19
Input Devices
• Keyboard - Used for entering data and text and for activating commands using menu shortcuts.
In conjunction with a mouse, can be used to switch modes when clicking or dragging.
• 3D mouse - A secondary input device that allows 3D Cartesian plots to be zoomed, translated,
and rotated with a touch. Additionally, the always-active 3D mouse doesn't make you select
mouse modes, commands, or keyboard shortcuts. A 3D mouse can therefore enable faster
exploration of your data and improve the experience of working with your 3D plots.
Actions available with a 3D mouse include:
• Translation - Push the mouse cap left or right, pull it up, or push it down, to translate the
plot left/right or up/down on the screen.
• Zooming - Push the mouse cap toward you or away from you to zoom the plot. Hold down
the Alt key while zooming to switch zoom methods.
The default zoom method depends on whether the current frame's 3D view mode is
perspective or orthographic (see Section 7 - 4.6 “
Three-dimensional View Details” on
page 185). The results of zooming using the 3D mouse and the Alt key are shown here.
• Rotation - Rotation is around the defined center of rotation, by default the center of the
data. However, the axis of rotation is relative to the screen rather than to the data.
• X axis - Tilt the mouse cap forward or back to rotate around the screen's X axis, as if
rolling your plot toward you or away from you.
• Y axis - Twist the mouse cap clockwise or counterclockwise to rotate around the
screen's Y axis, as if on a lazy susan.
• Z axis - Tilt the mouse cap left or right to rotate around the screen's Z axis, like the
hands of a clock.
With practice, it is possible to perform more than one of these operations at the same time. At
first, though, it is best to be careful to invoke only one function at a time.
Most 3D mice also have one or more buttons, which can be mapped to commands that you use
frequently using the software provided with the device.
Tecplot 360 EX supports the following actions (built-in to the 3D mouse software) that may be
mapped to buttons using the device software:
• Fit (same as View>Fit Surfaces)
• Front, Back, Top, Bottom, Left, and Right View
• Isometric View 1 (Tecplot 360 EX default view) and 2 (theta 180° from default)
• Roll CW and CCW (in 90° increments)
Tecplot 360 EX supports 3D mouse products from 3Dconnexion, such as the
SpaceMouse, SpaceNavigator, and SpacePilot lines, and only on the Windows platform.
Pushing or pulling mouse cap In perspective mode In orthographic mode
Normal (without Alt key) Changes view distance Changes view width
Alternate (pressing Alt key) Changes view width Changes view distance
An area of interest can be inspected in greater detail from any angle if the origin of
rotation is assigned to it. Mapping the "o" key (orientation change) to a 3D mouse via
the device GUI may facilitate a more natural workflow. Simply point the regular mouse
cursor at the area of interest and press the orientation change button.