Mouse navigation/hr

Overview
The FreeCAD mouse navigation consists of the commands used to visually navigate 3D space and interact with the displayed objects. FreeCAD supports multiple mouse navigation styles. The default navigation style is referred to as CAD Navigation, and is very simple and practical, but FreeCAD also provides several alternative navigation styles to choose from. The selected style is used for all workbenches.

For more information about selecting objects see Selection methods.

For more information about manipulating objects see Std TransformManip.

Selecting a navigation style

 * 1) Do one of the following:
 * 2) * Press the button in the Status bar.
 * 3) * Right-click an empty area in the 3D view, and select from the context menu.
 * 4) * Use the Preferences Editor. In the menu select and then.
 * 5) Select a style from the list.
 * 6) Optionally change the : press the  button in the Status bar and then choose . See Preferences Editor.
 * 7) Optionally change the . See Preferences Editor.
 * 8) If the  navigation style is selected: optionally change the  setting. See Preferences Editor.

Blender Navigation
The Blender navigation style was modeled after Blender.

The Blender Navigation was modeled after Blender. Previously there was no mouse-only panning, and it required use of the key to pan the view. This changed in 2016 with a feature-addition. In order to pan the view, you can now press both left and right mouse buttons and drag in the view.

Alternatively, hold both left and right mouse buttons, and then move the pointer. }}
 * Zoom_text=Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.
 * Rotate_view_text=Hold the middle mouse button, then move the pointer.

CAD Navigation (default)
This is the default navigation style and allows the user a simple control of the view, and does not require the use of keyboard keys except to make multi-selections.

Gesture Navigation (v0.16)
This style was tailored for use with a touchscreen and pen. Nevertheless, it can also be used with a mouse, and is recommended for use when using a Mac with a trackpad.

This navigation style was tailored for usability with touchscreen and pen, but is very usable with mouse too.

Alternatively, tap and hold, then drag. This simulates the pan with the right mouse button. In Sketcher and other edit modes, this behavior is disabled. Hold when pressing the mouse button to enter rotation mode.
 * Zoom_text=Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.
 * Zoom_gesture_text=Drag two fingers (pinch) closer or farther apart.
 * Rotate_view_text=Hold the left mouse button, then move the pointer.

To set the camera's focus point for rotation, click a point with the middle mouse button. Alternatively, aim the cursor at a point and press on the keyboard.
 * Rotate_view_gesture_text=Drag with one finger to rotate.

Hold when in the Sketcher.
 * Tilt_view_text=Hold both left and right mouse buttons, then move the pointer sideways.
 * Tilt_view_gesture_text=Rotate the imaginary line formed by two touch points.

On v0.18 this method is disabled by default. To enable, go to, and untick "Disable touchscreen tilt gesture" checkbox. }}

Maya-Gesture Navigation
In Maya-Gesture Navigation, panning, zooming, and rotating the view require the key together with a mouse button; therefore, a three-button mouse is required. It's also possible to use gestures as this mode was developed over the Gesture navigation mode.

In Maya-Gesture Navigation, all view movements are activated pressing and a mouse button, so that it will be needed to have a 3 button mouse in order to correctly use this navigation mode. Alternately it's possible to use gestures as this mode was been developed over the normal Gesture Navigation mode.

Alternatively, use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out. }}
 * Rotate_view_text=Hold and the left mouse button, then move the pointer.

OpenCascade navigation
The OpenCascade navigation style was modeled after OpenCascade.

OpenInventor Navigation
In OpenInventor (formerly Inventor) Navigation, modeled after Open Inventor (not to be confused with Autodesk Inventor), there is no mouse-only selection. In order to select objects, you must hold down the key.

This mode is not based on Autodesk Inventor.

OpenSCAD navigation
The OpenSCAD navigation style was modeled after OpenSCAD.

Revit navigation
The Revit navigation style was modeled after Revit.

TinkerCAD navigation
The TinkerCAD navigation style was modeled after TinkerCAD.

Touchpad Navigation
In Touchpad Navigation, panning, zooming, and rotating the view require a modifier key together with the touchpad.

In Touchpad Navigation, neither panning, nor zooming, nor rotating the view, are mouse-only (or touchpad-only) operations.

Hardware support
FreeCAD also supports some 3D input devices.

Recommended navigation for macOS
On MacBooks with a trackpad the Gesture navigation works very well, but the gestures have a special meaning:
 * Zoom: drag with two fingers.
 * Rotate: drag with three fingers.
 * Pan: + three fingers.

Developing a custom navigation
The tutorial Adding a new mouse navigation option to FreeCAD orients developers who want to develop a custom mouse navigation option. Familiarity with the C++ syntax is required.