Tip for Week 11/13/06

 
Ever want to simply isolate some selected geometry without having to freeze a bunch of layers or use a saved layer state?  The most simple and easiest way to do this, temporarily, is to use the 3DORBIT command.

Highlight some geometry in your file and then enter 3DO at the command line.  The selected geometry is now visually isolated from the rest of the drawing!  The 3DORBIT track ball is visible and you are now in real-time orbit.  Right-click to use real-time pan or zoom mode.  An escape key or right-clicking and choosing Exit will get you out of 3DORBIT.

A follow up to this would be to use the ZOOM command and pick the Object option, type in P for previous at the select object prompt and zoom to your 3DORBIT selection set for a closer look.