ShapeMaster User Guide
In This Topic
    Home ribbon commands
    In This Topic
    Quick Access File Clipboard Cabinet Selection Cabinet Picker Tools Palette Home Drawing Properties List, Machining Library Catalog Manager
    Home Tab

    When ShapeMaster is intially opened, List View is the default. For a detailed discussion, see topic on List View

    To locate information about any commands or tabs, Clickonclick on the area of interest on ribbon image above.

    Clipboard

    This Group of commands allows you to Cut, Copy, Duplicate and Paste.

    Shape Selection

    ShapeMaster offers a large selection of shapes which can be filtered and selected in a number of ways.

    1. Shape Selection using group of drop lists shown right to filter by...
    • First select the Library e.g. ShapeMaster-2;
      • Normally selected when starting the program application.
    • Optionally, you can use the shape filters Type and/or Sub-Type);
      • The example locates for selection only Curved shapes.
    • Finally, select the Shape from the drop down.

    Finally, add to the List by clicking on 'Add from Library' button or use the Keyboard Shortcut [F12]

    Shape Filters

    ShapeMaster offers a large selection of shapes which can be filtered in a number of ways using the ...

    Shape Picker

    The Shape Picker button is used to turn visibility of this on or off.

    What is a Tool?

    Tools such as the Shape Tool and Drawing Tools are just like a staging area where items are prepared for addition to a drawing. It is disguished with a blue background. The Shape Tool is used to customise a shape BEFORE placement and, acting like a template, provides a quick method for inserting a Shape from the library.

    When you select a shape from a library, all the data for that shape is placed into the Shape Tool. Then, the shape described by the current Shape Tool data, is added to the list provided the Shape Tool is active when you click on 'Add from Library', or use the [F12keyboard shortcut.

    Right clicking on a tool will present a menu allowing you to 'Format..' a shape before placement.

    Cabinet Tool RCmenu

    Shape Tool

    The Shape Tool is used to to customise a cabinet BEFORE placement and provides a quick method for inserting a shape from the library. When you select a cabinet from a library, all the data for that cabinet is placed into the Shape Tool. To confirm that you are updating the tool, the background colour of the property sheet will be blue.

    Then, provided the Shape Tool is active when you click on 'Add from Library', the shape described by the current Shape Tool data is added to the List.

    Palette

    The distribution base library (.qil) provides all users with a preload of some useful palettes, which are shown as images in Current Palette.

    The Change Palette tool allows you to Add your favourite palettes for quick use and customise using a tree.  The checkboxes in the tree are three-state i.e. on, off or partially selected, as shown right. This lets you select and deselect subtrees of shapes for your palette.

    When you save a custom palette which saves in the catalog (.qim). 

    If you make additions/changes to the gallery then you will need to Regenerate Images.

      Watch the Video on how to customise the Palette and see the topic on Palette and Gallery Images.

    Renumber All Items

    Renumber all items into sequence.

    To illustrate, six shapes were placed in the list and then the first 3 were deleted. As shown, the List View shows ID 004 to 006.

    When the Renumber All Items button is clicked, the shapes have been assigned ID's 001 to 003.

    Page Properties

    This feature is currently not available and is therefore turned off on the File > Advanced page.

    Drawing Properties

    The Drawing Properties, or defaults, can be customised for each job and overrides the Catalog/Library Properties. However, you can override the Drawing Properties [F4] by customising the Shape Properties.

    View

    The view command buttons change the view from List View to Machining View (and visa versa) or allows you to open the Library Catalog Manager.



    See Also