3D PCB Viewer Quick Reference

File Menu

File> Auxiliary File Import

Opens the “Auxiliary File Import” dialog box from which you can import additional files. For example, you can import additional mechanical information that was created with other software applications. Refer to Importing Data from Auxiliary Files for more information.

File> 3D Cell Import

Opens the “3D Cell Import” dialog box from which you can import three-dimensional models to get a more accurate rendering of the components used in the design. Refer to Importing Three-Dimensional Cells for more information.

File> Batch Import 3D Cells

Opens a standard directory file browse dialog from which you can import all the three-dimensional models in the selected directory.

File> Print Setup

Invokes the “Page Setup” dialog box through which you can set the Paper, Orientation and Margin options before printing.

File> Print Preview

Allows you to view the shape of the printed page before printing.

File> Print

Invokes the Print dialog box through which you can print the current active file in the text editor.

File> Exit

Exits the 3D PCB Viewer tool.

Edit Menu

Edit> Copy

Copies the current view image to the windows clipboard.

View Menu

View> Display Control

Opens the Display Control window so that you can choose which elements in the design to display. Refer to Controlling the Display for more information.

View> Toolbar

Displays or hides the Toolbar icons.

View> Status Bar

Displays or hides the Status Bar at the bottom of the window. The Status Bar displays Help about whatever GUI element that the cursor is hovering over along with the current state of the 3D PCB Viewer software.

View> Always On Top

Displays the 3D PCB Viewer window on top of any other open Microsoft Windows.

View> Fly Around

When selected, the design continues the rotate, pan, or zoom actions set in motion by the cursor even after the mouse button has been released. Movement continues as long as the cursor remains in the View window or until a mouse button is pressed.

When Fly Around is not selected, the design image rotates, pans, and zooms only while a mouse button is being held down and the cursor is being moved.

View> View Follow

Synchronizes the 3D View with the view in the layout tool. For example, if you zoom in on a DRC Hazard in Xpedition xPCB Layout (or Board Station XE), the 3D PCB Viewer window also zooms in to give you a three-dimensional view of the hazard.

View> Look at Mirror

Displays a mirror image of the current view.

View> Look at Isometric

Displays the isometric view of the PCB.

View> Look at Top

Displays the top view of the PCB.

View> Look at Bottom

Displays the bottom view of the PCB.

View> Look at North

Displays the design from the North (top) edge.

View> Look at South

Displays the design from the South (bottom) edge.

View> Look at East

Displays the design from the East (right) edge.

View> Look at West

Displays the design from the West (left) edge.

View> Fit to Board

Fits the view of the PCB Board in the current viewpoint.

View> Fit All

Fits the view to all non-hidden PCB parts and auxiliary files from the current viewpoint.

View> View Orthographic

Displays an orthographic view, which lacks the distance distortion seen in a perspective view. This view is useful for visually checking the fit between parts because it renders distances accurately.

Note: icon acts as a toggle switch.

View> View Perspective

Displays a perspective view. This view is useful for visualizing how the design will appear in the “real world.”

View> Thick Trace

When selected, traces are displayed with their actual size and thickness. When not selected, traces are displayed as flat ribbons without thickness.

View> Thick Pad

When selected, pads are displayed with their actual size and thickness. When not selected, pads are displayed as flat features without thickness.

View> Render Symbolic

When selected, displays the PCB using the color palette from Xpedition xPCB Layout.

View> Render Real

When selected, displays the PCB using typical fabrication colors:

• green for the board

• silver for plated holes

• charcoal grey for components

• copper for conductors

Output Menu

Output> Design Status

Generates and displays an ASCII formatted file that lists design details such as the size of the board, the number of layers, number of placed parts, and so on. The Design Status report is placed in the project’s ..\PCB\3D\LogFiles directory.

Help Menu

Help> Open 3D PCB Viewer Help

Launches a browser window containing the 3D PCB Viewer User’s Guide (that is, this manual).

Help> Help and Manuals

Launches a window containing the 3D PCB Viewer tool’s InfoHub, which contains links to online documentation.

Help> Support

Opens an Internet connection to Mentor Graphics Corporation’s Support Center website.

Help> About 3D PCB Viewer

Displays software release information about the 3D PCB Viewer application.