Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ covers most of the questions that come up during the installation and use of ArcView 3D Analyst. If you cannot find the answer you are looking for here, visit the online discussion forum.

Show/Hide All Answers

General

Where can I find more sample scripts beyond those provided in the online help?

You can download more scripts from the ArcScripts page. To list scripts specifically for ArcView 3D Analyst, select ArcView 3D Analyst from Search by Category, list, then click the Go button.

What is a 3D shape and how does it relate to other shape types?

A ShapeZ is usually referred to as a 3D shape because it contains extra built-in geometry of Z (height) in addition to X and Y. ShapeZ is a subclass of ShapeM (shape with measures), which is a subclass of a regular 2D shape. ShapeZ can also be used in core ArcView 3.1 without the 3D Analyst extension.

Customization

How can I add 3D text with various fonts in my 3D scene?

The Scene Text sample extension, available for download from the ArcScripts page, provides an example for adding 3D text.

How can I add X,Y, and Z axes in my 3D scene?

A sample extension called 3D Scene Axes, which adds X,Y, and Z axes, is available for download from the ArcScripts page.

How can I make 3D flyby animations?

3D flyby animations are easy to make with 3D Analyst.  The Flyby Animation Builder sample extension is available for download from the ArcScripts page.

What can I do with the 3D Scene viewer while it is in rotation mode?

Operations are limited while the 3D viewer is in rotation mode. However, you can move the window and navigate in the viewer.

Can I see 2D graphics in the 3D Scene viewer?

No. The 3D Scene viewer can only display 3D graphics. You may, however, turn the 2D graphics into a shape feature theme and display it in the 3D viewer.

How can I convert a 2D shape into a 3D shape and vice versa?

Converting a 2D shape into a 3D shape can be done from the menu selection. In the menu click Theme | Convert to 3D Shapefile.

Converting a 3D shape into a 2D shape can be done using a script in ArcView 3.x (note: ArcView 3.0a and ArcView 3.0b do not support ShapeM). A sample script is available from the online help under content: sample scripts and extensions | sample scripts | convert 3D feature theme to 2D.

How do I work around a blank viewer after I do a "find" under 3D Scene viewer menu on a PC?

Click the Zoom to Selected button on the viewer and the selected feature will be centered and highlighted.

How can I make MultiPatch or PolygonZ based graphics shaded in a 3D Scene viewer?

First, turn on shading on a theme in the scene. Second, add the MultiPatch/PolygonZ graphics. Nonshaded themes (such as lines) and graphics may be loaded afterward.

Can I change symbol types for features in a 3D Scene viewer?

For point and line features, color and size can be changed. For polygons, color can be changed. One method of displaying complex symbols is to display the symbols in a view and then add the view as an image to a 3D Scene.

Support

Can the 3D Scene viewer float above and go beyond the ArcView application window?

Yes. Unlike a regular ArcView document such as a view, a 3D Scene viewer is an OpenGL window imbedded into an ArcView dialog box. Not only can the 3D Scene viewer float outside an ArcView application window, but multiple 3D Scene viewers showing different perspectives can be open at the same time.

Why does my image in the 3D Scene viewer look more fuzzy than in a view?

Fuzziness is related to a platform dependent maximum texture size limit in OpenGL. You may increase the image resolution up to a point by using the sample script contained in the online help under Content | Extensions | 3D Analyst | Sample scripts and extensions | Sample scripts. The script's title is "Adjust image and grid resolution in a scene," and the script name is "3drasres.ave."

You may be able to increase the image resolution by subdividing the image into smaller tiles before loading them in the 3D Scene viewer.

Why doesn't the color in my 3D viewer look the same as in my 2D view?

A view document uses a color palette while a 3D scene document uses true RGB color.

Why does a 3D CAD theme display as a 2D theme in a 3D viewer?

ArcView 3.0a and 3.0b do not support 3D CAD files as 3D objects. Therefore, 3D CAD files are treated as 2D objects. ArcView 3.1 (with 3D Analyst and CAD Reader extensions) supports direct 3D visualization of 3D CAD data.

Why can't I see 3D features in my 3D Scene viewer sometimes?

Sometimes the height (Z) units are significantly different than the underlying X,Y coordinates, and the 3D Scene viewer cannot show the whole feature correctly. The vertical exaggeration factor can be adjusted using the calculate button in the 3D Scene property dialog box, or it can be manually adjusted.

Why do TIN features disappear when I change the Z factor?

The TIN legend does not get updated automatically after the Z factor is changed. To redefine the TIN legend, use the legend editor to change feature category ranges. The TIN features should reappear in the viewer.

Why can't I open more than 16 TINs at the same time?

The file management system allows a maximum of 128 channels to be opened simultaneously. Since a TIN may keep 8–12 files open, only 10–16 different TINs can be opened at the same time.

Why do I get trace-back errors if I try to load 3D Analyst without a keycode on a UNIX machine?

This is a known problem in ArcView 3.0b but has been fixed in ArcView 3.1.

Why do I get "data still in use" error when I try to overwrite the old data after it has been deleted from the project?

After you copy and paste data between ArcView documents, the data still exists in the clipboard buffer. Try copying other data you don't want to overwrite using the same copy and paste procedure to clear the old data from the clipboard. You can also clear the clipboard buffer by issuing an Avenue request.

Why does the JPEG (JFIF) Image Support extension load when I load the 3D Analyst extension?

3D Analyst relies on some JPEG Image Support functions, so it is automatically loaded when 3D Analyst is loaded. JPEG Image Support is unloaded when you unload 3D Analyst.

Why don't saved images from the viewer look exactly the same as in the viewer display?

Viewer snapshot and viewer display treat graphics differently. Saved images from a viewer do not go through the graphics card, while features displayed in a 3D viewer do use a graphics card in most cases.

How come the Esc key doesn't stop the rotating in a scene viewer?

In order for the Esc key to work, the cursor needs to be in the active viewer display window.

OpenGL

Where can I find OpenGL libraries?

OpenGL libraries are included as part of the operating systems on many platforms. If not, their run-time versions may be provided at the Web sites of each platform or operating system vendor.

What are MCD and ICD OpenGL drivers?

There are two kinds of OpenGL drivers supplied with the graphics card:

1. Mini Client Driver (MCD)—Microsoft implements lighting and transformation and leaves the rasterization implementation to the graphics hardware vendor.

2. Installable Client Driver (ICD)—Lighting, transformation, and rasterization are implemented by the graphics hardware vendor.

Should I use an OpenGL Graphics card with MCD or ICD to accelerate 3D display?

OpenGL graphics cards with ICD offer significant 3D display performance compared to cards with MCD. Therefore, cards with ICD are recommended for 3D Analyst.

Which versions of OpenGL should I use?

3D Analyst runs on OpenGL version 1.0 or later.

Where can I get more information about OpenGL 3D accelerator cards?

Please refer to the 3D Accelerator Graphics Card Page.