Model Hierarchy

The shape tree of a generated model can be interactively explored. To open the Model Hierarchy Explorer, select Window > Model Hierarchy from the menu.

Inspect model

To generate a model, select it and click the Inspect Model tool on the toolbar of the Model Hierarchy:

A generated model switched to the edit model; the hierarchy appears in the Model Hierarchy Explorer.

The model hierarchy (or shape tree) of a model can now be expanded and traversed by clicking nodes or using the context menu (right-click) on a tree node:

The right-click menu expands and collapses model hierarchy nodes.

The shape tree of a specific building is defined by the associated rule file and the initial shape. Double-click a node or choose Jump to rule in the context menu to jump to the respective rule in the rule file.

Part of a CGA rule file and the hierarchy of the generated model are shown.

The pictures above show snippets from the Candler rule file. The rule file and the model hierarchy structures match (for example, Footprint → Solid → FrontFacade/RearFacade/SideFacade/Roof).

Each node of the model hierarchy can be expanded and collapsed using the right-click menu. Moreover, each shape node can be selected or deselected with a left-click (use the Ctrl modifier to select more than one node). A number of special rendering modes are available to visualize the attributes of the selected shapes. It is also possible to directly click into the model in the 3D Viewport:

Model selected in Viewport and shown in Model Hierarchy.

Toolbar

The following is a list of options in the Model Hierarchy:

Inspect model	Activate inspect model mode.
Transparent model	Set the drawing mode of the selected model to transparent.
Translucent model	Set the drawing mode of the selected model to translucent.
Opaque model	Set the drawing mode of the selected model to opaque.
Show scope	The selected shape nodes' scopes are drawn (x-axis red, y-axis green, z-axis blue, other scope edges orange).
Show pivot	The selected shape nodes' pivots are drawn (x-axis red, y-axis green, z-axis blue).
Show geometry	The selected shape nodes' geometry is drawn.
Show trim planes	The selected shape nodes' trim planes are drawn.
Show origin of model	The model's origin is drawn (x-axis red, y-axis green, z-axis blue).
Frame selection	The selected nodes in the model hierarchy view are framed.
Zoom in	Zoom in to the shape tree structure in the model hierarchy view.
Zoom out	Zoom out of the shape tree structure in the model hierarchy view.

The size and line width of scopes, pivots, and trim planes can be set in Edit > Preferences > General > Procedural Runtime > Display Options.