Using the Keyboard

Function Keys

ZW3D utilizes the keyboard function keys to automate a variety of tasks. Many of the tasks are key sensitive in that an action results while the key is pressed and terminates when the key is released. Others act as a switch to toggle a function on or off.

Using Function Keys with ZW3D
F1	Show the help documentation of command.
F2	While the F2 key is pressed, Dynamic Rotate will be constrained about the View Origin.
F3	While the F3 key is pressed, Dynamic Rotate will be constrained about the View Axis.
F4	Unlike F3, while the F4 key is pressed, Dynamic Rotate will be constrained about an imaginary axis starting at the View Origin and projecting perpendicular to the operator. This is referred to as the display axis.
F5	Executes the Redraw Display command.
F11	Activates the Previous View in a sequence of consecutive views.
F12	Activates the Next View in a sequence of consecutive views.
F6	Used as an "alternate pick" option. After an entity is picked, press F6 to toggle through entities that are coincident with the pick.
F7	Extended Entity Pick. This allows you to select entities outside of the active part or sketch. If you press and hold the F7 key during point input the mode will temporarily change to Critical and Smart Pick (if On) will snap to critical (endpoints, midpoints, center points, etc.) external reference points anywhere in the active part or assembly where geometry is visible. In the case of a sketch, once a critical point is selected, a reference point is projected onto the sketch plane similar to the Project a Reference Point command. This procedure is a quick way of including external reference points in your sketch and dimension scheme. The external reference point created is of course parametrically driven. If the external geometry is modified and the critical point is moved, the reference point and sketch geometry and/or dimensions will adapt accordingly. In general, if a command supports "extended" entity picks, you get them by holding down the F7 key. An example is during the Blank Entities command. Normally you can only select entities from the active part or component to blank. With the F7 key pressed you can select from anywhere in the assembly. If you keep the F7 key pressed it will remain in affect from one command to the next.
F8	If you put the mouse cursor on an entity to pick it, but the entity will not highlight, the pick filter is probably not set to the desired entity type. Press F8 and the filter will automatically set to an option that will allow you to pick the entity. If there are multiple pick possibilities, tap F8 and it will cycle through the possibilities.

Other Keys & Mouse Combos

The table below lists additional key and mouse combination supported by ZW3D.

Using Other Keys & Mouse with ZW3D

Key/Mouse Combo

ZW3D Function

Ctrl

Rolling the mouse wheel with the Alt key held down Alt + Roll is equivalent to tapping the F6 key. It scrolls through alternate picks when there are multiple valid picks on top of each other. Unlike F8 or SHIFT + Roll , it does not search for picks that satisfy other filter settings -- only picks that are valid under the active Pick Filter setting -- the ones you would get with Alt + Pick or Ctrl + Alt + Pick .

Middle Mouse Wheel

Zoom in/out. Roll forward to zoom in. Roll backward to zoom out.

SHIFT

Auto Pick Filter

SHIFT + Ctrl
+
Left Mouse Button

Automatically executes a Window Pick where the first pick is the first diagonal corner of the selection window

SHIFT
+
Right Mouse Button

Displays the active Filter Options. Same as Pick Filter Options

SHIFT
+

Inside the ZW3D Graphics Window - Initiates a chain pick. All lines, arcs, curves, or edges connected end to end will be picked. See also Quick Chain Pick in the Input Options Index.

If a fillet surface is selected, ZW3D will attempt to chain pick all connected filleted surfaces. This can be used on imported surfaces from IGES files.

Inside a Scrolling List - Selects all items between the picked item and the first item on the active pick list - all other items are unpicked. You can use Ctrl +Left-click to unpick an item from the active pick list. This functionality currently applies to the following ZW3D forms:

View Manager

Layer Manager

History Manager

ZW3D Object Manager

SHIFT
+

Redraw Display. Same as .

Ctrl
+

Unpicks a highlighted entity

Alt
+

Wireframe Mode - Picks the second entity. While selecting entities, the first valid entity pick is ignored and the second one is used (e.g., when two or more entities cross the pick aperture). This may be used to pick entities (i.e., lines) that lie on top of each other or to pick the "second" face adjacent to an edge.

Shaded or Hidden Line Mode - Only faces that are hidden from view are highlighted (i.e., they are selectable) as the cursor move over them. If you want to select a face that is hidden behind a visible face, use Alt + Pick.

Ctrl
+
Alt
+

Picks the third entity as described in Wireframe Mode above.

Tab

Moves the input focus forward among the child windows of the active window. The "child window" could be a selection list, input area, button, etc.

Tab

+
SHIFT

Moves the input focus backward among child windows of the active window (opposite the Tab key).

Page Up

Previous Input Field

Page Dn

Next Input Field

Delete

Delete the selected entities

Esc

Escapes from the active process. This the same as picking Escape

from the Toolbar.

Left/Right

Rotate about the vertical centerline in the current active window.

Up/Down

Rotate about the horizontal centerline in the current active window.

If the cursor is on an entity and you press the key combinations above to get an alternate pick, you have to move the cursor to register the fact that a new key has been pressed.

In the Topic:

Control Keys

Function Keys

Other Keys & Mouse Combos

Escape Key