Mouse navigation
Overview
The FreeCAD mouse navigation consists of the commands used to visually navigate the 3D space and interact with the objects displayed. FreeCAD supports multiple mouse navigation styles. The default navigation style is referred to as "CAD Navigation," and is very simple and practical, but FreeCAD also provides alternative navigation styles which you can choose according to your preferences.
The mouse gestures used for object manipulation vary depending on the Navigation style selected; the currently selected style is used for all workbenches.
There are two ways to change the navigation style:
- In the Preferences Editor; menu Edit → Preferences → Display → Navigation → 3D Navigation.
- By right-clicking in empty space in the 3D view, then selecting Navigation styles in the context menu.
OpenInventor navigation (formerly Inventor) was modeled after Open Inventor. In order to select objects, you must hold down the Ctrl key.
This mode is not based on Autodesk Inventor.
This is the default navigation style. It allows the user a simple control of the view, and does not require the use of keyboard keys except to make multi-selections.
The Revit navigation style was modeled after Revit.
The Blender navigation style was modeled after Blender.
In Maya-Gesture Navigation, panning, zooming, and rotating the view require the Alt key together with a mouse button; therefore, a three-button mouse is required. It's also possible to use gestures as this mode was developed over the Gesture navigation mode.
In Touchpad Navigation, panning, zooming, and rotating the view require a modifier key together with the touchpad.
This style was tailored for use with a touchscreen and pen. Nevertheless, it can also be used with a mouse, and is recommended for use when using a Mac with a trackpad.
Select | Pan | Zoom | Rotate view | Tilt view | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Press the left mouse button over an object you want to select. | Hold the right mouse button, then move the pointer. | Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out. | Hold the left mouse button, then move the pointer.
In Sketcher and other edit modes, this behavior is disabled. Hold Alt when pressing the mouse button to enter rotation mode. To set the camera's focus point for rotation, click a point with the middle mouse button. Alternatively, aim the cursor at a point and press H on the keyboard. |
Hold both left and right mouse buttons, then move the pointer sideways. | |
Tap to select. | Drag with two fingers.
Alternatively, tap and hold, then drag. This simulates the pan with the right mouse button. |
Drag two fingers (pinch) closer or farther apart. | Drag with one finger to rotate.
Hold Alt when in the Sketcher. |
Rotate the imaginary line formed by two touch points.
On v0.18 this method is disabled by default. To enable, go to Edit → Preferences → Display, and untick "Disable touchscreen tilt gesture" checkbox. |
The OpenCascade navigation style was modeled after OpenCascade.
The OpenSCAD navigation style was modeled after OpenSCAD.
Selecting objects
Simple selection
Objects can be selected by a click with the left mouse button either by clicking on the object in the 3D view or by selecting it in the tree view.
Preselection
There is also a Preselection mechanism that highlights objects and displays information before selection by just hovering the mouse over the objects. If you don't like this behaviour or you have a slow machine, you can switch preselection off in the preferences.
Manipulating objects
FreeCAD offers manipulators that are handles that can be used to modify an object's appearance, shape, or other parameters.
Hardware support
FreeCAD also supports some 3D input devices.
On MacBooks with a trackpad the Gesture navigation works very well, but the gestures have a special meaning:
- Zoom: drag with two fingers.
- Rotate: drag with three fingers.
- Pan: Ctrl + three fingers.
The tutorial Adding a new mouse navigation option to FreeCAD orients developers who want to develop a custom mouse navigation option. Familiarity with the C++ syntax is required.
- Getting started
- Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
- Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate
- Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
- Workbenches: Std Base, Arch, Assembly, CAM, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Start, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework, Web
- Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub