Converting AEC File Formats - Adobe Acrobat and PDF for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction - page 70

If animations were associated with the 3D model in MicroStation, those animations will be included in the
U3D file and can be played by selecting the Play Animation option. Saved views created in MicroStation
are also included in the U3D file and can be chosen by selecting the Manage Views pull-down. Playing the
animations and changing views can be controlled by linking to the associated java script with the U3D.
These links can be from a bookmark or from the page itself. All that is needed to view and navigate a PDF
with a U3D model is the free Adobe Reader 7.
Figure 6.26 PDF document with an attached U3D file created from MicroStation PDF Composer
Currently Bentley Systems' MicroStation and ProjectWise are the only products publishing U3D
directly into Acrobat. In a short period there will be numerous programs supporting the effort. It will not be
long until your riding lawnmower will come with an Electronic Owner's Manual that shows in 3D how to
replace the belts!
Viewing Layered PDF Files in Acrobat
A layered file displays unique features when opened in Acrobat, as you have seen in both this chapter and
in Chapter 4. When a layered document is opened in Acrobat, a Document Status dialog box opens and
describes the unique features of the file. You will see information about the layers; and if you have included
Object Data capabilities, information about the data is also listed (Figure 6.27).