Introductory Lesson: User Interface

TurboCAD 2D Mac Lessons

Introductory Lesson: User Interface

Fig 1. TurboCAD 2D User Interface

Introductory Lesson: User Interface

About this Lesson

For Application: TurboCAD 2D Mac

Scope of Lesson: This Lesson covers the rst principals of TurboCAD 2D for Mac. Here you will learn about the TurboCAD interface, the various menus & palettes and how they are accessed.

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 other lessons in this series.

Tu r b o C A D U s e r F o r u m s : F o r f u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n http://forums.imsisoft.com/forums/index.cfm?CFApp=200

and

assistance:

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

Introductory Lesson: User Interface

Introduction to the TurboCAD Interface

Fig 2. TurboCAD 2D default interface

Introductory Lesson: User Interface

Interface Overview A.) Toolbar

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

Introductory Lesson: User Interface

Interface Overview B.) Main Tool Palette & Sub Palettes

On the left of the User Interface is the Main Tool Palette (see g 4). This contains all the Drawing 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 g 5

Fig 5. Selected tool turns blue

Fig 6. Corner arrow indicates available sub-palette

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

Introductory Lesson: User Interface

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 reect the tool you have chosen (see g 7). Additionally, the contents of the Main Toolbar across the top of your screen will change to reect the name, prompts, help and inputs related to this tool. Fig 8 shows the Three Point Circle and the respective 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 your current tool has sub-tools, a gray arrow is shown in the lower right corner of the large current tool 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 red close button

Introductory Lesson: User Interface

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 TurboCAD expects next. If multiple inputs are required, the user is prompted to completion. See g 11 for drawing a Three Point Circle

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

Introductory Lesson: User Interface

Interface Overview

E.) Help: Tool-Hints & Dynamic Help

Fig 12. Toolbar showing Three Point Circle Tool

Tool Hints and Dynamic Help are available to assist the user in understanding to use each tool. Tool Hints may be shown or hidden by clicking the black arrow. See g 13. TurboCAD shows 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

Introductory Lesson: User Interface

Interface Overview

F.) Data Entry Area

Fig 15. Toolbar showing Three Point Circle Tool

Data Entry elds are supplied per tool. Use the Data Entry elds to specify the variables associated with the current tool, eg: location, size The current entry eld is shown in bold. You can use the tab key to switch to the next eld Data Entry elds are repeated in the Geometry Tab of the Object Edit Box. (accessed from the Window menu)

Fig 16. Toolbar Data Entry elds

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

Introductory Lesson: User Interface

Interface Overview

G.) Coordinates

Fig 18. Toolbar showing Three Point Circle Tool

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 (vertical distance from the Origin)

Fig 19. Coordinates Readout

Always Save Your Work! Remember to save your work after every signicant operation of period of work. If you wish, use the AutoSave function in the Filing Section of the Preferences. Files can be saved automatically every so many minutes or after so many operations. Auto-Saved les are Backed up to the Backup folder in the TurboCAD Application folder

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Introductory Lesson: User Interface

Interface Overview

H.) Object Info

The Object Edit box displays information about the currently selected object(s). It is accessed from the Window Menu. The Object Edit box has two tabs, the Geometry tab and the Attributes tab The Geometry tab displays editable data elds for modifying the object. See g 20 The Attributes tab displays an editable name eld for the object as well as various pull-downs for changing the Resolution, Color, Layer and other associated variables. See g 21

Fig 20. Object Edit Box: Geometry Tab

Fig 21. Object Edit Box: Attributes Tab

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Introductory Lesson: User Interface

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 clicking and 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 ts 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 before export. When importing drawings from Illustrator, be sure to set the scale value to 1.0 and the Illustrator version to 8 in the Save panel

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Introductory Lesson: User Interface

Interface Overview

J.) Mouse Operation

Various operations are available from a standard scroll mouse. See g 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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Introductory Lesson: User Interface

Interface Overview

K.) Shortcuts

Various preset shortcuts are available in TurboCAD. These are listed in g 24 below and can be printed out from the le TurboCAD Reference Card in the TurboCAD Application folder All user operations can be assigned easily accessible quick access keys via the Shortcuts Manager (available through the File Menu)

Fig 24. Factory Shortcuts

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Introductory Lesson: User Interface

License Notes

All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. CSi cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trade mark or service mark. Adobe, Adobe Illustrator are registered trademarks of Adobe AutoCAD is a registered trademark of AutoDesk

Copyright 2006 IMSI

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form by any means without the prior written permission of IMSI. The information contained in this publication is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, IMSI makes no representation or warrantees with respect to the program material described within and specically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or tness for any particular purpose. Further, IMSI reserves the right to revise the program material and make changes therein from time to time without obligation to notify the purchaser of the revisions or changes. In no event shall IMSI be liable for any incidental, indirect special or consequential damages arising out of the purchasers use of the program material.
Tutorial written by Jol Yates, Industrial Arts (NZ) Ltd Revision 3.0 20 December 05

www.TurboCAD.com

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