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"Zoom to Fit" to ignore Planes

Question asked by James Sorrentino on Aug 12, 2015
Latest reply on Aug 12, 2015 by James Sorrentino

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I've been away from SW for about three (3) years & have forgotten many things. Glad to be back.

This may be a simple "No", but is there a toggle that will allow "Zoom to Fit" to ignore planes? I use large construction planes for many relationships in a large (size & number of components) assembly that I like to leave visible for reference. However, after getting close for some detail work on a sub system, I hit the "F" key not to curse, but to marvel at my creation only to zoom out to the 1000 foot view and the model is too small. Nothing my calloused index finger is not use to; rolling the mouse wheel like a hamster on steroids.

If someone is aware of this magical checkbox please share.

If not I will turn off planes before "Zoom to Fit" or write a macro...hmmm, something else I forgot to do???

Keith Frankie Aug 12, 2015 12:11 PM

Correct Answer

I don't think there is an option like this.

As you say turning off planes, then zooming to fit, then turning them back on works. It should be easy to use a macro to do this.

This is also fairly easy with default keyboard shortcuts. With the left hand on the keyboard and the right hand on the mouse Alt+V, Y to hide everything, then double click the mouse wheel button to zoom to fit, then Alt+V, Y to show everything again. Moving the left hand to "P" to hide and show planes alone takes more coordination.....

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Glenn Schroeder Aug 12, 2015 8:52 AM

Welcome back to SolidWorks. I'm pretty sure there's not a setting that will ignore the visible planes, but a 3d mouse will help with the calloused finger. You can get one of the simple ones, which I have, for about $100.00. I like mine so much that I'd pay for it myself if my company wouldn't.

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Melissa Newby Aug 12, 2015 9:34 AM

I don' t remember where I got this macro, but I use this for "Zoom to Scale" to show the approximate size of a part on the screen. We have large monitors, and we work with very small parts, so we are constantly looking at parts on the screen a lot larger than their actual size. This macro is nice to put everything into perspective.

This macro can be used to zoom to whatever scale you want, though, by changing the 0.66 in the "modelView.Scale2 = 0.66" line to whatever scale you would like it to be. Maybe this could be useful for you.

____________

Option Explicit

Sub main()

Dim swApp As Object

Dim modelDoc As Object

Dim modelView As Object

Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")

Set modelDoc = swApp.ActiveDoc

Set modelView = modelDoc.ActiveView

modelView.Scale2 = 0.66

modelDoc.GraphicsRedraw2

End Sub

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Zac Evans @ Melissa Newby on Aug 12, 2015 12:59 PM

Great idea! I'm always designing things and after getting a bunch of components together it's hard to comprehend the scale on my monitor, this is very useful!

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Mike Helsinger Aug 12, 2015 9:48 AM

I set my Z key (Customize.. > Keyboard) to activate the Zoom function and then draw a quick window around the view I want. To me it feels quicker than scrolling in.

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James Sorrentino @ Mike Helsinger on Aug 12, 2015 10:55 AM

I use 'ALT-W' ("W" for window) from my old CadKey days.

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Keith Frankie Aug 12, 2015 12:11 PM

I don't think there is an option like this.

As you say turning off planes, then zooming to fit, then turning them back on works. It should be easy to use a macro to do this.

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James Sorrentino Aug 12, 2015 1:45 PM

Thanks for all the input. I created a macro inspired by Keith Frankie.

*****

Dim swApp As Object

Dim Part As Object
Dim boolstatus As Boolean
Dim longstatus As Long, longwarnings As Long

Sub main()

Set swApp = _
Application.SldWorks

Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
boolstatus = Part.SetUserPreferenceToggle(swUserPreferenceToggle_e.swDisplayPlanes, False)
Part.ViewZoomtofit2

boolstatus = Part.SetUserPreferenceToggle(swUserPreferenceToggle_e.swDisplayPlanes, True)

End Sub

*****

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7 Replies

Glenn Schroeder Aug 12, 2015 8:52 AM
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Correct Answer
Welcome back to SolidWorks. I'm pretty sure there's not a setting that will ignore the visible planes, but a 3d mouse will help with the calloused finger. You can get one of the simple ones, which I have, for about $100.00. I like mine so much that I'd pay for it myself if my company wouldn't.
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Melissa Newby Aug 12, 2015 9:34 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I don' t remember where I got this macro, but I use this for "Zoom to Scale" to show the approximate size of a part on the screen. We have large monitors, and we work with very small parts, so we are constantly looking at parts on the screen a lot larger than their actual size. This macro is nice to put everything into perspective.

This macro can be used to zoom to whatever scale you want, though, by changing the 0.66 in the "modelView.Scale2 = 0.66" line to whatever scale you would like it to be. Maybe this could be useful for you.

____________

Option Explicit

Sub main()

Dim swApp As Object
Dim modelDoc As Object
Dim modelView As Object

Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")
Set modelDoc = swApp.ActiveDoc
Set modelView = modelDoc.ActiveView
modelView.Scale2 = 0.66
modelDoc.GraphicsRedraw2

End Sub
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- Zac Evans @ Melissa Newby on Aug 12, 2015 12:59 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Great idea! I'm always designing things and after getting a bunch of components together it's hard to comprehend the scale on my monitor, this is very useful!
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Mike Helsinger Aug 12, 2015 9:48 AM
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Correct Answer
I set my Z key (Customize.. > Keyboard) to activate the Zoom function and then draw a quick window around the view I want. To me it feels quicker than scrolling in.
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- James Sorrentino @ Mike Helsinger on Aug 12, 2015 10:55 AM
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  Correct Answer
  I use 'ALT-W' ("W" for window) from my old CadKey days.
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Keith Frankie Aug 12, 2015 12:11 PM
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Correct Answer
I don't think there is an option like this.

As you say turning off planes, then zooming to fit, then turning them back on works. It should be easy to use a macro to do this.

This is also fairly easy with default keyboard shortcuts. With the left hand on the keyboard and the right hand on the mouse Alt+V, Y to hide everything, then double click the mouse wheel button to zoom to fit, then Alt+V, Y to show everything again. Moving the left hand to "P" to hide and show planes alone takes more coordination.....
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James Sorrentino Aug 12, 2015 1:45 PM
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Correct Answer
Thanks for all the input. I created a macro inspired by Keith Frankie.

*****
Dim swApp As Object
Dim Part As Object
Dim boolstatus As Boolean
Dim longstatus As Long, longwarnings As Long

Sub main()

Set swApp = _
Application.SldWorks
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
boolstatus = Part.SetUserPreferenceToggle(swUserPreferenceToggle_e.swDisplayPlanes, False)
Part.ViewZoomtofit2
boolstatus = Part.SetUserPreferenceToggle(swUserPreferenceToggle_e.swDisplayPlanes, True)

End Sub
*****
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"Zoom to Fit" to ignore Planes

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