALT key, click any item in the 3D window or click Set center , and then click the required item in the 3D window.
Show or hide rotation center Click Show rotation center to display or hide the rotation center and its axes in the 3D window.
Fit all Click Fit all to make the items fully visible in the 3D window.
Align horizon Click Align horizon to set the camera's horizontal (but not longitudinal) axis parallel to the horizontal plane in the coordinate system.
Show or hide coordinate axes Click Show coordinate axes to show or hide the orientation axes in the 3D window.
Measure a distance Click Measure to open the measurement tool. In the 3D window, simply click once on one point, then click again on the second point. The distance between the two red dots should then be displayed. To get the distance between points projected onto the vertical or horizontal plane, select the projection plane name from the list. To change a unit of length, select Units. To set the length of leader lines, drag the H slider. Select Permanent to make the dimension line visible after you close the measurement tool. To set new points, click Clear or press the Esc key, and then specify points in the 3D window.

WARNING

Do not use measurement results directly in the workflow as the 3D illustration may differ from the actual product. To obtain the dimensions necessary for manufacturing or servicing, refer to the relevant technical documentation.

A section view Click Section to display the model as if it were cut by a plane. Use controls to set (Right, Top, Front) and rotate (X and Y) the section plane. To move the section plane, drag the D slider. Use Flip to mirror the section. Select Permanent to make the section visible after you close the tool. To return to the initial state, click Reset.
Shows objects in the 3D window from different views: Front, Back, Left, Right, Top, Bottom, and Isometric. Click the button to activate the view.

Context-sensitive menu in 3D window

Right-click anywhere in the 3D window to access the context-sensitive menu.

Command Purpose
Reset Resets the step view.
Fit all Makes the items fully visible in the 3D window.
About Shows the versions of the procedure, 3D viewer and 2D viewer.
2D window

The 2D window displays vector and raster images associated with the procedure described in the Document window. The 2D window replaces the 3D window when the user clicks a 2D image hyperlink in the Document window. Right-click in the 2D window to access the available context-sensitive commands. Please note that command list depends on the 2D viewer used in the 2D window.

Navigation in 2D window

Operation User action
Pan Move the mouse while holding down its left button.
Zoom Rotate the mouse wheel forward or backward.

Buttons in 2D window

Button Description
3D Opens the 3D window.
Expand, Collapse Expands or collapses the 2D window relative to the viewer window frame.
Next sheet, Previous sheet For multiple pages illustrations, navigates to the next or previous page.