MotionManager Design Tree

The MotionManager design tree includes:
  • Orientation and Camera Views settings
  • The Lights, Cameras, and Scene folder
  • The component entities that appear in the SOLIDWORKS FeatureManager design tree
  • Any simulation elements such as motors, forces, or springs that you add

Orientation and Camera Views

You can rotate, zoom, or pan the entire model during an animation using the tools available from shortcut menus for Orientation and Camera Views . You can also use Orientation and Camera Views to set the view through a camera that you add to the model. Right-click Orientation and Camera Views to toggle these options:
  • Disable Playback of View Keys. Select to prevent the model view from changing during playback or while you are editing the animation. The icon changes as you toggle this option as follows:
    • Playback of view keys is enabled.
    • Playback of view keys is disabled.
  • Disable View Key Creation. Select to lock the animation you specify with Orientation and Camera Views . Changes you make to the model using rotate, zoom, or pan are not saved as key frames to the animation.

Examples with Disable Playback of View Keys

You can change model orientation during playback. If you do not disable playback of view keys, the model rotates, zooms, or pans as defined by any view keys you create.
  • Disable Playback of View Keys is cleared. When you move the model at a view key using Zoom or Rotate during playback, the model jumps back to its original view key position in the animation when you finish moving the model.

    Video: Disable Playback Option is Cleared

  • Disable Playback of View Keys is selected. When you move the model using Zoom or Rotate, the animation continues from the final view key position in the animation when you finish moving the model.

    Video: Disable Playback Option is Selected

Examples with Disable View Key Creation

When you define component motion in key frames, you can rotate or zoom the model to access the component. To move only that component, lock the view (select Disable View Key Creation) so the rotate, zoom, or pan movements to the model are not saved as a key frame to the animation.
  • Disable View Key Creation is cleared. When the timeline is on a view key, if you re-orient the model, those changes are captured in that view key in the animation.

    In this example, the original animation is a single rotation. You rotate and zoom the model while on a view key, and the orientation changes are captured in the animation.

    Video: Disable View Key Creation Option is Cleared

  • Disable View Key Creation is selected. When the timeline is on a view key, changes to the model orientation do not affect the view key. The original animation at that view key is unchanged.

    In this example, you rotate and zoom the model, but the orientation changes are not captured in the animation.

    When you rotate and zoom, the pointer icon appears as a visual cue that the orientation changes are not being made to the animation.

    Video: Disable View Key Creation Option is Selected

Lights, Cameras, and Scene

Lights, Cameras, and Scene lists and controls lights and cameras you add to the animation. Right-click this folder and select these options:
  • Show Lights toggles the visibility of all lights in the graphics area.
  • Show Cameras toggles the visibility of all cameras in the graphics area.
  • Add Camera
  • Add Directional Light
  • Add Spot Light
  • Add Point Light
When you right-click a light you can select:
  • On or Off toggles the lights on or off.
  • Properties sets the light properties in the Light PropertyManager.
  • Show Lights toggles the visibility of all lights in the graphics area.
When you right-click a camera you can select:
  • Properties sets the camera properties in the Camera PropertyManager.
  • Camera View displays the model using the selected camera. You can have multiple cameras in the animation.
  • Show Cameras toggles the visibility of all cameras in the graphics area.

Component Entities

Use the component entities listed in the MotionManager design tree to:
  • Expand to view animation component attributes such as:
    • Move . Indicates that you can move the component.
    • Explode . Indicates that the component is repositioned in the graphics area.
    • Appearance display_pane_appearance.gif. Indicates that the appearance of the component is assigned.
  • Access animation component display options. Right-click the component to select visual attributes, including the following:
    • Hide
    • Change Transparency
    • Isolate
    • Component Display, to select a SOLIDWORKS view mode, such as Wireframe or Shaded with Edges Tool_Shaded_With_Edges_View.png.
    • Appearance to change visual characteristics, such as color.
To select a component, you can use the SOLIDWORKS FeatureManager design tree, the MotionManager design tree, or the graphics area.