Setup scene and Camera changes when importing model

Neil -

It's might be that your user settings may have been returned to their defaults somehow which means that when you import a model, the camera is being imported and used as the default camera (which is default behavior for most CAD formats).

Try unchecking the Camera tab in the Import Dialog when importing a model into your scene.

Are you importing SolidWorks files or another type?

Hi Neil,

I've experienced the same thing. It positions the camera so that the newly imported geometry is within its view.

I've got nothing to add I'm afraid. You just have to try to remember to either lock your active camera or switch to your "free" one before importing.

It would be nice if Visualize remembered your import settings so you wouldn't have to uncheck "environments" every time. If you don't uncheck it, Visualize will set the active camera's aspect ratio to whatever the SW backplate's resolution is.

Quite an annoyance when you forget to do those steps and you have to reload the project to get the camera back the way it was.

Hi gents,

I am trying to figure out what we can do to improve this annoyance for the upcoming 2016 service pack and would like to have your vote on possible solutions:

Solution 1:

Remember the state of the the Environments (and other off course...) check-box during import. Such that if unchecked once, backplate and hdr environment import is suppressed and camera aspect ratio remains unchanged.

Solution 2:

Never change the active camera but create a second additional camera (possibly automatically switch to that or keep the existing).

Solution 3:

Do both...

I think Solution 3 may be best here. Also, we will have Camera/View import from SOLIDWORKS CAD in that service pack as well, so another "Camera" tab as David mentioned above is going to be available soon.

Hi

I am a bit late to this thread but I have a similar issue with some materials.  If I import a new model into a project the textures within one or two of the materials will change.  For instance, it could be a wood that has a grain bump texture but after the import it will have a leather bump texture.  It doesn't happen often but when it does it is quite irritating.  Sometimes you don't realise it has happened until you start the final render.  I am importing SW files with only Geometry active in the Import Settings.

Hi David, thanks for supplying this additional information! I am able to repro the problem. I am going to file a bug and we will work on a fix!