Quickly learn how to walk, run & fly in models
To access the controls for navigating a model in Navisworks, look for the Navigation Bar. It provides access to the tools to find your way around a model and orientate yourself to be able to review a design. In this tutorial you will see different methods for getting around a model and then you can have a go yourself by taking our Car Park Challenge. Can you find the Porsche and 4 other vehicles hidden in a multi-storey car park structure?
Before You try our next class module, Have you read the class notes, attempted the Car Park Challenge or tried the Quiz?
Please let us know in the comments below how we can improve this course. All your feedback and comments are welcome.
Navisworks Model Navigation
We recommend Orbit or Walk as the most useful ways to navigate around a Navisworks model. You should use a wheel button mouse for better control and more functions.
To access the controls, look for the Navigation Bar, typically on the right side of your screen. The navigation bar provides access to tools related to interactive navigation and orientation in the model.
Pan – Activates the pan tool and moves the view parallel to the screen. Using the Left Mouse button, you can click and drag to change the position of the model in the viewer, horizontally and vertically.
Zoom – Set of tools to increase or decrease the magnification of the current view of the model. You can zoom to an area, you can zoom dynamically using your mouse, or you can zoom to specific objects in the model.
You can use the “Zoom Window” command, to focus on a selected area of a model. Using the “Zoom” command and left Mouse click, you can zoom in and out by moving your mouse.
Another option is to select an object in the model and use the “Zoom Selected” command to focus on that object. Or You can use “Zoom All” to review the entire model.
Orbit – One of the most useful navigation tools is “Orbit” which allows you to rotate the model so you can see if it from a number of different angles. Orbit is akin to a helicopter view, so you can fly around the model from the outside. Orbit works by rotating the model around a pivot point while the viewer location remains fixed.
Using a wheel Mouse, with the Orbit command, use the mouse wheel to scroll and you can zoom in or out. Note that the point of rotation for the orbit, the pivot green globe, will change to the cursor location.
Look Around – is a tool for rotating the current view vertically and horizontally but it is not commonly used.
Walk – is the best way for moving around within a project model.
Look for the two little feet on the Walk button. You will see the feet follow you onto your view area. To start walking forward, hold down the left mouse button, move your mouse forward and you will start walking. The farther you move your mouse away from you, the faster you will go. You can stop and you can pull your mouse towards you and you will reverse.
You can look up or down. If you scroll towards you with your wheel button, you can look up. If you scroll away from you, you can look down. You can click on the mouse wheel button to change your elevation, which is similar to the pan tool.
While using Walk, You have an option to turn on gravity. As you walk around the model, Your position will change depending on the terrain, for example walking down ramps.
You can also view the model from the perspective of a third person. Using an avatar, such as a construction worker gives you a sense of scale and with gravity and collision turned on you will see obstructions, thus making navigation more realistic. The third person will also crouch in confined spaces as you move around the model.
View Cube Tricks
The ViewCube Indicates the current orientation of a model, and is used to reorient the current view of a model. If you click on one of the faces, corners, or one of the edges, it will change the view of the model. This is a quick way of changing your viewing angle. You can also drag and move the ViewCube or compass wheel to change the view angle.
Before You try our next class module, Have you watched the video, attempted the Car Park Challenge or tried the Quiz?
Please let us know in the comments below how we can improve this course. All your feedback and comments are welcome.
Car Park Challenge
Now it’s Your Turn to practice using these navigation tools.
Step 1 – Please download the “PODIUM-VEHICLES. NWD” file by clicking on the Porsche!
Step 2 – Open the NWD file using Navisworks Freedom or Navisworks Manage.
Step 3 – Navigate around the model using the different navigation tools and try to find the large mobile crane, 3 different sports cars and the front loader. A few these are in locations which will be difficult to find.
Step 4 – To complete this activity, please share a comment below and let us know how easy or difficult it was to find the vehicles.
Before You try our next class module, Have you watched the video, read the class notes or tried the Quiz?
Please let us know in the comments below how we can improve this course. All your feedback and comments are welcome.
Have you watched the video, read the class notes or tried the car park challenge?
Please let us know in the comments below how we can improve this course. All your feedback and comments are welcome.
I learned how to use the Walk option for the first time after 5 years of Navisworks experience. Awesome
I found all the vehicles. The front loader is quite tricky as it’s in a room!
I THINK ITS A GREAT WAY OF LEARNING
THANK YOU FOR MAKING AVAILBLE SUCH A GOOD CLASS
Really having fun to learn navigation tools….
Found all the vehicles in few minutes, thanks for bringing some fun to navisworks.