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 directories, that do not take effect until the VariCAD session is finished. In these cases, you are informed of this by a message.

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:


2D settings available in command CFG:


3D settings available in command CFG:


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
Restore Settings from Backup


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:


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.