AC10 New 3D Navigation

[ArcAngel]

I hate this, I hate this, I hate this.

Graphisoft have thrown out the baby with the bath water. For the sake of a gimmicky adolescent user interface we have lost simple panning, rotation, smooth movement, editing (albeit after clicking on an icon) and the ability to smoothly rotate a 3D view of an object in its 3D window.

Am I missing something here or have we lost much more than we have gained?

I may be looking for a refund on my upgrade!

[Anonymous]

Yes First time....especially if you hate killer video game....

You must speed down and move with key, you will love it.
You can see around with mouse like super mario. You can check with this way better and move faster.

[Thomas Holm]

If you want it, you can turn on 3D navigation the old way. I't all there.

[Anonymous]

ArcAngel wrote:
I hate this, I hate this, I hate this.

Graphisoft have thrown out the baby with the bath water. For the sake of a gimmicky adolescent user interface we have lost simple panning, rotation, smooth movement, editing (albeit after clicking on an icon) and the ability to smoothly rotate a 3D view of an object in its 3D window.

Am I missing something here or have we lost much more than we have gained?

I may be looking for a refund on my upgrade!

As Thomas points out the old ways are still there if preferred, but I find the new 3D navigation much easier.

I never did quite get used to the old methods which still seem kind of backwards and clumsy to me. The new orbit mode seems especially intuitive and easy to learn. I have found that even people with no familiarity with ArchiCAD (or any CAD) can just grab the mouse and move around the model immediately. This is a BIG improvement IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget the shift mouse wheel button combo that Link pointed out that allows a toggle to the orbit mode while you are in the edit mode. I use this all the time....

[ArcAngel]

Thomas wrote:
If you want it, you can turn on 3D navigation the old way. I't all there.

Can someone please show me how?

This emphasises my point that what was, 15 years ago, a simple elegant CAD package, has become menu- and option-bound to the point that all the intuitiveness present in the early Mac-only versions has been subsumed. I have NEVER before had to ask how to do something in ArchiCAD.

[Thomas Holm]

ArcAngel wrote:

Thomas wrote:
If you want it, you can turn on 3D navigation the old way. I't all there.

Can someone please show me how?

This emphasises my point that what was, 15 years ago, a simple elegant CAD package, has become menu- and option-bound to the point that all the intuitiveness present in the early Mac-only versions has been subsumed. I have NEVER before had to ask how to do something in ArchiCAD.

Menu:
Window>Toolbars>Classic 3D Navigation

Not that hard to find.

And to just give an argument for the opposite, I think this version is the first in which every command has at least one visual menu or toolbar/palette clue. Before, some had only keyboard shortcuts that you had to memorize. I don't call that very intuitive.

And of course it still is possible to limit the user interface to the Ac 4.5 point if you wish. In AC9, there was a beginner GUI option delivered, if I remember correctly. But the problem was that those learning it that way never found the more advanced options. No good for a professional system.

[ArcAngel]

Thomas wrote:
Menu:
Window>Toolbars>Classic 3D Navigation

Not that hard to find.

And to just give an argument for the opposite, I think this version is the first in which every command has at least one visual menu or toolbar/palette clue. Before, some had only keyboard shortcuts that you had to memorize. I don't call that very intuitive.

Well actually it is that hard to find if you import your preferences from the previous version. That menu item didn't appear at all. I got there though by doing a "New and reset all". Of course that means that I had to go and reset all my personal preferences, shortcuts etc ... a very efficient and smooth transition.

Also I have always found keyboard shortcuts to be a quicker and more efficient way of working than pull-down menus and mouse clicks (I learnt that from the 1980s Intergraph CAD package with its tablet the size of a desk!) The problem comes when the shortcuts are changed eg "Ctrl 3"

[Thomas Holm]

ArcAngel wrote:
Well actually it is that hard to find if you import your preferences from the previous version. That menu item didn't appear at all. I got there though by doing a "New and reset all". Of course that means that I had to go and reset all my personal preferences, shortcuts etc ... a very efficient and smooth transition.

Aha! I always recommend to start a new version with the delivered preferences, and then customize. I find this is often a better way to learn to utilize new features to the best. I run the risk of preserving methods that perhaps aren't the most efficient anymore if i just transfer the old prefs (I personally have that problem anyway). But it's a free world.

[__archiben]

Thomas wrote:
Aha! I always recommend to start a new version with the delivered preferences, and then customize.

not really the point of having a saved work environment though, if it's not future proof . . .

~/archiben