Interaction Surface Form 3D View Area

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The 3D View area provides controls for viewing the 3D chart of the interaction surface. You can define the view direction by specifying a plan angle and an elevation angle. All angles are specified in degrees. The view direction defines the location where you are standing as you view the interaction surface from the outside.

Figure a below shows a three dimensional view of an interaction surface using the default view direction of plan angle = 315 degrees and elevation angle = 35 degrees. Figures b and c below illustrate how the plan and elevation angles are defined. Following the figure are explanations of the terms used in the figure.

Eye point: This is the location from which you are viewing the interaction surface.

Target point: This is the origin of the interaction surface.

View direction: This is defined by a line drawn from the eye point to the target point.

Plan angle: This is the angle (in degrees) from the positive M3-axis to the line defining the view direction measured in a horizontal plane. A positive angle appears counterclockwise as you look down on the interaction surface. Any value between -360 degrees and +360 degrees, inclusive, is allowed for the plan angle.

Elevation angle: This is the angle (in degrees) from the M2-M3 plane to the line defining the view direction. A positive angle starts from the M2-M3 plane and proceeds toward the negative P-axis. A negative angle starts from the M2-M3 plane and proceeds toward the positive P-axis. (Recall that the negative P-axis points upward and the positive P-axis points downward). Any value between -360 degrees and +360 degrees, inclusive, is allowed for the elevation angle.

The 3D View form has four fast view buttons labeled 3d, MM, PM3 and PM2. The fast view buttons automatically set the plan and elevation angle to give you the specified 3D view. The fast view 3d view is as shown in the figure above. The other fast views give you 3D perspective views of the specified planes.