Graphical User Interface

The graphical user interface (GUI) is the means by which the user interacts with the TurboCAD Mac software. The user interface allows access to commands, tools and instructions by means of toolbars, palettes and dialog boxes.

Preferences

File > Preferences

Preferences are settings which can be activated to suit the user, or the type of drawing required. For example, architectural and engineering drawings may require a different unit of measurement and decimal digit display.

Settings such as background color, snap hit radius, selection methods and units of measurement are all done using the Preferences menu, shown below.

In the example below, the Units page is displayed, allowing the user to create a specific unit of measurement.

Settings which are set or modified in the Preferences menu remain set until they are changed by the user and act as standard drawing settings each time a new drawing is created.

Using the Units Preference to set millimeter units

The Editor

This is the area where the sketch or model is produced and dimensioned at full scale.

The editor is of infinite size, stretching or shrinking to fit the sketch or model when using the Zoom All tool.

The foreground and background color of the editor can be changed using Preferences > Colors, described above.

2D Objects which are drawn in the editor are referred to as sketch objects (or geometry) or curves.

3D Objects which are drawn in the editor are referred to as solids.

Anything detailing the sketch or solid such as dimensioning, leader arrows, hatch patterns etc, is referred to as annotation.

In the illustration below, the editor is shown with the 2D/3D toolbar to the left. The editor contains both sketch objects, annotations and a solid object which has been modeled from the sketch objects.

Image showing the editor and User Interface

Palettes, Toolbars and Menus

The toolbar is seated by default at the left edge of the editor and can be switched between 2D and 3D mode by selecting the 2D or 3D preference from the titlebar, shown below.

The toolbar is accessed from the pull-down menu using Tools > Tools.

2D/3D Toolbar showing 3D menu

The toolbar, above, can float anywhere within the editor or remain seated in the default position.

Menu Hierarchy

Toolbar items which contain a flyout indicator represented by a small triangle and shown by the arrow below, contain sub-commands, which themselves contain options. In the example below, the Trim tool is accessed, with the Extend option selected.

Arrow shows fly-out option of Trim tool allowing selection of Extend option

In the illustration below , the Extend tool options are shown in the options field at the top of the editor.

Similarly, a toolbar option can display a sub-menu of branched commands which perform a similar function. In the example below, the Assemble by Connection tool is selected.

Selecting the Assemble by Connection tool

After this tool is selected, a sub-menu of commands such as Align Faces, Mate Faces etc can be selected from the options menu at the top of the editor and shown below.

Sub-menu showing Assemble options

Tear-Away Tools

A specific toolset which is frequently used can be ‘torn away’ from the main toolbar and seated in a more convenient position in the editor.

To tear away a toolset, click and hold on the leading tool, then drag the cursor towards the end of the toolset. This allows the toolset to float away so it can be independently seated in the editor. In the illustration below, the Solid from Curves toolset is torn away from the main toolbar and reseated in the editor.

Tearing away the Solid toolset

A toolset is closed by clicking onto the close button shown below.

Closing a tear-away toolset

Data Input Fields

Measurement and spatial (coordinate) entry is input into the Data Input Fields at the top of the editor. Frequently, several data fields and options are required, shown in the illustration below. This example shows a Midplane option selected, with Distance and Draft Angle information input into the edit fields.

Extrude Solid tool showing options and data input into the edit fields

The Inspector

Window | Inspector

The geometrical and spatial information, as well as the properties (layer, color, line style etc) for any curve or solid can be found using the Inspector. For example, the length and angle of a line can be found by selecting the line and viewing the information in the Inspector.

The Inspector is found at the top right of the editor, shown below. The Inspector is also found using Window > Inspector.

Accessing the Inspector

Gripper

Modify | Gripper

The Inspector can be used to change geometric information, for example, changing the length or angle of a line. Additionally, the Inspector is used to create standards and settings, such as line thickness, text size etc prior to input.

The Inspector also controls how the Gripper is displayed when curves or solids are selected. The Gripper is displayed using Modify > Gripper.

Below is an example of how a solid is selected when the Gripper is enabled. The Object Properties are displayed in the Inspector.

Using the Inspector to examine a solid

---

See Also

Using the Gripper

---

Concept Explorer | Layers

Window | Concept Explorer

The Concept Explorer is a utilities manager which allows control over object properties such as layer, color, linetype etc. It also provides a selection of symbols which can be conveniently inserted by dragging into the editor.

New layers are created so that specific object properties such as color, visibility etc, can be more easily controlled.

When a new layer is created and activated as the current layer, all subsequent objects drawn in the editor will automatically be drawn on this layer. In the illustration below, the layer Part 3 Model is the current layer.

Sub-Layers can be created so that objects can be organized according to part, component or layer group. In the illustration below, the layer Parts 1 and 3 are shown with its sub-layers expanded.

When a layer is switched off, all objects on that layer are not shown in the editor. In the illustration below, the top-level layers for Parts 1, 2, and 4 are deactivated. When a top-level layer is deactivated, all associated sub-layers are deactivated.

Creating and controlling layers and sub-layers

Layer Duplicate

Window | Concept Explorer

Layers can be duplicated using the Concept Explorer. Access the Concept Explorer from the Windows menu, then right click onto the layer to duplicate, similar to that shown below.

A new layer will be created using a generic name such as ‘Layer 2‘. This layer can be renamed by right-clicking onto the new layer and selecting the Rename option.

Duplicating a Layer using Concept Explorer

Snaps

Window | Snaps

Snaps allow the targeting of specific points of geometry on an object to create precision input. For example, automatic snaps on a line are the start and end vertex (endpoint) and the middle point (midpoint). Automatic snaps on a circle or arc are quadrants (the polar points) and the center. Geometric snaps such as tangent and perpendicular vary depending on the drawing condition.

Snaps are enabled by default and can be individually controlled by enabling or disabling the set, shown below. Certain snaps can be activated or deactivated depending on the drawing conditions.

Enabling or disabling snaps

Snaps are used in every Tutorial Session of this Guide.

Grid

WorkPlane | Grid | Grid Settings

A grid provides an underlay of a rectangular or polar grid organized into structures know as divisions.

Rectangular Grid

A Rectangular Grid provides a series of vertical and horizontal lines with major and minor divisions. In the example below, a rectangular grid of 10 with sub-divisions of 5 is shown.

Rectangular Grid with major divisions of 10 and minor divisions of 5

The Grid snap mode works by attaching the cursor onto each grid intersection, providing the Grid snap is enabled, shown below.

The grid is responsive to both the zoom and pan tools.

Enabling the grid snap

Polar GridP

A Polor Grid can be created using major and minor sub-divisions, including a Polar Angle. In the example below, a Polar Grid has been created with a polar angle of 30 degrees.

Polar grid using angle 30

Isometric Grid

An Isometric Grid creates an isometric pattern using either the top, front or side view. Below is an example of an isometric grid using the top view.

Isometric grid using top view

WorkPlane & Grid

The Grid and WorkPlane are frequently used together to create a better visualization of the planar work-surface when working in 3D. The WorkPlane icon is activated when the grid is displayed, but the grid can be used independently of the WorkPlane by switching off the display of the WorkPlane using WorkPlane > View > Show WorkPlane.

In the example below, the WorkPlane is seated on the vertex shown by the arrow. The WorkPlane and Grid are in the same plane.

WorkPlane seated on top corner vertex, shown by arrow

When the WorkPlane is dragged from its origin to the vertex on the base of the solid, the Grid moves into the same plane as the WorkPlane, shown below.

WorkPlane dragged to bottom vertex, WorkPlane automatically moves into the same plane.