Choosing the View Navigation Options

New mouse button and modifier key assignments (hotkeys) have been added for navigating the model view (rotate, pan, and zoom functions). Simultaneously, legacy hotkeys for these functions continue to be supported by default. Optionally, you can choose to disable the legacy view navigation shortcuts that were applicable to version 2023 R2 and earlier, as follows:

  1. Access the Options dialog box using one of the following two methods:
    • From the menu bar, click Tools > Options > General Options.
    • From the Desktop ribbon tab, click General options General Options.
  2. In the tree at the left side of the dialog box, select General > User Interface. Then:
    • To use either the legacy or current view navigation buttons and hotkey combinations, select Enable Legacy View Navigation. This option is selected by default.
    • To use only the current view navigation behavior and disable legacy button/hotkey support, ensure that Enable Legacy View Navigation is cleared.
  3. Click OK.

    4. The navigation option change becomes effective immediately (no program restart required).

Current vs. Legacy View Navigation

The following table summarizes changes in mouse-button and hotkey assignments between the current scheme (version 2024 R1 and newer) and the legacy scheme. "Legacy" assignments are applicable to version 2023 R2 or earlier and when the Enable Legacy View Navigation option is selected in newer versions):

Note:

The "Current" assignments are available whether or not the Enable Legacy View Navigation option is selected:

Function

Key / Mouse Button Assignment

Current

Legacy

Pan (all contexts)

Ctrl + MMB + drag

or

Ctrl + arrow keys

Shift + LMB + drag

or

Ctrl + arrow keys

Rotate (3D contexts)

MMB + drag

or

Alt + arrow keys

MMB + drag

or

Alt + LMB + drag

or

Alt + arrow keys

Zoom (all contexts)

Wheel

or

Shift + MMB + drag

or

Ctrl + "+",  Ctrl + "-"

Wheel

or

Alt + Shift + LMB + drag

or

Ctrl + "+",  Ctrl + "-"
  • "LMB" = Left Mouse Button
  • "MMB" = Middle Mouse Button
  • "Wheel" refers to rotation of the mouse wheel.
  • In some 2D contexts, where rotation is not applicable, you can use MMB + drag to pan the view for either scheme.
  • For Alt + arrow keys, rotation is about a vertical or horizontal axis, regardless of the model view orientation.
  • For zooming, if using the "=\+" key, instead of the "+" key on the numeric keypad, do not press Shift.