The Layer View settings control what type of design preview you see in WEBcnx. The Layer View Options are configured in Administration > Environment > Layer View. The Layer View settings are global across WEBcnx and apply to all users. The settings allow you to configure both the 2D and 3D views, along with some visibility options for how the interactive viewer is displayed.
2D Configuration
- Viewing Mode - Selects whether the interactive or static viewer are displayed to users
- The Interactive view includes measuring and enquiry tools as well as a full screen mode with access to additional tools and information.
- The Static view shows a simpler preview of the design without tools for zooming or enquiring on the geometry.
- The Interactive view includes measuring and enquiry tools as well as a full screen mode with access to additional tools and information.
- Interactive View Options- When in Interactive mode, there are some additional options available to control default behaviour and appearance. These apply to all users.
- Display Rulers - Toggles the display of rulers around the sides of the viewing canvas. Turning rulers off provides more space for viewing the design, ideal for users who do not require scale information. When rulers are on, they automatically align to the extents of the design, providing a quick reference for its overall scale and the flat blank size. This feature is especially useful for gaining a better understanding of the design dimensions without using measuring tools.
- Display Palette Text - Controls whether the text associated with drawing palettes, such as technical specifications or production guidance, is shown by default when viewing designs. Administrators can set this preference globally for all users, providing consistency across the organisation. Individual users can override the Palette Text visibility to suit their needs, ensuring a flexible and personalised viewing experience.
- Default Manufacturing Information Display - Controls whether the Manufacturing Information is turned on or off for all users. Users are able to override this setting for themselves and their selection is saved and automatically applied the next time they log in.
- Default Annotation Display - Allows administrators to set whether annotations are displayed by default when users view designs. This ensures consistency across the organisation. However, individual users can override this default setting based on their preferences, and their choice is saved for future sessions, providing a personalised and flexible experience.
- Viewer Export Settings - This is the Master Tool Setting (MTS) in Impact that is used to export the 2D layer for the Interactive viewer mode. It is recommended to have a specific Export MTS to be used for this purpose to prevent unexpected changes occurring if an Impact user modifies a more general setting. Give the setting an obvious name such as "WEBcnx Interactive Viewer Export" or consider creating a "WEBcnx" named sub-folder to save it in within General Tools > Import / Export Settings.
The Export Settings should be configured with no import filters and only the "Impact JViewer" format enabled. This is the only one that WEBcnx will use, so anything else is unnecessary and adds confusion. No further options on this format are required, but it would be advisable to review those available for this format, e.g. Image compression, down-sampling and substitution.
3D Configuration
- Collada Export Settings - There is no static 3D view, only an interactive mode. WEBcnx uses the Packaged Collada (.zae) file format for generating viewable models. Similar to the 2D Viewer Export Settings, this 3D export setting should have no import filters enabled and only the "Packaged COLLADA" export filter enabled. It is recommended to create a 3D Export setting using each Maximum Resolution option to allow you the freedom to easily adjust this in WEBcnx. As for the 2D setting name, we suggest saving your Master Tool Setting (MTS) with an easily identifiable name, such as "WEBcnx Collada 3D Export (L)" for a large resolution. Saving these MTS in a dedicated sub-folder under 3D > 3D Import / Export Settings is also advisable.
To configure the Impact Master Tool Setting, the following are the only options you need to consider:- Export Textures: You should turn this option on, otherwise you won't see any artwork or board textures in your viewed 3D model.
- Maximum Resolution: This option can be set to any level you want. The higher the resolution, the longer it will take to view your 3D layer. The lower the resolution, the poorer the quality of the artwork on the 3D layer.
- Exclude Rule Definition and Embossing Texture Maps: Viewing 3D layers in WEBcnx does not yet support displaying Rule Definition, so to improve the performance, turn this option ON.
General Options
- Display Viewer for Task Project Previews - When viewing a Project associated with a Task, WEBcnx has the option of displaying a multi-tab viewer as well as a separate page listing all the layers. Whilst designers may understand the project and layer structure in WEBcnx, less technical people may not. It is therefore advisable to turn this option OFF unless you have a specific need to use it.
- Viewer Canvas Colour - Impact users frequently set their background colour when creating and editing designs to either black or white. This option in WEBcnx controls the same behaviour when viewing designs. The value of this field should be a valid predefined CSS colour value, e.g. "white", "black".