Create New Feature in 3D with Vertex and Terrain Snapping

New vector features may be digitized in 3D view by snapping to terrain or vertices of existing vector features.

The digitizer create point, line and area tools may be accessed in 3D by selecting the Digitizer tool, and right clicking to the context menu.

• Create Area/Polygon Features
• Create Line Features
• Create Point/Text Features

Selection of the digitizer tools in the main application window in the Digitizer(Create) toolbar will also enable the tools in 3D.

Point, Line and Area features may be created by snapping to the vertices of existing point, line or area feature, or by snapping to terrain data. This snapping selection may be improved using keyboard shortcuts to restrict the vertex selection:

• Hold down the ‘P’ key to filter to point features
• Hold down the ‘A’ key to filter to area features
• Hold down the ‘L’ key to filter to line features
• Hold down the ‘M’ key to filter to mesh features
• Only one of these modifier keys may be active at a time.

When snapping to existing vector features, the snapped vertex location will be indicated with an orange circle. When snapping to the terrain, the snapped vertex location will be indicated with a green circle.

The bottom bar of the 3D view window will indicate the number of points (vertices) that have been added to the active feature. The notification window (in the top left of the above image) shows the edit location based on the cursor, and the last edit point (i.e. the last placed vertex). The notification window will also show any special modes that are active, including locked navigation modes: 

Locking the view movement:Sometimes it can be useful to restrict the movement of the 3D scene in one dimension or another. You can lock the movement to either a horizontal or vertical plane using the H or V keys. Note: locking is not allowed in Walk mode.

• H: The key enables horizontal locking if it’s disabled, otherwise it disables it. Horizontal locking only allows movement in a plane that’s horizontal to the pivot axis.
• V: The key enables vertical locking if it’s disabled, otherwise it disables it. Vertical locking only allows movement in the plane defined by the screen center and the pivot axis.

Predefined Views: There are some predefined views that can help you to navigate in the 3D scene:

• Default View: This is the standard view that you get when you open the 3D viewer. Use the Home key, Ctrl+Shift+D, or the 5 key to go to default view.
• Top View: This is a view from directly above the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+T to go to default view.
• Bottom View: This is a view from directly underneath the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+U to go to bottom view.
• Left View: This is a view from the left side of the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+L to go to a left view.
• Right View: This is a view from the right side of the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+R to go to a right view.
• Front View: This is a view from in front of the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+F to go to a front view.
• Back View: This is a view from directly behind the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+B to go to a back view.

Active feature creation with the digitizer may be switched back and forth between working in the 3D view and 2D view(s).

3D Digitizing and Editing Shortcut Keys

• CTRL+SHIFT+Z sets the viewer to Zoom Mode
• While digitizing or editing, CTRL+Z undoes the last point.
• ESC:
  •  While selecting, the Escape key clears the current selection.
  • When digitizing, the Escape key cancels the current digitizing operation, and reverts to selection mode.
  • When measuring, the Escape key cancels the current measurement operation.
• ENTER:
  • When digitizing, the Return key completes the current digitization operation.
  • When measuring, the Return key completes the current measurement operation.
• DELETE: If there is a current selection available, the selected features are deleted.
• When Selecting, Digitizing or Measuring: when moving the mouse,
  • Hold down the ‘P’ key to filter to point features
  • Hold down the ‘A’ key to filter to area features
  • Hold down the ‘L’ key to filter to line features
  • Hold down the ‘M’ key to filter to mesh features
  • Only one of these modifier keys may be active at a time.