Preview Pane > Navigator Tab

The Navigator tab on the Preview Pane is used to view DGNs (and their references) and i-models within ProjectWise Explorer. The Navigator tab is powered by the Bentley DGN Navigator Control, and is only visible when the Bentley DGN Navigator Control is installed and a DGN or i-model is selected.

To use the tab, simply select a DGN or i-model and then select the Navigator tab. The selected document is copied out to your working directory, and then a full-sized preview of the selected DGN or i-model displays in the Navigator tab. You can easily zoom in and out of the control as needed.

You can un-dock the Bentley DGN Navigator Control from the Navigator tab so that it becomes a floating, resizable window, independent of the ProjectWise Explorer application window. To un-dock it, click the push-pin icon in the upper right corner of the tab. To re-dock it, click the push-pin icon again.

Tip: For a full-size preview of other file types such as image documents, use the Photo Preview tab.

Tip: ProjectWise does not currently provide a full-size preview for DWG documents, but you can use the Document Properties tab to view a thumbnail image preview of DWG documents.

Using the Models Tab to Control the Display of Models

The Models tab displays a list of the models that exist within the selected DGN or i-model. By default all models are displayed. Use the check box to the left of a model in the list to toggle its display in the viewer.

Using the Views Tab to View Saved Views

The Views tab displays a list of the saved views that exist within the selected DGN or i-model. Select a saved view from the list and the saved view displays in the viewer.

Using the Items Tab to View Items in the Model

You can use the Items tab to view selected items in your model.

There are three viewing options that control what happens when you select an item: Highlight, Zoom, and Isolate. These viewing options are off by default. To turn on a viewing option, right-click an item in the tab and select one of the following:

Option	Description
Highlight	If on, the graphics of the selected item(s) are highlighted in the viewer.
Zoom	If on, the viewer zooms into the selected item(s).
Isolate	If on, the viewer displays the selected item(s) only; the rest of the model is hidden from view.

You only have to turn on a viewing option once. It remains on until you select it again to turn it off. You can have any combination of these options turned on at the same time. For example you may find that Highlight and Zoom, or Zoom and Isolate, work well together.

You can select multiple items in the list by using the <Ctrl> or <Shift> keys when selecting the items.

To Highlight an Item

In the Items tab, expand an item type, then right-click an item and select Highlight.

The selected item is highlighted in the drawing. Highlight remains on until you turn it off, so you can select other items to highlight as needed. You can also use <Ctrl+select> or <Shift+select> to select multiple items to highlight at once.

Right-click an item and select Highlight again to turn off the viewing option.

To Zoom to an Item

In the Items tab, expand an item type, then right-click an item and select Zoom.

The viewer zooms to the item in the drawing. Zoom remains on until you turn it off, so you can select other items to zoom to as needed.

Right-click an item and select Zoom again to turn off the viewing option.

To Isolate an Item

In the Items tab, expand an item type, then right-click an item and select Isolate.

The selected item is isolated in the drawing. All other items are hidden from view. Isolate remains on until you turn it off, so you can select other items to isolate as needed. You can also use <Ctrl+select> or <Shift+select> to select multiple items to isolate at once.

Right-click an item and select Isolate again to turn off the viewing option.

Using the View Controls Inside the Viewer

The viewer contains a set of view controls to assist in viewing and navigating the i-model. Right-click inside the viewer to select a view control from a menu.

The following view controls are available:

To	Select
Select an item in the model.	Element Selection
View a different part of the design without changing the view magnification.	Pan View
Navigate the camera by walking in the active view.	Walk
Navigate the camera by flying in the active view.	Fly
Rotate the view.	Rotate View
Zoom in our out of the view (increase or decrease the magnification of the view).	Zoom
Window an area in a view.	Window Area
Display all displayable elements in the active design and attached references in a view.	Fit View
Undo the last viewing operation.	View Previous
Redo the last undone viewing operation.	View Next
Measure the distance between two points.	Measure Distance
Print the current view of the model.	Print