how to keep screen orientation fixed when switching cross sections or simplified reps

[MaCallan]

Hi - How can I keep a part or assembly orientation fixed on the screen when switching between cross sections and/or simplified reps? 

The model jumps around randomly every time I switch, requiring time and effort just to get back what I wanted to look at. Slows things waaaaay down in my head.

I tried a few years ago to find a solution, but couldn't find any online, or even any references to the issue. Either I'm the only person who experiences this or I'm the only one who finds it to be a problem. Both are hard to believe! 

Thanks for any help or insight.

(btw I'm using Creo 3 M110)

[dcokin · Accepted solution]

> Either I'm the only person who experiences this or I'm the only one who finds it to be a problem.

No, you're not the only one.  Issues related to this are my biggest gripe with Creo.  It's a much deeper problem than you even state.  If you think you've saved a view / orientation (camera position, direction, focal length), you haven't really.  It will scale parametrically with the overall model's bounding box, even if you don't want it to, no way to stop it.  (Yes, even focal length will change when saving a perspective view, although they use the term "focal length" within the software to mean something else.)  This drives me crazy, since I make so many design changes and want to make powerpoint slides where you flip between pages and see exactly what changed since yesterday; ought to just take a sec, but since the scale of the view is different every time, it's hard to match.

That's the issue you're facing by the way; when you switch simp reps or section cuts, the bounding box of what's on screen is changing, so the view updates.  (You're still looking at X% of the overall model, positioned at Y% from whatever edge was closest.)

Even text annotations on drawing views are affected by this problem.  Whenever I revise a drawing that has changed significantly, first step is always spending 10 minutes or so dragging text around back where it was to begin with.

I have been complain about this for years.  Only solution seems to be to use CAD software from another vendor.  PTC has shown no interest in fixing it.  I was told in 2013 that some of the problems would "probably" be fixed in Creo 5.  Wasn't.

Relevant cases I've opened with PTC support over the years (and related documents and SPRs):

https://support.ptc.com/apps/case_logger_viewer/auth/ssl/case=10726384

https://support.ptc.com/apps/case_logger_viewer/auth/ssl/case=11296143

    https://www.ptc.com/en/support/article?n=CS122986

    https://support.ptc.com/appserver/cs/view/spr.jsp?n=2830675

https://support.ptc.com/apps/case_logger_viewer/auth/ssl/case=11811068

    https://www.ptc.com/en/support/article?n=CS157634

    https://support.ptc.com/appserver/cs/view/spr.jsp?n=2208433

https://support.ptc.com/apps/case_logger_viewer/auth/ssl/case=12735565

    https://support.ptc.com/appserver/cs/view/spr.jsp?n=4803255

https://support.ptc.com/apps/case_logger_viewer/auth/ssl/case=13487049

    https://www.ptc.com/en/support/article?n=CS122986

    https://support.ptc.com/appserver/cs/view/spr.jsp?n=2830675

EDIT:  Actually though, you should add "refit_upon_section_activation no" to your config.pro; prevents the problem in one case anyway...

[MaCallan]

Hey thanks for the reply! 

Haven't fully digested it yet, but it's good to know there's someone out there.

[MaCallan]

"refit_upon_section_activation = no" sounds like it might solve a lot of this for me, but I don't find it in the config options. Was this added in Creo#4 or #5? (i'm still using #3).

And I see you've beaten the PTC bushes hard about this — god bless. I'm guessing there's no point in looking to PTC for any further guidance.

[dcokin]

No, it'll work fine in Creo 3; I'm still on Creo 2 myself.  Many of the available config options are hidden, and must be typed in.  Here's a full list.  Worth browsing.  Unfortunately, there isn't documentation for many of them; if the name of the setting sounds interesting, try googling it.

http://www.proesite.com/newframe.htm?/UTIL/view_config.html

[MaCallan]

Thanks - just now learned about hidden options after 20 years or so. Wtf.

We're PTC, your confusion is our business model

[MaCallan]

Holy **bleep**e!  REFIT_UPON_SECTION_ACTIVATION worked. 

Fixed a huge part of this problem. Thanks so much.

(But why didn't PTC tell me about this when I asked years ago?)

[MaCallan]

WOW!  "refit_upon_section_activation = no" seems to also correct the simplified rep refit problem too.

Thanks again.

(Why on earth would this not be a default setting???!!!!!!!)

[dcokin]

You will still see a refit when switching simp reps though, if objects on the exterior are excluded, changing the size of the bounding box.

[dcokin]

I want to hire a programmer to make an interface for my 3DConnexion spaceball 6DOF input device, to translate and rotate a manikin in an assembly.  Then the "manikin view" window would be a reliable and repeatable viewport, that could be used for real time flythroughs, and inspection of internal details without hiding or sectioning.

https://www.3dconnexion.com/service/software-developer.html

[MaCallan]

yes I noticed that, but somehow it seems to be greatly improved too, to the point where it's tolerable.

Thanks again!

(how on earth is this not the default setting????!!!!!)