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Viewports

Table of contents

1 Views and viewport layout 2 Maximizing and restoring viewports 3 Resize menu 4 Expanding viewports horizontally 5 Expanding viewports vertically 6 Manually resizing viewports 7 Restoring viewports using the resize menu

Views and viewport layout

XSI uses special windows known as viewports to allow the modeler or animator to create, view, and edit their scenes. These viewports occupy the central working area of the main application window, directly beneath the main menu bar, bordered on the left by the main tool bar, and on the right by the main command panel.

Depending on which version of XSI you are using, the default viewport layout presented to you when you start the application will consist of either a grid of four viewports displaying four different views called Top, Front, Right and Camera (in counterclockwise order, respectively) or a single, perspective view called User (when using the XSI Mod Tool in Mod Tool mode). The Top, Front, and Right views are orthogonal views. The Camera and User views are perspective views. These viewports are identified by a lettered button in the upper left corner of the viewport's menu bar.

XSI supports a number of views in addition to these two- and three-dimensional views, and any viewport may be used to display any view. In addition, any viewport may be maximized to fill the entire work area, merged horizontally or vertically with the viewport next to it, or stretched to an arbitrary size. This flexibility allows the user to create a convenient workflow that is conducive to any project.

The steps required to carry out basic viewport management tasks are explained in the following sections.

Maximizing and restoring viewports

A viewport can be expanded to fill the entire work area, or maximized, by clicking on the resize button with the LMB. The resize button is located at the far right of the viewport's toolbar.

To return a maximized viewport to its previous size, click the resize button with the LMB a second time.

Resize menu

By right-clicking on the resize button of any viewport, you can access the resize menu.

This menu allows you to maximize the viewport, restore it to its previous size, expand it horizontally or vertically, or reset the size of viewports that have been manually resized.

Expanding viewports horizontally

To expand a viewport horizontally, click on the resize button with the MMB or click on the resize button with the RMB and select Horizontal from the menu. To return a horizontally expanded viewport to its previous size, click the resize button with the MMB a second time, or select Restore from the resize menu.

Expanding viewports vertically

To expand a viewport vertically, click on the resize button with the RMB and select Vertical from the menu. To return a vertically expanded viewport to its previous size, click the resize button with the MMB, or select Restore from the resize menu.

Manually resizing viewports

To change the vertical or horizontal size of a viewport

1. Place the mouse cursor over the border dividing two viewports. (The vertical or horizontal splitter bar.) The cursor should change to a black, two-headed arrow pointing either left and right, or up and down, depending on the border selected.
2. Press and hold the LMB and drag the splitter bar to the desired position. A light grey guide bar will appear previewing the new location.
3. Release the button.

To reposition a border to the center of the screen

1. Place the mouse cursor over the splitter bar and press the MMB.

To change both the vertical size and the horizontal size of a viewport at the same time

1. Place the mouse cursor over the point where the vertical and horizontal splitter bars intersect (ie. in the center of the work area where all four viewports meet in default mode). The mouse cursor will change to a black, four-headed arrow.
2. Press and hold the LMB and drag the splitter bars to the desired location. Two light grey guide bars will appear to show you a preview of the new layout.
3. Release the button.

To reposition both borders to the center of the screen at the same time

1. Place the mouse cursor over the intersection of the vertical and horizontal splitter bars and press the MMB.

Restoring viewports using the resize menu

To restore an expanded viewport

1. Open the resize menu by right-clicking on the resize button and select Restore.

To resize a viewport that has been manually resized

1. Open the resize menu by right-clicking on the resize button and select Reset Size.

To restore or resize a viewport

1. Open the resize menu by right-clicking on the resize button and select Reset All. If the viewport was both expanded (either vertically, horizontally, or maximized) and resized manually, the first click will undo the expansion but not the resizing. To reset the size, select Reset All from the resize menu a second time.

Note that it is not possible to change the size of one viewport without changing the size of the others (ie. they cannot overlap except in the case of a maximized viewport).