Using MDE

Select one of the following to access information on how to use the MDE.

Start MDE

Select Start, and then click AGI Programs, AGI STK <release number>, Modeler.

When the MDE window appears, select Open in the File menu to choose a model file to view in the window.

Exit MDE

To quit MDE, select Exit from the File menu.

Open a Model File

To open and view a model file in MDE, select Open Model... from the File menu. You can only view one model at a time in MDE; if you open a second model file, the first one is closed.

To save changes you have made to a model file, use the Save Model... or Save Model As... in the File pull-down menu. For presentation and other file integration reasons, you may need to save the model as an image. To save the model as a bitmap (*.bmp), use the Save Frame As... in the pull-down menu.

Edit a Model File

You can open a model in MDE and modify or remove components and primitives using the options available in the Edit menu.

Undo. Reverses the last action taken if the last action was Reduce Selected Primitive, Delete Selected Primitive, Delete Selected Articulation or Reset All to Previous LOD.

Reduce Selected Primitive. Reduces the primitive selected in the MDE window by the amount set in the Reduction window.

Delete Selected Primitive. Removes the primitive selected in the MDE window.

Delete Selected Articulation. This option works in conjunction with the Articulation option. It removes the articulation selected in the Articulation window.

Modify the Color of the Light Source

You can change the color of the light source in the MDE window by selecting the Light Control option in the Edit menu. In the fields, enter the Red, Green, and Blue values for Ambient Light and Diffuse Light (where 000 in all three fields is equal to black and 255 is equal to white). When you finish, click OK.

Change the Perspective in the MDE

You can change the perspective of the view in the MDE window by selecting Perspective... from the Edit menu. To avoid an abrupt transition from viewing an object to moving through an object, clipping thresholds can be set. The Near Plane, Far Plane, and Field of View (FOV) define the view volume. Anything outside of the view volume is not visible. The FOV is the defined limit of peripheral vision. To set the Perspective in the MDE window, enter the desired values and click OK.

FOV, Near, Far. To avoid an abrupt transition from viewing an object to moving through an object, clipping thresholds can be set. The Near Plane, Far Plane and Field of View (FOV) define the view volume. Anything outside of the view volume is not visible. The FOV is the defined limit of peripheral vision.

Change the MDE Background

Sometimes a model may be difficult to see in the MDE window due to the background color. You can change the background color for the MDE window by selecting Background... from the Edit menu. All changes take place immediately.

Red Green Blue. The mix of red, green and blue that should appear as the background color of the MDE window. White = all 255, Black = all 0.

Using the Mouse in the MDE Window

You can refine any view in MDE by clicking and dragging with the mouse inside the MDE window.

To select a primitive or component in the MDE window, press and hold the CONTROL key and use the mouse to select the component in the window.

Three-button mousing options

Mouse button Movement
Left Rotates the model in the MDE window.
Center Zooms in and out.
Right Translates the model along the X, Y, or Z axis.
CONTROL + Left Selects a component in the MDE window.
SHIFT + Left Rotates the light source.

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