The TC Explorer Palette

Default UI Menu: Tools/Palettes/TurboCAD Explorer

Ribbon UI Menu:

This palette enables you to perform many operations in one place. It serves as a file browser with previews, and displays components and editable parameters for all open drawings.

Drawing Settings

The Drawings branch of the tree enables you to view components of all open drawings. Click the Drawings header to see a list of all open drawings.

For each drawing there are six components you can view, edit and/or share between drawings.

Drawing Defaults

Here you can control default drawing settings – parameters that apply onto to the relevant drawing. For example, you can change the colors of the major and minor grid lines. Nearly all of these parameters can also be set in Options / Drawing Setup.

Print Spaces

Lists all paper spaces in the drawing. (See Paper Space)

If you highlight a Paper Space, you can edit its properties.

Blocks

Displays all blocks defined in the drawing (see Blocks). Highlight a block’s icon or thumbnail to see a preview of the block’s contents.

You can use the palette to insert blocks from one open drawing into another open drawing. For example, the West_Building.tcw file contains two blocks. If you open East_Building.tcw, drag the Desk_Large block’s icon into the drawing. The block will then be listed under East_Building’s blocks. It will also appear in that drawing’s Blocks palette.

Layers

Displays all layers defined in the drawing (see Snap Modes).

You can use the palette to import layers from one open drawing into another open drawing. This imports a layer’s name, color, style, width, etc., but does not import a layer’s objects. For example, the West_Building.tcw file contains four layers. If you open East_Building.tcw, drag the Electrical layer’s icon into the drawing. The layer will then be listed under East_Building’s layers, and will appear in Options / Layers as well.

To change an object’s layer, select the object and then double-click the desired layer’s icon. If you double-click a layer belonging to another drawing, that layer will automatically be imported into the current drawing. The active drawing tool will automatically be placed on the double-clicked layer.

Line Styles

Displays all line styles defined in the drawing (see Line Styles). Highlight a line styles’ icon or thumbnail to view it.

To import a line style from one open drawing into the current drawing, drag and drop or double-click its icon. To change an object’s line style, select the object and then double-click the desired layer’s icon. If you double-click a line style belonging to another drawing, that line style will automatically be imported into the current drawing. You can also make any line style active by double-clicking its icon. All new objects will be created in the current line style. You can also change line styles while creating objects; for example, you can select one corner point of a rectangle, change the line style, and complete the rectangle.

Brush

Displays all brush (hatch) styles defined in the drawing. Highlight a line styles’ icon or thumbnail to see how the line style appears.

To change an object’s brush, select the object and then double-click the desired brush’s icon. You can also make any brush active by double-clicking its icon. All new objects will be created in the current brush. You can also change brushes while creating objects; for example, you can select one corner point of a rectangle, change the brush, and complete the rectangle.

Settings

Lists parameters such as units, fonts, and tables currently defined in the drawing.

On of the more important of the drawing defaults is the $MIRRTEXT under Drawing Defaults. This setting controls. When the mirror tool is used block attributes are not flipped if the drawing variable $MIRRTEXT is set to 0, and are flipped if it is set to 1. $MIRRTEXT is set to 0 by default.

General Settings

All branches of the explorer tree except the last one (Drawings) enable you to set parameters for the program as a whole.

Files

This branch acts just like Windows Explorer. The files that are listed for a highlighted folder depend on what Filters are set. You can list all files, only TurboCAD files, only image files, or you can define your own filter for files of specific extensions.

You can expand a folder by clicking the "+" icon, or by pressing the * on the numeric keypad. If you highlight a TurboCAD file (*.tcw) or an image file, a preview of the file will appear.

Program Defaults

Here you can control default program settings – parameters that are active for all files. For example, you can change the aperture size and toggle Auto Add Constraints on and off. Most of these parameters can also be set in Options / Program Setup.

Symbol Libraries

Enables you to change the path for user-defined symbols. You can also drag symbols as you would from the Library palette.

TC Explorer Toolbar

File filter: Enables you to select which files will be listed for a selected folder of the explorer tree. You can define your own file filters in the Palette Options (last icon).

Back and Forward: Scrolls backward or forward in the explorer tree.

Level Up: Moves up to the higher folder in the explorer tree.

View: Determines how the contents of the folder are displayed: icons, thumbnails, detailed list, etc.

Sort: Arranges the contents of the folder by date, size, etc.

Palette Options: Sets the palette display and file filters.

The Panel tab contains choices for panel appearance, and enables you to select what components of the palette are visible.

The Thumbnails tab enables you to control the size, shadows, and borders of thumbnails.

Image Size and Space are both measured in pixels. Space refers to pixels around the icon plus its name. The Filters tab enables you to add, delete, or edit file filters. Filters control which files appear in a folder’s contents, and are set according to file extensions.