Using Real-Time Follow for Live View

Using Real-Time Follow for Live View

CAD Collaboration

Using Real-Time Follow for Live View

This feature helps teams stay aligned during discussions, walkthroughs, and collaborative work—without screen sharing or external tools.
Real-Time Follow allows multiple users to share the same live view state in CAD ROOMS Viewer. When enabled, one user’s camera and inspection context are synchronized in real time, ensuring everyone is looking at the same model, in the same state, at the same time.

When to Use Real-Time Follow

Use Real-Time Follow when you need to:
  • Ensure multiple users are viewing the same area of a model
  • Guide others through complex geometry or assemblies
  • Align context during discussions or decision-making
  • Collaborate in real time without screen sharing
Real-Time Follow is suitable for both Parts and Assemblies.

How Real-Time Follow Works

Real-Time Follow is a live view synchronization feature:
  • One user acts as the view leader
  • Other users can follow the leader’s camera
  • Camera movements are synchronized in real time
As the leader rotates, pans, or zooms the model, all followers see the same view instantly.

Start Following a Live View

  1. Make sure all participants have opened the same Part or Assembly in CAD ROOMS Viewer
  1. Select a user icon and click Follow
      • The viewer will indicate which user you are currently following
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Once enabled, your view will automatically synchronize with the selected user.
When follow mode is active, visual indicators such as a “Following [User]” label, a highlighted viewer frame, or an Exit option confirm that your view is synchronized.

What Is Synchronized During Real-Time Follow

Real-Time Follow synchronizes the view and inspection state, not just camera movement.
When you follow another user, your viewer updates in real time to reflect the leader’s current inspection context. This may include:

Camera and View Controls

  • Camera rotation, pan, and zoom
  • Reset Camera actions

Viewer Tools and Inspection Modes

  • Assembly Explorer interactions
  • Geometry Explorer highlighting and visibility
  • Section View, including active section planes and adjustments
  • Assembly Explode
  • Measurements displayed in the viewer

Visual Representation

  • Visual styles (e.g. shaded, transparent, wireframe)
  • Visibility changes applied during inspection
As the leader switches tools or adjusts the view, followers see the same view state immediately.
Real-Time Follow synchronizes view and inspection state only. It does not synchronize editing actions or modify model data.

Leaving and Rejoining Follow Mode

You can exit follow mode at any time by clicking Exit in the follow status bar or by manually moving the camera.
Once exited, your view is no longer synchronized.
In some cases, follow mode may be exited unintentionally—for example, when interacting with the camera.
If this happens, simply:
  1. Click the user icon again
  1. Select Follow
There is no need to reload the model or restart the session.

Switching the View Leader

Real-Time Follow does not require a fixed leader:
  • Any participant can follow another user at any time
  • Leadership can shift naturally during a session
  • No session restart is required
This makes it easy to alternate between explaining, inspecting, and reviewing.

Practical Use Cases

Real-Time Follow is commonly used to:
  • Walk teammates through a part or assembly in real time
  • Align views while using inspection tools together
  • Guide non-CAD users through complex geometry
  • Support onboarding and collaborative analysis
  • Replace screen sharing during 3D walkthroughs

Best Practices

  • Agree on a view leader before starting a walkthrough
  • Move the camera slowly and deliberately when others are following
  • Use inspection tools one at a time to avoid confusion
  • Exit follow mode if you need to inspect details independently
 
After using Real-Time Follow, you should be able to keep all participants aligned on the same view and inspection context, reduce miscommunication, and collaborate more effectively in a shared 3D environment—directly in the browser.

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