The 3CAD Next planner allows configuring both in 3D and 2D views. Each modality comes up with specific functionalities and uses that are described in the following paragraphs.
3D view
In the 3D view, the configuration happens in the three-dimensional planner where the scene viewpoint can be adjusted by the user through the use of the mouse, allowing:
- the positioning of the viewpoint,
- an orbital visualization,
- the zooming in and out on the scene.
All actions on articles are allowed, such as inserting new articles, deleting them, positioning them, and rotating them. Articles can be graphically adjusted in their dimension through the use of the draggers (red arrows within circles) when this functionality is set in the catalog rules.
All elements, items, and articles in the scene can be configured in their attributes (variants) in this modality.
3D view allows the users to view walls, ceiling, and flooring but it does not allow to add, remove, or modify their dimension (like walls' length, ceiling and flooring's area) and positioning (except the ceiling thickness and height). No interaction is possible with wall items (such as doors, windows, and niches), and utilities that can only be viewed by the users in this modality.
The 3D view is equipped with a dedicated toolbar (see The planner toolbar article).
2D view
The 2D view allows to configure from a two-dimensional perspective. In this view, you can see the outlines of all the elements and items that are viewed from a top view. Their level of detail depends on whether .svg files are set for the articles in LayEdit.
You can configure items in all their aspects, except the dimensional configuration through draggers. All articles can be inserted or removed from the scene.
Only the 2D view allows users to define the room layout, including placing and removing walls, wall items, fenestration, flooring, ceiling, utilities, and to adjust them in all their aspects. To switch between the walls and the articles catalog, click on the Configure button on the left-hand side of the window and then on the Select Walls or Select Catalogs buttons respectively.
In this mode, you can configure the attributes (variants) of all elements, items, and articles in the scene.
Note: Although it is possible to manage articles' variants in the 2D view, changes are only visualized in the 3D view. Therefore, it is advisable to set variants in the latter.
The 2D view is equipped with a dedicated toolbar (see The planner toolbar article).