tcad 2d interface intro lesson

8/2/2019 TCAD 2D Interface Intro Lesson

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TurboCAD 2D Mac Lessons

_Introductory Lesson: User Interface

Fig 1. TurboCAD 2D User Interface

Introductory Lesson: User Interface

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About this Lesson

For Application: TurboCAD 2D Mac

Scope of Lesson: This Lesson covers the first principals of TurboCAD 2D for Mac. Here youwill learn about the TurboCAD interface, the various menus & palettes and how they areaccessed.

Level: First Use. Users are advised to read the Getting Started section of the User Manual(pp 19-52)

Further Resources: Read also Chapter 17 (Page 139-142)of the User Manual and see otherlessons in this series.

TurboCAD User Forums: For fur th er d iscu ss ion and ass is tance :http://forums.imsisoft.com/forums/index.cfm?CFApp=200

TurboCAD Website:http:www.TurboCAD.com

TurboCAD Community Portal website:www.turbocadcommunity.com

Look for the Tips icon throughout the Lesson for additional help and insights


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Introduction to the TurboCAD Interface

Fig 2. TurboCAD 2D default interface


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Interface Overview A.) Toolbar

The toolbar is the horizontal strip across the top of the screen. This shows (from left to right) theCurrent Tool Icon, Prompts, Data Entry area and X,Y coordinates. See fig 3

Fig 3. Toolbar showing the Selection Tool

TurboCADs default tool is the Selection Tool. This is represented by the solid arrow

It is a good idea while learning TurboCAD to treat this as the Neutral position. Return to the

Selection tool in between using other tools (or if you are lost). Returning to the Selection Tool

will reset all current tools


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Interface Overview B.) Main Tool Palette & Sub Palettes

On the left of the User Interface is the Main Tool Palette (see fig 4). This contains all theDrawing and Editing tools as well as the Navigation and Model to Sheet tools

Fig 4. Main Tool Palette & tear-away Sub-Palettes

If you click one of these tools, the icon will turn blue to show that tool is active. See fig 5

Fig 5. Selected tool turns blue

Fig 6. Corner ar-row indicates available sub-palette

If an icon has an arrow in the lower right corner, a tear-away sub-palette showing further associatedtools is available by clicking and holding. See Fig 6


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Interface Overview C.) Large Tool Icon & Sub Tools

Fig 7. Current tool icon top left and respective tool information

At the top left corner of the screen, the large Current Tool Icon will change to reflect the toolyou have chosen (see fig 7).

Additionally, the contents of the Main Toolbaracross the top of your screen will change to reflectthe name, prompts, help and inputs related to thistool. Fig 8 shows the Three Point Circle and therespective toolbar information.

Fig 8. Three Point Circle tool icon and initial prompt

Some Tools have Sub-tools. For example Polygon. Just as tools can have sub-palettes, if yourcurrent tool has sub-tools, a gray arrow is shown in the lower right corner of the large currenttool icon.

If the sub-tools are not already exposed, click and hold the current tool icon to show them.

Note: the contents of the sub-tools changes according to which is the current tool

Fig 9. Polygon Tool and its tear-away sub-tools palette

The Sub-tools palette is contextual (changes according to which is the curent tool). It

can be moved anywhere on the screen or it can be hidden again by clicking its redclose button


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Interface Overview D.) Tool name & Prompts

Fig 10. Toolbar showing Three Point Circle Tool

Beneath the Tool Name are the Prompts. Prompts inform the user which input or action Turbo-CAD expects next. If multiple inputs are required, the user is prompted to completion. See fig 11for drawing a Three Point Circle

Fig 11. Toolbar Prompt shows the three inputs required to make a Three Point Circle


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Interface Overview E.) Help: Tool-Hints & Dynamic Help


Tool Hints and Dynamic Help are available to assist the user in understanding to use eachtool. Tool Hints may be shown or hidden by clicking the black arrow. See fig 13. TurboCADshows the Tool Hints by default.

Fig 13. Click the black arrow to expose helping Tool Hints

Below the Tool Hints arrow is the Dynamic Help button. It is is represented by ?

Click ?to open the current tool help page in the Browser

Fig 14. Click the ? button to see the current tool help page in the Browser


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Interface Overview F.) Data Entry Area


Data Entry fields are supplied per tool. Use the Data Entry fields to specify the variables asso-ciated with the current tool, eg: location, size

The current entry field is shown in bold. You can use the tab key to switch to the next field

Data Entry fields are repeated in the Geometry Tab of the Object Edit Box. (accessed from theWindow menu)

Fig 16. Toolbar Data Entry fields

Fig 17. Object Edit Box gives access to the same Data Entry fields


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Interface Overview G.) Coordinates


At the upper right corner of the screen, to the right of the toolbar is the Coordinates readout

The Coordinates readout shows the current Absolute Position of the Cursor from the Origin

TurboCAD shows the X value (horizontal distance from the Origin) and the Y value (verticaldistance from the Origin)

Fig 19. Coordinates Readout

Always Save Your Work!

Remember to save your work after every significant operation of period of work. If youwish, use the AutoSave function in the Filing Section of the Preferences. Files can besaved automatically every so many minutes or after so many operations. Auto-Savedfiles are Backed up to the Backup folder in the TurboCAD Application folder


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Interface Overview H.) Object Info

The Object Edit box displays information about the currently selected object(s). It is accessedfrom the Window Menu. The Object Edit box has two tabs, the Geometry tab and the Attrib-

utes tab

The Geometry tab displays editable data fields for modifying the object. See fig 20

The Attributes tab displays an editable name field for the object as well as various pull-downsfor changing the Resolution, Color, Layer and other associated variables. See fig 21

Fig 20. Object Edit Box: Geometry Tab

Fig 21. Object Edit Box: Attributes Tab


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Interface Overview I.) Navigation Tools

Fig 22. Navigation Tools, accessible from the Main Toolbar

The Navigation Sub-palette is available from the toolbar

Dynamic Pan translates (scrolls) the view left, right, up and down.

Pan may also be accessed by pressing the Spacebar Key

Dynamic Zoom allows your drawing to be viewed closer-up or from further away by clickingand dragging right or left

Zoom may also be achieved by using Apple + and Apple - from the keyboard

Press the e key to zoom all. This fits your drawing exactly to screen size

Zoom in / Zoom out. These buttons zoom toward or away from your drawing by a set value.This value may be changed in the Toolbar

Scale is critical for drawing outputs to Illustrator. Be sure to set the Scale to 1.0 beforeexport. When importing drawings from Illustrator, be sure to set the scale value to 1.0and the Illustrator version to 8 in the Save panel


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Interface Overview J.) Mouse Operation

Various operations are available from a standard scroll mouse. See fig 23 below

Fig 23. Operations available from a standard scroll mouse

Left Mouse Button selects objects

Left Mouse Button with Spacebar Pans the view

Scroll Wheel zooms in and out at the cursor

Double Click the Scroll Wheel for Zoom All (all objects can be seen on the screen)

Right Mouse Button shows the contextual Drawing Menu when clicked over a drawing

Right Mouse Button shows the contextual Object Menu when clicked on an object


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Interface Overview K.) Shortcuts

Various preset shortcuts are available in TurboCAD. These are listed in fig 24 below and can beprinted out from the file TurboCAD Reference Card in the TurboCAD Application folder

All user operations can be assigned easily accessible quick access keys via the ShortcutsManager (available through the File Menu)

Fig 24. Factory Shortcuts


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License Notes

All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. CSicannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity ofany trade mark or service mark.

Adobe, Adobe Illustrator are registered trademarks of Adobe

AutoCAD is a registered trademark of AutoDesk

Copyright 2006 IMSIAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form by any means without the prior writtenpermission of IMSI. The information contained in this publication is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, IMSI makes norepresentation or warrantees with respect to the program material described within and specifically disclaims any implied war-ranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, IMSI reserves the right to revise the program materialand make changes therein from time to time without obligation to notify the purchaser of the revisions or changes. In no eventshall IMSI be liable for any incidental, indirect special or consequential damages arising out of the purchasers use of the programmaterial.

Tutorial written by Jol Yates, Industrial Arts (NZ) Ltd

Revision 3.0

20 December 05

www.TurboCAD.com


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tcad 2d interface intro lesson

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