Clip Volume

Use it!

Used to limit the displayed volume for a view to the region within a clipping element. This is useful for working within a limited volume of a model without being hindered by geometry outside the region of interest. When a clip volume is applied to a view, only elements that are located within the clip volume will display, or can be snapped to, in that view. Each view may have a different clip volume applied.

Operations, such as view rotation, fence processing, hidden line removal, and rendering, honor the clip volumes. They ignore any elements that are not displayed within the defined volume for the view.

Clipping elements may consist of any solid (other than feature solids) or closed extrusion, cylinders, or closed planar elements (shapes, circles, ellipses, complex shapes, grouped holes). Where a planar element is chosen, or you use the clipping elements by points options, the clipping volume is generated by sweeping the planar element through the entire model. Planar elements may be selected in any view, because the sweep direction is orthogonal to the plane of the element. Similarly, clip elements that you define by points may be drawn in any view (AccuDraw can be used to set the correct orientation of the clip element).

If you later move, or modify a clipping element, then the clip volume is moved or modified also. If you delete a clipping element, then the clipping is removed also. Clipping elements can be manipulated/modified with the standard MicroStation tools.

Once a clip volume has been applied to a view, you can switch the clipping on and off via the Clip Volume check box in the View Attributes dialog box (Settings > View Attributes). Similarly, you can toggle the display of the clip element via the Show or Hide Clip Volume Element icon in the tool settings.

Tool Setting	Effect
Display Clip Element	If on, the clip element remains displayed after creating the clip volume for the view. Display of this element can be toggled on/off later, with the Show or Hide Clip Volume Element icon.
Close Element button	(Apply Clip By Polygon only) Closes the polygon clipping element.
Apply Clip Volume By Element icon	Applies a clip volume from an existing element.
Apply Clip Volume By 2 Points icon	Lets you apply a clip volume by interactively defining a rectangular clipping element with two data points. The clipping volume is created by sweeping the defined clipping element through the entire model.
Apply Clip Volume By Polygon icon	Lets you apply a clip volume by interactively defining vertexes of a polygon with data points. The polygon can be closed by entering a data point at the start point, or by clicking the Close Element button. The clipping volume is created by sweeping the defined clipping element through the entire model.
Apply Clip Volume By Element Range	Applies a clip volume that encloses the range of a selected element or group of elements. If a selection set is active, the clip element will enclose the entire group of elements.
Show or Hide Clip Volume Element	Toggles the display of a view's clip volume element. Typically, the clip element would not be displayed in a view, but needs to be if you want to modify or move the element, or merely to check its location.
Clear Clip Volume	Removes the current clip volume from a view. If the clip element was generated by the Apply Clip Volume tools, then the clip element is deleted. If the clip element was created from an existing element, then it is disassociated from the view, but not deleted.

To apply a clip volume by element

1. Place an element to be used as the clipping element.


2. Select the Clip Volume view control.


3. In the tool settings, click the Apply Clip Volume By Element icon.


4. Identify the clipping element.


5. Accept the clipping element in the view to which you want clipping applied.

   Before applying a clip volume, the view is crowded, making the stairwell hard to discern.

   After applying a clip volume, the stairwell is clearly seen.

To apply a clip volume by 2 points

1. Select the Clip Volume view control.


2. In the tool settings, click the Apply Clip Volume By 2 Points icon.


3. Enter 2 data points to define diagonally opposite corners of a rectangular clip element.
   If only one view is open, then the clip volume is applied.


4. If more than one view is open, enter a data point in the view to which clipping is required.

To apply a clip volume by polygon

1. Select the Clip Volume view control.


2. In the tool settings, click the Apply Clip Volume By Polygon icon.


3. Enter data points to define vertices of the polygon.


4. When all vertices are defined, click the Close Element button to close the polygon.
   If only one view is open, then the clip volume is applied.


5. If more than one view is open, enter a data point in the view to which clipping is required.

To apply a clip volume by element range

1. Select the Clip Volume view control.


2. In the tool settings, click the Apply Clip Volume By Element Range icon.


3. Identify the element to be used for the clip volume.


4. Accept in the view to which you want clipping applied.

To apply a clip volume by element range for a group of elements

1. Use the Element Selection tool to select the elements about which clipping is required.


2. Select the Clip Volume view control.


3. In the tool settings, click the Apply Clip Volume By Element Range icon.


4. Accept in the view to which you want clipping applied.
   A single clipping volume is set to enclose the selected elements.

To apply a clip volume by element range for a cell

1. Select the Clip Volume view control.


2. In the tool settings, click the Apply Clip Volume By Element Range icon.


3. Identify the cell.


4. Accept the cell in the view to which you want clipping applied.
   A single clipping volume is set to enclose the elements in the cell.

To toggle the display of the clipping element

1. Select the Clip Volume view control.


2. In the tool settings, click the Show or Hide Clip Volume Element icon.


3. Enter a data point in the view in which the clip volume was created.

To clear a clip volume

1. Select the Clip Mask view control.


2. In the tool settings, click the Clear Clip Volume icon.


3. Enter a data point in the view in which the clip volume was created.

Key-in: VIEW CLIP [icon]