The functionality is available as a part of the module esa.06 (Productivity toolbox), and the routine is as follows:
a. When sending a picture to the document, directly from the working area or from the picture gallery, the property “3D image in PDF” has to be selected. (image 1)
b. When after the compounding of the document the settings for the export are chosen, it is necessary to select the option “Enable Adobe 3D pictures”. (image 2)
Concerning the form of the pictures there are several possibilities. At first, a 3D picture can give an overview of the complete model, with or without results of for example internal forces or a steel code check. At second, it is possible to zoom in on a specific part, for example a steel connection.
To keep the focus on this part – since in Adobe PDF it is possible to zoom in and out unrestrictedly – it is advisable to use in this case the ‘Clipping box’ in Scia Engineer. By means of this option, which can be found in the ‘Activity’ toolbar or in the menu ‘View’, a zone around the steel connection can be defined, which has as result that in the PDF file only the steel connection and the adjoining members are visible.
To read in these 3D pictures in PDF format is at least version 8.0 of Adobe Acrobat Reader required. By means of this software it is possible to perform a number of simple manipulations on the pictures: rotating, zooming in and out, and even adapting the rendering style.
You can open a Scia Engineer "Results Document" example by clicking this link or on image 3.
