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User Interface

SCADview is a desktop UI for viewing meshes generated by your Python scripts. This guide is organized around common tasks and the controls that help you complete them.

User Interface

Load, Reload, Export

  • If you want to load a mesh script, use File > Load .py... or the Load .py... button to pick a Python file that defines create_mesh.
  • If you want to re-run the last script after edits, use File > Reload or the Reload button.
  • If you want to export the current mesh, use File > Export... or the Export button. Export is enabled only after a load completes.
  • If an export format reports a missing dependency, install the package named in the error, or choose a different format.

View and Inspect

  • If you want to refit the camera to the mesh, use View > Frame or the Frame button.
  • If you want fixed viewpoints, use XYZ, X, Y, or Z (also in the View menu). XYZ moves to a canonical view; X, Y, and Z show the mesh from the positive axes.
  • If you want perspective or orthographic projection, use the radio buttons labeled Perspective and Orthogonal (also in the View menu).
  • If you want visual helpers, toggle Grid, Axes, Edges, or Gnomon from the right-side panel or the View menu. The grid is a size reference with minor lines at 0.1 and larger lines at 1 and 10.

Grid

Grid Example

Edges

Edges Example

  • If you want to orbit, left-click and drag in the viewport.
  • If you want to zoom/dolly, use the mouse wheel.
  • If you want keyboard navigation, use W/S or Up Arrow/Down Arrow for forward/back, A/D or Left Arrow/Right Arrow for left/right, and Q/E for up/down.

Fonts Helper

  • If you want to browse system fonts for text-based meshes, use Help > Fonts. You can filter by name and copy a Font Name:style=Style string to the clipboard for your scripts.

Fonts Helper

Status Feedback

  • If you want to see loading progress, watch the right-side progress bar. It pulses while loading and fills when complete.
  • The viewport background color also provides status:
    • Blue: currently loading
    • Green: loaded successfully
    • Yellow: loaded successfully in debug mode (create_mesh returned or yielded an array of meshes).
    • Red: the script has an error.

Reference Appendix

View Directions

  • XYZ moves to a canonical view: +X points right and toward the screen, +Y points right and away, +Z points up.
  • X shows the mesh from the +X side, Y from +Y, and Z from +Z.

Export Dependencies

  • Some export formats require extra packages. Errors tell you what to install, such as pycollada for dae or networkx for 3mf.