• AutoCAD

The ViewCube in AutoCAD

Need some fresh perspective? The ViewCube's got you covered, letting you view your model from all angles.


00:03

AutoCAD’s ViewCube is a navigation tool that displays when you are working in 2D model space or 3D visual style.

00:12

With the ViewCube, you can switch between standard and isometric views at anytime.

00:17

The ViewCube is a persistent, clickable, and draggable interface shown in one of the corners of the drawing area.

00:24

The ViewCube displays the current viewpoint of the drawing.

00:27

When the cursor is positioned over the ViewCube tool, it becomes active.

00:33

You can drag or click the ViewCube, switch to one of the available preset views, roll the current view,

00:40

or change to the Home view of the model.

00:44

With a drawing open, select one of the ViewCube’s roll arrows.

00:48

This rotates the current view 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise around the center of the view.

00:56

Next, select Home to restore the view to its default orientation.

01:01

Now, select one of the ViewCube’s faces to view a standard orthogonal orientation of the drawing.

01:09

While viewing a drawing from one of these face views, four orthogonal triangles are displayed near the ViewCube.

01:15

Select one of these triangles to switch to one of the adjacent face views.

01:20

Return to the Home view, and then click one of the corners on the ViewCube.

01:25

This orients to a three-quarter view of the drawing.

01:29

Return again to the Home view.

01:32

Select one of the edges of the ViewCube to orient to a half view based on two sides of the drawing.

01:39

Click and drag the ViewCube to orient to a custom view.

01:44

You can also click and drag the ViewCube compass for the same effect.

01:49

Right-click the ViewCube to display the ViewCube menu.

01:54

Here, you can restore and change the Home view, switch between view projection modes, or access the ViewCube settings.

02:02

Open the ViewCube Settings to adjust the appearance and behavior of the ViewCube.

02:09

You can even toggle the ViewCube off entirely.

02:12

From the ribbon, View tab, Viewport Tools, select View Cube.

02:18

The ViewCube no longer displays in the drawing area.

02:21

Select View Cube again and it reappears.

02:24

You can specify whether to display the ViewCube for each individual drawing you have open.

02:31

Create a new drawing and tile the two drawings vertically.

02:35

With one drawing active, toggle OFF the ViewCube.

02:38

Notice that the ViewCube remains in the other drawing.

02:41

Toggle the ViewCube ON again.

02:43

When the ViewCube is toggled OFF, the navigation bar displays a ViewCube tool.

02:48

Toggle OFF the ViewCube for a drawing and notice the updated navigation bar.

02:53

Select ViewCube from the navigation bar and the ViewCube displays.

02:57

The ViewCube offers a convenient way to orient your drawings, so you can see them at every angle.

Video transcript

00:03

AutoCAD’s ViewCube is a navigation tool that displays when you are working in 2D model space or 3D visual style.

00:12

With the ViewCube, you can switch between standard and isometric views at anytime.

00:17

The ViewCube is a persistent, clickable, and draggable interface shown in one of the corners of the drawing area.

00:24

The ViewCube displays the current viewpoint of the drawing.

00:27

When the cursor is positioned over the ViewCube tool, it becomes active.

00:33

You can drag or click the ViewCube, switch to one of the available preset views, roll the current view,

00:40

or change to the Home view of the model.

00:44

With a drawing open, select one of the ViewCube’s roll arrows.

00:48

This rotates the current view 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise around the center of the view.

00:56

Next, select Home to restore the view to its default orientation.

01:01

Now, select one of the ViewCube’s faces to view a standard orthogonal orientation of the drawing.

01:09

While viewing a drawing from one of these face views, four orthogonal triangles are displayed near the ViewCube.

01:15

Select one of these triangles to switch to one of the adjacent face views.

01:20

Return to the Home view, and then click one of the corners on the ViewCube.

01:25

This orients to a three-quarter view of the drawing.

01:29

Return again to the Home view.

01:32

Select one of the edges of the ViewCube to orient to a half view based on two sides of the drawing.

01:39

Click and drag the ViewCube to orient to a custom view.

01:44

You can also click and drag the ViewCube compass for the same effect.

01:49

Right-click the ViewCube to display the ViewCube menu.

01:54

Here, you can restore and change the Home view, switch between view projection modes, or access the ViewCube settings.

02:02

Open the ViewCube Settings to adjust the appearance and behavior of the ViewCube.

02:09

You can even toggle the ViewCube off entirely.

02:12

From the ribbon, View tab, Viewport Tools, select View Cube.

02:18

The ViewCube no longer displays in the drawing area.

02:21

Select View Cube again and it reappears.

02:24

You can specify whether to display the ViewCube for each individual drawing you have open.

02:31

Create a new drawing and tile the two drawings vertically.

02:35

With one drawing active, toggle OFF the ViewCube.

02:38

Notice that the ViewCube remains in the other drawing.

02:41

Toggle the ViewCube ON again.

02:43

When the ViewCube is toggled OFF, the navigation bar displays a ViewCube tool.

02:48

Toggle OFF the ViewCube for a drawing and notice the updated navigation bar.

02:53

Select ViewCube from the navigation bar and the ViewCube displays.

02:57

The ViewCube offers a convenient way to orient your drawings, so you can see them at every angle.

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