3D Mouse User Guide

Tekla Structures3D Mouse Guide

Product version 18.0

December 2011

2011 Tekla Corporation

2011 Tekla Corporation and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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3Conventions used in this guideTypographical

conventionsThe following typographical conventions are used in this guide:

Noteboxes The following types of noteboxes are used in this guide:

Font Usage

Bold Any text that you see in the user interface appears in bold. This font is used, for example, for window and dialog box titles, box and button names, and list items.

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This font is also used for file names and folder paths, and for any text that you should type yourself.

A tip might introduce a shortcut, or suggest alternative ways of doing things.

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You should always read very important notes and warnings, like this one. They will help you avoid making serious mistakes, or wasting your time.

This symbol indicates advanced or highly technical information that is usually of interest only to advanced or technically-oriented readers.

Contents

4

Conventions used in this guide ..............................................................................................................3

1 About 3D mice................................................................................................ 5

2 Installing a 3D mouse .................................................................................... 7

3 Changing the 3D mouse settings.................................................................. 9

3.1 Changing the mappings........................................................................................................ 9Available commands ................................................................................................................................... 10SpaceNavigator button identifiers.......................................................................................................... 11SpaceExplorer button identifiers............................................................................................................. 12SpacePilot button identifiers.................................................................................................................... 12Checking mouse button identifiers ........................................................................................................ 13

3.2 Adjusting axis sensitivity.................................................................................................... 143.3 Adjusting axis speed ........................................................................................................... 143.4 Changing axis direction...................................................................................................... 15

About 3D mice 5

1 About 3D mice

Tekla Structures 18.0 is compatible with the following 3D mice provided by 3Dconnexion: SpaceNavigator, SpaceExplorer, and SpacePilot.

The main features of the 3D mice are:

You can simultaneously pan, zoom and rotate models and objects on your screen.The 3D mouse controller cap easily rotates in six directions.

You can use the 3D mouse in conjunction with an ordinary wheel mouse.For example, you can use one hand to control the wheel mouse, and the other hand to control the 3D mouse.

You can easily customize the functionality of the 3D mouse.3D mice have programmable buttons that you can map to the most frequently used Tekla Structures commands. You can change the function of each button at any time.

See also Installing a 3D mouse (7)

Available commands (10)

For more information on 3Dconnexions 3D mice, see http://www.3dconnexion.com.

About 3D mice 6

Installing a 3D mouse 7

2 Installing a 3D mouse

Before you start, download 3DConnexionInstaller_180.exe from the Tekla Extranet.

To install a 3D mouse:

1. Connect the 3D mouse to your computer's USB port.Windows automatically recognizes the mouse when you plug it in.

2. Install the configuration file for the 3D mouse.a Start Tekla Structures 18.0.b Run the 3DConnexionInstaller_180.exe file.c In the installer dialog box, select your 3D mouse from the device list and then click

Install.A predefined configuration file (DirectInput.cfg) is saved onto your computer.

In Windows Vista and Windows 7, the file is located in C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Tekla Structures\18.0\UserSettings.

In Windows XP, the file is located in C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Tekla Structures\18.0\UserSettings.

Installing a 3D mouse 8

See also About 3D mice (5)

Alternatively, you can store the configuration file in a common folder so that it is available for all users in your company. To do this, save the configuration file on a network drive and add the following line at the end of the user.ini file:

set

XS_DIRECTINPUT_CONFIG=

For example:

set

XS_DIRECTINPUT_CONFIG=Z:\Common_files\DirectInput.cfg

You can add a default configuration file to the installation instead of the user-defined file.

To define the location of a default configuration file, use set XS_DIRECTINPUT_CONFIG_DEFAULT=a file in the environment.

If no user-defined configuration file exists, the default configuration file is automatically copied to the location you have defined with the XS_DIRECTINPUT_CONFIG advanced option.

Changing the mappingsChanging the 3D mouse settings 9

3 Changing the 3D mouse settings

This section describes how to map the mouse buttons, and how to change the sensitivity and direction of the axes.

Contents Changing the mappings (9)

Adjusting axis sensitivity (14)

Adjusting axis speed (14)

Changing axis direction (15)

3.1 Changing the mappingsThe buttons on your 3D mouse are pre-mapped to certain commands in Tekla Structures. For example, when you press a particular mouse button, Tekla Structures fits the work area in the model. You can change these mappings at any time to better suit your needs.

To change the mappings of your 3D mouse:

1. Open the DirectInput.cfg file in a text editor.2. Change the ButtonID value of a particular command.

Each ButtonID value refers to a particular mouse button identifier (ID). For example, the value 4 refers to the mouse button with the identifier ID=4.

3. Repeat step 2 for each button whose mapping you want to change.4. Optional: To disable a button, set the corresponding ButtonId value to -1.5. Save the file.6. Add the Change DirectInput Configuration command to a user-defined menu or a toolbar, and

click it for the changes to take effect.This way you can test how different settings work while Tekla Structures is running, and you do not need to restart Tekla Structures.

Example The following example shows the SpaceExplorer configuration file. The button with the identifier ID=1 is not being used in this example.

If you want to map mouse buttons to macros, use the keyword MACRO in the DirectInput.cfg file.


See also Available commands (10)

Checking mouse button identifiers (13)

SpaceNavigator button identifiers (11)

SpaceExplorer button identifiers (12)

SpacePilot button identifiers (12)

Available commandsThe following Tekla Structures commands can be used with 3Dconnexions 3D mice:

Command Description

BUTTON_INFO See Checking mouse button identifiers (13).

BUTTON_SET_VIEW_POINT Relocates the center of rotation.

BUTTON_ZOOM_ORIGINAL Restores the original level of zoom.

BUTTON_PAN_UP Moves the viewpoint downwards.

BUTTON_PAN_LEFT Moves the viewpoint to the right.

BUTTON_PAN_RIGHT Moves the viewpoint to the left.

BUTTON_PAN_DOWN Moves the viewpoint upwards.

BUTTON_ZOOM_IN Zooms in.

BUTTON_ZOOM_OUT Zooms out.

BUTTON_DECREASE_FOV Decreases the field of view in perspective view.


See also Changing the mappings (9)

SpaceNavigator button identifiersUse the following identifiers when mapping the mouse buttons on a SpaceNavigator:


BUTTON_INCREASE_FOV Increase the field of view in perspective view.

BUTTON_TOGGLE_ROTATE Toggles rotation on or off.

One press of the button disables the movement, another press enables it back.

BUTTON_TOGGLE_PAN Toggles pan on or off.


BUTTON_TOGGLE_ZOOM Toggles zoom on or off.


BUTTON_ZOOM_IN_CENTERED Centers zoom in.

BUTTON_ZOOM_OUT_CENTERED Centers zoom out.

BUTTON_FIT_WORKAREA_BY_OBJECTS

Fits the work area to include the selected parts only.

BUTTON_FIT_WORKAREA_ALL Fits the work area to include all model objects.

BUTTON_ZOOM_TO_SELECTED Zooms to a selection.

Command Description


SpaceExplorer button identifiersUse the following identifiers when mapping the mouse buttons on a SpaceExplorer:


SpacePilot button identifiersUse the following identifiers when mapping the mouse buttons on a SpacePilot:



Checking mouse button identifiersUse the BUTTON_INFO option to easily figure out the identifier of an unmapped mouse button. This can be useful when you are configuring a 3D mouse whose buttons are not listed in this document.

To check the identifier of an umapped button:

1. In the configuration file, change the value of BUTTON_INFO to 1.2. Save the file.3. Restart Tekla Structures for the change to take effect.4. Press an unmapped button on your 3D mouse.

Tekla Structures displays the buttons identifier on the status bar. For example:

This functionality only works for unmapped buttons. If a button is already mapped to a command, its identifier cannot be displayed on the status bar.

Adjusting axis sensitivityChanging the 3D mouse settings 14

5. Repeat step 4 for each button whose identifier you want to check.

See also Available commands (10)

3.2 Adjusting axis sensitivityYou can adjust the sensitivity of each axis on you 3D mouse by changing the DeadZoneFactor value in the configuration file. The recommended values range from 0.1 to 100. The lower the value, the more sensitive the axis is.

To adjust the sensitivity of an axis:

1. In the configuration file, change the DeadZoneFactor value of the axis.2. Save the file.3. Add the Change DirectInput Configuration command to a user-defined menu or a toolbar, and


Example In the following example, the sensitivity of the zoom axis is 20.0. To increase the sensitivity, enter a lower value.

See also Adjusting axis speed (14)


3.3 Adjusting axis speedYou can adjust the speed of each axis on your 3D mouse by changing the Factor value in the configuration file. For example, you can increase or decrease the rotation speed. The higher the value, the more the speed is increased. The recommended values range from -100.0 to 100.0.

To adjust the speed of an axis:

1. In the configuration file, increase or decrease the Factor value of the axis.2. Save the file.3. Add the Change DirectInput Configuration command to a user-defined menu or a toolbar, and

click it for the changes to take effect.

If you want to zoom and pan or rotate simultaneously, use the keyword AXIS_ZOOM_CENTERED for setting the centered zoom.

Changing axis directionChanging the 3D mouse settings 15

This way you can test how different settings work while Tekla Structures is running, and you do not need to restart Tekla Structures.

Example In the following example, the original rotation speed is 1.0. The value 2.0 would double the speed, and 0.5 would lower it to half of the original.

See also Adjusting axis sensitivity (14)


3.4 Changing axis directionYou can change the direction of each axis on you 3D mouse by reversing the Factor value in the configuration file. For example, you can change the zooming direction.

To change the direction of an axis:

1. In the configuration file, reverse the Factor value of the axis.2. Save the file.3. Add the Change DirectInput Configuration command to a user-defined menu or a toolbar, and


Example In the following example, the direction of the zoom axis is -1.0, which means the mouse zooms in when you press the cap and zooms out when you lift the cap. To reverse the direction, change the value to 1.0.

See also Adjusting axis sensitivity (14)

Adjusting axis speed (14)

Index

16

aaxis settings

direction ......................................................................15sensitivity ....................................................................14speed ............................................................................14

bbutton identifiers .........................................................9, 13

SpaceExplorer ............................................................12SpaceNavigator .........................................................11SpacePilot ...................................................................12

buttons, see mappings ...................................................... 9

cchanging settings ............................................................... 9commands...........................................................................10configuring ........................................................................... 7customizing ..................................................................... 5, 9

ddirection, see axis settings.............................................15

iID, see button identifiers ...................................................9installing ................................................................................7

mmain features........................................................................5mappings

available commands ................................................ 10button identifiers...................................................... 13changing.........................................................................9predefined mappings ..................................................9unmapped buttons ................................................... 13

ssensitivity, see axis settings .......................................... 14settings ...................................................................................9speed, see axis settings................................................... 14

uunmapped buttons ........................................................... 13

1 About 3D mice2 Installing a 3D mouse3 Changing the 3D mouse settings3.1 Changing the mappingsAvailable commandsSpaceNavigator button identifiersSpaceExplorer button identifiersSpacePilot button identifiersChecking mouse button identifiers

3.2 Adjusting axis sensitivity3.3 Adjusting axis speed3.4 Changing axis direction

3D Mouse User Guide

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