Mouse navigation

Overview
The FreeCAD mouse navigation consists of the commands used to visually navigate the 3D space and interact with the objects displayed. 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 alternative navigation styles which you can choose according to your preferences.

Navigation
The mouse gestures used for object manipulation vary depending on the Navigation style selected; the currently selected style is used for all workbenches.

There are two ways to change the navigation style:


 * In the Preferences Editor; menu.
 * By right-clicking in empty space in the 3D view, then selecting in the context menu.

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

OpenInventor navigation
OpenInventor navigation (formerly Inventor) was modeled after Open Inventor. In order to select objects, you must hold down the key.

This mode is not based on Autodesk Inventor.

Blender navigation
The Blender navigation style was modeled after Blender. Previously there was no mouse-only panning; it always required holding the key. This changed in 2016, now you can hold both left and right mouse buttons to pan.

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

Gesture navigation
This style was introduced in version 0.16, and 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.

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.

Revit navigation
This style was introduced in version 0.18.

OpenCascade navigation
This style was introduced in version 0.18.

Simple selection
Objects can be selected by a click with the left mouse button either by clicking on the object in the 3D view or by selecting it in the tree view.

Preselection
There is also a Preselection mechanism that highlights objects and displays information before selection by just hovering the mouse over the objects. If you don't like this behaviour or you have a slow machine, you can switch preselection off in the preferences.

Manipulating objects
FreeCAD offers manipulators that are handles that can be used to modify an object's appearance, shape, or other parameters.

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.