qcad user reference manual (di) split entities (ms) break out segment (d2) break out manual (b2)...
TRANSCRIPT
QCADUserReferenceManual
File
New
NewfromTemplate...
Open
Import
Revert
Save
SaveAs...
Close
BitmapExport...(XB)
QuickSVGExport(XS)
AdvancedSVGExport...
SVGImport...
PDFExport(XD)
PrintPreview
PrintCurrentView
Edit
Preferences
Undo[-](OO)
Redo[-](UU)
Delete(ER)
Cut
CutwithReference(RT)
Copy(CP)
CopywithReference(RC)
Paste(PS)
PastealongEntity(PE)
Duplicate(DP)
QuickModify
MoveLeft(←)
MoveRight(→)
MoveUp(↑)
MoveDown(↓)
RotateCounter-Clockwise
RotateClockwise
Find/Replace(RP)
SubstituteFonts(FF)
ScaleTextHeights(MG)
ConvertDrawingUnit(CU)
Escape
Reset/Idle(QQ)
DrawingPreferences
ApplicationPreferences
View
DraftMode(DF)
Screen-basedLinetypes(NL)
Anti-aliasing(NT)
Grid(GR)
Zoom
ZoomIn
ZoomOut
AutoZoom(ZA)
ZoomtoSelection(ZS)
PreviousView(ZV)
WindowZoom(ZW)
PanZoom(ZP)
Overlays
Direction(VD)
Order(VO)
Startpoint(VS)
StoredViews
AddView(VA)
RemoveView(VR)
EditView(VE)
PickView(VP)
IsometricGridOff(JO)
TopProjection(JT)
RightProjection(JR)
LeftProjection(JL)
LayerList(GY)
BlockList(GB)
ViewList(GV)
PropertyEditor(GP)
SelectionFilter(GF)
LibraryBrowser(GL)
CommandLine(GM)
ClipboardDisplay(GC)
StatusBar(GS)
FocusonCommandLine
FocusonOptionsToolbar
FocusonToolMatrix
DisplayDistance/Angle
Select
DeselectAll(TN)
SelectAll(TA)
SelectView(TV)
InvertSelection(TI)
(De-)SelectRectangularArea(TR)
(De-)SelectPolygon(TP)
(De-)SelectContour(TC)
(De-)SelectIntersectedEntities(TX)
(De-)SelectLayer(TL)
Draw
Point
SinglePoint(PO)
NPointsonLine(PN)
MxNPoints(PM)
Line
Linefrom2Points(LI)
LinefromAngle(LA)
HorizontalLine(LH)
VerticalLine(LV)
AngleBisector(LB)
Parallel(withDistance)(LP)
Parallel(throughPoint)(LG)
Tangent(Point,Circle)(LT1)
Tangent(TwoCircles)(LT2)
Orthogonal/Tangent(LN)
RelativeAngle(LR)
Orthogonal(LO)
FreehandLine(LF)
Arc
Center,Point,Angles(AR)
2PointsandRadius(AD)
2PointsandAngle(A2)
2PointsandLength(AL)
2PointsandHeight(AH)
3Points(A3)
Concentric(withDistance)(AC)
Concentric(throughPoint)(AG)
TangentiallyConnected(AN)
Tangent,Point,Radius(AT)
Circle
Center,Point(CI)
Center,Radius(CR)
Center,Diameter(CA)
2PointsandRadius(CD)
2Points(C2)
3Points(C3)
Concentric(withDistance)(CC)
Concentric(throughPoint)(CG)
Tangentand2Points(CT1)
Tangent,Point,Radius(CTP)
2TangentsandPoint(CT2)
2TangentsandRadius(CTR)
3Tangents(CT3)
Ellipse
Ellipse(Center,Point,Ratio)(EP)
EllipseArc(EA)
EllipsewithRadii(EI)
EllipsewithDiameters(ED)
ParallelCurve(withDistance)(EC)
ParallelCurve(throughPoint)(EG)
InscribedinQuadrilateral(EQ)
Spline
Spline(ControlPoints)(SP)
Spline(FitPoints)(SL)
InsertFitPoint(NI)
RemoveFitPoint(NR)
Simplify(NP)
Polyline
DrawPolyline(PL)
CreatefromSegments(OG)
CreatefromSelectedEntities(OC)
PartialPolylineAlongSelection(OL)
InsertNode(OA)
AppendNode(s)(OP)
DeleteNode(s)(OD)
DeleteSegmentsbetweenTwoNodes(OB)
TrimSegments(OT)
RelocateStartPoint(OR)
ChangeSegmentType(OX)
ArctoLineSegments
Offset(OQ)
Morph(OM)
Simplify(OS)
NormalizePolylines(ON)
LogicallyclosePolylines(OE)
LogicallyopenPolylines(OJ)
Shape
Rectangle(RE)
RectanglewithSize(RS)
Polygon(Center,Corner)(PG1)
Polygon(2PointsofSide)(PG2)
Polygon(Center,Side)(PG3)
Polygon(Side,Side)(PG4)
Hatch
HatchfromSelection(HA)
HatchfromSegments(HS)
Viewport
AddViewport(VT)
Ring(RI)
Text(TE)
InsertBitmap(IM)
Dimension
Aligned(DA)
Rotated(Linear)(DL)
Horizontal(DH)
Vertical(DV)
Baseline(DB)
Continue(DC)
Ordinate(X/Y)(DO)
Leader(DE)
Radial(DR)
Diametric(DD)
Angular(DN)
ArcLength(DG)
ResetLabelPosition(DS)
Modify
Move/Copy(MV)
Rotate(RO)
Scale(SZ)
Mirror(MI)
FlipHorizontal(FH)
FlipVertical(FV)
MoveandRotate(MR)
RotateTwo(R2)
AlignReferencePoints(AE)
Align(MA)
Offset(withDistance)(OF)
Offset(throughPoint)(OH)
Trim(RM)
TrimBoth(TM)
Lengthen/Shorten(LE)
Stretch(SS)
CliptoRectangle(CLR)
Chamfer/Bevel(CH)
Round(RN)
Divide(DI)
SplitEntities(MS)
BreakoutSegment(D2)
BreakoutManual(B2)
AutoTrim(AX)
BreakoutGap(D3)
Reverse(RV)
EditText(MT)
EditHatch(MH)
Explode(XP)
DrawOrder
BringtoFront(MF)
SendtoBack(MB)
Reorder(RD)
Detection
DetectDuplicates(MD)
DetectZero-LengthEntities(MZ)
Projection
OrthographicProjection(Cylindrical)(PR)
IsometricProjection(PJ)
IsometricProjection(Cylindrical)(PC)
MatrixTransformation(MX)
Snap
Free(SF)
Grid(SG)
End(SE)
OnEntity(ST)
Perpendicular(SU)
Tangential(SB)
Center(SC)
Reference(SR)
Middle(SM)
MiddleManual(SN)
Distance(SD)
DistanceManual(SH)
Intersection(SI)
IntersectionManual(SY)
Auto(SA)
Coordinate(SX)
PolarCoordinate(SO)
X/YfromPoints(.X)
Y/XfromPoints(.Y)
CenterofSelection(SK)
RestrictionsOff(EN)
RestrictOrthogonally(EO)
RestrictHorizontally(EH)
RestrictVertically(EV)
RestrictAngleorLength(EL)
SetRelativeZero(RZ)
LockRelativeZero(RL)
LockSnap(SQ)
Info
Position(IO)
RelativePosition(IV)
PolarPosition(IL)
RelativePolarPosition(IT)
DistancePointtoPoint(IP)
DistanceEntitytoPoint(IE)
DistanceEntitytoEntity(IN)
Angle(IA)
TotalLengthofSelection(IS)
PolygonalArea(IR)
Arc/Circle/EllipseArea(IC)
PolylineArea(II)
Layer
ToggleVisibility(YV)
ToggleFrozenStatus(YF)
ToggleLockStatus(YL)
ShowOnlyActive(YO)
ShowAllLayers(YS)
HideAllLayers(YH)
ThawAllLayers(YW)
FreezeAllLayers(YZ)
LockAllLayers(YK)
UnlockAllLayers(YN)
AddLayer(YA)
AddSublayer(YU)
CreateLayerfromSelection(YT)
DeleteLayer(YR)
PurgeUnusedLayers(YP)
EditLayer(YE)
SelectLayer(Y+)
DeselectLayer(Y-)
Block
Explode(XP)
ToggleVisibility(BV)
ShowAllBlocks(BS)
HideAllBlocks(BH)
AddEmptyBlock(BA)
CreateBlockfromSelection(BC)
AddLayoutBlock(BL)
RemoveBlock(BR)
PurgeUnusedBlocks(BP)
RenameBlock(BN)
EditBlock(BE)
EditBlockfromReference(BD)
CopyBlock(BY)
ReturntoMainDrawing(EM)
SelectBlockReferences(B+)
DeselectBlockReferences(B-)
InsertBlock(BI)
CreateLibraryItem(BT)
Attributes
DefineBlockAttribute(UA)
SynchronizeAttributes(UY)
Window
CloseAll
Next
Previous
FullScreen
CAM
CAMConfiguration...(KK)
CAMExport(KX)
CAMLegacyExport
G-CodeImport...
GerberImport...
DisplayToolpaths(KV)
AddTool(KA)
EditTool(KE)
RemoveTool(KR)
ExportTools(KO)
ImportTools(KI)
AddProfileToolpath(KP)
AddDrillToolpath(KL)
EditToolpath(KD)
RemoveToolpath(KM)
MoveToolpathUp
MoveToolpathDown
RegenerateToolpath
RegenerateToolpathfromTool
RegenerateAllToolpaths
UpdateToolpathfromSelection
AddTab(KT)
ShowCAMToolList(GO)
ShowCAMToolpathList(GA)
Show3DSimulationView(G3)
ShowSimulationPanel(GI)
FileTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Commands:filemenu
New
New
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>NewShortcuts:Ctrl+N(Mac:⌘N)|Ctrl+T(Mac:⌘T) Commands:new
Description:
Createnew,emptydrawingsusingthiscommand.Newdrawingsarecompletelyempty(noentities,onlyonedefaultlayer,noblocks).AsafrequentuserofQCAD,youmightinsteadwanttocreatedrawingtemplateswiththelayersandblocksyouusethemostandprobablyadrawingborder.Onceyouhavesuchatemplateyoucanloadthatinsteadofstartinganewdrawingfromscratch.PleasereferalsotothecommandNewfromTemplatetolearnhowtousedrawingtemplates.
NewfromTemplate...
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:File>NewfromTemplate... Shortcut:Ctrl+Shift+N(Mac:⇧⌘N)Commands:newfromtemplate
Description:
Thistoolopensadrawingtemplateasastartingpointforanewdrawing.Anyregulardrawingcanbeusedasdrawingtemplateifitisstoredinthelibrary/templatesdirectoryoranothertemplatedirectoryconfiguredintheapplicationpreferencesdialog.
Open
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>OpenShortcut:Ctrl+O(Mac:⌘O)Commands:open
Description:
Usethiscommandtoopenadrawingfile.ThefileisloadedandshowninanewwindowwithintheQCADapplicationwindow.Youcanswitchbetweendifferentloadeddrawingsusingthemenu"Windows"orthetabsatthetopofthedrawingarea.
Import
Import
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>Import Shortcut:Ctrl+Shift+I(Mac:⇧⌘I)Commands:import
Description:
Theimportcommandinsertsadrawingfromafileondiskintothecurrentdrawing.Alllayersthatareusedbytheimporteddrawingareaddedtothelayerlistofthecurrentdrawing.Existinglayerswiththesamenamecanbeoverwrittenifdesired("overwritelayers"optionintheoptionstoolbar).Blockreferencesoftheimporteddrawingwillbeinsertedtogetherwiththeblockdefinitionstheyreferto.Blocksinthecurrentdrawingcanbeoverwrittenifdesired("overwriteblocks"optionintheoptionstoolbar).Theoptionstoolbaralsoofferssometoolstoscale,rotateorfliptheimporteddrawingwhilepositioningit.
Procedure:
Setthetargetpointfortheimporteddrawingwiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.Thetargetpointcorrespondstotheabsolutezeropointoftheimporteddrawing.
Revert
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:File>Revert Shortcut:Ctrl+R(Mac:⌘R)Commands:revert
Description:
Reloadsthecurrentdrawingfromdisk.Allunsavedchangesarelost.Notethatthisoperationcannotbeundone.ThisfunctioncanforexamplebeusedtorefreshtheviewifQCADisusedasfileviewerforfileswhicharemodifiedbyanotherapplicationorprocess.
Save
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>SaveShortcut:Ctrl+S(Mac:⌘S)Commands:save
Description:
Thiscommandsavesthecurrentdrawingtothesamefileitwasloadedfrom.Ifyouwanttosaveanewlycreateddrawingor
savethecurrentdrawingtoanewfile,usethemenuFile-SaveAsinstead.Youwillthenbeaskedforafilenamebeforethedrawingissaved.
SaveAs...
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>SaveAs...Shortcut:Ctrl+Shift+S(Mac:⇧⌘S)Commands:saveas
Description:
Savesthecurrentdrawingasanewfile.Thedialogthatisshownalsoallowsyoutochoosetheformatandformatversionthatyouwanttousetosavethefile.
Close
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>CloseShortcut:Ctrl+W(Mac:⌘W)Commands:close
Description:
Thiscommandclosesthecurrentdrawing.Ifthecurrentdrawingcontainsunsavedchanges,youwillbegiventheoptiontosavethedrawingbeforeclosingitortodiscardthosechanges.
BitmapExport...
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>BitmapExport... Shortcut:X,BCommands:bitmapexport
Description:
Thistoolexportsthecurrentdrawingasabitmapfile.
Procedure:
Adialogforselectingtheoutputfileispresented.Afterthefilenamehasbeenspecified,aseconddialogasksyouforthebitmapsizeandthepreferredbackgroundcolor.Notethatexportingtobitmapswithaverylargesizecantakealongtime,dependingonyourhardware.Themaximumsize
forbitmapsiswidthxheight≤2.147.483.647.
QuickSVGExport
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:File>QuickSVGExport Shortcut:X,SCommands:svgexport
Description:
ExportsthecurrentdrawingtoanSVGfile.WhiletheSVGformatisnotidealforstoringCADdata,itisverypopularforstoringvarioustypesofvectorgraphicsmainlyforpresentationandsometimesforfurtherprocessing.ThistoolusestheparametersthatcanbeconfiguredintheapplicationpreferencesunderLoad/Save-QuickSVGExport.
AdvancedSVGExport...
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:File>AdvancedSVGExport... Commands:svgexportas
Description:
ExportsthecurrentdrawingintheSVGformat.Anadvancedexportdialogisshownthatcanbeusedtoconfigurevariousoptionsfortheexport.Mostnotably,theoption"PreserveGeometry"canbeusedtoexportthedrawingforfurtherprocessing.ThevisualappearanceoftheoutputmightnotexactlymatchthatoftheCADdrawinginthiscase,butasmuchofthegeometryaspossibleiscarriedacrosstotheSVGfile.
SVGImport...
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>SVGImport...Commands:svgimport
Description:
ThistoolimportsanSVGfileintothecurrentdrawing.NotethatonlyaverylimitedsetofSVGtagsandargumentsissupported.TheideaistoimportasmuchoftherawgeometryintheSVGfileaspossible.
PDFExport
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>PDFExport Shortcut:X,DCommands:pdf
Description:
ThistoolexportsthecurrentdrawingtoaPDFfile.ExportingtoPDFisverysimilartoprintingadrawing.YouwillmostlikelyhavetoadjustyourdrawingscaleanddrawingpositionaswellaspagesettingsbeforeexportingadrawingtoPDF.Forthisreason,QCADautomaticallyswitchestotheprintpreviewwhenthistoolisused.Iftheprintpreviewdoesnotmatchyourexpectations,canceltheexport,adjustthepagesettingsandstartthePDFexportagain.
PrintPreview
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>PrintPreviewShortcut:Ctrl+Shift+P(Mac:⇧⌘P)Commands:printpreview
Description:
Theprintpreviewshowshowyourdrawingwilllooklikeintheprintout.Usethecomboboxintheoptionstoolbartoadjustthescalefactorofyourdrawing.Thisoptiondoesnotactuallyscaleorotherwisemodifyyourdrawingentities,itonlysetsupthescalefactorthatisappliedforfittingyourdrawingonpaper.Thebuttonsrightofthescalecomboboxcanbeusedtoautomaticallyfityourdrawingonthechosenpaperortoautomaticallyaddpages,soyourentiredrawingcanbeprintedonmultiplepages.Afterchoosingthe"MovePaperPosition"tool,youcanmovethepaperaroundfreelybydraggingitwiththeleftmousebutton.Clicktherightmousebuttonorhittheescapekeytoterminatethetool.Theoptionstoolbarofferssomeothertoolstoquicklychangesomecommondrawingpreferencesthatarealsoaccessibleinthedrawingpreferencesdialog.
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>PrintShortcut:Ctrl+P(Mac:⌘P)Commands:print
Description:
Usethiscommandtoprintadrawing.Makesuretoalwaysswitchtotheprintpreviewbeforeprintingtocheckifthedrawingscaleandpositionissetupasdesired.
Asetupdialogisshownbeforeanythingisprinted.Usethisdialogtochoosetheprinterandadjustprinterspecificsettings.
PrintCurrentView
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:File>PrintCurrentViewShortcut:Ctrl+Alt+P(Mac:⌘Alt+P) Commands:printview
Description:
Usethiscommandtoprintthedrawingportionthatiscurrentlyshowninthegraphicsview.
EditTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Commands:editmenu
ApplicationPreferences
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>ApplicationPreferences Shortcut:Ctrl+,(Mac:⌘,)Commands:preferences
Description:
Intheapplicationpreferencesdialog,youcanadjustthelookandbehaviorofQCADanditstoolsandgraphicsviews.QCADalsostoressomeofthesesettingsinsidethedrawings.Thosesettingscanbechangedintheapplicationpreferencesasdefaultsettingsfornewdrawings.Inotherwords,theydon'taffectexistingdrawingsbutonlydrawingsthatarecreatedafterthepreferenceshavebeenchanged.
Undo[-]
Undo[-]
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>Undo[-]Shortcuts:Ctrl+Z(Mac:⌘Z)|O,O Commands:undo|oops
Description:
Thistooltakesbackthelastchangeofthedrawing.QCADcantakebackmorethanonecommand.Forexampleifyouhavejustcreatedalineandacircleandyouwanttoundoboth,usetheundocommandtwice.
Redo[-]
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>Redo[-]Shortcuts:Ctrl+Shift+Z(Mac:⇧⌘Z)|U,U Commands:redo|uu
Description:
RedorevertstheeffectsofthepreviousUndoAction.
Delete
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>Delete Shortcuts:Del|Backspace|E,R Commands:delete|er
Description:
Thistooldeletestheentitiesthatarecurrentlyselected.
Cut
Cut
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>CutShortcut:Ctrl+X(Mac:⌘X)Commands:cut
Description:
TheCuttoolworksliketheCopytoolwiththeonlydifferencethattheselectedentitiesareremovedfromthecurrentdrawingafterbeingcopiedtotheclipboard.
CutwithReference
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>CutwithReferenceShortcuts:Ctrl+Shift+X(Mac:⇧⌘X)|R,T Commands:cutwithreference|rt
Description:
TheCutwithReferencetoolworksliketheCopywithReferencetoolwiththeonlydifferencethattheselectedentitiesareremovedfromthecurrentdrawingafterbeingcopiedtotheclipboard.
Copy
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>CopyShortcuts:Ctrl+C(Mac:⌘C)|C,P Commands:copy|cp
Description:
QCADoffersasetoftoolstocopyentitiesfromonedrawingtoanother,similarlikeotherapplications.
Procedure:
1. Usetheselectiontoolstoprepareaselectionofentitiesyouwanttocopytotheclipboard.2. Choosethecopytool.
ThestandardcopytoolofQCADactslikethecopytoolofotherapplications.Itdoesnotallowyoutochooseareferencepointforyourselectionbutinsteadcomputesthereferencepointautomaticallyatthecenteroftheselection.Thisisnotalwaysdesirableasyoumostlikelywanttoplacethepastedentitiesatapreciselydefinedposition.Forthis,QCADoffersandalternative,moreCADspecificcopytool:CopywithReference.
TheselectionisnowontheQCADinternalclipboardandcanbepastedintothesameoradifferentdrawingthatisopenedwiththesamerunninginstanceofQCAD.NotethatifyouquittheQCADapplication,thecontentsoftheclipboardislost.TheQCADclipboardcanonlybeaccessedbyQCADitself.Youcannotexchangedrawingentitieswithotherapplicationsthroughcopyandpaste.PleaseusetheexportandimportfunctionalityofQCADforthis.
CopywithReference
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>CopywithReferenceShortcuts:Ctrl+Shift+C(Mac:⇧⌘C)|R,C Commands:copywithreference|rc
Description:
CopiesthecurrentselectiontotheQCADclipboard.Thistoolletsyouspecifyareferencepointthatisusedtopositiontheselectionwhenpastingitintoadrawing.
Procedure:
1. Usetheselectiontoolstoprepareaselectionofentitiesyouwanttocopytotheclipboard.2. StarttheCopywithReferencetool.3. Specifythereferencepointthatyouwanttousewhenpastingtheselection.
Paste
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>PasteShortcuts:Ctrl+V(Mac:⌘V)|P,S Commands:paste|ps
Description:
Thepastecommandinsertstheentitiesthatwerepreviouslycopiedtotheclipboard.Pasteisespeciallyusefultotransferentitiesfromonedrawingtoanother.Alllayersthatareusedbytheclipboardcontentsarepastedintothelayerlistofthecurrentdrawing.Existinglayerswiththesamenamecanbeoverwrittenifdesired("overwritelayers"optionintheoptionstoolbar).Blockreferencesthatareontheclipboardwillbepastedtogetherwiththeblockdefinitionstheyreferto.Blocksinthecurrentdrawingcanbeoverwrittenifdesired("overwriteblocks"optionintheoptionstoolbar).Theoptionstoolbaralsoofferssometoolstoscale,rotateorfliptheclipboardcontentswhilepasting.
Procedure:
Setthetargetpointforthepastedentitieswiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.ThetargetpointcorrespondstothereferencepointthatwaschosenwhencopyingorcuttingtheentitiesifCopy/CutwithReferencewasused.IfCutorCopywithoutreferencepointwasused,thecenteroftheselectionisusedasreferencepoint.
PastealongEntity
PastealongEntity
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Edit>PastealongEntity Shortcuts:Ctrl+Shift+V(Mac:⇧⌘V)|P,E Commands:pastealongentity
Description:
Thistoolpastestheclipboardcontentsalonganexistingline,arc,polylineorsplineentity.Theclipboardispastedmultipletimesinsuchawaythatthereferencepointoftheclipboardcontentsisplacedontheentity.
Theclipboardcanbeinsertedmultipletimeswithagivendistancebetweenitemsoragivennumberoftimes,equallyspreadalongtheentity.
The"Align"optioncanbeusedtorotatetheclipboardtoalignitsanglewiththeanglealongtheentity.
The"Includeendpoints"optioncausesthefirstandlastitemstobeplacedonthestartandendpointoftheentity.
Inaddition,theclipboardcanbescaledorrotatedwhilepasting.
Duplicate
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>DuplicateShortcut:D,PCommands:duplicate|dp
Description:
Thistoolduplicatestheselectedentitiesandselectsthecreatedcopy.
Procedure:
1. Usetheselectiontoolstoprepareaselectionofentitiesyouwanttoduplicate.2. Choosetheduplicationtool.
QuickModifyTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,QCommands:quickmodifymenu
MoveLeft
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Edit>QuickModify>MoveLeft Shortcut:←
Description:
Thisfunctioncanbeusedtoquicklymovethecurrentselectionbyapreviouslyconfigureddistance.ThedistancecanbeconfiguredunderEdit>ApplicationPreferences>Edit>Move.
MoveRight
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Edit>QuickModify>MoveRight Shortcut:→
Description:
Thisfunctioncanbeusedtoquicklymovethecurrentselectionbyapreviouslyconfigureddistance.ThedistancecanbeconfiguredunderEdit>ApplicationPreferences>Edit>Move.
MoveUp
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Edit>QuickModify>MoveUp Shortcut:↑
Description:
Thisfunctioncanbeusedtoquicklymovethecurrentselectionbyapreviouslyconfigureddistance.ThedistancecanbeconfiguredunderEdit>ApplicationPreferences>Edit>Move.
MoveDown
MoveDown
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Edit>QuickModify>MoveDown Shortcut:↓
Description:
Thisfunctioncanbeusedtoquicklymovethecurrentselectionbyapreviouslyconfigureddistance.ThedistancecanbeconfiguredunderEdit>ApplicationPreferences>Edit>Move.
RotateCounter-Clockwise
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Edit>QuickModify>RotateCounter-Clockwise Shortcut:F5Commands:rotateccw
Description:
Thisfunctioncanbeusedtoquicklyrotatethecurrentselectionbyapreviouslyconfiguredangleortorotateentitiesontheflywhilepastingorinsertingablockorlibraryitem.TheanglecanbeconfiguredunderEdit>ApplicationPreferences>Edit>Rotate.
RotateClockwise
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Edit>QuickModify>RotateClockwise Shortcut:F6Commands:rotatecw
Description:
Thisfunctioncanbeusedtoquicklyrotatethecurrentselectionbyapreviouslyconfiguredangleortorotateentitiesontheflywhilepastingorinsertingablockorlibraryitem.TheanglecanbeconfiguredunderEdit>ApplicationPreferences>Edit>Rotate.
Find/Replace
Find/Replace
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Edit>Find/ReplaceShortcuts:Ctrl+F(Mac:⌘F)|R,P
Description:
Thistoolreplacesalloccurrencesofatextstringintextentitieswithanothertextstring.Ifoneormoreentitiesareselected,thesearchislimitedtoonlythoseentities.Ifnothingisselected,alltextentitiesaresearched.Entitiesonlockedorinvisiblelayersarenotsearched.
SubstituteFonts
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Edit>SubstituteFonts Shortcut:F,F
Description:
Withthistool,youcaneasilyreplaceallusesofaparticularfontwithanotherone.Thisisparticularlyusefulifanimporteddrawingusesfontswhicharenotavailableonyoursystemorwhichdonotsupportallglyphsthatarerequired.
ScaleTextHeights
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Edit>ScaleTextHeightsShortcut:M,GCommands:scaletextheight|mg
Description:
Thistoolscalesthetextheightofallselectedtexts,withoutchangingthepositionofthetexts.
ConvertDrawingUnit
ConvertDrawingUnit
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>ConvertDrawingUnitShortcut:C,UCommands:convertunit|cu
Escape
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>Escape Shortcut:EscCommands:escape
Description:
TheescapekeycanbeusedtoterminatethecurrenttoolandreturntotheidlestateofQCAD.Ifthecurrenttoolrequiresmultiplesteps,escapereturnstothepreviousstepofthetool.Toterminatethetool,escapemighthavetobepressedmultipletimesinthiscase.
Reset/Idle
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>Reset/Idle Shortcut:Q,QCommands:reset|qq
Description:
ThistoolterminatesallactivetoolsandreturnsQCADtoitsidlestateinwhichyoucanusethemousecursortoselectentities,draganddropentities,etc.
DrawingPreferences
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>DrawingPreferences Shortcut:Ctrl+I(Mac:⌘I)Commands:drawingpreferences
Description:
Thedrawingpreferencesdialogallowsyoutochangepreferencesthataffectvariousaspectsofthecurrentdrawing.Thesepreferencesarestoredinyourdrawing.
ApplicationPreferences
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Edit>ApplicationPreferences Shortcut:Ctrl+,(Mac:⌘,)Commands:preferences
Description:
Intheapplicationpreferencesdialog,youcanadjustthelookandbehaviorofQCADanditstoolsandgraphicsviews.QCADalsostoressomeofthesesettingsinsidethedrawings.Thosesettingscanbechangedintheapplicationpreferencesasdefaultsettingsfornewdrawings.Inotherwords,theydon'taffectexistingdrawingsbutonlydrawingsthatarecreatedafterthepreferenceshavebeenchanged.
ViewTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,VCommands:viewmenu
DraftMode
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>DraftModeShortcut:D,FCommands:draftmode|df
Description:
Togglesthedraftmodeofthecurrentdrawing.Indraftmode,alllinesareshownwithawidthof1pixel.Largetextsaresimplified.Usethedraftmodeifyourdrawingbecomesverylargeandittakeslongtoredrawit.
Screen-basedLinetypes
Screen-basedLinetypes
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>Screen-basedLinetypesShortcut:N,LCommands:screenlinetype|nl
Description:
Togglesthescreen-basedlinetypemodeofthecurrentdrawing.Ifthismodeisactivated,linetypesareoptimizedforacomputerscreen.Alllinesaredisplayedwithascreenbasedlinewidth(linesdon'tgetwiderwhenzoomingin)andallpatternsareshownasfixed,pixelbasedpatternsonscreen(dashesdon'tgetlongerwhenzoomingin).Ifthismodeisoff,linewidthsandlinetypesareshownindrawingunits(default).
Anti-aliasing
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>Anti-aliasingShortcut:N,TCommands:antialiasing|nt
Description:
Togglesanti-aliasingforthecurrentdrawing.Withanti-aliasing,skewedlines,arcsandtextsaredisplayedsmoother.
Grid
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>GridShortcut:G,R
Description:
Togglesthegridvisibilityofthecurrentdrawing.
ZoomTools
ZoomTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,ZCommands:zoommenu
ZoomIn
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>Zoom>ZoomIn Shortcuts:+|=|Ctrl++(Mac:⌘+) Commands:zoomin
Description:
Thistoolincreasesthecurrentviewingfactor.Thesameeffectcanalsobeachievedbyturningthemousewheelawayfromyou.
ZoomOut
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>Zoom>ZoomOut Shortcuts:-|Ctrl+-(Mac:⌘-) Commands:zoomout
Description:
Thistooldecreasesthecurrentviewingfactor.Thesameeffectcanalsobeachievedbyturningthemousewheeltowardyou.
AutoZoom
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>Zoom>AutoZoom Shortcut:Z,ACommands:zoomauto|za
Description:
Scalesthedrawingviewsothatallentitiesthatareonvisiblelayersfitonthescreen.
ZoomtoSelection
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>Zoom>ZoomtoSelection Shortcut:Z,SCommands:zoomselection|zs
Description:
Thistoolzoomstothecurrentselection,ensuringthatallselectedentitiesarevisible.
PreviousView
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>Zoom>PreviousView Shortcut:Z,VCommands:zoomprevious|zv
Description:
Showsthelastusedview.Usethistoswitchbacktothepreviousviewforexampleafterperforminganautozoomorafterzoominginwiththewindowzoom.
WindowZoom
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>Zoom>WindowZoom Shortcut:Z,WCommands:zoomwindow|zw
Description:
Thistooloffersaquickwaytozoominonacertainareaofthedrawing.
Procedure:
1. Specifythefirstcorneroftheareayouwanttoview.Presstheleftmousebuttonatthatcornerandkeepitdown.2. Dragthemousetothesecondcornerofthearea.3. Letgoofthemousebuttonatthesecondcorner.
Note:Alternativelyyoucanspecifythefirstandthesecondcornereachwithasinglemouseclickinsteadofdraggingthe
mousearoundwiththemousebuttonpressed.
PanZoom
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>Zoom>PanZoom Shortcut:Z,PCommands:zoompan|zp
Description:
Panningmeansmoving(scrolling)aroundinadrawing.Thequickestwaytodosoisusingthemiddlemousebuttonandmovetheviewsimilarlikeyouwouldmoveapaperaround:pressthemiddlemousebuttonandholditwhilemovingthedrawingaround.IfyourmousedoesnothaveamiddlemousebuttonyoucanpresstheControlkey(MacOSX:Commandkey)andusetheleftmousebuttoninstead.Alternatively,youcanactivatethistoolandthenmovetheviewwiththeleftmousebuttonwithoutpressinganykeys.Clicktherightmousebuttonwhenyouaredone.
OverlayTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Commands:overlaymenu
Direction
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:View>Overlays>Direction Shortcut:V,DCommands:overlaydirection|vd
Description:
Thistoolshowsadirectionoverlayoverthecurrentdrawing.Anarrowisshownovereachentitywithadirection.Entitieswithadirectionare:lines,arcs,ellipsearcs,splinesandpolylines.
Order
Order
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:View>Overlays>Order Shortcut:V,OCommands:overlayorder|vo
Description:
Thistoolshowsanorderoverlayoverthecurrentdrawing.Anordernumberisshownovereachentity.
Startpoint
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:View>Overlays>Startpoint Shortcut:V,SCommands:overlaystartpoint|vs
Description:
Thistoolshowsastartpointoverlayoverthecurrentdrawing.Anarrowisshownovereachstartpointofanentitywithastart/endpoint.Entitieswithastartpointare:lines,arcs,ellipsearcs,splinesandpolylines.
StoredViewsTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Commands:storedviewsmenu
AddView
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:View>StoredViews>AddView Shortcut:V,ACommands:viewadd
Description:
Savesthecurrentview(zoomandoffset)asanentryintheviewlist.Savedviewscanquicklyberecoveredbyclickingtheviewintheviewlistinsteadofzoomingandscrolling.
Procedure:
1. Zoominonapartofyourdrawingyoufrequentlywanttoview.2. Launchthistool.3. EnteranamefortheviewandclickOK.
RemoveView
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:View>StoredViews>RemoveView Shortcut:V,RCommands:viewremove
Description:
Removestheactiveviewfromtheviewlist.
EditView
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:View>StoredViews>EditView Shortcut:V,ECommands:viewedit
Description:
Thistooleditsthenameofapreviouslysavedview.
Procedure:
1. Activatethatviewyouwanttoeditintheviewlist.2. Launchthistool.3. Editthenameoftheviewandclick"OK".
PickView
PickView
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:View>StoredViews>PickView Shortcut:V,PCommands:viewpick
Description:
Thistoolupdatesanexistingsavedviewtomatchthecurrentview.
Procedure:
1. Activatetheviewyouwanttoupdateintheviewlist.2. Zoomandpantodisplaythenewviewyouwanttouse.3. Launchthistooltoupdatetheactiveviewintheviewlist.
IsometricGridOff
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>IsometricGridOffShortcut:J,OCommands:isometricgridoff|jo
TopProjection
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>TopProjection Shortcut:J,TCommands:isometricgridtop|jt
RightProjection
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>RightProjection Shortcut:J,RCommands:isometricgridright|jr
LeftProjection
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>LeftProjectionShortcut:J,LCommands:isometricgridleft|jl
LayerList
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>LayerListShortcut:G,YCommands:gy
Description:
Thistoolshows/hidesthelayerlistwidget.
QCADProfessional:
Bydefault,thelayerlistshowscolumnsforthelayervisibility(on/off)andthelayerlock(locked/unlocked).Morecolumnsforotherlayerstates(frozen,snappable,plottable)canbeshownunderEdit>ApplicationPreferences>LayerList.
BlockList
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>BlockListShortcut:G,BCommands:gb
ViewList
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:View>ViewListShortcut:G,VCommands:gv
PropertyEditor
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>PropertyEditor Shortcut:G,PCommands:gp
SelectionFilter
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:View>SelectionFilter Shortcut:G,FCommands:gf
LibraryBrowser
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>LibraryBrowserShortcut:G,LCommands:gl
Description:
ThepartlibrariesofQCADarecollectionsofsymbolsandotherdrawingfilesthatcanbeusedinyourdrawings.Toinsertanitemfromapartlibrary,youneedtoshowthelibrarybrowserfirstusingthistool.Partscanbeinsertedintoyourdrawingusingdraganddrop.Oncethemousecursorisinsidethedrawingarea,youcanusetheregularsnaptoolstopositiontheinsertedpartandtheoptionstoolbartoscale,fliporrotatethepart.
CommandLine
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>CommandLineShortcut:G,MCommands:gm
Description:
ThecommandlineofQCADallowsyoutostartcommands,entercoordinatesorentervaluessuchasdistancesorradii.
EnteringCoordinates
Absolutecoordinatesareenteredintheformat"x,y":
40,5
Relativecoordinatesareenteredintheformat"@x,y":
@10,6
Absolutepolarcoordinatesareenteredintheformat"distance<angle":
10<30
Relativepolarcoordinatesareenteredintheformat"@distance<angle":
@10<45
Whenenteringcoordinatesorvalues,mathematicalexpressionsmaybeusedtocalculateacoordinatebasedonknownvalues.Forexamplethecoordinate10,5mayalsobeenteredas:
5+5,30/6
Calculator
Thecommandlinecanalsobeusedasacalculator.Todothis,enteramathematicalexpressionproceededbyanequalsign:
=3+47
Variablesmaybeusedtostorevalues:
=a=5+611=a/25.5
MathematicalExpressions
Mathematicalconstantsavailableare:
PI,LN2,LN10,LOG2E,LOG10E,SQRT1_2,SQRT2
Mathematicalfunctionsavailableare:
abs,ceil,floor,exp,log,max,min,pow,sqrt,random,round,rad2deg,deg2rad,sin,cos,tan,asin,acos,atan,atan2,log10,log1p,log2,sign,cosh,sinh,tanh,acosh,asinh,atanh,expm1,hypot,cbrt,trunc
MostoftheseconstantsandfunctionsarestandardECMAScript(JavaScript)functionsanddocumentedonline.InstandardECMAScript,thesefunctionsarepartoftheMathclasssothefunctionabswouldhavetowrittenasMath.abs.IntheQCADcommandline,youcanleaveawaytheMath.partforconvenience.Trigonometricfunctions(sin,cos,tan,asin,acos,atan,atan2)acceptorreturnanglesindegrees.Ifyouprefertheradianversionsofthesefunctions,usetheoriginalMath.functionsinstead.
Thefunctionsrad2deganddeg2radcanbeusedtoconvertanglesbetweenradiananddegrees.
ClipboardDisplay
ClipboardDisplay
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:View>ClipboardDisplayShortcut:G,CCommands:gc
StatusBar
Menu:View>StatusBar Shortcut:G,SCommands:gs
FocusonCommandLine
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>FocusonCommandLine Shortcuts:Space|Ctrl+M(Mac:⌘M)
Description:
Thiscommandactivatesthecommandlineforinput,forexampletoenteracoordinatewhenspecifyingapoint.ThisisusuallydonebypressingtheSpacekey.
FocusonOptionsToolbar
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>FocusonOptionsToolbar Shortcut:Meta+Space
FocusonToolMatrix
FocusonToolMatrix
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>FocusonToolMatrix Shortcut:Meta+Shift+Space(Mac:Meta+⇧Space)
Description:
Thiscommandactivatesthefilter(search)fieldofthetoolmatrixforinput.
DisplayDistance/Angle
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:View>DisplayDistance/AngleShortcut:F8
SelectionTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,SCommands:selectionmenu
Description:
CrossSelection
Someselectiontoolscanbeusedincrossselectionmode.Inthismode,notonlyentitiesthatarecompletelyinsideagivenareaareselectedbutalsoentitiesthatareonlypartlyinsidethearea.Thisselectionisalsoknownas"crossselection".
SelectionMode
Someselectiontoolsallowyoutochooseaselectionmodeintheoptionstoolbar.Theselectionmodesthatareavailableare:
Replaceselection:
Replacesthecurrentselectionwiththenewselectionmadebytheactiveselectiontool(default).Addtoselection:
Addstheselectiontothecurrentselection.Removefromselection:
Removes(subtracts)theselectionfromthecurrentselection.Intersect:
Onlyentitiesthatwerealreadyselectedandthatmatchthecriteriaoftheselectiontoolareselected.
DeselectAll
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Select>DeselectAll Shortcuts:T,N|Ctrl+K(Mac:⌘K)|Ctrl+D(Mac:⌘D)|Ctrl+Shift+A(Mac:⇧⌘A) Commands:deselectall|tn
Description:
Deselectsallentities.Usethistooltomakesurethatnoentitiesareselected.Alternatively,youcanalsoclickintoanemptyareaofyourdrawing.
SelectAll
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Select>SelectAll Shortcuts:T,A|Ctrl+A(Mac:⌘A) Commands:selectall|ta
Description:
Selectsallentitiesonallvisible,unlockedlayers.
SelectView
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Select>SelectView Shortcut:T,VCommands:selectview|tv
Description:
Selectsallentitiesthatarecompletelyinsidethecurrentlyvisiblearea.
InvertSelection
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Select>InvertSelection Shortcut:T,ICommands:selectinvert|invertselection|ti
Description:
Selectsallentitiesthatarenotcurrentlyselectedanddeselectsallselectedentities.
(De-)SelectRectangularArea
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Select>(De-)SelectRectangularArea Shortcuts:T,R|T,W Commands:selectrectangle|selectwindow|tr|tw
Description:
Selectsallentitiesthatarewithinagivenrectangulararea.
Procedure:
1. Choosetheselectionmodeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Tickthecheckboxforcrossselectiontoalsoselectentitiesthatintersectthegivenrectangle.3. Usethemousetodrawtheselectionrectangle.Allmatchingentitiesareselectedordeselecteddependingonthe
selectionmode.
(De-)SelectPolygon
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Select>(De-)SelectPolygon Shortcut:T,PCommands:selectpolygon|tp
Description:
Selectsordeselectsallentitiesthatarewithinagivenpolygon.
Procedure:
1. Choosetheselectionmodeintheoptionstoolbar.
2. Tickthecheckboxfor"crossselection"toalsoselectentitiesthatintersectthegivenpolygon.3. Usethemousetodrawtheselectionpolygon.Allmatchingentitiesareselectedordeselecteddependingonthe
selectionmode.
(De-)SelectContour
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Select>(De-)SelectContour Shortcut:T,CCommands:selectcontour|tc
Description:
Selectsordeselectsentitiesthatareconnectedtoeachotherandformacontour(closedoropen).
Procedure:
1. Choosetheselectionmodeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Usethemousetopickoneentityofthecontouryouwanttoselect.Thetoolthensearchesfromtheendpointsofthe
selectedentityinbothdirectionsforentitiesthataredirectlyorindirectlyconnectedtothisentity.Allconnectedentitiesareselectedordeselecteddependingonthechosenselectionmode.
Insteadofusingthistool,youcansimplydouble-clickandentitytoselectitandallconnectedentities.
(De-)SelectIntersectedEntities
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Select>(De-)SelectIntersectedEntities Shortcut:T,XCommands:selectintersected|tx|ux
Description:
Selectsordeselectsallentitiesthatareintersectedbyaline.
Procedure:
1. Choosetheselectionmodeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Clickthestartpointoftheintersectionline.3. Clicktheendpointoftheintersectionline.4. Allintersectedentitiesareselectedordeselecteddependingontheselectionmode.
(De-)SelectLayer
(De-)SelectLayer
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Select>(De-)SelectLayer Shortcut:T,LCommands:selectlayerbyentity|tl
Description:
Selectsordeselectsallentitiesonthesamelayerasachosenentity.
Procedure:
1. Choosetheselectionmodeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Usethemousetopickoneentityonthelayeryouwantto(de-)select.Allentitiesthatareonthesamelayerasthe
entityyouhavepickedareselectedordeselecteddependingontheselectionmode.
DrawingTools
PointTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,PCommands:pointmenu
SinglePoint
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Point>SinglePoint Shortcut:P,OCommands:point|po
Description:
Thiscommandisusedtodrawsinglepoints.Pointsarevisuallyrepresentedbyasmallcross.
Procedure:
Usethemousetospecifythelocationofthepointorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.
NPointsonLine
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Point>NPointsonLine Shortcut:P,NCommands:npoints|pn
Description:
Withthistoolyoucandrawagivennumberofpointsthatareevenlydistributedonaline.
Procedure:
1. Enterthenumberofpointsyouwanttocreate.2. Specifythestartandendpointofthelinewiththemouseorbyenteringthecoordinatesinthecommandline.
MxNPoints
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Point>MxNPoints Shortcut:P,MCommands:mnpoints|pm
Description:
WiththistoolyoucandrawagridofNtimesMpoints.Thepointsareevenlydistributedinanirregularquadrilateral.
Procedure:
1. Enterthenumberofpointsalongthefirstsideofthequadrilateralas"M"intheoptionstoolbar.2. Enterthenumberofpointsalongthesecondsideofthequadrilateralas"N"intheoptionstoolbar.3. Specifythefourcornerpointsofthequadrilateralwiththemouseorbyenteringtheircoordinatesinthecommandline.
LineTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,LCommands:linemenu
Description:
LineTypes
Mostlinetoolsallowyoutochoosethetypeoflinetocreateintheoptionstoolbar.Thelinetypesavailableare:
Auto:
Automaticallycreatealineofthesametypeasachosenotherline.Thisappliesfortheparallellinetool.LineSegment:
Createslinesegmentsfromastartpointtoanendpoint.InfiniteLine:
Createsinfinitelinesthatgothroughtwogivenpoints.ThesearesometimescalledX-linesorconstructionlines.Rays:
Createsraysfromagivenstartpoint,throughanotherpointwithaninfinitelength.
Linefrom2Points
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>Linefrom2Points Shortcut:L,ICommands:line|ln|li|l
Description:
Thistoolletsyoudrawasequenceofoneormorestraightlines.
Procedure:
1. Choosethedesiredlinetypeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Specifythestartpointofthefirstlinesegment.Youcanusethemouseorenteracoordinateintheconsole.3. Specifytheendpointofthefirstlinesegment.4. Specifytheendpointsofadditionallinesegments.Clickthe"Close"buttonintheoptionstoolbartoclosethe
sequence:
Ifyouneedtoundoasinglelinesegment,youcandosobyclickingthe"Undo"button:
5. Ifyouwanttorestricttheangleorlengthoflinesegments,youcandosobyclickingthe"RestrictAngleorLength"button,andenteringalengthand/orangle.
LinefromAngle
LinefromAngle
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>LinefromAngle Shortcut:L,ACommands:lineangle|la
Description:
Usethistooltocreatelineswithagivenangle.Thelineisusuallytrimmedtothedesiredlengthaftercreatingit.
Procedure:
1. Choosethedesiredlinetypeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Entertheangleandlengthofthelineintheoptionstoolbar.3. Intheoptionstoolbar,choosethereferencepointonthelinewhichyouwanttouseforpositioningtheline.'Start'
meansthatthelinewillhaveitsstartpointatthepointwhereyoupositionit.4. Placethelinewiththemouseorbyenteringacoordinateinthecommandline.
HorizontalLine
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>HorizontalLine Shortcut:L,HCommands:linehorizontal|lh
Description:
Usethistooltocreatehorizontallines.Thistoolisusedlikethetoolforlinesatanygivenangle,exceptthattheangleisfixedtobehorizontal.
VerticalLine
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>VerticalLine Shortcut:L,VCommands:linevertical|lv
Description:
Usethistooltocreateverticallines.Thistoolisusedlikethetoolforlinesatagivenangle,exceptthattheangleisfixedtobevertical.
AngleBisector
AngleBisector
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>AngleBisector Shortcut:L,BCommands:linebisector|bisector|lb
Description:
Usethistoolforcreatinganglebisectorsbetweentwolineentities.
Procedure:
1. Choosethedesiredlinetypeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Intheoptionstoolbarenterthelengthofthebisector(s),startingfromtheintersectionpointofthetwolines.Inthe
secondtextbox,choosethenumberofanglebisectorsyouwanttocreate.Thedefaultis'1'butyoucanalsocreatemultiplebisectorsasshownhere:
3. Clickthefirstlineentitywhichlimitstheangle.4. Clickthesecondlineentitywiththemousecursoronthatsideofthelineonwhichyouwanttocreatetheangle
bisector(s).Thepreviewshowstheanglebisector(s)beforetheyarecreated.
Parallel(withDistance)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>Parallel(withDistance) Shortcuts:L,P|P,A Commands:lineparallel|lineoffset|parallel|par|lp|pa
Description:
Withthistoolyoucancreateparallelstoexistinglines(orconcentricarcsandcircles).
Procedure:
1. Choosethedesiredlinetypeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Enterthedistanceoftheconcentricorparallelentityfromtheoriginalentityintheoptionstoolbarshownatthetop.3. Enterthenumberofparallelorconcentricentitiestocreateintheoptionstoolbar.4. Clickthebaseentity.Theparallelorconcentricentitiesarecreatedonthatsideonwhichthemousecursorislocated
whileselectingtheentity.
Parallel(throughPoint)
Parallel(throughPoint)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>Parallel(throughPoint) Shortcut:L,GCommands:lineparallelthrough|lineoffsetthrough|parallelthrough|lg
Description:
Withthistoolyoucancreateparallelstoexistinglinesorconcentricarcsandcircles.Theparallelorconcentricarcorcirclegoesthroughagivenpoint.
Procedure:
1. Choosethedesiredlinetypeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Enterthenumberofentitiestocreateintheoptionstoolbar.3. Clickthebaseentity.4. Clickthepositionthroughwhichthefirstparallelorconcentricarcorcircleruns.
Tangent(Point,Circle)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>Tangent(Point,Circle) Shortcut:L,T,1Commands:linetangent|tangent|lt1
Description:
Createtangentsfromacoordinatetoanexistingarc,circleorellipseentitywiththistool.
Procedure:
1. Choosethedesiredlinetypeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Usethemousetospecifythelocationofthestartpointofthelineorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.3. Clicktheentitytowhichyouwanttocreatethetangent.Usually,twotangentsarepossible.Whenmovingthemouse
around,youcanseeapreviewofthetangentthatwillbecreated.
Tangent(TwoCircles)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>Tangent(TwoCircles) Shortcut:L,T,2Commands:linetangent2|tangent2|lt2
Description:
Createtangentsfromoneexistingarcorcircleentitytoanotheronewiththistool.
Procedure:
1. Choosethedesiredlinetypeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Clickthefirstarcorcircleentitytowhichyouwanttocreatethetangent.3. Clickthesecondarcorcircleentitytowhichyouwanttocreatethetangent.Usually,fourtangentsarepossible.When
movingthemousearound,youcanseeapreviewofthetangentthatwillbecreated.
Orthogonal/Tangent
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>Orthogonal/Tangent Shortcut:L,NCommands:lineorthogonaltangent|orthotangent
Description:
Usethistooltocreatealinethatisorthogonaltoanotherlineandtangenttoanexistingarc,circleorellipseentity.
Procedure:
1. Choosethedesiredlinetypeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Clickthelineentitytowhichthenewlineshouldbeorthogonal.3. Clickthearc,circleorellipseentitytowhichthelineshouldbeatangent.Therearetwopossiblesolutions.When
movingthemousearound,youcanseeapreviewofthetangentthatwillbecreated.
RelativeAngle
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>RelativeAngle Shortcut:L,RCommands:linerelativeangle|lr
Description:
Createlineswitharelativeangletoexistingentitieswiththistool.Theexistingentitycanbealineoranarc/circle.Lineswitharelativeangleof0degreestoanarcaretangentsorparallelstotangents.Lineswitharelativeangleof90degreestoanarcorlineareorthogonallines.
Procedure:
1. Choosethedesiredlinetypeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Entertherelativeangleintheoptionstoolbar.3. Clicktheexistingbaseentity.4. Placethelinewiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.
Orthogonal
Orthogonal
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>Orthogonal Shortcut:L,OCommands:lineorthogonal|lo
Description:
Thistoolletsyoucreatelinesorthogonaltoanexistingbaseentity.Thebaseentitycanbealine,arcorcircle.
Procedure:
1. Choosethedesiredlinetypeintheoptionstoolbar.2. Clicktheexistingbaseentity.3. Placethelinewiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.
FreehandLine
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Line>FreehandLine Shortcut:L,FCommands:linefree|freehand|lf
Description:
Withthistoolyoucandrawfreehandlines.Thistoolisusuallyusedonlysparinglysincetechnicaldrawingsrequireabsoluteaccuracy.However,onsomeoccasionsthistoolmightcomeinhandy,forexampleforbrokenedgeslikeshownhere:
Procedure:
1. Placethemouseatthestartpointofthefreehandline,presstheleftmousebuttonandkeepitdown.2. Nowmovethemousearoundtodrawtheline.Attheendpointofthefreehandline,letgoofthemousebutton.
ArcTools
ArcTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,ACommands:arcmenu
Center,Point,Angles
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Arc>Center,Point,Angles Shortcut:A,RCommands:arcc|ar
Description:
Drawsanarcfromitscenterpoint,apointonthearcline,startangleandendangle.
Procedure:
1. Choosethedirectionofthearcintheoptionstoolbar.2. Setthecenterofthearcusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.3. Definetheradiusbyclickingapointonthearcorbyenteringacoordinateintothecommandline.Youmayalsoenter
theradiusinthecommandline.4. Setthestartanglewiththemouseorbyenteringacoordinateortheangleinthecommandline.5. Settheendanglethesamewayasthestartangle.
2PointsandRadius
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Arc>2PointsandRadius Shortcut:A,DCommands:arcradius|ad
Description:
Drawsanarcusingthestartpoint,endpointandtheradius.
Procedure:
1. Typethearcradiusintotheoptionstoolbarandchoosethearcdirection(clockwiseorcounter-clockwise)andthesolution(largerarcorsmallerarc).
2. Specifythestartpointofthearc.3. Specifytheendpointofthearc.Iftheendpointistoofarawayfromthestartpointforasolution,theclosestsolutionis
drawn(ahalfcirclewiththegivenradiusanddirection).
2PointsandAngle
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Arc>2PointsandAngle Shortcut:A,2Commands:arc2|a2
Description:
Drawsanarcusingthestartpoint,endpointandtheincludedangle.
Procedure:
1. Typetheincludedangleintotheoptionstoolbarandchoosethearcdirection(clockwiseorcounter-clockwise).2. Specifythestartpointofthearc.3. Specifytheendpointofthearc.
2PointsandLength
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Arc>2PointsandLength Shortcut:A,LCommands:arclength|al
Description:
Drawsanarcusingthestartpoint,endpointandthearclength.
Procedure:
1. Typethearclengthintotheoptionstoolbarandchoosethearcdirection(clockwiseorcounter-clockwise).2. Specifythestartpointofthearc.3. Specifytheendpointofthearc.Iftheendpointistoofarawayfromthestartpointforasolution,nothingisdrawn.
2PointsandHeight
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Arc>2PointsandHeight Shortcut:A,HCommands:archeight|ah
Description:
Drawsanarcusingthestartpoint,endpointandthearcheight.
Procedure:
1. Typethearcheightintotheoptionstoolbarandchoosethearcdirection(clockwiseorcounter-clockwise).2. Specifythestartpointofthearc.3. Specifytheendpointofthearc.
3Points
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Arc>3Points Shortcut:A,3Commands:arc3|a3
Description:
Ifyouknowthestartpoint,theendpointandapointinbetweenonthearcline,youcanusethistooltodrawanarc.
Procedure:
1. Setthestartpointusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.2. Setthesecondpointtoaknownpointonthearcline.3. Settheendpointofthearc.
Concentric(withDistance)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Arc>Concentric(withDistance) Shortcut:A,CCommands:arcconcentric|ac
Description:
Withthistoolyoucancreateoneormultipleconcentricarcswithagivendistancetoanexistingarc.
Procedure:
1. Enterthedistanceoftheconcentricarcfromtheoriginalbasearcintheoptionstoolbar.2. Enterthenumberofconcentricarcstocreateintheoptionstoolbar.3. Clickthebasearc.Theconcentricarc(s)arecreatedonthatsideonwhichthemousecursorislocatedwhileclicking
thebasearc.
Concentric(throughPoint)
Concentric(throughPoint)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Arc>Concentric(throughPoint) Shortcut:A,GCommands:arcconcentricthrough|ag
Description:
Withthistoolyoucancreateconcentricarcsthatgothroughaspecifiedpoint.
Procedure:
1. Enterthenumberofconcentricarcstocreateintheoptionstoolbar.2. Clickthebasearc.3. Clickthelocationthroughwhichthefirstconcentricarcshouldgo.
TangentiallyConnected
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Arc>TangentiallyConnected Shortcut:A,NCommands:arctangential|an
Description:
Drawsanarcthatconnectstangentiallytoanexistingarcorline.
Procedure:
1. Entertheradiusofthearcintheoptionstoolbar.2. Specifytheendpointofthearc.
Tangent,Point,Radius
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Arc>Tangent,Point,Radius Shortcut:A,TCommands:arctangentpointradius|at
Description:
Drawsanarcwithagivenradius,tangentialtoanentityandthroughapoint.
Procedure:
1. Entertheradiusintheoptionstoolbar.2. Specifythetangentialentity.3. Specifythepointonthearc.4. Choosethedesiredsolutionbyclickingclosetoitwiththeleftmousebutton.
CircleTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,CCommands:circlemenu
Center,Point
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>Center,Point Shortcut:C,ICommands:circle|ci
Description:
Drawsacirclewithagivencenterandapointonthecircleline.
Procedure:
1. Setthecenterofthecircleusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.2. Definetheradiusbyclickingapointonthecirclelineorbyenteringacoordinateintothecommandline.Youmayalso
entertheradiusinthecommandline.
Center,Radius
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>Center,Radius Shortcut:C,RCommands:circlecr|cr
Description:
Thistoolletsyoucreatecircleswithagivencenterandradius.
Procedure:
1. Entertheradiusintheoptiontoolbarorinthecommandline.
2. Setthecenterofthecircleusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.
Center,Diameter
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>Center,Diameter Shortcut:C,ACommands:circlediameter|ca
Description:
Thistoolletsyoucreatecircleswithagivencenteranddiameter.
Procedure:
1. Enterthediameterintheoptiontoolbarorinthecommandline.2. Setthecenterofthecircleusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.
2PointsandRadius
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>2PointsandRadius Shortcut:C,DCommands:circleradius|cd
Description:
Drawsacirclefromtwopointsonthecirclelineandaradius.
Procedure:
1. Typetheradiusintotheoptionstoolbar.2. Specifythefirstpointonthecircleline.3. Specifythesecondpointonthecircleline.
2Points
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>2Points Shortcut:C,2Commands:circle2p|c2
Description:
Drawsacirclewithtwodiametricallyopposedpoints.
Procedure:
1. Setthefirstpointusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.2. Setthesecondpoint.
3Points
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>3Points Shortcut:C,3Commands:Circle3P|c3
Description:
Drawsacirclefromthreeknownpointsonthecircleline.
Procedure:
1. Setthefirstpointonthecirclelineusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.2. Setthesecondpointonthecircleline.3. Setthethirdpoint.
Concentric(withDistance)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>Concentric(withDistance) Shortcut:C,CCommands:circleconcentric|cc
Description:
Withthistoolyoucancreateoneormultipleconcentriccircleswithagivendistancetoanexistingcircle.
Procedure:
1. Enterthedistanceoftheconcentriccirclefromtheoriginalbasecircleintheoptionstoolbar.2. Enterthenumberofconcentriccirclestocreateintheoptionstoolbar.3. Clickthebasecircle.Theconcentriccircle(s)arecreatedonthatsideonwhichthemousecursorislocatedwhile
clickingthebasecircle.
Concentric(throughPoint)
Concentric(throughPoint)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>Concentric(throughPoint) Shortcut:C,GCommands:circleconcentricthrough|cg
Description:
Withthistoolyoucancreateconcentriccirclesthatgothroughaspecifiedpoint.
Procedure:
1. Enterthenumberofconcentriccirclestocreateintheoptionstoolbar.2. Clickthebasecircle.3. Clickthelocationthroughwhichthefirstconcentriccircleshouldgo.
Tangentand2Points
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>Tangentand2Points Shortcut:C,T,1Commands:circletangent2p|ct1
Description:
Drawsacirclethatistangentialtoanentityandgoesthroughtwopoints.
Procedure:
1. Specifythetangentialentity.2. Specifythefirstpointonthecircleline.3. Specifythesecondpointonthecircleline.
Tangent,Point,Radius
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>Tangent,Point,Radius Shortcut:C,T,PCommands:circletangentpointradius|ctp
Description:
Drawsanarcwithagivenradius,tangentialtoanentityandthroughapoint.
Procedure:
1. Entertheradiusintheoptionstoolbar.2. Specifythetangentialentity.3. Specifythepointonthearc.4. Choosethedesiredsolutionbyclickingclosetoitwiththeleftmousebutton.
2TangentsandPoint
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>2TangentsandPoint Shortcut:C,T,2Commands:circletangent2|ct2
Description:
Drawsacirclethatistangentialtotwoentitiesandgoesthroughapoint.
Procedure:
1. Specifythefirsttangentialentity.2. Specifythesecondtangentialentity.3. Specifythepointonthecircleline.
2TangentsandRadius
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>2TangentsandRadius Shortcut:C,T,RCommands:circletangent2radius|ctr
Description:
Drawsacirclewithagivenradiusthatistangentialtotwoentities.
Procedure:
1. Typetheradiusintotheoptionstoolbar.2. Specifythefirsttangentialentity.3. Specifythesecondtangentialentity.
3Tangents
3Tangents
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Circle>3Tangents Shortcut:C,T,3Commands:circletangent3|ct3
Description:
Drawsacirclethatistangentialtothreeentities.
Procedure:
1. Specifythefirsttangentialentity.2. Specifythesecondtangentialentity.3. Specifythethirdtangentialentity.
EllipseTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,ECommands:ellipsemenu
Ellipse(Center,Point,Ratio)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Ellipse>Ellipse(Center,Point,Ratio) Shortcut:E,PCommands:ellipse|ep
Description:
Drawsellipseswithagivencenter,majoraxisandminoraxis.
Procedure:
1. Setthecenteroftheellipseusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.2. Definethemajoraxisbyclickingtheendpointoftheaxis,whichisapointontheellipse.Youcanalsoentera
coordinateintothecommandlineorenteranangleandmajorradiusintheformat@50<30where50isthemajorradiusand30istheellipseangle.
3. Definetheendpointoftheminoraxiswhichisalsoapointontheellipse.
EllipseArc
EllipseArc
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Ellipse>EllipseArc Shortcut:E,ACommands:ellipsearc|ea
Description:
Drawsellipsearcswithagivencenter,majorandminoraxisandstartandendangles.
Procedure:
1. Setthecenteroftheellipseusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.2. Definethemajoraxisbyclickingtheendpointoftheaxis,whichisapointontheellipse.Youcanalsoentera
coordinateintothecommandlineorenteranangleandmajorradiusintheformat@50<30where50isthemajorradiusand30istheellipseangle.
3. Definetheendpointoftheminoraxiswhichisalsoapointontheellipseorenterthelengthoftheminoraxis.4. Setthestartanglewiththemouseorbyenteringacoordinateortheangleinthecommandline.5. Settheendanglethesamewayasthestartangle.
EllipsewithRadii
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Ellipse>EllipsewithRadii Shortcut:E,ICommands:ellipseradii|ei
Description:
Drawsellipseswithgivenmajorandminorradius.
Procedure:
1. EntertheradiusinX(majorradius),theradiusinY(minorradius)andtheellipseangleintheoptionstoolbar.2. Setthecenteroftheellipseusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.
EllipsewithDiameters
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Ellipse>EllipsewithDiameters Shortcut:E,DCommands:ellipsediameters|ed
Description:
Drawsellipseswithgivenmajorandminordiameter(width/height).
Procedure:
1. EnterthediameterinX(majordiameter),thediameterinY(minordiameter)andtheellipseangleintheoptionstoolbar.
2. Setthecenteroftheellipseusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.
ParallelCurve(withDistance)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Ellipse>ParallelCurve(withDistance) Shortcut:E,CCommands:ellipseoffset|ec
Description:
Withthistoolyoucancreateoneormultipleparallelcurveswithagivendistancetoanexistingellipse.
Procedure:
1. Enterthedistanceoftheparallelcurvesfromtheoriginalbaseellipseintheoptionstoolbar.2. Enterthenumberofparallelcurvestocreateintheoptionstoolbar.3. Clickthebaseellipse.Theconcentriccurve(s)arecreatedonthatsideonwhichthemousecursorislocatedwhile
clickingthebaseellipse.
ParallelCurve(throughPoint)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Ellipse>ParallelCurve(throughPoint) Shortcut:E,GCommands:ellipseoffsetthrough|eg
Description:
Withthistoolyoucancreatecurvesthatareparalleltoanellipseandgothroughaspecifiedpoint.
Procedure:
1. Enterthenumberofparallelcurvestocreateintheoptionstoolbar.2. Clickthebaseellipse.3. Clickthelocationthroughwhichthefirstparallelcurveshouldgo.
InscribedinQuadrilateral
InscribedinQuadrilateral
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Ellipse>InscribedinQuadrilateral Shortcut:E,QCommands:ellipseinscribedquad|eq
Description:
Drawsanellipsethatisinscribedinaquadrilateral.
Procedure:
1. Specifythefirstlineofthequadrilateral.2. Specifythesecondlineofthequadrilateral.3. Specifythethirdlineofthequadrilateral.4. Specifythefourthlineofthequadrilateral.
SplineTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,NCommands:splinemenu
Spline(ControlPoints)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Spline>Spline(ControlPoints) Shortcut:S,PCommands:spline|sp
Description:
Drawssplinecurvesfromcontrolpoints.Non-uniformrationalB-Splines(NURBS)withhomogeneousweightingfactorsaretheonlysplinesthataresupported.
Procedure:
1. Choosethedegreeofthesplineintheoptionstoolbar.Supporteddegreesare2(quadraticb-spline)and3(cubicb-spline).Thehigherthedegree,the'smoother'thecurvebecomes.Notethataquadraticb-splinerequiresbydefinitionatleast3controlpointswhileacubicb-splinehasatleast4controlpoints.
2. Checkthe'Closed'checkboxintheoptionstoolbarifyouwanttocreateaclosedspline.Closedsplinesarecontinuousclosedloops.
3. Specifythecontrolpoints.Afterdefiningthethird(forquadraticb-splines)orfourth(forcubicb-splines)controlpoint,apreviewwillbeshown.Youcanremovethelastcontrolpointagainbyclickingthe'Undo'buttonintheoptionstoolbar.
4. Hitescapeorclicktherightmousebuttonaftersettingthelastpointtoconfirmthesplineshape.5. Youcannowcreateanothersplineorright-clickagaintoterminatethetool.
Examplefortwoopensplines(quadraticandcubic):
Examplefortwoclosed,periodicsplines(quadraticandcubic):
Spline(FitPoints)
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Spline>Spline(FitPoints) Shortcut:S,LCommands:splinefit|sl
Description:
Drawscubicsplinecurvesfromfitpoints(pointsonthesplinecurve).
Procedure:
1. Checkthe"Closed"checkboxintheoptionstoolbarifyouwanttocreateaclosedspline.Closedsplinesarecontinuousclosedloops.
2. Specifythefitpoints.Youcanremovethelastfitpointbyclickingthe"Undo"buttonintheoptionstoolbar.3. Hitescapeorclicktherightmousebuttonaftersettingthelastpointtoconfirmthesplineshape.4. Youcannotcreateanothersplineorright-clickagaintoterminatethetool.
InsertFitPoint
InsertFitPoint
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Spline>InsertFitPoint Shortcut:N,ICommands:splineinsertfit|ni
Description:
Withthistoolyoucaninsertfitpointsintoexistingsplines.
Procedure:
Clickthepositiononthesplineatwhichanewfitpointshouldbeinserted.Thefitpointisinsertedatthepointonthesplinewhichisclosesttothepointthatisclicked.Ifthesplineisselected,thenewfitpointsarevisualized.
RemoveFitPoint
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Spline>RemoveFitPoint Shortcut:N,RCommands:splineremovefit|nr
Description:
Withthistoolyoucanremovefitpointsfromsplines.
Procedure:
Clickthefitpointofasplinetoremoveit.
Simplify
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Spline>Simplify Shortcut:N,PCommands:splinesimplify|np
PolylineTools
PolylineTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,OCommands:polylinemenu
DrawPolyline
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Polyline>DrawPolyline Shortcut:P,LCommands:polyline|pl
Description:
Thistoolletsyoudrawpolylines.Apolylineisacontinuouslineformedfromoneormoreconnectedlineorarcsegments.Pleasenotethatitisalmostalwaysmoreconvenienttousetheregularlineandarctoolstodrawanewpolyline.Thelooselyconnectedlineandarcsegmentscanthenbeconvertedintoapolylineentityusingthe"CreatePolylinefromSegments"tool.
Procedure:
1. Specifythestartpointofthefirstpolylinesegment.Youcanusethemouseorenteracoordinateintheconsole.2. Specifytheendpointofthefirstpolylinesegment.3. Specifytheendpointsofadditionalpolylinesegments.
Ifthepolylinecontainsarcsegments,youcantickthe"Arc"checkboxandenterthearcradiusintheoptionstoolbarwhensettingtheendpointofanarcsegment.Thearcwillconnectsmoothly(tangential)tothelastsegment.
CreatefromSegments
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>CreatefromSegments Shortcut:O,GCommands:polylinefromsegments|og
Description:
Thistoolletsyoucreatepolylinesfromexistingsegments(linesandarcsthatareconnected).Connectedsplinesareautomaticallyconvertedtopolylineswitharcsegments.
Procedure:
Clickoneofthesegments.Apolylineiscreatedfromtheselectedentityandalllineorarcentitiesthatareconnectedtoitsend-orstartpoint.Thepolylineiscreatedonthesamelayerwiththesameattributesastheentitythatisclicked.Ifthatlayerislocked,thepolylineiscreatedonthecurrentlayerinstead.
CreatefromSelectedEntities
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>CreatefromSelectedEntities Shortcut:O,CCommands:polylinefromselection|oc
Description:
Thistoolletsyoucreatepolylinesfromselectedsegments(connectedlines,arcsandpolylines).
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttojoinintopolylines.2. Launchthistool.3. Allconnectedentitiesarejoinedintoapolyline.Ifnotallselectedentitiesareconnected,multiplepolylinesarecreated.4. Thenumberofpolylinescreatedisprintedinthecommandlinehistory.
PartialPolylineAlongSelection
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>PartialPolylineAlongSelection Shortcut:O,LCommands:polylinealongselection|ol
Description:
Thistoolletsyoucreatepolylinesalongapartiallengthalongaselectedpath(connectedlines,arcsandpolylines).
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesalongwhichyouwanttocreateapolyline.2. Launchthistool.3. Clickthestartpointofthepolyline.Tostartpointcanbeatanypositionalongtheselectedentities.4. Clicktheendpointofthepolyline.5. Thepolylineiscreatedbetweenthechosenpointsalongtheselectedentities.Disconnectedentitieswhicharenotpart
ofthenewpolylinearedeselected.
InsertNode
InsertNode
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>InsertNode Shortcuts:O,A|O,I Commands:polylineinsert|polylineadd|oa|oi
Description:
Withthistoolyoucanaddnodestoexistingpolylines.Addinganewnodetoapolylinemeanstosplituponesegmentintotwosegments.Thetwonewsegmentsarebothstraight,evenifoneoforiginalsegmentswasanarcsegment.
Procedure:
1. Specifythesegmentofthepolylineinwhichyouwanttoaddthenewnode.2. Specifythepositionofthenewnodewithyourmouseorbyenteringacoordinate.
AppendNode(s)
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>AppendNode(s) Shortcut:O,PCommands:polylineappend|op
Description:
Withthistoolyoucanappendnodestothebeginningorendofexistingpolylines.Appendinganodetoapolylinemeanstoextenditbyonesegmentatthebeginningorend.
Procedure:
1. Clickthepolylinesomewhereneartheendtowhichyouwanttoappendanode.2. Specifythepositionofthenewnode(s)withyourmouseorbyenteringacoordinate.
DeleteNode(s)
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>DeleteNode(s) Shortcut:O,DCommands:polylinedel|od
Description:
Usethistooltoremovenodesfromexistingpolylines.Thiswaytwosegmentsofapolylinecanbejoinedintoone.
Procedure:
1. Specifythepolylinefromwhichyouwanttodeletenodes.2. Specifythepositionofthenodethatyouwanttoremove.
DeleteSegmentsbetweenTwoNodes
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>DeleteSegmentsbetweenTwoNodes Shortcut:O,BCommands:polylinedelbetween|ob
Description:
Usethisfunctiontodeleteallsegmentsbetweentwonodesofanexistingpolyline.
Procedure:
1. Specifythepolylinefromwhichyouwanttodeletesegments.2. Specifythepositionofthefirstlimitingnode.Thatisthenodefromwhereyouwanttostartdeletingsegments.The
nodeitselfwillnotbedeleted.Inmostcasesitisappropriatetousetheendpointsnapfunctiontospecifythenode.3. Specifythepositionofthenodewhereyouwanttostopdeleting.Allsegmentsthatarebetweenthefirstnodeandthe
secondnodeareremovedfromthepolyline.Afterthesegmentsaredeleted,thetwolimitingnodesareconnectedbyastraightlinesegmentsothepolylineisstillonecontinuoussequenceoflinesegments.
TrimSegments
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>TrimSegments Shortcut:O,TCommands:polylinetrim|ot
Description:
Usethisfunctiontotrimtwopolylinesegments.Thismeanstoextendorshortenthetwosegments,inawaythattheymeetatonecommonpoint.
Procedure:
1. Specifythefirstpolylinesegmenttotrimbyclickingitwiththemouse.2. Specifythesecondsegmenttobetrimmedfromthesamepolyline.Allsegmentsthatarebetweenthefirstsegment
andthesecondsegmentareremovedtokeepthepolylineacontinuouslinestring.
RelocateStartPoint
RelocateStartPoint
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>RelocateStartPoint Shortcut:O,RCommands:polylinestart|or
Description:
Usethistooltochooseanewstartpointforaclosedpolyline.
Procedure:
1. Clicktheclosedpolylineofwhichthestartpointshouldberelocated.2. Clickthenewpositionofthestartpointanywherealongthepolyline.
ChangeSegmentType
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>ChangeSegmentType Shortcut:O,XCommands:polylinechange|ox
Description:
Withthistoolyoucanchangethetypeofapolylinesegmentfromanarctoalineandviceversa.
Procedure:
Clickanexistingpolylinesegment.Anarcsegmentisimmediatelyconvertedintoalinesegment.Foralinesegment,thearccanbedefinedbyclickingapointonthearc.
ArctoLineSegments
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>ArctoLineSegments Commands:polylinearctoline
Description:
Usethistooltoconvertallarcsegmentsinpolylinesintostraightlinesegments.
Procedure:
1. Selectthepolyline(s)fromwhichyouwanttoconvertallsegmentsintolinesegments.2. Startthistool.
Offset
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>Offset Shortcut:O,QCommands:polylineequidistant|polylineoffset|oq
Description:
Thistoolletsyoucreateequidistantpolylinestoexistingpolylines.
Procedure:
1. Enterthedistanceoftheequidistantandthenumberofequidistantpolylinesyouwanttocreateatonceintheoptionstoolbar.
2. Clicktheoriginalpolyline.Theequidistantwillbecreatedonthesideonwhichyouclicknexttothepolyline.
Morph
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>Morph Shortcut:O,MCommands:polylinemorph|om
Description:
Withthistool,youcanmorphbetweentwopolylines.Anumberofnewintermediatepolylinesarecreated.Eachintermediatepolylineisamixofthetwochosenpolylines.Witheachstepofthemorphingoperation,thepositionandshapeofthefirstpolylineistransformedtobemorelikethesecondpolyline.
Procedure:
1. Preparethetwopolylines.Usuallythetwopolylinesshouldhavethesamedirectionororientation.Forclosedpolylines,youwouldtypicallywantthestartpointtobealigned,sothatnorotationoccurswhilemorphing.Morecomplexpolylinescanbesplitatsharpcornerstomaintainthepositionofthosecornersthroughoutthemorphingprocess.
2. Launchthistool.3. Enterthenumberofdesiredstepsintheoptionstoolbar.4. Choosethedesiredeasingfunctionintheoptionstoolbar.Thenormaleasingfunctionis"linear"whichinterpolates
linearlybetweenthetwopolylines.Easingfunctionscanbeusedtocreatevariousuneventypesofinterpolations.Forexampletostartmorphingatthefirstpolyline,firstadvancingslowlytowardthesecondpolylineandthenacceleratetowardthesecondpolylineinaquadraticfunction,choose"inquadratic".
5. Clickthefirstpolyline.Youcanalsoselectaline,anarc,acircle,anellipseoraspline.6. Clickthesecondpolyline.7. Theenterednumberofintermediatepolylinesiscreated.
Example:Inthisexample,theroundedrectangleismorphedtotheellipseinninesteps.Bothshapesarefirstconvertedintopolylines(theellipseisexplodedintoapolylinewitharcsegments).Thestartpointoftheroundedrectangleissettobeatthebottomcenter(1).Thestartpointoftheellipseissetatitsbottomcenter(2).Bothpolylinesaremadecounter-clockwise.
Simplify
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>Simplify Shortcut:O,SCommands:polylinesimplify|os
Description:
Simplifiesallselectedpolylinesbyjoiningconsecutivesegmentsthatareinline.
Procedure:
1. Selectthepolyline(s)youwanttosimplify.2. Startthistool.3. EnterthedesiredtoleranceintheOptionstoolbar.Thetoleranceisthemaximumallowedangle(indegrees)between
twosegmentsthatmaybeeliminated.
NormalizePolylines
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>NormalizePolylines Shortcut:O,NCommands:polylinenormalize|on
Description:
Usethistooltoautomaticallyremoveduplicatenodesfromexistingpolylines.
Procedure:
1. Selectthepolyline(s)fromwhichyouwanttodeleteduplicatenodes.2. Startthistool.
LogicallyclosePolylines
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>LogicallyclosePolylines Shortcut:O,ECommands:polylinetoclosed|oe
Description:
Polylinescanbegeometricallyclosedorlogicallyclosed.Ageometricallyclosedpolylineisessentiallyanopenpolylineforwhichthelastnodejusthappenstobeatthesamepositionasthefirstnode.Inalogicallyclosedpolylinewiththesameshape,thelastnodeisomittedandtheinformationthatthepolylineisclosedisstoredinthepolylineinstead.Logicallyclosedpolylinesrequireonenodelessthangeometricallyclosedones.Logicallyclosedpolylinesareoftenbettersuitableforfurtherprocessing(CAM)thangeometricallyclosedones.
Thistoolconvertsallgeometricallyclosedpolylinesintologicallyclosedpolylines.
LogicallyopenPolylines
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Polyline>LogicallyopenPolylines Shortcut:O,JCommands:polylinetoopen|oj
Description:
Thistoolconvertsalllogicallyclosedpolylinesintologicallyopen(butgeometricallyclosed)polylines.
SeealsoDraw>Polyline>LogicallyclosePolylines
ShapeTools
ShapeTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,HCommands:shapemenu
Rectangle
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Shape>Rectangle Shortcut:R,ECommands:rectangle|linerectangle|rect|re
Description:
Usethistooltocreaterectangularshapesfromtwodiagonallyoppositecorners.
Procedure:
1. Specifythefirstcorneroftherectangle.2. Movethemousetothesecondcornerandclicktospecifythesecondcorneroftherectangle.Alternativelyyoucan
enterthecoordinateofthesecondcornerinthecommandprompt.E.g.tocreatearectanglewithwidth50andheight25,entertherelativecoordinateofthesecondcornerasfollows:@50,25
RectanglewithSize
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Shape>RectanglewithSize Shortcut:R,SCommands:rectanglesize|linerectanglesize|rs
Description:
Usethistooltocreaterectangularshapeswithagivensize.
Procedure:
1. Enterthesizeoftherectangleintheoptionstoolbar.2. Choosethereferencepointyouwanttousetopositiontherectangle.3. Specifythepositionoftherectanglewiththemouseorbyenteringacoordinateinthecommandline.
Polygon(Center,Corner)
Polygon(Center,Corner)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Shape>Polygon(Center,Corner) Shortcuts:P,G,1|H,C Commands:linepolygon|polygon|pg1
Description:
Createspolygonswiththecenterandonecornergiven.
Procedure:
1. Enterthedegreeofthepolygon(numberofedges/corners)intheoptionstoolbar.Validnumbersrangefrom3to99.2. Setthecenterofthepolygonusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.3. Setthefirstcornerofthepolygon.
Polygon(2PointsofSide)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Shape>Polygon(2PointsofSide) Shortcuts:P,G,2|H,P Commands:linepolygon2|polygon2|pg2
Description:
Createspolygonswithtwocornersgiven.
Procedure:
1. Enterthedegreeofthepolygon(numberofedges/corners)intheoptionstoolbar.Validnumbersrangefrom3to99.2. Setthefirstcornerofthepolygonusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.3. Setthesecondcornerofthepolygon.
Polygon(Center,Side)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Shape>Polygon(Center,Side) Shortcut:P,G,3Commands:polygoncs|pg3
Description:
Createspolygonswiththecenterandmiddlepointofoneside.
Procedure:
1. Enterthedegreeofthepolygon(numberofedges/corners)intheoptionstoolbar.Validnumbersrangefrom3to99.2. Setthecenterofthepolygonusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.3. Setthemiddlepointofonesideofthepolygon.
Polygon(Side,Side)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Shape>Polygon(Side,Side) Shortcut:P,G,4Commands:polygonss|pg4
Description:
Createspolygonsfromtwooppositecornersorsides.
Procedure:
1. Enterthedegreeofthepolygon(numberofedges/corners)intheoptionstoolbar.Validnumbersrangefrom3to99.2. ChoosetheoptionCornertoCornertodefinethepolygonwithtwooppositecorners.3. Setthefirstcornerormiddleofasideofthepolygonusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.4. Setthesecond,oppositecornerormiddleofasideofthepolygon.
HatchTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,XCommands:hatchmenu
HatchfromSelection
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>Hatch>HatchfromSelection Shortcut:H,ACommands:hatch|ha
Description:
Thistoolfillsanareasurroundedbyexistingentitieswithahatchpatternorasolidcolor.
Procedure:
1. Preparetheentitiesthatsurroundthehatchingareasotheyformaclosedcontour.Thecontourmustbeclosedinawaythatoneentityisconnectedtothenextoneasshownattherightinthisexample:
2. Selectthecontour(s)youwanttofill.Notethatislandsinsidecontourswillgethatchediftheyarenotselected:
3. Launchthehatchtool.4. Adialogforthehatchoptionsisdisplayed.Chooseahatchpattern,scalefactorandarotationangleforthehatch
pattern.Ifyouwanttofilltheobjectwithasolidcolorinsteadofapattern,checkthecheckbox"SolidFill".5. Click'OK'toproceedwiththehatching.Dependingonthecomplexityofthecontourandthescalefactorofthechosen
pattern,itmighttakeawhiletocreatethehatch.
HatchfromSegments
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Hatch>HatchfromSegments Shortcut:H,SCommands:hatchsegments|hs
Description:
Thistoolfillsanareawithahatchpatternorasolidcolor.Theareaisdefinedbyclickingexistingentitiesoruntrimmedentitysegmentswhicharepartofthehatchboundary.
Procedure:
1. Makesurethattheareatobefilledisenclosedonallsideswithentities(e.g.lines,arcs,splines,etc.).Theentitiesdonothavetobetrimmedtocornersforthistool.Youcanusepartialentitiesorsegmentsofentitiesaspartoftheboundary.
2. Startthistool.3. ClickOK.4. Adialogforthehatchoptionsisdisplayed.Chooseahatchpattern,scalefactorandarotationangleforthehatch
pattern.Ifyouwanttofilltheobjectwithasolidcolorinsteadofapattern,checkthecheckbox"SolidFill".5. Clickallentitysegmentsthatarepartofthehatchorfillboundary.Theselectedsegmentsarehighlighted.Youcan
alsoremoveasegmentfromtheboundarybyclickingitagain.Theboundarysegmentsdonothavetobeclickedinanyparticularorderandyoucanalsodefineislandsinsideanarea.
ViewportTools
ViewportTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,TCommands:viewportmenu
AddViewport
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>Viewport>AddViewport Shortcut:V,TCommands:viewport|vt
Description:
Createsanewviewportinalayoutblock.Aviewportisarectangularareathatdisplaysapartofthedrawingatagivenscaleandangle.Viewportscanonlyexistinlayoutblocks,specialblocksdedicatedtoprintingthedrawingorpartsofit,oftenalongwithaborderandheader.
Procedure:
1. Afterstartingthistool,themodelspace(maindrawing)isshowntodefinetherectangularareaofthedrawingtheviewportshoulddisplay.
2. Adjusttherotationangleoftheviewportintheoptionstoolbartocreateaviewportthatshowsapartofthedrawingrotatedbyagivenangle.NotethatrotatedviewportsarenotsupportedinotherCADsystems.
3. Clickthefirstcorneroftheviewportarea.4. Clickthesecondcorneroftheviewportarea.5. QCADnowswitchesautomaticallytoalayoutblockwheretheviewportcanbecreated.Iftherearemultiplelayout
blocksandthistoolwasnotstartedfromalayoutblock,adialogisshowntoletyouchooseinwhichlayoutblockyouwanttoplacetheviewport.
6. Adjusttheviewportscaleintheoptionstoolbarifnecessary.Ifthedrawingislargerormuchsmallerthantheavailablepapersize,youwilllikelywanttoscaleitupordowntofitonthepaper.
7. Clickthecenterpositionoftheviewport.
Theviewportisnowaddedtothelayout.Tochangepropertiessuchasscaleorrotationangleoftheviewport,youcanclickittoselectitandadjustpropertiesusingthepropertyeditor.
Therectangularborderoftheviewportisshownifthelayertheviewportisonisshown.Ifthelayertheviewportisonisswitchedoff,theborderishiddenbutthecontentsoftheviewportisstillshown.Viewportsaretypicallyplacedonadedicatedlayer(e.g."viewports")whichcanbeswitchedoffforprinting.
Ring
Ring
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Draw>RingShortcut:R,ICommands:ring|donut|ri
Description:
Thistoolletsyoucreaterings(donuts)withagivencenterandaninnerandouterdiameter.
Procedure:
1. Entertheinnerandouterdiametersintheoptiontoolbar.2. Setthecenteroftheringusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.
Text
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>TextShortcut:T,ECommands:text|te
Description:
Usethistooltocreatesinglelineormultilinetextentities.
Procedure:
1. Afterlaunchingthetool,thetextdialogispresentedinwhichyoucanchoosethefontandenterthetextyouwanttocreate.
2. Choosethefontname,textheightandinitialtextattributesintheupperleftareaofthedialog.CADfontsthataremadeupoflinesandarcsarelistedatthetopofthefontlist,TrueTypefontsarelistedbelow.Inthe"Height"field,entertheheightofthetextintheunitofyourdrawing.Tochoosenormallinespacing,enteralinespacingfactoror"1".Youcanincreaseordecreasethelinespacingbyenteringanalternativevalue.Thevalueenteredisafactorrelativetothedefault(1.0).
3. Entertherotationangleforthetext.Normalhorizontaltextshaveanangleof0degreesandtextsthatarereadablefromtheright90degrees.
4. Choosethealignmentofthetext.5. Checkthe"SimpleText"checkboxtocreateasinglelinetextwithoutanyadvancedformatting.6. Enterthetextyouwanttocreateinthelargetextbox.
Youcanusethevarioustoolsabovetheboxtofurtherformatthetextthatyouhaveenteredortopastetextsfromtheclipboard.UsethebuttonattherighttoquicklyinsertsymbolsortochooseaUnicodecharacter("Others...").Notethatthefontyouhavechosenmightnotcontainthecharactersyouinsert.Inthatcasethecharacterswillnotbedisplayedinthedrawing.
7. Click"OK"toexitthetextdialog.8. Usethemousetospecifythelocationofthetextorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.9. Often,usersneedtocreateanumberofsimilartexts.Forthatreasonthetexttooldoesnotterminateaftercreatingthe
firsttextentity.Youcanchangethetextandthetextangleintheoptionstoolbarandcreateothertextswithsimilarsettings.
10. RightclickorpressEscapetostopthetexttool.
InsertBitmap
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Draw>InsertBitmap Shortcut:I,MCommands:insertbitmap|bitmap|im
Description:
Insertsarasterimage(bitmap)intothedrawing.Notethatthedrawingfilewhichiscreatedwhensavingthedrawing,containsonlyreferencestoinsertedimages.Itisrecommendedtokeeptheimagefileandthedrawingfileinthesamefolder,soQCADcanfindtheimageagainwhenthedrawingfileisloadedlater.TransparentbackgroundsaresupportedforPNGimages.Notethatlargebitmapscancausethedrawingdisplaytobecomeveryslow.Usuallyyouwillwantimagestobeinthebackgroundofotherentities.Pleaserefertothe'Modify'-'Sendtoback'tooltolearnhowtodothis.
Procedure:
1. Choosetheimagefilewhichyouwanttoinsert.2. Enterthedesiredheightorwidthfortheimageindrawingunitsintheoptionstoolbar.3. Typearotationangleintheoptionstoolbar.4. Specifytheinsertionpointoftheimage.Thatistheleftbottomcorneroftheimage.
DimensionTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,DCommands:dimensionmenu
Description:
Dimensionsareusedtoaddmeasurementstoadrawing.Dimensionstypicallyconsistofatextlabelandsomelinesandarrowstoindicatethepreciselocationofthemeasurement.Thetextlabelmaybeaccompaniedbytoleranceindicationsorsymbols.Theoptionstoolbarthatisshownwhileadimensionisbeingcreatedsupportsyoutodefinethedimensionlabelcontentsanditstolerances.
Aligned
Aligned
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Dimension>AlignedShortcut:D,ACommands:dimaligned|da
Description:
Createsaligneddimensions.Aligneddimensionsusuallymeasurethelengthofanexistingline.Thedimensionlineisalwaysparalleltothelinebetweenthetwochosenpoints1.and2.:
Procedure:
1. Setthefirstextensionlineendpointwiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.2. Setthesecondextensionlineendpoint.3. Setthepositionofthedimensionline.
Rotated(Linear)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Dimension>Rotated(Linear) Shortcut:D,LCommands:dimlinear|dimrotated|dl
Description:
Createsrotated(linear)dimensions.Lineardimensionsareusuallyusedtomeasureverticalorhorizontaldistancesbutcanalsomeasuredistanceswithanyotherangle.
Procedure:
1. Entertheangleofthedimensionintheoptionstoolbar.2. Setthefirstextensionlineendpointwiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.3. Setthesecondextensionlineendpoint.4. Setthepositionofthedimensionline.
Horizontal
Horizontal
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Dimension>HorizontalShortcut:D,HCommands:dimhor|dimhorizontal|dh
Description:
Thistoolisprovidedforconvenienceandbehavesessentiallylikethetoolforrotateddimensions.Theonlydifferenceisthattheangleisfixedto0degrees(horizontal).
Vertical
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Dimension>VerticalShortcut:D,VCommands:dimver|dimvertical|dv
Description:
Thistoolisprovidedforconvenienceandbehavesessentiallylikethetoolforrotateddimensions.Theonlydifferenceisthattheangleisfixedto90degrees(vertical).
Baseline
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Dimension>BaselineShortcut:D,BCommands:dimbase|baselinedimension|db
Description:
Createsarotated(linear),angular,orordinatedimension,startingatthebaselineofanexistingdimension.
Procedure:
1. Clickthebaselineofanexistinglinear,angularorordinatedimension.2. Setthesecondextensionlineendpointwiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.Thedimension
linesareautomaticallystackedwithafixeddistancebetweenthemfromeachother.Youcanadjustthisdistance(thedimensionlineincrement)underEdit>DrawingPreferences>Dimension>DimensionSettings>Dimensionlineincrement.YoucanalsooverridethissettingforindividualdimensionsintheoptionstoolbarbyuncheckingDefaultspacingandenteringavalueforSpacing.
Continue
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Dimension>ContinueShortcut:D,CCommands:dimcontinue|continuedimension|dc
Description:
Createsadimensionthatstartsfromanextensionlineofaselectedlinear,angularorordinatedimension.
Procedure:
1. Clickthebaselineofanexistinglinear,angularorordinatedimension.2. Setthesecondextensionlineendpointwiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.3. Continuetoclickmoreextensionlineendpointsifdesiredtocreateachainofconnecteddimensions.
Ordinate(X/Y)
Ordinate(X/Y)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Dimension>Ordinate(X/Y) Shortcut:D,OCommands:dimordinate|do
Description:
Thistooldrawsanordinatedimension.OrdinatedimensionsindicatetheX-ordinateorY-ordinateofafeatureinthedrawing,relativetoanoriginpoint.
Procedure:
1. Specifythelocationofthefeaturewiththemouseorbyenteringacoordinate.2. Specifythelocationofthetextlabelandendpointoftheleader.Iftheleaderisclosertobeingvertical,theXdatumis
indicated,ifitisclosertobeinghorizontal,theYdatumisindicated.3. Theoriginoftheordinatedimensionisattheabsolutezeropoint.Tomovetheoriginbymouse,selecttheordinate
dimensionentityandmovetheoriginwiththemouse(draganddrop).Tospecifyacoordinatefortheorigin,usethepropertyeditor.
Leader
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Dimension>Leader Shortcuts:D,E|L,D Commands:leader|dimlea|de|ld
Description:
Leadersarearrowsthatusuallypointfromatextentitytoanotherentityasshownbelow.Intheexample,thetextentity"N7"isdescribingasurfacepropertybypointingtoitwithaleader.
Procedure:
1. Setthelocationwheretheleaderpointstoorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.2. Setthelocationofthenextedgeoftheleaderline.3. SettheotheredgesoftheleaderlineandclicktherightmousebuttonorpresstheEscapekeytofinish.
Radial
Radial
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Dimension>Radial Shortcut:D,RCommands:dimrad|dimradial|dr
Description:
Createsradialdimensionsforcircleorarcentities.
Procedure:
1. Chooseacircleorarcentity.2. Setthepositionoftheradialdimensionlineusingthemouseorbyenteringacoordinateoranangleinthecommand
line.
Diametric
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Dimension>DiametricShortcut:D,DCommands:dimdia|dimdiametric|dd
Description:
Createsdiametricdimensionsforcircleorarcentities.
Procedure:
1. Chooseacircleorarcentity.2. Setthepositionofthediametricdimensionlineusingthemouseorbyenteringacoordinateoranangleinthe
commandline.
Angular
Angular
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Dimension>AngularShortcut:D,NCommands:dimangular|dn
Description:
Createsangulardimensionsbetweentworeferencelinesasshownhere:
Procedure:
1. Choosethefirstlineentity.2. Choosethesecondlineentity.3. Setthepositionoftheangulardimensionarcusingthemouseorbyenteringacoordinateinthecommandline.
ArcLength
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Dimension>ArcLength Shortcut:D,GCommands:dimarclength|dg
ResetLabelPosition
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Dimension>ResetLabelPosition Shortcut:D,SCommands:dimregen|ds
Description:
Thistoolresetsthelabelpositionofallselecteddimensionentitiesandplacestheirlabelbacktotheirautomaticallycomputedposition.
ModificationTools
ModificationTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,MCommands:modifymenu
Move/Copy
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Move/Copy Shortcut:M,VCommands:move|mv
Description:
Movesorcopiesentities.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttomoveorcopy.2. Launchthistool.3. Setthereferencepointwiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.4. Setthetargetpoint.Tomovetheselectedentitiesbyagivenamount,enterarelativecoordinate.Forexampletomove
itby50drawingunitstotheright,enter@50,0inthecommandline.5. Themovedialogisdisplayed.
Tomovetheentities,choose"DeleteOriginal",tocopythemchoose"KeepOriginal".Youcanalsocreateanygivennumberofcopiesatoncebychoosing"MultipleCopies"andenteringthenumberofcopiesinthetextlinebelow.Notethat"9"willcreate9copiesandkeeptheoriginal-sotherewillbe10instancesoftheselectedentitiesintheend.Thenewentitiesareplacedonthesamelayerastheoriginalsandhavethesameattributes.Tousethecurrentlayerandcurrentattributesinstead,tick"Usecurrentlayerandattributes".
6. Click"OK"tomoveorcopytheentities.
Rotate
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Rotate Shortcut:R,OCommands:rotate|ro
Description:
Rotatesentitiesbyagivenanglearoundagivencenter.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttorotate.2. Launchthistool.3. Setthecenteroftherotationwiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.4. Therotatedialogisdisplayedwhereyoucanenterthenumberofcopiesandtherotationangle.
Ifyouwanttospecifytherotationanglewiththemousecursor,checkthemousecursorbuttonthatisdisplayedbesidetheangleinput:
Todeletetheoriginalentities,check"DeleteOriginal",tocopythemchoose"KeepOriginal".Youcanalsocreateanygivennumberofcopiesbychoosing"MultipleCopies".Thenewentitiesareplacedonthesamelayerastheoriginalsandhavethesameattributes.Tousethecurrentlayerandcurrentattributesinstead,tick"Usecurrentlayerandattributes".
5. Click"OK".6. Ifyouhavepreviouslychosentospecifytherotationanglebymouse,younowhavetofirstspecifyareferencepointfor
therotationandthenatargetpoint.Therotationangleistheangleenclosedbythereferencepoint,centerofrotationandtargetpoint.
Scale
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Scale Shortcut:S,ZCommands:scale|sz
Description:
Scalesentitiesbyagivenfactortowardsagivencenter.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttoscale.2. Launchthistool.3. Setthecenterofthescalingwiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.4. Thescaledialogisdisplayedwhereyoucanenterthescalefactor.
IfyouwanttoscalewithtwodifferentfactorsinXandYdirection,uncheckthebuttonforproportionalscaling:
YoucanthenentertwodifferentscalingfactorsforXandY.Ifyouwanttoscaletheselectionbymouse,checkthemousecursorbutton:
5. Click"OK".6. Ifyouhavepreviouslychosentoscaletheselectionbymouse,younowhavetospecifyareferencepointandatarget
pointforthescalingoperation.
Mirror
Mirror
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Mirror Shortcut:M,ICommands:mirror|mi
Description:
Mirrorsentitiesalongagivenaxis.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttomirror.2. Launchthistool.3. Specifyafirstpointonthemirroraxiswiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.4. Specifyasecondpointonthemirroraxis.5. Themirrordialogisdisplayed.
Tomirrortheentitieswithoutkeepingtheoriginalentities,choose"DeleteOriginal",tocopythemchoose"KeepOriginal".Thenewentitiesareplacedonthesamelayerastheoriginalsandhavethesameattributes.Tousethecurrentlayerandcurrentattributesinstead,tick"Usecurrentlayerandattributes".
6. Click"OK"tomirrortheentities.
FlipHorizontal
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>FlipHorizontal Shortcut:F,HCommands:fliphorizontally|fh
Description:
Thisfunctionflips(mirrors)thecurrentselectionhorizontally.
FlipVertical
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>FlipVertical Shortcut:F,VCommands:flipvertically|fv
Description:
Thisfunctionflips(mirrors)thecurrentselectionvertically.
MoveandRotate
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>MoveandRotate Shortcut:M,RCommands:moverotate|mr
Description:
Movesorcopiesandsimultaneouslyrotatesentities.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttomoveorcopy.2. Launchthistool.3. Entertherotationangleintheoptionstoolbar4. Setthereferencepointwiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.5. Setthetargetpoint.
Inthefigurebelow,thetworeferencepointsarelabeled.Therotationangleintheexampleis15degreesandthenumberofcopiesfour.Thisresultsinatotalrotationangleof60degrees.
6. Themoveandrotatedialogisdisplayed.Tomovetheentities,choose"DeleteOriginal",tocopythemchoose"KeepOriginal".Youcanalsocreateanygivennumberofcopiesatoncebychoosing"MultipleCopies"andenteringthenumberofcopiesinthetextlinebelow.Thenewentitiesareplacedonthesamelayerastheoriginalsandhavethesameattributes.Tousethecurrentlayerandcurrentattributesinstead,tick"Usecurrentlayerandattributes".
7. Click"OK"tomoveandrotatetheentities.
RotateTwo
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>RotateTwo Shortcut:R,2Commands:rotate2|r2
Description:
Rotatesandcounter-rotatesentities.Thistoolcanbeusefultorotateentitiesaroundacenterwhilemaintainingtheoriginalorientationoftheentitiesthemselves.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttorotateandcounter-rotate.
2. Launchthistool.3. Setthecenterforthemainrotationwiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.4. Setthecenteroftherotationfortheindividualobjects.Thissecondcenterofrotationisrotatedtogetherwiththe
entitiesaroundthefirstcenter.5. Therotatetwodialogisdisplayedwhereyoucanentertherotationangleandcounter-rotationangle.
Todeletetheoriginalentities,check"DeleteOriginal",tocopythemchoose"KeepOriginal".Youcanalsocreateanygivennumberofcopiesbychoosing"MultipleCopies".Thenewentitiesareplacedonthesamelayerastheoriginalsandhavethesameattributes.Tousethecurrentlayerandcurrentattributesinstead,tick"Usecurrentlayerandattributes".
6. Click"OK"torotatetheentities.
AlignReferencePoints
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Modify>AlignReferencePoints Shortcut:A,ECommands:align|ae
Description:
Alignstheselectedentitieswithother,existingentities.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttoalign.2. Launchthistool.3. Check"Scale"toalsoscaletheselectiontofitbetweenthetwotargetpoints.4. Check"Copy"tocreateanalignedcopyoftheselectedentities.5. Setthefirstreferencepointwiththemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.Thispointwillbealignedwith
thefirsttargetpoint.6. Setthefirsttargetpoint.7. Setthesecondreferencepointtobealignedwiththesecondtargetpoint.8. Setthesecondtargetpoint.9. Theselectionismoved,rotatedandoptionallyscaledinsuchawaythatthetwochosenreferencepointsalignwiththe
twochosentargetpoints.
Align
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Modify>Align Shortcut:M,ACommands:alignhv
Description:
Withthistool,thecurrentselectioncanbealignedrelativetoanentityinthedrawing,relativetothedrawingboundingboxorrelativetothebiggestorsmallestentityintheselection.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttoalign.2. Startthetool.3. Intheoptionstoolbar,choosetowhatyouwanttoaligntheselection(apickedentity,thewholedrawingorthebiggest
orsmallestentityintheselection).4. Choosehowyouwanttoaligntheselection(left,center,right,top,middle,bottom).5. Tickthecheckbox"Treatselectionasgroup"totreatthegeometryoftheselectedentitiesasone.6. Ifyouhavechosentoaligntoapickedentity,clicktheentitynow,otherwise,clickthetickbuttonintheoptionstool
bar:
Offset(withDistance)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Offset(withDistance) Shortcut:O,FCommands:offset|of
Description:
Withthistoolyoucancreateparallelstoexistinglines(orconcentricarcsandcircles).
Procedure:
1. Enterthedistanceoftheconcentricorparallelentityfromtheoriginalentityintheoptionstoolbarshownatthetop.2. Enterthenumberofparallelorconcentricentitiestocreateintheoptionstoolbar.3. Clickthebaseentity.Theparallelorconcentricentitiesarecreatedonthatsideonwhichthemousecursorislocated
whileselectingtheentity.
QCADPro:
Additionaloptionsforthehandlingofpolylinesareshownintheoptionstoolbar:
Mode
PolylineMode:Inthismode,theoffsettooloffsetsentirepolylinesatonce.
SegmentMode:Inthismode,individualsegmentsofpolylinescanbeoffset.
JoinTypes
Round:
Edgesareroundedwitharadiusthatequalstheoffsetdistance.
Miter:
Edgesaretrimmed.
Offset(throughPoint)
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Offset(throughPoint) Shortcut:O,HCommands:offsetthrough|oh
Description:
Withthistoolyoucancreateparallelstoexistinglines(orconcentricarcsandcircles).
Procedure:
1. Enterthenumberofentitiestocreateintheoptionstoolbar.2. Clickthebaseentity.3. Clickthepositionthroughwhichthefirstparallelorconcentricarcorcircleruns.
QCADPro:
ThesameadditionaloptionsforthehandlingofpolylinesapplyasfortheOffset(withDistance)tool.
Trim
Trim
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Trim Shortcuts:R,M|X,T Commands:trim|extend|rm|xt
Description:
Trimsorextendsaline,arcorellipsetoanotherentity.
Procedure:
1. Choosethelimitingentitytowhichyouwanttotrimorextendoneormoreotherentities.2. Choosetheentitiesthatyouwanttotrimtothelimitingentity.Oftentherearetwopossibilitiesfortheentitytobe
trimmed.Intheexamplebelow,youmightwantthetoppartofthelinetoremaininthedrawingandthelowerparttobetrimmedaway.Inthatcaseyouwouldhavetoclickthetrimentityattheupperpart.Alwaysclickthatpartoftheentitywhichyouwanttoretain.
3. RightclicktwiceorpressEscapetwicetoterminatethetool.
TrimBoth
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>TrimBoth Shortcut:T,MCommands:trim2|extend2|tm
Description:
Trimsorextendstwolines,arcsorellipsestotheircommonintersectionpoint.
Procedure:
1. Choosethefirstentitytobetrimmed.2. Choosethesecondentitytobetrimmed.
3. RightclicktwiceorpressEscapetwicetoterminatethetool.
Lengthen/Shorten
Lengthen/Shorten
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Lengthen/Shorten Shortcut:L,ECommands:lengthen|shorten|trimamount|le
Description:
Thistoolcanbeusedtoeitherlengthenorshortenlinesorarcsbyagivenamount.
Procedure:
1. Enterthedistanceyouwanttolengthenanentitybyintheoptionstoolbar.Apositivevaluelengthenstheentity,whileanegativevalueshortensit.E.g.avalueof'5'willlengthenthechosenentityby5units.
2. Choosetheentitytobelengthenedorshortenedsomewhereclosetotheendyouwanttomodify.3. RightclickorpresstheEscapekeytoterminatethetool.
Stretch
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Stretch Shortcut:S,SCommands:stretch|ss
Description:
Thistoolstretchescontoursanddimensionentities.Thiscanalsobedescribedasmovingallendpointswithinagivenrectangularorpolygonalarea.
Procedure:
1. Chooseintheoptionstoolbarifyouwanttostretcharectangulararea(rectanglesymbol)orapolygonalarea(polygonsymbol).
2. Setthefirstcornerofthestretcharea.3. Setthesecondcornerofthestretcharea.
4. Forpolygonalareas,settheothercornersofthestretchareaandright-clickthelastcornerwhenfinished.5. Setthereferencepointformovingusingthemouseorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.6. Setthetargetpoint.
QCADPro:
Intheoptionstoolbaryoucanchoosetostretcharectangularorapolygonalarea.Forpolygonalareas,allcornerpointsofthepolygonmustbeclicked.Thelastcornerpointisclickedwiththerightmousebutton.
CliptoRectangle
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Modify>CliptoRectangle Shortcut:C,L,RCommands:cliprectangle|cliprect|clr
Description:
Clipsthecurrentselectiontotheboundariesofarectangulararea.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttoclip.2. Specifythefirstcorneroftherectangulararea.3. Movethemousetothesecondcornerandclicktospecifythesecondcorneroftherectangulararea.
Chamfer/Bevel
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Chamfer/Bevel Shortcut:C,HCommands:bevel|chamfer|ch
Description:
Bevelsacornershapedbytwoentities.Optionally,theedgeentitiesofthecornercanbetrimmedautomaticallytofitthenewshape.
Procedure:
1. Enterthegeometryofthebevelintheoptionstoolbar."Distance1"isthedistancethebevellinewillhavefromthe(imaginary)intersectionofthetwoedges(10intheexampleshown)."Distance2"isthesamedistanceforthesecondedge(20intheexampleshown).
2. Check"Trim"ifyouwanttotrimtheentitiesautomatically.Iftheoptionisdisabled,thetwoentitieswillremainuntouched.
3. Choosethefirstedgeentity(alineoranarc).4. Choosethesecondentity.
Round
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Round Shortcut:R,NCommands:round|rn
Description:
Roundsthecornerofacontour.Optionally,theedgeentitiesofthecornercanbetrimmedautomaticallytofitthenewshape.
Procedure:
1. Entertheradiusoftheroundingintheoptionstoolbar(e.g.5).2. Check"Trim"ifyouwanttotrimtheentitiesautomatically.Iftheoptionisdisabled,thetwocornerentitieswillremain
untouched.3. Choosethefirstedgeentity(alineorarc).4. Choosethesecondentity.
Divide
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Divide Shortcut:D,ICommands:divide|di
Description:
Dividesentitiesintotwoseparateentities.
Procedure:
1. Choosetheentityyouwanttodivide.2. Setthedividingpointusingthemouse.Thedividingpointisusuallytheintersectionpointwithanotherentity.Choose
theintersectionsnapmodetoautomaticallysnaptointersections.
SplitEntities
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Modify>SplitEntities Shortcut:M,SCommands:split|ms
Description:
Thistoolsplitstheselectedlines,arcsandcirclesupintoNequallylongsegments.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttosplitup.2. Launchthistool.3. Usetheoptionstoolbartospecifyintohowmanysegmentsyouwanttosplituptheentities.Ifanycirclesareselected,
youmayalsoenteranangleoffsetforsplittingupthesecircles.4. Clickthebuttonwiththeticktosplituptheselectedentities:
BreakoutSegment
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>BreakoutSegment Shortcut:D,2Commands:break|breakout|d2
Description:
Dividesentitiesbycuttingoutasegmentthatislimitedbyintersectingentities.
Procedure:
Choosetheentityyouwanttodividebyclickingthesegmentyouwanttocutout.Thesegmentisremovedautomaticallyifthecheckbox"RemoveSegment"ischecked.Ifnot,theentityisonlycutattheintersectionswithoutremovingthesegment.
BreakoutManual
BreakoutManual
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>BreakoutManual Shortcut:B,2Commands:brk|b2
Description:
Dividesobjectsbycuttingoutasegmentinbetweentwouserdefinedpoints.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentityyouwanttobreakup.2. Clickthefirstpointatwhichtheentityistobedivided.3. Ifthepointdoesnotlieontheentity,theseparatingpointisassumedtobetheclosestpointontheentity.4. Clickthesecondpointatwhichtheentityistobedivided.5. Thesegmentbetweenthetwopointsisremovedifthe"RemoveSegment"optionintheoptionstoolbarisactive.
Otherwise,theentityisonlyseparatedatthegivenpoints.
AutoTrim
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>AutoTrim Shortcut:A,XCommands:autotrim|ax
Description:
Trimsorextendsanentityonbothsidestothenextlimitingentities.
Procedure:
Choosetheentityyouwanttotrimorextendbyclickingthesegmentyouwanttokeep.Theentityisautomaticallytrimmedorextended,sothatthetwoendpointsalignwiththenexttwoentities.
BreakoutGap
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>BreakoutGap Shortcut:D,3Commands:breakoutgap|d3
Description:
Breaksoutagapfromaline,arcorcircle.
Procedure:
Picktheentityfromwhichyouwishtobreakoutagap.Clickthecenterofthegapontheentity.
Reverse
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Reverse Shortcut:R,VCommands:reverse
Description:
Thistoolreversesthedirectionofallselectedline,arcandellipsearcentities.Thisismostlyusefulfordrawingsthatarebeingpreparedforfurtherprocessing(e.g.CAM).
EditText
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>EditText Shortcut:M,TCommands:edittext|modifytext|mt
Description:
Thistoolcanbeusedtoeditexistingtextentities.
Procedure:
1. Clickthetextentityyouwanttoedit.2. Thetextdialogisshownwhereyoucanadjustthetextanditsattributes.
Notethatinsteadofusingthistool,youcanalsodouble-clickthetextentitythatyouwanttoedit.
EditHatch
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>EditHatch Shortcut:M,HCommands:edithatch|modifyhatch|mh
Description:
Thistoolcanbeusedtoeditexistinghatchentities.
Procedure:
1. Clickthehatchentityyouwanttoedit.2. Thehatchdialogisshownwhereyoucanadjustthehatchanditsattributes.
Notethatinsteadofusingthistool,youcanalsodouble-clickthehatchentitythatyouwanttoedit.
Explode
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>ExplodeShortcut:X,PCommands:explode|xp
Description:
Convertsblockreferences,polylines,splines,ellipses,texts,dimensionsandhatchesintomorebasicentities.Dimensionsaresplitupintolines,trianglesandtextentities.Textentitiesaresplitintopolylines(orlines,arcsandsplines).Splinesareconvertedintopolylineswithtangentiallyconnectedarcsegments.Ellipsesareconvertedintopolylineswitharcsegments.Polylinesaresplitupintoloosesegments.Hatchesaresplitupintolines.Solidfillsareconvertedtotheoutlineofthesolidfill.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttoexplode.2. Launchthistooltoexplodetheselectedentities.3. Repeatstep2tofurtherbreakuptheselectedentitiesifdesired.Ifanentitycannotbefurtherbrokenup,itremains
unchanged.
DrawOrder
Toolbar/Icon:
BringtoFront
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>DrawOrder>BringtoFront Shortcut:M,FCommands:tofront|mf
Description:
Changestheorderinwhichentitiesaredisplayed.Usethistooltobringentitiesintotheforegroundiftheyarehiddenbehindimages,solidfillsorotherentities.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiestobringintotheforegroundofthedrawing.2. Launchthistool.
SendtoBack
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>DrawOrder>SendtoBack Shortcut:M,BCommands:toback|mb
Description:
Changestheorderinwhichentitiesaredisplayed.Usethistooltosendentitiesthatarehidingotherentitiesintothebackground.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiestomoveintothebackgroundofthedrawing.2. Launchthistool.
Reorder
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Modify>DrawOrder>Reorder Shortcut:R,DCommands:reorder|rd
Description:
Withthistoolyoucanreorderentitiesmanually.Thedraworderofentitiesisusuallynotimportantunlessanentityishidinganotherone.However,forcertaintypesoffurtherprocessing(suchasCAM),theorderofentitiescanbecrucial.
Procedure:
1. Toreorderallentitiesinyourdrawing,makesurethatnothingisselected.Otherwise,selecttheentitiesyouwishtoreorder.Notethatifyoureorderonlyselectedentities,theorderofallotherentitiesremainsunchanged.Otherentitiesmightbedrawnbefore,afterorinbetweenselectedentities.
2. Clicktheentitythatshouldbedrawnorprocessedfirstandsubsequentlyclickallentitiesinthedesiredorder.Whenthelastentityisclicked,thetoolautomaticallyterminates.Thenumericalorderoftheentitiesisshownasanoverlaywhilethistoolisrunning.
DetectionTools
Toolbar/Icon:
DetectDuplicates
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Modify>Detection>DetectDuplicates Shortcut:M,DCommands:duplicates
Description:
Thistoolcanbeusedtofind,selectandoptionallydeleteidenticalentitiesinthecurrentdrawing.
Procedure:
1. Afterlaunchingthetool,theoptionstoolbardisplayscontrolstoentertolerancevaluesforthecomparisonofentities.Adjusttheseifappropriate.
2. Ticktheoption"IgnoreLayer"ifyouwanttwoidenticalentitiesondifferentlayerstobeconsideredequal.3. Clicktherefreshbuttontorunthesearchagainifyouhavemadeanyadjustmentstothetolerancesandthe"Auto"
checkboxisnotchecked:
Ifthe"Auto"checkboxischecked,thesearchforduplicatesisautomaticallyrepeatedifyouchangeanyoftheoptions.
4. Clickthedeletebuttonifyouwishtodeletetheselectedduplicates:
5. Clicktheclosebuttontoterminatethistool:
DetectZero-LengthEntities
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Modify>Detection>DetectZero-LengthEntities Shortcut:M,ZCommands:zerolength|zero
Description:
Thistoolcanbeusedtofind,selectandoptionallydeleteverysmallentities(lengthalmost0)inthecurrentdrawing.
Procedure:
1. Afterlaunchingthetool,theoptionstoolbardisplayscontrolstoentertolerancevaluesthatareusedtodetectzerolengthentities.Adjusttheseifappropriate.
2. Clicktherefreshbuttontorunthesearchagainifyouhavemadeanyadjustmentstothetolerancesandthe"Auto"checkboxisnotchecked:
Ifthe"Auto"checkboxischecked,thesearchforduplicatesisautomaticallyrepeatedifyouchangeanyoftheoptions.
3. Clickthedeletebuttonifyouwishtodeletetheselectedzerolengthentities:
4. Clicktheclosebuttontoterminatethistool:
ProjectionTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,JCommands:projectmenu
OrthographicProjection(Cylindrical)
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Modify>Projection>OrthographicProjection(Cylindrical) Shortcut:P,RCommands:orthocylindrical|orthocyl|pr
Description:
Createsanorthographicprojectionoftheselectedentitiesontoacylindricsurface.Thisistypicallyusedtocreatetheedgeofadrillinginasideviewofacylinderasshowninthefigurebelowontheright.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttoproject.Intheexamplebelow,thatisthecircleattheleft.2. Startthistool.3. Clickthestartpointoftheunprojectedcylinderaxis.Intheexamplebelowthatisatthetopcenterofthecylinderat
theleft.4. Clicktheendpointofthecylinderaxis.5. Clickthereferencepoint.Thereferencepointintheselectionwillbeusedtoplacetheprojectedentitiesintotheside
view.
6. Adjusttheparametersintheoptionstoolbarasdesired.Thecylinderdiameteristhediameterofthecylindricshapeweareprojectingonto.Thecylinderrotationistherotationoftheprojectedentitiesaroundthecylinderaxis.Typically90or-90degrees.Sincetheresultingshapesarelikelyneitherlinesorarcs,projectedentitiesaresplitupintopolylineswithsmallsegments.Youcanadjustthesegmentlengthusedintheoptionstoolbar.TheclippingoptioncanbeenabledtoautomaticallyhidethepartoftheprojectedshapethatwouldlaybehindtheX/Yplane.
7. Clickthetargetpointtopositiontheprojection.
IsometricProjection
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Modify>Projection>IsometricProjection Shortcut:P,JCommands:isometric|pj
Description:
Thistoolcreatesisometricprojections(andothertypesofprojections)ofthecurrentselectioninthedrawing.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttoproject.2. Launchthistool.3. Chooseaprojectiontypeandaviewingdirectionfortheprojectionintheoptionstoolbar.4. Setthereferencepointfortheprojection.Thisisthepointyouwillusetopositiontheprojectioninthenextstep.5. Movethemousecursortothepositionwhereyouwanttocreatetheprojectionandclicktosettheposition.
IsometricProjection(Cylindrical)
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Modify>Projection>IsometricProjection(Cylindrical) Shortcut:P,CCommands:isometriccylindrical|isocyl|pc
Description:
Thistoolcreatesanisometricprojectionofthecurrentselectionontoacylindricsurface.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttoproject.2. Launchthistool.3. Chooseaviewingdirectionfortheprojectionintheoptionstoolbar.4. Enterthediameterofthecylinderintheoptionstoolbar.5. Entertherotationoftheprojectedentitiesaroundthecylinderaxisindegreesintheoptionstoolbar.6. Setthestartpointoftheunprojectedcylinderaxis.7. Settheendpointofthecylinderaxis.8. Setthereferencepointfortheprojection.Thisisthepointyouwillusetopositiontheprojectioninthenextstep.9. Movethemousecursortothepositionwhereyouwanttocreatetheprojectionandclicktosettheposition.Before
settingthedefinitiveposition,youmightstillwanttoadjustthecylinderdiameter,rotationangleandviewingdirectionintheoptionstoolbar,untilthepreviewmatchesyourexpectations.
MatrixTransformation
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Modify>Projection>MatrixTransformation Shortcut:M,XCommands:matrixtransform|mx
Description:
Thistooltransformstheselectionusinganarbitraryuserdefinedtransformationmatrix.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttotransform.2. Launchthistool.3. Enterthetransformationmatrixintheoptionstoolbar.4. Forconvenience,youmayadditionallyenterafactorthatisappliedtoeachelementofthematrix.5. Setthereferencepointforthetransformation.Thisisthepointyouwillusetopositionthetransformedentitiesinthe
nextstep.6. Movethemousecursortothepositionwhereyouwanttocreatethetransformationandclicktosettheposition.
Beforesettingthedefinitiveposition,youmightstillwanttoadjustthetransformationmatrixintheoptionstoolbar,untilthepreviewmatchesyourexpectations.
SnapTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Commands:snapmenu
Free
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>FreeShortcut:S,FCommands:snapfree|sf
Description:
Allowsfreepositioningusingthemouse.NotethatthisisalmostnevertherecommendedwayofsettingcoordinatesinaCADsystemexceptfordrawingfreehandlines.
Grid
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>GridShortcut:S,GCommands:snapgrid|sg
Description:
Snapstogridpoints.
End
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>EndShortcut:S,ECommands:snapend|se
Description:
Snapstoendpointsoflines,arcspolylinesegments,splines,ellipsearcsandtopoints.
OnEntity
OnEntity
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>OnEntity Shortcut:S,TCommands:snaponentity|st
Description:
Snapstotheclosestpointonanentity.
Perpendicular
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>PerpendicularShortcut:S,UCommands:snapperpendicular|su
Description:
Snapstotheperpendicularpointonaline,arc,circleorellipse.Thisonlyapplieswhendrawinglines.
Tangential
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>TangentialShortcut:S,BCommands:snaptangential|sb
Description:
Snapstothepointoftangencyonanarc,circleorellipse.Thisonlyapplieswhendrawinglines.
Center
Center
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>Center Shortcut:S,CCommands:snapcenter|sc
Description:
Snapstothecenterofarcs,circlesandellipsesaswellastothemiddleoflinesandtopoints.
Reference
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>ReferenceShortcut:S,RCommands:snapreference|sr
Description:
Snapstoreferencepoints.Referencepointsarethebluepointsthatareshownwhenanentityisselected.Thisisparticularlyusefultosnaptoreferencepointsofcirclesandarcs,forexamplewhendrawingcenterlines.
Middle
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>Middle Shortcut:S,MCommands:snapmiddle|sm
Description:
Snapstomiddlepointsoflinesandarcsandtopointentities.Notethatthemiddleofanarcisatthemiddleofthearclineonthearc,notatitscenter.
MiddleManual
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>MiddleManual Shortcut:S,NCommands:snapintersectionmiddlemanual|sn
Description:
Thistoolallowsyoutosnaptoapointthatisinthemiddlebetweentwopoints.Thisismostcommonlyusedtosnaptothecenterofarectangleorpolygonbychoosingtwodiagonallyoppositecorners.
Procedure:
1. Afteractivatingthissnaptool,specifythefirstofthetwopointsthatdefinethemiddlepoint.Forexampleonecornerofarectangle.
2. Clickthesecondofthetwopoints,forexamplethediagonallyoppositecorneroftherectangle.
Distance
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>DistanceShortcut:S,DCommands:snapdistance|sd
Description:
Snapstopointswithagivendistancetotheendpointoflinesorarcs.
Procedure:
1. Enterthedistanceintotheoptionstoolbar.2. Movethecursortotheentityalongwhichthedistanceshouldbemeasured.3. Whenthedesiredposition/previewisshown,clicktheleftmousebuttontosetthecoordinate.
DistanceManual
DistanceManual
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>DistanceManual Shortcut:S,HCommands:snapdistancemanual|sh
Description:
Thistoolallowsyoutosnaptoapointthatlaysontheimaginarylinebetweentwopointsatagivendistancefromthefirstpoint.Thissnaptooldoesnotrestrictthedistance,percentageorfractionentered.Enteringadistancegreaterthanthedistancebetweenthetwopoints,apercentagegreaterthan100orafractiongreaterthan1.0willallowyoutosnaptoapointbeyondthesecondpoint.Negativevaluescanbeenteredtosnaptopointsbeyondthefirstpoint.Fractionsmaybeenteredasdecimalnumbers(0.5,0.7)orasfractions(1/7,3/11).
Procedure:
1. Afteractivatingthissnaptool,choose"Distance","Percentage",or"Fraction"andenterthedesiredvalueintheoptionstoolbar.
2. Specifythefirstpoint.Thatisthepointtomeasurethedistancefrom.3. Clickthesecondpoint.
Intersection
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>IntersectionShortcut:S,ICommands:snapintersection|si
Description:
Snapstointersectionpointsbetweenentities.
IntersectionManual
IntersectionManual
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>IntersectionManual Shortcut:S,YCommands:snapintersectionmanual|sy
Description:
Sometimestheintersectionsnapmodecannotbeusedtosnaptoanintersectionpointbecausetheintersectionpointlaysoutsideoneorbothoftheentities.Thissnaptoolletsyouexplicitlyspecifytwointersectingentitiesandsnaptotheirintersectionpoint.
Procedure:
1. Afteractivatingthissnaptool,clickthefirstofthetwointersectingentities.2. Clickthesecondofthetwointersectingentities.Iftwointersectionpointsarepossible,makesuretoclickthesecond
entitysomewhereclosertotheintersectionpointyouwanttosnapto.
Auto
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>AutoShortcut:S,ACommands:snapauto|sa
Description:
Theautosnaptoolsnapstotheclosestintersectionpoint,endpoint,middlepoint,perpendicularpoint,referencepoint,gridpointorpointonanentityinthatorderofpriority.ThetypesofreferencepointstheautosnaptoolsnapstocanbeconfiguredunderEdit>ApplicationPreferences>Snap>Autosnap.
Coordinate
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>CoordinateShortcut:S,XCommands:snapcoordinate|sx
Description:
DefinesapointbyenteringanabsoluteorrelativeCartesiancoordinate.
Procedure:
1. Startthistoolwhenyouhavetospecifyapointandwanttodosobyenteringapairofcoordinates(x/y).2. Enterthecoordinatesintheoptionstoolbarandchooseiftheyareabsolutecoordinatesorarelativeones(relativeto
therelativezeropoint).3. ClicktheOKbuttonorpressEntertoconfirmtheinputandsetthecoordinates:
PolarCoordinate
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>PolarCoordinate Shortcut:S,OCommands:snappolar|so
Description:
Definesapointbyenteringanabsoluteorrelativepolarcoordinate.
Procedure:
1. Startthistoolwhenyouhavetospecifyapointandwanttodosobyenteringapolarcoordinate.2. Enterthepolarcoordinate(radiusandangle)intheoptionstoolbarandchooseifitisanabsolutecoordinateora
relativeone(relativetotherelativezeropoint).3. ClicktheOKbuttonorpressEntertoconfirmtheinputandsetthecoordinate:
X/YfromPoints
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>X/YfromPoints Shortcut:.,XCommands:.x
Description:
Thissnaptoolcanbeusedtoextractonecoordinate(e.g.X)fromthelocationofoneexistingentityandtheothercoordinate(e.g.Y)fromthelocationofanotherobject.Thiscanforexamplebeusedtolocatethecenterofarectangle.Thisconceptisalsoreferredtoas'combiningcoordinates','pointfiltering'or'coordinatefiltering'.
Procedure:
1. Whenspecifyingaposition,startthistool.2. ClickapositioninthedrawingtolocktheXcoordinateatthatposition.3. ClickapositioninthedrawingtolocktheYcoordinateatthatposition.
Y/XfromPoints
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>Y/XfromPoints Shortcut:.,YCommands:.y
Description:
ThistoolworksthesamewayasthetoolX/YfromPoints,butwithoppositeorderofcoordinateinput.
CenterofSelection
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>CenterofSelection Shortcut:S,KCommands:snapselectioncenter|sk
Description:
Snapstothecenterofthecurrentselection.ThisisthepointatthecenterbetweentheleftmostandtherightmostedgeinXdirectionandthelowermostandtheuppermostedgeinYdirectionoftheselection.
RestrictionsOff
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>RestrictionsOff Shortcut:E,NCommands:restrictoff|en
Description:
Switchesoffallsnaprestrictions.
RestrictOrthogonally
RestrictOrthogonally
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>RestrictOrthogonally Shortcut:E,OCommands:restrictorthogonal|eo
Description:
RestrictsthecursorverticallyorhorizontallytothesameXorYpositionastherelativezeropoint.
RestrictHorizontally
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>RestrictHorizontally Shortcut:E,HCommands:restricthorizontal|eh
Description:
RestrictsthecursorhorizontallytothesameYpositionastherelativezeropoint.
RestrictVertically
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>RestrictVertically Shortcut:E,VCommands:restrictvertical|ev
Description:
RestrictsthecursorverticallytothesameXpositionastherelativezeropoint.
RestrictAngleorLength
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>RestrictAngleorLength Shortcut:E,LCommands:restrictanglelength|el
Description:
Restrictsthecursormovementbyangleanddistanceinrelationtotherelativezeropoint.
SetRelativeZero
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>SetRelativeZero Shortcut:R,ZCommands:setrelativezero|rz
Description:
Letsyousetanewlocationfortherelativezeropoint.
Procedure:
Clickthenewlocationoftherelativezeropoint.
LockRelativeZero
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Snap>LockRelativeZeroShortcut:R,LCommands:lockrelativezero|rl
Description:
Whenenabled,thisswitchlocksthepositionoftherelativezeropoint.Thismeansitdoesnotmovearoundautomaticallybutyoucanstillmoveitmanuallyusingthetooltosetthepositionoftherelativezeropoint.
LockSnap
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Snap>LockSnapShortcut:S,QCommands:locksnap|sq
Description:
Whenenabled,thisswitchkeepsthecurrentsnaptoolactiveevenwhenanewtoolisstarted.
InformationTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,ICommands:infomenu|informationmenu|measuringmenu
Description:
ThetoolsintheInfomenucanbeusedtomeasuredistances,areasandqueryotherinformationfromthedrawing.Someofthetoolsofferanoptiontoaddthemeasuredresulttothedrawingastextifdesired.
Position
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Info>PositionShortcut:I,OCommands:infopos|io
Description:
Thistooloutputstheabsolute,Cartesiancoordinatesofchosenpointsinthedrawing.
RelativePosition
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Info>RelativePosition Shortcut:I,VCommands:infoposrel|iv
Description:
Thistooloutputstherelative,Cartesiancoordinatesofchosenpointsinthedrawing.
PolarPosition
PolarPosition
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Info>PolarPosition Shortcut:I,LCommands:infopospol|il
Description:
Thistooloutputstheabsolute,polarcoordinatesofchosenpointsinthedrawing.
RelativePolarPosition
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Info>RelativePolarPosition Shortcut:I,TCommands:infopospolrel|it
Description:
Thistooloutputstherelative,polarcoordinatesofchosenpointsinthedrawing.
DistancePointtoPoint
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Info>DistancePointtoPoint Shortcut:I,PCommands:infodist|ip
Description:
Thistoolmeasurestheexactdistancebetweentwopointsgivenbytheuser.
Procedure:
1. Usethemousetospecifythelocationofthefirstpointorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.2. Specifythesecondpoint.3. Themeasureddistanceisprintedonscreenandinthecommandline.
DistanceEntitytoPoint
DistanceEntitytoPoint
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Info>DistanceEntitytoPoint Shortcut:I,ECommands:infodistep|ie
Description:
Thistoolmeasurestheexactdistancebetweenanentityandapointgivenbytheuser.
Procedure:
1. Specifytheentity.2. Usethemousetospecifythelocationofthepointorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.3. Themeasureddistanceisprintedonscreenandinthecommandline.
DistanceEntitytoEntity
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Info>DistanceEntitytoEntity Shortcut:I,NCommands:infodistee|in
Description:
Thistoolmeasurestheexactdistancebetweenanentityandapointgivenbytheuser.
Procedure:
1. Specifytheentity.2. Usethemousetospecifythelocationofthepointorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.3. Themeasureddistanceisprintedonscreenandinthecommandline.
Angle
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Info>AngleShortcut:I,ACommands:infoangle|ia
Description:
Thistoolmeasurestheanglebetweentwogivenlines.
Procedure:
1. Specifythefirstline.2. Specifythesecondline.3. Themeasuredangle(indegrees)isprintedonscreenandinthecommandline.
TotalLengthofSelection
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Info>TotalLengthofSelection Shortcut:I,SCommands:infosum|is
Description:
Thistoolcalculatesthetotallengthofaselectionofentities.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttomeasurethetotallengthfrom.2. Startthetool.3. Thetotallengthoftheselectedentitiesisprintedinthecommandline.
PolygonalArea
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Info>PolygonalAreaShortcut:I,RCommands:infoarea|ir
Description:
Thistoolmeasurestheareacoveredbyapolygonanditscircumference.
Procedure:
1. Specifythefirstpointofthearea.2. Specifytheotherpointsthatdefinetheareaandrightclickwhenyouarefinished.3. Themeasuredareaisprintedonscreenandinthecommandline.Thecircumferenceisalsoprintedinthecommand
line.
Arc/Circle/EllipseArea
Arc/Circle/EllipseArea
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Info>Arc/Circle/EllipseAreaShortcut:I,CCommands:acearea|ic
Description:
Author:RobertS.
Thiscommandcalculatestheareaofarcs,circles,ellipsesandellipticalarcs,andoptionallyaddstheinformationtothecurrentlayerofadrawing.Ifyouselectanyothertypeofentityawarningisshowninthecommandline.
Forarcs,therearetwooptionsforcalculatingareas,namelySegmentorSector.Theareaofasegment(orslice)istheareaboundbythearcandtwolinesdrawnfromthearc'sstartpointandendpointtothearc'scentre.Theareaofasectoristheareaboundbythearcandachorddrawnfromthearc'sstartpointtotheendpoint.
Figure1:asegment(slice)andsector.
Options
Thiscommandhasthestandard"Addmeasurementtodrawing"and"TextHeight"options.
Figure2:StandardInfooptions
Whetherthisisoffornot,whenyouclickonanarc,circle,ellipseorellipticalarc,theinformationisdisplayedinthecommandlinewidget.
Figure3:Infodisplayedincommandline
(Note:Everytimeyoustartaninfocommandthe"Addmeasurementtodrawing"checkboxisalwaysunchecked.Youmustremembertoswitchitonifyouwanttheinfoaddedtothedrawing).
Italsoaddsthefollowingoptions.
Figure4:Addedoptions
Mode:
Themodeonlyappliestoarcs.
Sector:Thismodereturnstheareaofthesector.Thisisusefulwhenusedinconjunctionwiththe"PolygonalArea"command.
Segment:Thismodereturnstheareaofthesegment.
Add:
Entity:Thisselectswhetheryouwanttoaddacopyofthemeasuredentitytothecurrentlayerofthedrawing.
Chord:Thisselectsifyouwantthechord(sector),orradiuslines(segment),addedtothedrawing.
Length:Bydefaulttheareaisalwaysprintedonthedrawing.Thisoptionselectswhetheryouwantextrainformationaddedtothedrawing.
Forcirclesandfullellipsestheextrainformationisthecircumference.Thisusesthecentrepointasthelowerleftcornerfortheaddedtext.
Forcirculararcstheextrainformationisthelengthofthearcandthelengthofthechord(insectormode),ortheradius(insegmentmode).
Forellipsestheextrainformationisthelengthofthearcandthelengthofthechord(insectormode),orthedistancefromthecentrepointtothestartpointofthearc,followedbythedistancefromthecentrepointtotheendpointofthearc(insegmentmode).
Thelowerleftcornerfortheaddedtextistheendpointofthearc.
PolylineArea
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Info>PolylineAreaShortcut:I,ICommands:infopolylinearea|ii
Description:
Thistoolmeasurestheareaofapolyline.
Procedure:
1. Specifythepolylineentity.2. Themeasuredareaisprintedonscreenandinthecommandline.
LayerTools
LayerTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,YCommands:layermenu
Description:
ThetoolsintheLayermenucanbeusedtoadd,modifyanddeletelayers.Someofthetoolsarealsoavailableastoolbuttonsatthetopofthelayerlist.
ToggleVisibility
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Layer>ToggleVisibility Shortcut:Y,VCommands:layertogglevisibility|yv
Description:
Thistooltogglesthevisibilityofthecurrentlayer.Youmayalsotogglelayersbyclickingontheeyeiconbesidethelayernameinthelayerlist.Ablackeyeiconmeansthatthelayerisvisible,agrayiconthatthelayerishidden.
ToggleFrozenStatus
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Layer>ToggleFrozenStatus Shortcut:Y,FCommands:layertogglefrozen|yf
Description:
Thistooltogglesthefrozenstatusofthecurrentlayer.Youmayalsotogglethefrozenstatusoflayersbyclickingontheiceorsuniconbesidethelayernameinthelayerlist.
Notethatblockreferencesonfrozenlayersarenotshownwhileblockreferencesonlayersthatareoffarestillshown(providedthattheycontainanyentitiesonlayerswhichareonandnotfrozen).
ToggleLockStatus
ToggleLockStatus
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Layer>ToggleLockStatus Shortcut:Y,LCommands:layertogglelock|yl
Description:
Thistooltogglesthelockedstatusofthecurrentlayer.Youmayalsotogglethelockedstatusoflayersbyclickingonthelockiconbesidethelayernameinthelayerlist.
Entitiesonlockedlayerscannotbeselected,deletedormodified.
ShowOnlyActive
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Layer>ShowOnlyActive Shortcut:Y,OCommands:layershowactive|yo
Description:
Thistoolhidesalllayersexceptfortheselected(active)layerinthelayerlist.
ShowAllLayers
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Layer>ShowAllLayers Shortcut:Y,SCommands:layershowall|ys
Description:
Thistoolcanbeusedtoconvenientlyshowalllayersatonce.Thiscanbeusefulwhileworkingwithadrawingwithmanylayers.
HideAllLayers
HideAllLayers
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Layer>HideAllLayers Shortcut:Y,HCommands:layerhideall|yh
Description:
Thistoolcanbeusedtoconvenientlyhidealllayersatonce.Thiscanbeusefulwhileworkingwithadrawingwithmanylayers.
ThawAllLayers
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Layer>ThawAllLayers Shortcut:Y,WCommands:layerthawall|yw
Description:
Thistoolcanbeusedtoconvenientlythawalllayersatonce.Thiscanbeusefulwhileworkingwithadrawingwithmanylayers.
FreezeAllLayers
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Layer>FreezeAllLayers Shortcut:Y,ZCommands:layerfreezeall|yz
Description:
Thistoolcanbeusedtoconvenientlyhide(freeze)alllayersatonce.Thiscanbeusefulwhileworkingwithadrawingwithmanylayers.
LockAllLayers
LockAllLayers
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Layer>LockAllLayers Shortcut:Y,KCommands:layerlockall|yk
Description:
Thistoolcanbeusedtoconvenientlylockalllayersatonce.
UnlockAllLayers
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Layer>UnlockAllLayers Shortcut:Y,NCommands:layerunlockall|yn
Description:
Thistoolcanbeusedtoconvenientlyunlockalllayersatonce.
AddLayer
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Layer>AddLayer Shortcut:Y,ACommands:layeradd|ya
Description:
Thiscommandcreatesanewlayer.Thelayerdialogisshownwhereyoucanspecifythenameforthenewlayerandadjustitsattributes.
QCADProfessional:
Inaddition,youcanchooseifobjectsonthislayercanbesnappedtoandifthislayershouldbeprinted.Alayercanbemadeasub-layerofaparentlayer.Thelayerlistwillthenshowatreestructureofhierarchicallayers.
AddSublayer
AddSublayer
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:Layer>AddSublayer Shortcut:Y,UCommands:layeraddsub|yu
CreateLayerfromSelection
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Layer>CreateLayerfromSelection Shortcut:Y,TCommands:layerfromselection|yt
DeleteLayer
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Layer>DeleteLayer Shortcut:Y,RCommands:layerdelete|yr
Description:
Youcandeletethecurrentlyselectedlayerfromthelayerlistwiththiscommand.Pleasenotethatallentitiesonthatlayerwillbedeletedaswell.Layer"0"canneverbedeleted.
PurgeUnusedLayers
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Layer>PurgeUnusedLayers Shortcut:Y,PCommands:purgelayers
EditLayer
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:Layer>EditLayer Shortcut:Y,ECommands:layeredit|ye
SelectLayer
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Layer>SelectLayer Shortcuts:Y,+|Y,C Commands:layerselect|selectlayer|y+|yc
Description:
Thistooladdsallentitiesonthecurrentlayertotheselection.Onlyentitiesonthecurrentblockcanbeselected,entitiesonotherblocksarenotselected.
DeselectLayer
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Layer>DeselectLayer Shortcuts:Y,-|Y,D Commands:layerdeselect|deselectlayer|y-|yd
Description:
Thistooldeselectsallentitiesonthecurrentlayer.
BlockTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,BCommands:blockmenu
Explode
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>ExplodeShortcut:X,PCommands:explode|xp
Description:
Convertsblockreferences,polylines,splines,ellipses,texts,dimensionsandhatchesintomorebasicentities.Dimensionsaresplitupintolines,trianglesandtextentities.Textentitiesaresplitintopolylines(orlines,arcsandsplines).Splinesareconvertedintopolylineswithtangentiallyconnectedarcsegments.Ellipsesareconvertedintopolylineswitharcsegments.Polylinesaresplitupintoloosesegments.Hatchesaresplitupintolines.Solidfillsareconvertedtotheoutlineofthesolidfill.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttoexplode.2. Launchthistooltoexplodetheselectedentities.3. Repeatstep2tofurtherbreakuptheselectedentitiesifdesired.Ifanentitycannotbefurtherbrokenup,itremains
unchanged.
ToggleVisibility
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>ToggleVisibility Shortcut:B,VCommands:blocktogglevisibility|bv
Description:
Clicktheeyeiconintheblocklisttotogglethevisibilityofablock.Blockreferencesofinvisibleblocksarenotdisplayed.
ShowAllBlocks
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>ShowAllBlocks Shortcut:B,SCommands:blockshowAll|bs
Description:
Thistoolmakessurethatallblockreferencesinthedrawingareshown.
HideAllBlocks
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>HideAllBlocks Shortcut:B,HCommands:blockhideAll
Description:
Thistoolhidesallblockreferencesinthedrawing.
AddEmptyBlock
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>AddEmptyBlock Shortcut:B,ACommands:blockadd|ba
Description:
Thiscommandcreatesanewemptyblock.Theblockdialogisshownwhereyoucanspecifyanameforthenewblock.Ifyouwanttocreateablockfromexistingentities,pleaseusetheCreateBlockcommandinstead.
CreateBlockfromSelection
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>CreateBlockfromSelection Shortcut:B,CCommands:blockcreate|bc
Description:
Createsanewblockfromexistingentities.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttouseforthenewblock.2. Specifythereferencepointoftheblock.3. EnteranameforthenewblockinthedialogthatisshownandclickOK.
Theblockisnowaddedtotheblocklistandinstancesofitcanbeinsertedintothedrawing.Theentitiesyouhaveselectedinthefirststepareremovedandreplacedbyablockreferenceofthenewlycreatedblock.
AddLayoutBlock
AddLayoutBlock
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Block>AddLayoutBlock Shortcut:B,LCommands:layoutadd|bl
Description:
Thistoolcreatesanewlayoutblock.Layoutblocksaretypicallyusedtoarrangedifferentpartsofadrawingonasheetofpaperforprinting.Layoutblockstypicallycontainadrawingborder,headerandoneormultipleviewports.
Procedure:
Layoutblockshaveaname(shownintheblocklist)andataborder(orderintheblocklist).Bothcanbeenteredwhencreatingthelayoutblock.
RemoveBlock
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>RemoveBlock Shortcut:B,RCommands:blockremove|br
Description:
Removestheactiveblock.Theblock,allentitiesonitandallblockreferencesoftheblockwillbedeleted.
PurgeUnusedBlocks
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Block>PurgeUnusedBlocks Shortcut:B,PCommands:purgeblocks
RenameBlock
RenameBlock
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>RenameBlock Shortcut:B,NCommands:blockrename|bn
Description:
Renamestheactiveblock.Thesamedialogispresentedasforcreatingnewblocks.Blockreferencesareautomaticallyupdatedtoreferencetherenamedblock.
Ifthecurrentlyselectedblockisalayoutblock,thelayoutcanberenamedwiththistool.Inthiscase,thedialogalsoshowstheordernumberofthelayout.Layoutsintheblocklistareorderedbythisnumber.
EditBlock
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>EditBlock Shortcut:B,ECommands:blockedit|be
Description:
Thistoolopenstheactiveblockforediting.Itcanbemodifiedjustlikethemaindrawing.Toreturntothemaindrawing(called"*Model_Space"),activateblock"*Model_Space"andclickthesamebuttonagaintoeditthatblockorstartthetool"EditMainDrawing"inmenu"Block".
EditBlockfromReference
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>EditBlockfromReference Shortcut:B,DCommands:blockeditfromreference|bd
Description:
Withthistool,ablockcanbeeditedbychoosinganexistingblockreferenceentity.Thisisusefulandusuallyfasterifyoudon'tknowthenameoftheblockyouwanttoedit.
Procedure:
Clickanyblockreferenceentitythatreferencestheblockyouwanttoedit.
Theblockisopenedforediting.Toreturntothemaindrawing(called"*Model_Space"),editblock"*Model_Space"orstart
thetool"EditMainDrawing"inmenu"Block".
CopyBlock
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Block>CopyBlock Shortcut:B,YCommands:blockcopy|by
Description:
Thistoolcreatesacopyoftheblockcurrentlyselectedintheblocklist.Adialogisshownthatallowsyoutoenteranameforthenewblock.
ReturntoMainDrawing
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>ReturntoMainDrawing Shortcut:E,MCommands:editmain|em
Description:
Choosethistoolwhenyouareeditingablockandwanttoreturntothemaindrawing(block"*Model_Space").
SelectBlockReferences
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>SelectBlockReferences Shortcut:B,+Commands:blockselect|selectblock|b+
Description:
Thistoolselectsallblockreferencesoftheblockthatiscurrentlyselectedintheblocklist.Onlyblockreferenceswhicharepartoftheblockthatiscurrentlybeingeditedareselected.
DeselectBlockReferences
DeselectBlockReferences
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>DeselectBlockReferences Shortcut:B,-Commands:blockdeselect|deselectblock|b-
Description:
Thistooldeselectsallblockreferencesoftheblockthatiscurrentlyselectedintheblocklist.
InsertBlock
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>InsertBlock Shortcut:B,ICommands:blockinsert|minsert|insert|bi
Description:
Thistoolinsertstheactiveblockintothedrawing.Oneormultipleblockreferencesarecreatedinthedrawingtorepresenttheactiveblock.
Procedure:
1. Choosetheblockyouwanttoinsertfromtheblocklist.2. Clicktheinsertbuttonorchoose'InsertBlock'fromthemenu.3. Entertherotationangleandscalefactorfortheblockreferenceintheoptionstoolbar.
CreateLibraryItem
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Block>CreateLibraryItem Shortcut:B,TCommands:librarycreate|bt
Description:
Createsanewpartlibraryitemfromaselectioninthedrawing.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheentitiesyouwanttouseforthenewlibraryitem.2. Specifythereferencepointoftheitem.3. Enteranameforthenewitemandchoosealibraryandlocationwheretostoretheitem.ClickOK.
AttributeTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Shortcut:W,UCommands:attributemenu
DefineBlockAttribute
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Block>Attributes>DefineBlockAttribute Shortcut:U,ACommands:attributedefinition|attdef|ua
Description:
Usethistooltoaddanattributedefinitiontoablockdefinition.
Procedure:
1. Theattributedefinitiondialogisshown.2. Choosethefontname,textheightandtextpropertiesasdescribedinthedocumentationofthetexttool.3. Enteratagfortheattributedefinition.
Thisidentifierisusedtolinkattributestotheirattributedefinition.Youcanalsothinkofthetagasavariablename.4. Enterapromptfortheattributedefinition.Thistextisshownwhenevertheuserisrequestedtoenteravalueforthis
attribute.5. Enteradefaultvalueforattributesthatarecreatedfromthisattributedefinition.Thiscanbeacommonlyusedvaluefor
theattributeoraplaceholdersuchas"?"or"#".6. Click"OK"toexitthedialog.7. Usethemousetospecifythelocationoftheattributedefinitionorenteracoordinateinthecommandline.8. RightclickorpressEscapetostopthetool.
SynchronizeAttributes
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Block>Attributes>SynchronizeAttributes Shortcut:U,YCommands:attributesynchronization|attsync|uy
Description:
Thistoolsynchronizesattributesinblockreferenceswiththeattributedefinitionsintheappropriateblockdefinition.Attributesforwhichnodefinitionisavailablearedeleted.Fornewattributedefinitions,anewattributeiscreatedwiththeattributedefinitiondefaultvalueasvalue.Thevalueofexistingattributesisnotchanged.Thetextstyle,position,alignmentandangleareresettothoseoftheattributedefinition.Ifnothingisselected,thistoolsynchronizesallattributesofallblockreferences.Ifthereisaselection,onlythoseblockreferencesthatareselectedaresynchronizedwiththeirblockdefinitions.
WindowTools
CloseAll
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Window>CloseAll Shortcut:Ctrl+Shift+W(Mac:⇧⌘W)
Description:
Thistoolclosesallopendrawings.
Next
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Window>Next Shortcuts:Ctrl+Right(Mac:⌘Right)|Ctrl+PgUp(Mac:⌘PgUp)
Description:
Thistoolactivatesthenextopendrawingwindow/tab.
Previous
Toolbar/Icon:
Menu:Window>Previous Shortcuts:Ctrl+Left(Mac:⌘Left)|Ctrl+PgDown(Mac:⌘PgDown)
Description:
Thistoolactivatesthepreviousopendrawingwindow/tab.
FullScreen
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCADProfessionalMenu:Window>FullScreen Shortcut:Ctrl+Shift+F(Mac:⇧⌘F)Commands:fullscreen
Description:
Switchestheapplicationwindowtofullscreenmodeorbacktonormalmode.Theapplicationmenucanbeaccessedbyclickingattheverytopofthescreen.
CAMTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Commands:cammenu
CAMConfiguration...
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>CAMConfiguration... Shortcut:K,KCommands:camconfig|kk
Description:
Usethisfunctiontodisplayadialogwithvariouspreferencesforthecurrentconfiguration.Thesepreferencesapplytoalltoolsandalltoolpaths.
CAMExport
CAMExport
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>CAMExport Shortcut:K,XCommands:camexport|kx
Description:
ThistoolexportsallavailabletoolpathsinthecurrentdrawingtoaCAMoutputfileusingthecurrentlyselectedconfiguration(comboboxatthetopleft).Ifthedrawinghasbeenpreviouslyexportedusingthesameconfiguration,theexportstartsimmediately.Otherwise,afiledialogisshowntochooseafilenameandlocation.
CAMLegacyExport
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>CAMLegacyExport Commands:camexportv1
Description:
QCAD/CAMcanexportCADdrawingstovariousformatsusedinCAM(computer-aidedmanufacturing).TheseformatscanbedialectsofG-Codeorother,completelydifferentformats.EachsupportedCAMformatisdefinedinaconfigurationfilewhichisanECMAScript(JavaScript)filethatimplementstheformatdetails.Allavailableconfigurationsarestoredinsidethedirectoryscripts/Cam/CamConfigurations.Newformatimplementationscanbeaddedtothesamelocation.Moreinformationabouthowtocreatenewconfigurationscanbefoundonourwebsiteat:http://www.qcad.org/qcad-cam-configuration
Procedure:
1. Loadthedrawing(orGerberfile)youwanttoexporttoaCAMformat.2. Startthetoolbyclickingitstoolbuttonorchoosingitsmenu(seeabove).3. TheCAMconfigurationdialogisshown:
4. Choosethefileformatyouwanttouse.Thenameofthefileformatdirectlycorrespondstothenameoftheconfigurationfilestoredondisk.Inthedialogshownabove,theconfigurationGCodeischosenwhichcorrespondstothefilescripts/Cam/CamConfigurations/GCode.js.ThevariousCAMexportparametersdisplayedintheCAMconfigurationdialogareautomaticallyinitializedtothedefaultparametersusedbythechosenconfiguration.
5. IntheGeneralsectionatthetopofthedialog,youcanchooseifyouwanttouserelativeorabsolutecoordinatesandthetoleranceusedtoidentifyconnectedpaths.Thetoleranceisthemaximumgapbetweentwoendpointstobetreatedasconnected.
6. IntheClosedPathsection,youcanactivatesomeoptionsthatonlyapplytoclosedpaths.Aclosedpathorcontourconsistsofanumberofentitieswhichareconnectedtoeachother.Thelastentityconnectstothefirstentityofthepath.Fullcirclesarealsotreatedasclosedpaths.
TheRamponoptionaddsanadditionallinearmovebeforethefirstentityofaclosedpathfromthedirectionofthepathcenter.Thefigurebelowillustratesthecuttingpathandorderwithoutarampon,witharamponwithfactor1.0(fromcenter)andwitharamponwithfactor0.5.
ThesameoptionisalsoavailableforRampoff,,anadditionallinearmoveattheendoftheclosedpath,towardsthecenterofthepath.WithoptionForcedorientation,itispossibletoforceallcontourstobecutinthesameorientation(clockwiseorcounterclockwise).ThisisusuallyrequiredifthechosenCAMconfigurationusesthesametoolradiuscompensationmechanism(e.g.G40,G41,G42)forallclosedcontours.OptionSplitfullcirclesintwoarcscutsallfullcirclesastwohalves.Thisisrequiredforsomecontrollerswhichcannothandlecircleswithanangleofover180degrees.
7. ClickOKtostarttheconversion.Dependingonthesizeandcomplexityofthedrawing,theconversionmighttake
severalminutestocomplete.Youcanfollowitsprogressinthecommandlinehistoryoutput.8. QCAD/CAMopensanewdrawingwiththeconversionresultuponcompleteconversion.Thedrawingcontainstwo
layers,oneforregularlinearandcircularmoves(showninblackorwhite)andoneforrapidmoves(showninblue).YoucanalsousetheCAMsimulationtoolpaneltosimulatetheoutput.
Note:theunitusedforcoordinatesintheCAMoutputisdefinedbytheCAMconfigurationthatisused.ThecoordinatesinthedrawingthatisusedassourceareautomaticallyconvertedtotheunitdefinedbytheCAMconfiguration.
G-CodeImport...
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>G-CodeImport...Commands:camimport
Description:
ThistoolimportsthegeometryfromanexistingG-codefile.TheexpectedsyntaxoftheG-codecanbeconfiguredintheapplicationpreferences.
GerberImport...
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>GerberImport... Commands:gbximport
Description:
TheQCAD/CAMmodulecanimportGerberfilesofformatRS-274X.Onlypathsandapertureflashesareimported.
Procedure:
1. Startthetoolbychoosingthemenuortoolbuttonshownabove.2. SelecttheGerberfileyouwanttoimport.Gerberfilesusuallyhavethefileending.gbx.3. TheGerberfileisloadedandshownasanewdrawing.
Note:TheunitoftheGerberfileisnotconvertedduringtheimport.IftheGerberfileisstoredinInches,thefileisimportedintoanewdrawinginInches.IftheGerberfileusesMillimeters,adrawinginMillimetersiscreated.
DisplayToolpaths
DisplayToolpaths
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>DisplayToolpaths Shortcut:K,VCommands:togglecam|kv
Description:
ThistooltogglesthedisplayofallCAMtoolpaths.Iftoolpathsareon,alltoolpathsareshowninthedrawingarea.Thiscanbedistractingwhenchangingthegeometryofyourdrawing.
AddTool
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>AddTool Shortcut:K,ACommands:camaddtool|addtool|ka
Description:
ThisfunctionaddsatoolforCAMprocessingtothecurrentdrawing.ThenewtoolcanthenbeusedtocreateCAMtoolpaths.Themainpropertyofatoolisitsdiameter.Thediameterisusedtocomputethedesiredtoolpathoffset(cutterradiuscompensation).
Procedure:
1. Startthistool.2. Adialogforenteringthetoolparametersisdisplayed.
ThetoolnameisusuallyanumberthatisusedintheG-codeoutputfortoolchanges(e.g."T1").Thetooldiameterisrequiredforthecalculationofthetoolradiuscompensationandforthesimulation.
EditTool
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>EditToolShortcut:K,ECommands:camedittool|edittool|ke
Description:
Thisfunctioncanbeusedtoeditanexistingtool.Thesamedialogwithtoolparametersisshownaswhenanewtoolis
added.
RemoveTool
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>RemoveTool Shortcut:K,RCommands:camdeletetool|tooldelete|kr
Description:
Thisfunctionremovestheselectedtoolfromthetoollist.
ExportTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>ExportTools Shortcut:K,OCommands:camexporttools|exporttools|ko
Description:
Thisfunctionexportsalltoolsoftheselectedconfigurationofthecurrentdrawingintoaseparatefile.Thetoolscanthenforexamplebeimportedintoanother,existingdrawing.
ImportTools
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>ImportTools Shortcut:K,ICommands:camimporttools|importtools|ki
Description:
Thisfunctionimportstoolsfromanexternalfile.ThisfilemayhavebeencreatedpreviouslyviaCAM<ExportToolsorcanbeanyotherdrawingwithtools.
AddProfileToolpath
AddProfileToolpath
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>AddProfileToolpath Shortcut:K,PCommands:camaddprofiletoolpath|addprofiletoolpath|profiletoolpathadd|kp
Description:
Thistoolcreatesanewprofiletoolpath,basedonthecurrentselection.Aprofiletoolpathistoolpaththatfollowsaprofilewiththetoolcentereitheronthegeometryorusingatoolradiuscorrectiontotheleftorrightsideofthegeometry.
Procedure:
1. Selecttheprofile(s)youwanttouseasabasisfortheprofiletoolpath.Youcanselectoneormultipleopenorclosedprofiles.Aprofiletypicallyconsistsofapolylineoraselectionofconnectedlines,arcs,ellipsearcsandsplines.Ifyouneedfullcontrolofthestartpointanddirectionofaprofiletoolpath,makesurethatallyourprofilesconsistofpolylineswiththedesiredstartpointanddirection.
2. Startthistool.3. Theprofiletoolpathdialogisshownwiththevariousparametersthatdefineatoolpath.
Name:Nameofthetoolpath,uniqueperconfiguration.Tool:Thetoolnumberofthetoolusedtoprocessthetoolpath.Youcanalsoaddatoolbyclickingontheplussymbol.FeedRate:Thefeedratetouseforthisparticulartoolpath.Thisdefaultstothefeedrateofthechosentoolbutcanbeadjustedforeachtoolpathindividuallyifdesired.PlungeRate:Thefeedrateusedfordownwardmoves.Thisdefaultstotheplungerateofthechosentoolbutcanbeadjustedforeachtoolpathindividuallyifdesired.
CuttingDepths:SafeZ(a):TheZlevelusedtoapproachthetoolpathatrapidmove(clearance,approachinglevel).StartDepth(b):TheZlevelatwhichthematerialbegins(typically0).CutDepth(c):Thefinalcuttingdepth,measuredfromthestartdepth.Notethatcutdepthisadistance(positive),notaZlevel.Passes:Thenumberofpassestousetoreachthefinalcuttingdepthor1tocuttothefinaldepthinasinglepass.
Side/Direction:Side:ThesideforthetoolradiuscompensationorOntocutwiththetoolcenterontheprofile.Direction:Cuttingdirectionclimbing(leftofprofile)orconventional(rightofprofile).
Leads:LeadInType:Shapeofleadintouse.Leadsareanadditionalmovesinsertedbefore/aftertheprofiletoapproachorleavetheprofile.Iftoolradiuscompensationisused,leadsmustbeused,sothetoolradiuscompensationcanbeswitchedon/off.LeadInType:Shapeofleadouttouse.LeadInLength/Radius:Thesizeoftheleadinshapetouse.LeadOutLength/Radius:Thesizeoftheleadoutshapetouse.Overcut:Overlappingelementusedattheendofaprofiletocutslightlyfurtherthanrequired.Thiscanleadtoasmootherendresult.
4. ClickOKtocreatetheprofiletoolpath.QCAD/CAMgeneratesthetoolpathanddisplaysthepathofthetoolcenterinthegraphicsviewasadashedline.
AddDrillToolpath
AddDrillToolpath
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>AddDrillToolpath Shortcut:K,LCommands:camadddrilltoolpath|adddrilltoolpath|drilltoolpathadd|kl
Description:
Thistoolcreatesanewdrilltoolpath,basedonthecurrentselection.Adrilltoolpathisatoolpathfordrilledholes.Thecenteroftheholecanbedefinedbyapointentityorthecenterofacircleentity.
Procedure:
1. Selectthepointsorcirclesyouwanttouseasabasisforthedrilltoolpath.Youcanselectoneormultiplepointsorcircles.
2. Startthistool.3. Thedrilltoolpathdialogisshownwiththevariousparametersthatdefineadrilltoolpath.
Name:Nameofthetoolpath,uniqueperconfiguration.Tool:Thetoolnumberofthetoolusedtoprocessthetoolpath.Youcanalsoaddatoolbyclickingontheplussymbol.PlungeRate:Thefeedrateusedfordownwardmoves.Thisdefaultstotheplungerateofthechosentoolbutcanbeadjustedforeachtoolpathindividuallyifdesired.Forupwardmoves,thefeedrateofthetoolisused.
CuttingDepths:SafeZ(a):TheZlevelusedtoapproachthetoolpathatrapidmove(clearance,approachinglevel).StartDepth(b):TheZlevelatwhichthematerialbegins(typically0).CutDepth(c):Thefinalcuttingdepth,measuredfromthestartdepth.Notethatcutdepthisadistance(positive),notaZlevel.Passes:Thenumberofpassestousetoreachthefinalcuttingdepthor1tocuttothefinaldepthinasinglepass.
4. ClickOKtocreatethedrilltoolpath.QCAD/CAMgeneratesthetoolpathanddisplaysthepathofthetoolcenterinthegraphicsviewasadashedline.
EditToolpath
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>EditToolpath Shortcut:K,DCommands:camedittoolpath|edittoolpath|toolpathedit|kd
Description:
Usethisfunctiontoedittheparametersofexistingtoolpaths.
RemoveToolpath
RemoveToolpath
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>RemoveToolpath Shortcut:K,MCommands:camremoveprofiletoolpath|removeprofiletoolpath|toolpathremove|km
Description:
Thistoolremovesthecurrentlyselectedtoolpathfromthetoolpathlist.
MoveToolpathUp
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>MoveToolpathUp Commands:toolpathmoveup
Description:
Thistoolmovesatoolpathfurtherupintheorderofprocessing.Toolpathsareexportedintheexactorderasshowninthetoolpathlist.
MoveToolpathDown
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>MoveToolpathDown Commands:toolpathmovedown
Description:
Thistoolmovesatoolpathfurtherdownintheorderofprocessing.Toolpathsareexportedintheexactorderasshowninthetoolpathlist.
RegenerateToolpath
RegenerateToolpath
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>RegenerateToolpath Commands:toolpathregen
Description:
Thistoolregeneratesthetoolpaththatiscurrentlyselectedinthetoolpathlistbasedonitscurrentparameters.Usethisafterchangingtheparametersorgeometryofatoolpath.
RegenerateToolpathfromTool
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>RegenerateToolpathfromTool Commands:toolpathregentool
Description:
RegenerateAllToolpaths
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>RegenerateAllToolpaths Commands:toolpathregenall
Description:
Thistoolregeneratesalltoolpathsbasedontheircurrentparameters.Usethisafterchangingconfigurationglobalparametersorafterupdatingthegeometryofyourdrawing.
UpdateToolpathfromSelection
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>UpdateToolpathfromSelection Commands:toolpathupdatefromselection
Description:
Thistoolupdatesthecurrentlyselectedtoolpathtousetheselectedgeometryasanewbasis.Usethisafterdeleting(partof)thegeometryofatoolpathtoregeneratethetoolpathbasedonadifferentorupdatedgeometry.
AddTab
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>AddTab Shortcut:K,TCommands:camaddtab|kt
Description:
Thisfunctionaddsatabtothecurrentdrawing.Tabsaresmallconnectionsbetweenacutoutshapeanditssurroundingmaterial.Tabscanbeusedtoholdapieceinplacewhilecuttingitoutofasheetmaterial.Thispreventsthepiecefrommovingwhilethetoolisstillcutting.Tabsaretypicallyverysmall,sothepiececanbeeasilybrokenoutofthesheetmaterialoncethetoolpathiscomplete.Tosecurelyholdapieceinplace,threeormoretabsaretypicallyused.
Procedure:
1. Startthistool.2. Enterthedesiredlengthandthicknessofthetab.3. Usethemousetopositionthetabinyourdrawing.Tabsareusuallypositionedontheoriginalcontour(notonthe
offsetcontour).However,theyalsoaffectthetoolpathifaradiuscompensationisused.
ShowCAMToolList
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>ShowCAMToolList Shortcut:G,OCommands:camtoollist|go
Description:
Thetoollistshowsalltoolthathavebeencreatedforthecurrentdrawingandchosenconfiguration.Youcancreateasmanytoolsasrequired,foreachconfiguration.Whenchangingtheconfigurationatthetopleft,thetoollistisautomaticallyupdatedtoonlyshowthetoolsavailableforthatconfiguration.
ShowCAMToolpathList
ShowCAMToolpathList
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>ShowCAMToolpathList Shortcut:G,ACommands:camtoolpathlist|ga
Description:
Thetoolpathlistshowsalltoolpaththathavebeencreatedforthecurrentdrawingandchosenconfiguration.Toolpathsareshowninthesameorderastheywillbeprocessedin.
Show3DSimulationView
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>Show3DSimulationView Shortcut:G,3Commands:simulation3d|g3
Description:
The3DviewcanbeusedtoobserveZmovementsduringCAMsimulation.
ShowSimulationPanel
Toolbar/Icon:
Add-on: QCAD/CAMMenu:CAM>ShowSimulationPanel Shortcut:G,ICommands:camsimulation|gi
Description:
WiththeCAMSimulationwidget,theorderinwhichentitiesareprocessedcanbevisualizedinslowmotion.
Theplaybuttonstartsthesimulation.Thecurrentpositionofthetoolisshownasyellowcircleinthedrawingarea.Thepausebuttoncanbeusedtopausethesimulation.Hittheplaybuttontocontinuethesimulationagain.
Thestopbuttonstopsthesimulation.Thefeedrateslidercanbeusedtoadjustthespeedofthesimulationwhilethesimulationisinprogress.Withtheprogressslider,theprogressofthesimulationcanbeadjusteddirectlytothedesiredpositionandcontinuedfromthere.