Using the Block Model Viewer

Source file: origin-block-models-view.htm

You can view a block model in the following ways:

As a part of a setup together with other setup components (for example, road network, waypoints, and other block models). To do so, open the required setup and go to the Viewer tab.
Individually as a plain model. To do so, double-click the model in the project explorer.
As a part of a schedule result (see Schedule Viewer for more information).

Once opened, there are a number of functions available to customise in the viewer toolbar.

Viewer toolbar

The toolbar in the viewer contains a number of tools that allow you to customise your view and manage the waypoints.

Note: The tools for managing the road networks are only available when you view your model as a part of a setup.

The viewer toolbar is located above the viewer workspace. The following table describes each function available in the toolbar.

	Interactive Mode Select the required blocks, points, or objects. See Selection type for more information on selecting elements of your setup in the viewer. Tip: Hold down `Alt` while in the interactive selection mode to enable viewer navigation in the hands-free selection mode. See Hands Free Mode for more information. Tip: Press `Shift` to select multiple block groups.
	Hands Free Mode Zoom (by scrolling), rotate (by left-clicking and dragging), and pan (by middle-clicking) the viewer.
	Selection method Select points, objects, and blocks in Rectangle, Polygon, or Lasso mode.
	Selection type Select elements of your setup using the following modes: Block: Select blocks from a block model. Edge: Select midpoint on the road network. Vertex: Select a point on the road network. Facet: Select non-attributed surfaces or AutoCAD DXF file (`.dxf`) surfaces. Object: Select equipment and waypoints in the viewer. Note: If you have opened a solid model in the Origin Blocks viewer, use the Object selection type to select solids.
	Toggle Lowlighting Selection Highlight the model that contains your current selection. Other models will be dimmed.
	Eye-dome lighting enabled Apply shading to the models and objects in the viewer to improve depth perception. This feature is enabled by default. To disable eye-dome lighting, click the toggle button in the Settings panel (Home ribbon > Project group > Settings) or disable it for an individual viewer by clicking the (Eye-dome lighting enabled) button in the viewer toolbar (when you disable the eye-dome lighting directly in the viewer, the icon will change to (Eye-dome lighting disabled)).
	Section Models View cross-sections of your block model in different axes by configuring the Sectioning Tools panel as follows: From the Model drop-down, select the model from which you want to isolate the required section. Under the Locate Block, select the axis (X, Y, or Z) that corresponds to the section you want to display. Using the slider, set the required section in your view. Tip: Select the required block and check its properties (including the coordinates) in the Properties tab. See Properties for more information. Enter the value in the Section Width field. Note: `1` is the minimum width that you can set. Optionally, set the following: Select the Lock to grid checkbox to only display the sectioning planes that contain the entire blocks. If you do not select the checkbox, Evolution might display sections containing, for example, 0.75 of one row and 0.25 of another, as shown in the image below: Select the Use index values checkbox to use the indices of the blocks in the model instead of block centroids. The indices are based on the number of blocks in each dimension. See also: Properties in Origin Blocks Viewer
	Filter Blocks Filter the blocks in your model by setting the Block Filter panel the same way as shown for the Sectioning Tools panel in Section Models. See Section Models for more information.
	Orthographic Projection Display all viewer objects at the same size regardless of distance.
	Perspective Projection Display viewer objects as they would appear if you were looking at them (distant objects will appear smaller).
	Toggle Stop Signs Show and hide stop signs on a road network. Stop signs only appear on road network points where the loaded or unloaded velocity has been set to 0. To change the velocity for a given road network point, enter the Vertex selection type, select the point on the road network, and change the Loaded or Unloaded Velocity to `0` in the Properties panel. Click Save to save the changes you have made. The stop sign on the selected network point will become visible when you toggle the button on. Note: The (Toggle Stop Signs) tool is only available when you view your model as a part of a setup.
	Set centre of rotation to selected object Set the viewer’s centre of rotation based on the object you have selected.
	Turn on coordinate grid in the view Display the coordinate grid in your view. Note: The coordinate grid is only visible in plan view. To re-enter the plan view, click the button next to the (Turn on coordinate grid in the view).
	Plan view Display your setup in a birds-eye view (by clicking the button), or in either east-west or north-south alignment (by selecting the required direction from the drop-down).
	Background colour Select either the dark (black) or light (light grey) background colour.
	Create a waypoint collection Save the current waypoints in the viewer as a set that can be added to other setups. See Creating a Waypoint Collection for more information. Note: This tool is only available when you view your model as a part of a setup.
	Waypoint editor Move, add, and link waypoints in your setup. See Using the Waypoint Editor for more information. Note: This tool is only available when you view your model as a part of a setup.

See also: Evolution display settings

Viewer guidelines

Evolution allows you to view Vulcan layers (linework) by dropping Vulcan design database (.dgd.isis) and Vulcan archive (.arch_d) files into the viewer. This creates guidelines that can help you decide where to make solid cuts (see Solid Cuts for more information). For example, if you have files with grade control polygons (marked out regions that group areas of similar grade), you can drop them into the viewer to identify which regions of the pit or on a certain bench should be scheduled.

When you drop a .dgd.isis or .arch_d file from the file explorer, the Import Layers panel will appear.

Choose which layers to import by selecting the corresponding checkboxes. The selected layers will be imported into Evolution as a single object, unless you select the Import each layer as a separate guideline object checkbox. In that case, Evolution will create an object for each imported layer, enabling you to customise the way each layer is displayed in the viewer.

After applying the required settings, click OK. The layers you selected will be added to the viewer and project explorer as guideline objects. You can apply the imported guideline objects to any Evolution viewer by dragging and dropping them from the project explorer.

Evolution will also create a Guidelines category in the View Manager and list the layers under it.

For each imported layer, you can set a uniform colour and thickness for all lines on that layer. To do so, select the object in the View Manager and click the Apply Uniform Style button.

Next, set the line size and choose the required colour from the colour picker menu. Evolution will reflect your settings in the viewer.

Tip: Click Revert to Original Style to discard the changes that you have made.