Visibility Constraints
You can use visibility tools to make it easier to identify and select headings and locations in the 3D Canvas. These tools constrain the display of data on the canvas, making it easier to see only the headings or locations in which you are interested.
The visibility constraints tools are available in a toolbar at the top of the 3D Canvas.
The visibility constraints tools work by process of elimination. If data is not included in the selection, it is "ghosted" in the 3D Canvas. That is, it is displayed in white and cannot be selected. Visibility constraints are cumulative. If you apply one constraint, and then apply a second constraint the data that remains in the 3D Canvas must meet both constraint conditions.
Visibility constraints are useful when you have a complicated design that makes it difficult to select headings accurately. For example, if you have a design with many overlapping flat headings, it is difficult to select an individual heading directly in plan view. However, when you apply an elevation constraint or use a box selection in section view to display a single level in the design, selecting individual headings becomes easier.
The visibility constraints you create persist and are available for use while the scenario remains open. As long as the scenario is open, you can use the Previous constraint and Next constraint icons to move between constraints.
If you want to redisplay all headings in your design, you can click the Clear all constraints icon.
You can set visibility constraints based on name, string number, elevation, box selection, resource allocation, or a text-type user parameter.
Constrain Using Name
To constrain the data using names, you can type a name in the Visibility Constraints field.
Tip: You can use wildcards in the constraint to select groups of names.
Constrain Using Box Selection
To constrain the data using box selection, you can click the Box constraint icon and then drag to create a selection box in the 3D Canvas. Any headings and locations that are partly or completely in the selection box remain displayed, and the 3D Canvas mode returns to Orbit mode.
Note: If you choose the Box constraint icon by double-clicking, after the selection box is applied the box constraint function stays active. When the box constraint function remains active, you can immediately create another selection box to apply an additional constraint. To exit the box constraint function you can click Orbit or Select mode, or press ESC.
Constrain Using String Number, Elevation, Resource Allocation, Collection, or a Text-Type User Parameter
To constrain the data based on the string number, elevation, resource allocation, collection, or a text-type user parameter, you can click the Ellipsis icon. Clicking the Ellipsis icon opens the Visibility Constraints form.
Fields on the Visibility Constraints form
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Names | |
| Development |
The names of the development headings. Only headings with the name specified, or name root if you are using wildcards, are displayed in the 3D Canvas. The list provides a quick selection of the development heading names in the design. The Ellipsis button opens the Wildcard Expression Builder. |
| Production |
The names of the production locations. Only headings and locations with the name specified, or name root if you are using wildcards, are displayed in the 3D Canvas. The list provides a quick selection of the production heading names in the design. The Ellipsis button opens the Wildcard Expression Builder. |
| Collections | |
| Development |
The development collections to which the headings are assigned. Only headings that are assigned to the specified development collections are displayed in the 3D Canvas. The list provides a quick selection of all development collections used in the scenario. You can hold CTRL to select more than one collection. The Ellipsis button opens the Wildcard Expression Builder. |
| Production |
The production collections to which the locations are assigned. Only locations that are assigned to the specified production collections are displayed in the 3D Canvas. The list provides a quick selection of all production collections used in the scenario. You can hold CTRL to select more than one collection. The Ellipsis button opens the Wildcard Expression Builder. |
| Resources |
The resources that are allocated to the headings and locations. Only headings and locations that have the specified resources allocated to them are displayed in the 3D Canvas. The list provides a quick selection for all resources used in the scenario. You can hold CTRL to select more than one collection. The Ellipsis button opens the Wildcard Expression Builder. |
| String IDs |
The string range that is displayed when the constraint is applied. Only headings that have the string range specified are displayed in the 3D Canvas. |
| Upper Z |
The maximum elevation, above which the data is not displayed in the 3D Canvas. |
| Lower Z | The minimum elevation, below which the data is not displayed in the 3D Canvas. |
| Text Parameter | The name of the text type User parameters. |
| Value |
The values for the User parameter for the constraint. Only headings and locations that have the values specified for the user parameters specified are displayed in the 3D Canvas. You can use wildcards in the values. |