Shortcut: Shift+i

Isolate keeps all selected Part Studio or Assembly entities opaque, while making other entities transparent. Options include visualizing the transparent internal geometry so it can be selected, measured, analyzed, and edited, and expanding the isolated selection based on connectivity or physical proximity.

Isolate is used:

  • To enhance entity visibility in large Part Studios and Assemblies.

  • To visualize and perform tasks on geometry (for example, points, edges, faces, mate connectors) that are occluded by other geometry.

  • As an alternative to the Hide/Show commands, where finding and hiding/showing entities to access relevant model geometry proves difficult or tedious.

The Isolate command is the reverse of the Make transparent command.

Hide or Isolate parts in a Part Studio or instances in an Assembly to improve the visibility of components of interest.

Hide using the eye icon next to parts in a Part Studio or instances in an assembly. Hide multiple parts by selecting them and clicking Hide in the context menu, or Hide other instances if in an assembly and Hide other parts if in a Part Studio. Show all quickly by right-clicking an empty spot in the graphics area and clicking Show all instances if in an assembly and Show all parts if in a Part Studio.

To isolate individual parts or multiple parts at once, select the parts and click Isolate from the context menu. All parts outside of the selection and their corresponding Mate connectors become transparent and are unavailable for selection. Whether in a Part Studio or assembly, isolated parts can Expand by connectivity or by distance. Use the slider to isolate each successive part.

Check Hide transparent parts to hide the non-isolated faded parts completely. Click the X on the dialog to exit and return all parts to their non-isolated state.

Additionally, in assemblies only, right-click on a folder in the instance list and select Hide or Isolate to control the visibility of all instances in the folder.

Isolate is available as a context menu command from the Parts list (in a Part Studio), Instances list (in an Assembly), or from the Part Studio or Assembly graphics area when right-clicking over a model selection.

From a Part Studio or Assembly:

  1. Select the entities you wish to isolate from the Parts or Instances list, or the graphics area. These can be parts/instances, points, edges, faces, mate connectors, folders, or groups.

  2. Right-click over the list or model selection and select Isolate from the context menu. The Isolate dialog opens:

    Isolate dialog in its initial state when opened

  3. Set the Transparency slider (under the Transparency controls):

    • Set to the far left, only the outer edges of the transparent geometry is displayed. Internal geometry of the selection is not displayed (shown above).

    • Set to the far right, the transparent geometry is completely transparent.

    • Set anywhere between the two sides, the internal geometry of the transparent geometry is displayed (shown below). Moving the slider to the right increases transparency, making the transparent geometry less opaque. Moving the slider left decreases transparency, making the transparent geometry more opaque.

    Isolate dialog after translucency adjusted

  4. With Select transparent geometry checked, you can select, measure, analyze, and edit transparent geometry such as parts/instances, points, edges, faces, and mate connectors in the graphics area (shown below). When unchecked, only non-transparent geometry can be selected, measured, analyzed, and edited.

    Isolate - Select transparent geometry

    With Select transparent geometry checked, transparent parts/instances, folders, mate connectors, and groups can also be selected from the Parts or Instances list.

  5. Use the Component controls to select either:

    • Expand: distance - Use the slider to isolate each successive part or instance based on its physical proximity to the selected part(s) or instance(s). Moving the slider right makes more parts/instances non-transparent (opaque).

    • Expand: connectivity (Assembly only) - Use the slider to isolate each successive instance based on its mate connectivity. Moving the slider right makes more instances non-transparent (opaque).

  6. Click the x icon in the dialog to close it and return all the parts to their visible state. After exiting, any selections made while in the Isolate dialog are retained.

In the example below, the top cover instance of a gear and valve assembly is selected, and Isolate is selected from the context menu:

Isolate example

The Expand: distance slider is used to isolate instances successively based on their proximity to the selected cover instance:

Isolate - Expand: distance example

The Expand: connectivity slider is used to isolate instances based on successive mate connections from the cover instance:

Isolate - Expand: connectivity example

  • Use the shortcut key Shift+i to isolate parts or instances under the cursor. This command is cumulative; you can use it on part after part or instance after instance to isolate them all until you exit the Isolate dialog. You can also multi-select parts or instances and then select the Shift+i command.

  • The Select other (`) key (grave accent key, to the left of the “1” key) can also be used to select additional entities cumulatively.

  • To isolate an entire folder or group of parts or instances, right-click on the folder or group in the Parts or Instances list and select Isolate.

  • Isolate is also available when modeling in context. and using Section view.

  • The Select transparent geometry and Transparency slider settings are remembered if you exit the dialog and re-enter. These settings are not remembered between sessions (if you refresh the browser or exit the document tab).

  • If Select transparent geometry is checked, moving the Transparency slider fully left or right automatically disables it (unchecked). Subsequently, moving the slider will automatically enable it again (checked).

  • As an alternative to exiting the Isolate dialog via its x icon, either:

    • Right-click on the model in the graphics area or right-click on the Parts/Instances list and select Exit isolate from the context menu

    • Click the Esc (escape) key

  • On iOS platforms, only Expand: distance is available. Select the part, then use a two-finger tap to open the Context menu. Then select Isolate.