The mouse provides feedback to the software regarding a variety of functions. Although the three -button mouse is optional, it is highly recommended. The functions are listed below:

Left Button

1. Click to select objects
2. Click to specify locations and xy coordinates
3. Press space bar and click to dynamically pan the drawing

Right Button (Optional)

1. Click to terminate sequence of points (splines & multi-lines)
2. Click within drawing window for window context sensitive menu
3. Click on entity for entity context sensitive menu

Note: For one button mouse, you can emulate the right button with a Control Left Button click.

Wheel Button (Optional)

1. Scroll forward and backward to zoom in/out at cursor location
2. Double click to zoom extents
3. Press and hold to rotate view orientation

Context Sensitive Menus

Right-clicking (Control-clicking) in the drawing area of the Application window will display the Drawing Context sensitive pop-up menu. This pop-up menu contains commands for zooming, panning, selecting, hiding, and creating construction lines. Right-clicking on an entity within the Application window will display the Entity Context sensitive pop-up menu. This menu contains commands for hiding, changing resolution, color, and layers. Additionally, it will show geometry data relative to the entity selected, such as lengths or diameters.

Show/Hide Face

The Show/Hide Face tool will hide faces within a part enabling access and visibility into the internal representations of complex models.

Highlights of the Show/Hide Face tool:

Hide Face:

Right clicking over a face displays a menu of options including the Hide Face. Selecting Hide face will turn off the display list of that particular face.

Sh****ow Face:

Right clicking over a face displays a menu including the Show Face. Selecting Show Face will turn off the display list of that particular face.

Regenerating a part will reshow hidden faces. Likewise the show/hide status is not preserved on saving a file. This is a temporary status.

Repeat Previous Command

The Repeat Previous Command maintains a list of the last used commands which are accessed by right clicking in the drawing area. Select an item within the list to change the current tool.

2D/3D Tool Palettes

(ViaCAD 2D/3D and ViaCAD Pro Only)

The top of the main tool palette contains an icon that toggles the user interface between 2D and 3D. Clicking on the ViaCAD icon to illuminate 3D will change all tool palettes, dialog boxes, and menus to include an expanded set of 3D functionality. Clicking on the ViaCAD icon to illuminate 2D will likewise change all user interface components to be an exclusive 2D tool set.

You can toggle between 2D and 3D at any time. If you are in the 3D mode and have surfaces or solids, you can still Go to 2D without compromising your 3D data. Switching to 2D will temporarily hide your 3D data and automatically restore it when you decide to switch back to 3D

Note: Few tools depicted in below image are not available in ViaCAD 2D3D v12 and are only available in top Pro version.

2D/3D User Interface Palettes