:: How to explore the 3D content of a PDF file ::

Below you will find a simple guide on how to explore 3D scenes in a PDF file.

1. Once you have opened a PDF file you will notice that when you move the mouse pointer over an image that contains a 3D model, a 'Click to Activate' link appears while the mouse pointer is now depicted as a finger pointer (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Activating the 3D content by left clicking on the image

2. Left mouse click on the image to activate the 3D content. When the 3D content is not active, a prerendered 2D bitmap image of the default 3D viewpoint is presented instead.

3. Once the 3D content is activated the image now depicts the actual 3D model while a new menu appears over the top of the 3D content window (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. Top menu of the 3D content

4. BEFORE you attempt to explore the 3D scene, you have to manually select the WALK mode option from the top menu (Fig.3).

Figure 3. Selecting the WALK mode option from the combo box of the top menu

5. Once the WALK mode is activated you can move within the 3D scene by using the mouse. Holding down the left mouse button and moving the mouse will allow you to move in the 3D scene. By holding down the right mouse button and moving the mouse you will be able to look around (camera turn). Please note that the current implementation of 3D PDF does not support collision detection and thus you will be able to walk through walls and ground levels.

Figure 4. Walking mode controls

6. A number of predefined viewpoints can be accessed again from the top menu(Fig. 5)

Figure 5. Selecting one of the predefined viewpoints