SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Part I: SolidWorks Basics

the middle mouse button (MMB) or the scroll wheel and move the mouse. If your mouse does not

have a middle button or a scroll wheel that you can use as a MMB, then you can use the Rotate

View icon on the View toolbar, or the icon on the Heads-up View toolbar. The Heads-up View

toolbar is shown in its default state in Figure 5.1.

FIGURE 5.1

Use the Heads-up View toolbar to easily access most visualization tools.

The Heads-up View toolbar can be customized and disabled using the same method that you use

for all other toolbars, through the Tools ➪ Customize dialog.

Tip
Some mouse drivers change the middle-button or scroll-wheel settings to do other things. Often, you can
disable the special settings for a particular application if you want SolidWorks to work correctly and still use
the other functionality. For example, the most common problem with mouse drivers is that when the model
gets close to the sides of the graphics window and the scroll bars engage, the middle mouse button suddenly
changes its function. If this happens to you, you should change the function of the MMB to Middle Mouse
Button from its present setting. n

Using arrow keys

You can use the arrow keys on the keyboard to manipulate the view in predictable and controllable

ways. You can use the Shift, Ctrl, and Alt keys to add to the behavior.

The arrow keys enable you to rotate to the following views:

l (^) Arrow. Rotate 15 degrees. To customize this setting, choose Tools ➪ Options ➪ View.
l Shift+arrow. Rotate 90 degrees.
l (^) Alt+arrow. Rotate in a plane flat to the screen.
l Ctrl+arrow. Pan.
Using the middle mouse button
Most, if not all, mice sold today have middle mouse buttons (MMBs), usually in the form of a
clickable scroll wheel.
The MMB or scroll wheel has several uses in view manipulation:
l MMB alone. Rotate.
l (^) Click or hover on edge, face, or vertex with MMB, and then drag MMB. Rotate around
selected entity.