SOLIDWORKS Reference Triad for Changing View Orientation [VIDEO]

The SOLIDWORKS Reference Triad in the lower left corner of your graphics window is very useful to determine the orientation of your model, as you rotate the view it moves with the model.  The X Arrow is normal to the Right Plane, the Y Arrow is normal to the Top Plane, and the Z Arrow is normal to the Front Plane.

SOLIDWORKS Reference Triad

NOTE that the triad indicates the standard view that it is currently viewed (if applicable) underneath the triad.  For example the image above is using the standard Isometric View.

The SOLIDWORKS Reference Triad is more useful than just a reference

You can also click on the arrows to quickly snap to Front/Top/Right views by simply clicking on the appropriate arrows.  Once you are on one of these views (for example Front View), you can click on the origin where the arrow would be coming out normal from the screen.  This flips it so you’d then see the Back View.

SOLIDWORKS Reference Triad Arrows can be Selected

View Rotation Keyboard Shortcuts

Not only that, you have additional keyboard shortcuts to rotate about an arrow in 90 degree increments or small increments.  And you can reverse the direction of rotation.

• Shift + select arrow:
  • Rotates 90 degrees about arrow
• Shift + Ctrl + select arrow:
  • Rotates 90 degrees about arrow in reverse direction
• Alt + select arrow:
  • Rotates about arrow in small increments (as defined under Tools > Options > System Options > View)
• Alt + Ctrl + select arrow:
  • Rotates about arrow in small increments in reverse direction

To demonstrate this functionality, here is a video tutorial including using the View Orientation pop-up and the View Selector cube: