Tree Window navigation

The Tree Window has multiple controls and navigation modes to help you move around efficiently.

Navigate using Standard, Trackball, or Traveler mode or use the universal zoom and focus controls that work in any mode. You can also navigate using alternative control schemes.

For camera controls and other keyboard shortcuts, see Hotkeys.

There are three modes of navigation: Standard, Trackball, and Traveler. To switch between modes, right-click in the Tree Window and select Window > Navigation.

Standard mode (Default)

Standard mode lets you manipulate the scene like it’s surrounded by an imaginary trackball whose up vector is always aligned with the global z-axis. This navigation mode uses a pivot point to control where the camera’s looking and to define the point of rotation.

Action	Three-button mouse	Two-button mouse	One-button mouse or touchpad
Pan	Middle-click and drag in any direction.	Hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and click and drag in any direction.	Hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and click and drag in any direction.
Rotate	Click and drag left and right or up and down.	Click and drag left and right or up and down.	Click and drag left and right or up and down.
Zoom	Rotate the mouse wheel or hold the left and middle buttons and drag up or down. To zoom and push the pivot point: Hold Shift and the left and middle buttons and drag up or down.	Hold Alt+Shift (macOS: hold Option+Shift) and click and drag up or down.	Swipe up or down or hold Alt+Shift (macOS: hold Option+Shift) and click and drag up or down.

Trackball mode

Trackball mode lets you manipulate the scene as though it were surrounded by an imaginary trackball, without an up vector restriction. This navigation mode uses a pivot point to control where the camera’s looking and to define the point of rotation.

Action	Three-button mouse	Two-button mouse	One-button mouse or touchpad
Pan	Middle-click and drag in any direction.	Hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and click and drag in any direction.	Hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and click and drag in any direction.
Rotate	Click and drag left and right or up and down.	Click and drag left and right or up and down.	Click and drag left and right or up and down.
Zoom	Rotate the mouse wheel or hold the left and middle buttons and drag up or down. To zoom and push the pivot point: Hold Shift and the left and middle buttons and drag up or down.	Hold Alt+Shift (macOS: hold Option+Shift) and click and drag up or down.	Swipe up or down or hold Alt+Shift (macOS: hold Option+Shift) and click and drag up or down.

Traveler mode

Traveler mode lets you navigate a scene as though you’re a participant in it. Unlike the other modes, there is no pivot point. Instead, mouse motions are mapped to actions that move an imaginary traveler through the scene.

Action	Three-button mouse	Two-button mouse	One-button mouse or touchpad
Walk	To keep a static viewpoint along the xy-axis, click and drag. Drag slower or faster to adjust the walking speed. To move to where the traveler is looking, hold Shift and click and drag.	To keep a static viewpoint along the xy-axis, click and drag. Drag slower or faster to adjust the walking speed. To move to where the traveler is looking, hold Shift and click and drag.	To keep a static viewpoint along the xy-axis, click and drag. Drag slower or faster to adjust the walking speed. To move to where the traveler is looking, hold Shift and click and drag.
Strafe (step sideways without changing the direction the viewer is looking)	Middle-click and drag left or right.	Hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and click and drag left or right.	Hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and click and drag left or right.
Change the height of the traveler	Middle-click and drag up or down.	Hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and click and drag up or down.	Hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and click and drag up or down.
Look up and down	Hold the left and middle buttons and drag up or down.	Hold Alt+Shift (macOS: hold Option+Shift) and click and drag up or down.	Hold Alt+Shift (macOS: hold Option+Shift) and click and drag up or down.

Alternative control schemes

To use a control scheme from a different application, go to Edit > Preferences > Tree Window (macOS: SpeedTree Modeler > Preferences > Tree Window).

Autodesk® Maya®

This option uses Maya-style controls.

Action	Three-button mouse
Pan	Hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and middle-click and drag in any direction.
Rotate	Hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and click and drag left or right or up and down.
Zoom	Rotate the mouse wheel up or down or hold the left and middle buttons and drag the mouse up or down. You can also hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and right-click and drag.

Autodesk 3ds Max®

This option uses 3ds Max-style controls.

Action	Three-button mouse
Pan	Middle-click and drag in any direction.
Rotate	Hold Alt (macOS: hold Option) and middle-click and drag left or right.
Zoom	Rotate the mouse wheel or hold Alt+Ctrl (macOS: Option+Cmd) and middle-click and drag.

Universal zoom and focus controls

These controls work in every navigation mode.

Action	Description
Zoom in	Select an object then click the Zoom button in the toolbar or press Z.
Zoom out and center the model in the Tree Window	With nothing selected, double-click or press Z.
Center an object in the tree window and make it the pivot point	Double-click the object.