In all Maxsurf view windows you can zoom, shrink and pan to manipulate the way that the model is displayed. Additionally Maxsurf lets you set a Home view that remembers a particular zoom & position of the model on the screen.

 View a video that shows the use of zoom, shrink and pan commands. This video also shows how to customise the home view to your own personal preference and use the Home view command. [Web | Disk]

Zoom

The Zoom function allows you to work on any part of your design by enlarging a particular area to fill the screen.

The zoom function works in any of the Maxsurf drawing windows. To demonstrate how it works, 

Ø  Click on or otherwise activate the Profile window

Ø  Select Zoom from the View menu (or use the keyboard equivalent Ctrl+E).

A cross hair will appear that follows the movement of the mouse. This is used to set the starting position of the zoom rectangle. Supposing we wish to zoom in on the bulbous part of the bow profile:

Ø  Click and hold the mouse from approximately this position:

Ø  Drag the mouse to form the following zoom rectangle:

The zoom rectangle will grow as the mouse moves.

Ø  Release the mouse button.

The view contained in the zoom rectangle will be enlarged to fit the screen.

There is a limit on how far you can zoom; you will find that after continual zooming the image will not enlarge any further.

Note:

If, before releasing the mouse button, you decide that you do not wish to use Zoom, or that you wish to change the starting position of the zoom rectangle, simply return the cursor to within a few pixels of the starting position, release the mouse button, and the cross hairs will reappear.

Shrinking

Choosing Shrink will reduce the size of the displayed image in an active drawing window by a factor of two.

To shrink the displayed image:

Ø  Select Shrink from the View menu.

Tip: You can also use the shortcut key Ctrl + R or the  toolbar button.

Ø  Shrink the image until the entire profile is contained within the Profile window

Panning

Choosing Pan allows you to move the image around within a drawing window.

To Pan an image:

Ø  Select Pan from the View menu.

Ø  Click anywhere within the window and drag the drawing to a new position,

The image will move with the cursor until the mouse button is released.

Tip: you can also use the  toolbar button or hold down the scroll wheel of your mouse to Pan.

Home View

When you select Home View a zoomed or panned image is returned to a particular state. This state may be set at any time for any combination of zooming and panning by selecting Set Home View from the View menu.

Ø  In Profile view, zoom in on the bulbous bow again

Ø  Select View | Set Home View

Ø  Now Zoom out a couple of times

Ø  Select View | Home or use the  toolbar button

Notice how the display returns to the Home view as you specified it earlier.

Note:

Maxsurf starts up with default Home View settings, which are based on the Home Views in use the last time the program was operated.

If a Home View is set within the Perspective window, the specific rotational orientation of the model will not be restored if the model is rotated and Home View is selected.

Continue with the section on Measuring Coordinates in Maxsurf.