System Settings (Preferences)

All system settings are available in the Tools menu. If you change 2D drawing parameters such as text height or dimension style, the settings are saved when the session is finished. If you change system parameters such as colors, warning sounds, or file backup, the settings are saved immediately.


In most cases, new settings take effect immediately. There are a few settings, such as OpenGL settings, that do not take effect until the VariCAD session is finished. In these cases, you are informed by a message. Mostly, VariCAD offers automatic restart so the change also works instantly, if restart is accepted.


This section describes a few functions for general system settings. Functions used to manipulate settings are described in greater detail in other sections of this help system.


System Settings - CFG

This command allows you to perform most of system settings. There are sections of general settings, settings of 2D and settings of 3D. Settings of files input or output (like configuration of DWG input etc.) are also available in file-dialogue window, under button File Options.


General settings available in command CFG:

  • Pathnames of VariCAD files
  • Working with multiple documents (files)
  • Automatic safety backups
  • Icons size, dialog texts
  • Multiple monitors settings
  • Right-click pop-up menu, display of options available within commands
  • Cursor coordinates, displaying of coordinates together with cursor
  • Settings of mouse wheel and mouse buttons
  • Space mouse settings
  • Cursor increments settings (for dragging)
  • Automatic detection, dragging and stretching
  • Settings of step back (undo)
  • Configuration of keyboard shortcuts
  • Values input settings
  • Selection of objects between commands
  • Theme settings (appearance of panels, buttons, frames etc.)
  • Sound settings
  • Warning messages settings
  • Colors and palettes (available also from separate commands)
  • OpenGL settings
  • Performance and usage of Multi-threading
  • BOM mask, solid attributes and title blocks
  • List of materials settings
  • Library objects selection settings

2D settings available in command CFG:

  • Display of 2D objects
  • Creation of 2D exporting 3D views
  • Temporary construction lines
  • Options of DWG/DXF format input or output
  • Dimensions behavior (not style of dimensions)
  • Printed lines thickness and color, print task names, printing to files
  • Selection of 2D objects
  • Border of 2D format (not sheet border style)
  • Automatic layers switching

3D settings available in command CFG:

  • Selection of solids
  • Location of solids
  • Definition of solid insertion point (for solids created from profiles)
  • Surface shading and reflectivity
  • Predefined 3D view (initial view for new file)
  • Animation of view changes
  • View rotation by arrow keys
  • Assembly links settings
  • Insertion into assembly settings
  • Settings of format of calculation results
  • Volume, mass and moment of inertia settings
  • Options of STEP format input or output
  • Options of STL format output

Backing up Your Configuration

You can create a backup of all your configuration files. The configuration is stored in one file. When you need to restore the configuration, you can select the settings you need to renew. Typical usage of this feature is to save and restore the working environment, if you need to reinstall operating system or if you migrate into another workstation. Also, you can use this feature if you want to share some settings with other users (like 2D drawing and dimensioning styles commonly used in entire company). Save/Restore of configuration is available from pull-down menu Tools or from following commands:

Create Backup of All Settings – CBS
Restore Settings from Backup – RBS


Restore working environment


Colors

Colors - COL

All colors used by VariCAD can be modified, such as colors of 2D or 3D objects, colors of 2D drawing in 3D, colors used for auxiliary images, and highlighting colors. You can save a modified color scheme as a new palette. There are predefined palettes as well.


The following colors can be set:

  • Colors for 2D objects. You can modify color 1-9 for 2D objects. You can also set colors for auxiliary objects, the grid or construction lines used in 2D.
  • Colors for 3D objects. You can modify colors 1-32 for 3D objects. Using this option, you can also set colors for auxiliary objects used in 3D, a color for the background and a type of the cursor used for objects selection.
  • Colors for 2D drawing in 3D. You can modify all colors used for 2D drawing in 3D (this drawing is used, when you define or edit a profile for extrusion, rotation etc.).

Except of 2D colors, all settings allow you interactive changes of a selected color. You can change a selected color’s coordinate dynamically, dragging a scrollbar associated with the red, green or blue color coordinate. A pattern drawing is displayed and you can visually check changes of the color. For rough settings, you can use a standard color dialogue.


Important note: If you change the background color, change, or at least, check the color of the crosshair cursor and other colors, which may be inexpressive on the changed background.


Palettes - PAL

This function allows you to define a new color scheme (palette), rewrite an existing palette or select a defined palette as current. If you created your own color settings previously and if you want to select a new palette, the current settings will be rewritten. We recommend saving the current settings as a new palette, if you want to use them again in the future.


 

 


VariCAD HELP

Introduction to VariCAD
VariCAD Installation Installing Upgrades Hardware and Software Requirements
Files and Directories Used by VariCAD Default VariCAD Files Converting 2D/3D Objects to and from Other Formats How 3D Objects Are Converted to STEP or IGES Creation of STL format Directories
Getting Started VariCAD User Interface Working with Multiple Monitors 2D/3D Area Status Bar Toolbar Icons Dialog Windows - Cancel and Back Buttons Mouse Buttons 3D Mouse Invoking and Running VariCAD Functions Finishing VariCAD Functions Stepping Back within a Function Selecting Objects between Functions Additional Options within Functions Creating, Opening and Saving VariCAD 2D/3D Files File or Folder Preview Definition Backing up Your Files Working with Multiple Files Copy and Paste Switching between 2D and 3D Undo and Redo Dragging Objects Dragging Increments Turning off Detection Temporarily
System Settings (Preferences) Backing up Your Configuration Colors
2D Drawing Displaying the 2D Drawing Area Changing the View Using the Mouse and Keyboard Display Functions Rebuilding Functions Zoom Functions Saving Views 2D Display Settings 2D Circle Display Settings Cursor Settings and Coordinate Listing Types of 2D Objects 2D Drawing Attributes - Units, Formats, Scale Units Format and Sheet Border 2D Drawing Scale Attributes of 2D Objects Working with 2D Layers 2D Object Colors Line Types Visibility of 2D Objects Work Sets 2D Coordinate System
2D Drawing Aids Grid Construction Lines Creating Construction Lines Deleting Construction Lines Creating Multiple Construction Lines Temporary Construction Lines Transient Construction Lines Increment Cursor Mode Ortho Mode
Selecting 2D Objects Using Selection Windows Limited 2D Selections Deselecting Objects Finishing the Selection Selecting 2D Locations Defining Angles and Directions Writing Special Characters Mathematic Expressions Checking Objects, Distance, Angle and Coordinates
Drawing 2D Objects Drawing Lines Arrows Drawing Curves Creating Points Creating Circles and Arcs Creating Text Objects Editing and Deleting 2D Objects Deleting Objects Changing Objects Geometry Creating Corners, Chamfers and Fillets Breaking and Dividing 2D Objects Editing Text Transforming and Copying 2D Objects Translating, Rotating and Scaling Mirroring Objects Offsetting Objects Stretching Objects
Dimensioning Single Dimensions - Horizontal, Vertical and Diagonal Predefined Horizontal, Vertical and Diagonal Dimensions Serial, Parallel and Datum Dimensions Angular Dimensions Diameter and Radius Dimensions, Thread Dimensions Dimension Attributes Finish Symbols Weld and Tolerance Symbols Creating Leaders, Item Numbers Editing Dimensions
Axes
Hatching Solid Fill Hatching 2D Objects Editing Hatches Creating a Hatch Pattern
Symbols 2D Blocks Creating and Inserting Blocks Editing Blocks 2D Polylines Creating Polylines Editing Polylines
Automatic Updates of Dimensions, Axes and Hatches after Changes in 3D. Automatic updates of dimensions Automatic Updates of Axes Automatic Updates of Hatches Checking of Updatable 2D Objects and Dimensions
Libraries of Mechanical Parts Selecting Mechanical Parts Configuring Mechanical Parts Selection Dialog Inserting Mechanical Parts into 2D Inserting Mechanical Parts into 3D Pre-selecting Dimensions Options Available for Mechanical Parts in 3D Modifying Mechanical Parts in 3D Modifying Counter-parts, Drilling Holes for Screws Mechanical Part Calculations
Printing and Plotting Printing Methods Selecting a Printer Batch Print Exporting Images as Bitmaps
VariCAD on the Internet Trial Versions, Online Purchasing
3D Display Dynamic View Manipulation Animated View Changes Predefined View Rotating View Using the Arrow Keys 3D View Tools Saving Views Shaded and Wireframe Display 3D Display Settings View Rotation Center Enhanced Rendering Surface Shading Setting 3D Display Performance Hardware accelerated OpenGL Test of Hardware Performance 3D Objects Shape Representation Types of Shape Representation Converting Shape Representations into Different Types Highlighting Objects with Open Surfaces Solving Problems in 3D Tools Rebuilding 3D Data Structures Tools Repairing Erroneous Solids Loaded from STEP Tools Repairing Erroneous File Sketching - 2D Drawing in 3D Planes, Drawing Methods Displaying Objects 2D Drawing Features Construction Lines, Temporary Construction Lines Working with 3D Objects
Creating Solids Sketching of a 2D Solid Profile Sketching Plane Definition Sketching Environment, Finish Sketching Sketching of Profile of New Solid Displaying of Created or Edited Solids Multiple Sketching Planes Common Sketching Features Additional Sketching Features Closed Rotation of Multiple Profiles Convergence of Lofted Profiles into One Point Tangent Direction of Lofting Features Related to Solid Creation Method Manual Selection of Profile’s 2D Objects Solid Insertion Point Solid Insertion Point for Profiles Selected in 2D Mode Rotating, Extruding, and Lofting Profiles Rotated Solids Extruded Solids Lofted Solids Helical Surfaces Basic Solid Volumes Cylinders, Cones, Boxes, Pyramids, Pipes, Spheres Editing of Spatial Dimensions of Basic Solids
Editing Solids Selecting Solids Visibility of 3D Objects Shading and Colors of Individual Solids Boolean Operations - Adding and Cutting Solids Boolean Operations Boolean Tree Structure Editing Common Boolean Operations Holes, Grooves, Cutting by Planes Resolving (Exploding) Solids 3D Filleting and Chamfering Deleting Solids Editing Shape of Solids Edit Solid Element Shape Transforming and Copying Solids Solid Object Coordinate System 3D Space Coordinate System Inserting and Transforming Solids Defining Vectors and Rotation Axes Transforming Objects Using their Axes Translating by Distance Dynamic Translation Rotating by Angle Dynamic Rotation Dragging in Increments Additional Rotation around an Axis Setting the Direction of Solids Axes Positioning and Location at Surface Positioning by Plane Zoom in on Transformed Solids Additional Options for Right-Click Objects during Transformation Additional Boolean Operation, Constraints Definition Changing Insertion Point, Displaying Axes Inserting and Copying Identical Copies of Solids Permanent Change of Axes of Solids Imported from Step Defining 3D Locations Selecting Planes 3D Locations Settings Mirroring and Rescaling Solids Exploded View of Assemblies Groups of Solids
Parameters Definition of Parameters Parameters in File Parameters in Scaled Solids Type of Parameters Working with Parameters Geometric Constraints Constraints as Additional Transformations Constraints as Removed Degrees of Freedom Definition of Constraints Constrained Objects Types of Geometric Constraints Chain of Constraints Fixed Object within Constraints Constraining Angles Constraints in Solid Creation 2D Profiles Constraining Objects in 2D Profile Selecting Vertexes Display Options Filleting, Chamfering and Radii of Circles or Arcs Constraining Circular Arcs Constraining NURBS Curves Editing Constraints Deleting Constraints Coordinate Systems
Exporting Views and Sections from 3D to 2D Creating 2D from 3D List of 3D View Exports, Updating Views 3D Sections 3D Comprehensive Shapes Creating and Editing 3D Texts Pipes and Wires Sweeping of 2D Profiles Offset Patches – Thick Shells Threads in 3D
Checking Functions and Calculations Units of Calculation Results Volume, Mass, Surface and Moment of Inertia Calculations Checking and Measuring Geometry Interferences among Solids
3D Assemblies Creating Part Files, Assembly Files and Assembly Links Saving and Loading the Assembly Files Sub-assemblies Relative Paths in Assembly Links Simultaneously Open Assembly and Part Files Definition of Assembly-Part links Definition of Sub-assembly - Part links Breaking Links between Part or Sub-assembly and Assembly Editing Sub-assemblies or Parts in Assembly Environment Selecting Parts or Sub-assemblies for Editing Editing Parts or Sub-assemblies 3D Assembly Tree Scheme 3D Assembly Tree Scheme Window Objects Select Mode Part Editing or Attributes Definition Mode Managing All Assembly Tree Files Surface Development (Unbending)
Bill of Material, Object Attributes and Title Blocks Object Attributes BOM, Attributes and Title Blocks Mask Sharing BOM, Attributes and Title Blocks Settings (Mask) Attribute Definition Groups of Attributes Output to Formatted Text (List of Parts) Title Blocks Export to Other Systems Compatibility of Defined Attributes and Attribute Groups Working with BOM BOM at Basic Level BOM Containing structure of Assembly BOM from 3D Group BOM Objects Displaying, Filtering and Sorting BOM Objects Creating Files from BOM Copying Data from Assembly into Parts and Vice Versa Defining Item Numbers in BOM Single Click Attributes Copy Attributes from 2D Area Supplementary Objects Solid and Assembly Attributes Solid Attributes List of Materials Material as a Solid Attribute Assembly Attributes, Title Block Filling
Tips and Tricks List of All VariCAD Functions Hotkeys Embedded Functions

QUICK DEMO

Tips and Tricks
Basics Of Control

Interface, examples of various input steps, like mouse button clicks, hot-keys and their combinations. Examples of detection, objects selection and view changes.

Tools for 2D location, Tool combinations

Tools for location of 2D objects.

2D object selection, Filter combinations

Tools for selection of 2D objects.

Line

Drawing line from a point to another point, Using leading lines, According to values entered from a keyboard (xy, dx dy, angle radius, called by pressing K, D, R keys), Using fixed (locked) values (called by pressing TAB key), Combining multiple tools (TAB, dxdy...), Tangent lines.

Rectangle

Drawing rectangle by two opposite locations, Using fixed (locked) values (called by pressing TAB key), Diagonal distance.

Multi-line

Offset at one side from the central polyline, Offset at both sides from the central polyline.

Circle

Drawing circle by center and point at the circle, Center and radius, Two points, Three points, As a tangent to 2 objects, As a tangent to 3 objects.

Rotated parts

Shaft – a front view, Shaft – create a contour.

Polygon: hexagon

Leading circle is inside, the polygon orientation is at the edge, Leading circle is outside, the polygon orientation is at the vertex.

Dragging a circle to the rectangle center

Dragging, start by Ctrl+Shift+move cursor over an object, Dragging – right click. Two methods, different location at a center, Dragging, clicking an icon, Using Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V, Translate by a defined vector, Translate to a shifted center, Locate, using incremental cursor movement.

Stretching of objects

Dragging, start by Ctrl+Shift+move cursor over an object, Dragging – right click. Two methods, different location at a center, Dragging, clicking an icon, Using Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V, Translate by a defined vector, Translate to a shifted center, Locate, using incremental cursor movement.

Blending

Filleting of 2D corners, instant access (using Shift key), Filleting of 2D corners, Chamfering of 2D corners, instant access (using Shift key).

Divide or extend a 2D object

Extend to a boundary, Create a full circle from a circular arc, Remove a segment, Trim, Divide an object by a boundary, Divide an object by a point.

Changing 2D object attributes

Changing color, Changing line type, Changing layers, Blank/unblank objects (invisible/visible), Changing displayed thickness - 1 or 2 pixels.

Dimensioning

Smart dimensioning – easy dimensioning done within a single command. Horizontal and vertical dimensioning. Dimensioning of threads, chamfers, fillets and diameters. Aligning dimensions according to each other.

Settings

Drawing format, sheet border, Drawing scale, Using 2D layers, automatic changes of 2D layers, Default settings of a new file.

Creating a 2D drawing data

Drawing 2D objects and filling title blocks manually in the 2D area, 2D objects and title blocks created automatically from 3D space, Printing to PDF.

Selection of solids

Working with 3D solids. Examples of solid insertion, selection or transformation.

Solid transformation

Examples of solid insertion, detection and transformation. Examples of solid copying.

Single solid shapes

Creating predefined solid shapes (Box, cylinder, cone, pipe...). All solids can be created by rotation, extrusion or lofting of contours.

Solid creation by defined contour

Solid creation by extrusion, full or partial rotation of contour.

Lofting rectangle to circle

Creating a solid by lofting rectangle to circle.

Lofting a rectangle to single point

Creating a solid by lofting a rectangle to single point.

Lofting among multiple contours

Creating a solid by lofting among multiple various planar profiles.

Lofting among profiles rotated symmetrically around an axis

Creating a solid by lofting among multiple various planar profiles.

Sweeping of a 2D contour in 3D space

Sweeping of a 2D contour - creation of a banister, pipe...

Creating pipes or wires

Creating of pipes, wires (banister, cables, ropes...).

Rotation and lofting of contours

Rotation and lofting between two different contours, like between a circle and rectangle or between circles with different radii. Profile change is linear or allowing tangential direction from both ends.

Helical surface

Creating a helical surface by simultaneous rotation and extrusion of 2D contour.

Creating holes and grooves

Creating holes and threaded holes, cutting by an extruded contour, creating groove, cutting by a box. X axis of a tool is always perpendicular to selected surface.

Shells, sheet metal parts

Creating a sheet metal part using shell tools.

Editing of solid elements

Editing of solid elements by changing dimensions. Values can be defined in tables or by 3D dimensions. Editing of dimensions together with change of location of solid elements.

Editing of solid elements by changing creation contours

Editing of basic shapes by changing their creation contours.

Editing of solid elements, selection by cursor or from scheme

Solid element can be selected by cursor (press and hold Ctrl key, move cursor over it), or from Boolean tree scheme.

Editing of 3D pipes and wires

Example of creation of 3D wire, thread and geometrical constraint. Next step shows editing of it.

Assembly, Parts, 2D Drawings

An example of alternative creation of an assembly, sub-assembly, parts and corresponding 2D drawings.



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