topic Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point in Revit Architecture Forum

3D Orbit and Pivot point

jsanders — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 08:58:08 GMT

On revit, when you hold scroll wheel and shift to orbit the model, it always goes crazy and out of view unless you select an item, press escape, then orbit around the model.

On Navisworks for example, the software is clever because it puts an automatic pivot point so you don't have to waste time clicking on an object, pressing escape, then orbiting around the model.

Anyone know how to activate a "automatic Pivot point" or "standard 3D CAD software mode" ?

Thanks

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

constantin.stroescu — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 09:13:53 GMT

from Navigation Bar > Full Navigation Wheel - choose Center to place the Orbit Center Point...

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

jsanders — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 09:18:32 GMT

Hello @constantin.stroescu thanks for the reply.

I see what you are trying to do, but I was more looking for a setting to activate in the options menu. Your solution still requires as much clicks as what I'm currently doing (clicking then pressing escape).

Ideally Revit needs to "calculate" an automatic pivot point so when you are handling huge files, the model doesn't disappear. This happens all the time, it's frustrating.

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

constantin.stroescu — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 10:01:15 GMT

As I know , Revit calculates the Original Center for Orbit at the Geometric Center of the paralelipipedic envelope of the whole model.

Right click on Center ( Navigation Wheel) > Restore Original Center - the Center will be placed in the geometric center of the envelope.\
If you make a Group from your model items you will be able to vizualize this

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

loboarch — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 11:48:39 GMT

There is no way to "activate" an automatic pivot point other than selecting an element in the view BEFORE orbiting, but from your post is sounds like you already know this.

You just have to get in the habit of selecting something before you orbit when zoomed in closer than the extents of the model.

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

constantin.stroescu — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 12:17:02 GMT

hi Jeff,

You are right about the Pivot Point placed on selected objects.

What I have shown in my post is that if nothing selected ( by default) the origin of the Pivot Point ( Original Center ) is placed in the geometric center of the envelope of the model objects . It's true that this Center does not update automatically and it has to be forced by Restore Original Center comand

Constantin

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

jsanders — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 12:22:58 GMT

Unfortunately, I was hopping someone could have said that I was wrong and that something did exist in the options menu. Alas. Maybe we can hope that something good will come in revit 2017 ?

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

jsanders — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:07:32 GMT

Here is for example a problem. Even with puting the pivot point on "center" it doesn't work.

I simply want to have the pivot point of the orbit to be where my mouse is, not in the center of this piece of land I'm working on. It's ever so frustrating. I hope you understand what you mean

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

chrisplyler — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 18:09:14 GMT

I completely understand your desire.

My method is just to scroll out, orbit, and then scroll back in.

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

jsanders — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 07:34:20 GMT

I hope that someone at Autodesk sees this so something can be done in future versions.

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

fruity101079 — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 07:10:59 GMT

5 years later and the problem is still not fixed...

It's not complicated to use the center of the screen for pivot. Like every other softwares do. Every video games do.

It's common sense for f*** sake...

Just give us the option to activate it if you want to keep your stupid way of doing, you don't even understand how it's frustrating to use it because you don't use your own software.

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

jsanders — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 08:24:52 GMT

I've noticed that Autodesk often take many years to update the user experience... We just have to wait and hope they enhance Revit.

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

hampus.wiknerWNEXK — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 04:49:53 GMT

I've recently transferred from Autocad Architecture to Revit. Imagine my surprise when my habit of navigating with the spacemouse no longer is possible in an efficient manner.... Two months in and my scrollfinger's starting to give up.

This doesn't feel like it should be a Customer driven enhancement, rather something Autodesk should do and promote there Revit users to benefit from. A healthy and efficient user is a good customer.

Please fix this Autodesk!

Regards,

Hampus

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

RobDraw — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 10:58:10 GMT

I don't see where you posted about how to make you mouse work in Revit. That step usually comes before giving up and berating Autodesk. I really don't think your troubles are related to your mouse at all.

Good luck.

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

norman2KMXQ — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 16:04:38 GMT

Even the selection pivot point rotation fails when editing 3d points. The funny (not ha ha funny, more weird or odd) thing about this is that I seem to remember an older version of Revit did center around the selection when editing 3d points. I couldn't tell you which version this was since it was many, many years ago.

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

fruity101079 — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:17:24 GMT

Another exemple :

When you BX something, it's because you want to work on a specific thing.

But revit will continue pivoting around the last selected object ... really not logical.

It's been years now using revit, and I still can't get in the habit because it's so unnatural...

ps: same thing of revit classical, or mep.

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

christine_lungay — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 07:53:17 GMT

Hi. I'm new to Revit, but I have 10 yrs of experience with other CAD softwares. I'm used to other CAD softwares being able to use the center of the screen for pivot.

Any news on this issue? Has it been resolved by Autodesk? I'm using Revit 2025 now.

Thanks

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

mhiserZFHXS — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:59:03 GMT

There's nothing to "resolve." This is just how Revit works. Honestly, I prefer the precision of picking the object I'm orbiting around. Its a different software, so it'll just take some getting used to.

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

hampus.wiknerWNEXK — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:05:47 GMT

This issue is "in progress" in the Revit roadmap at the moment.

https://www.autodesk.com/blogs/aec/roadmap/revit-architecture-roadmap/

Re: 3D Orbit and Pivot point

mhiserZFHXS — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:42:08 GMT

It is? I'm not sure if I'm just looking over it or what, but I don't see it.