8. Appendix
8.1 Settings
8.2 Keyboard shortcuts
8.3 Data exchange DXF
8.4 Export
8. Appendix  
 

This chapter describes the settings offered within CYCAS. After that, you will find a list of all keyboard shortcuts. Finally, it contains information on data exchange, especially, on the exchange format DXF and on export to rendering programs.


 
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8.1 Settings  
 


The settings described here, can be reached via the menu Project above the main menu. These settings effect the screen display as well as the procedure of entering elements. By showing or hiding drawing elements you can e.g. speed up the screen display. You can make settings concerning dimension chains, e.g. if you want to do compound measuring. You may also customize the CYCAS GUI by adjusting the colors for the drawing area and the pens in a way that it makes working comfortable for you.

All settings are saved along with the drawing. This means, the data is handled on a per-project basis. Exceptions to this rule are the settings made for Local and GUI. Those are saved on a per-user basis, respectively on Windows these data are saved globally.
 

Pen : Here you can adjust the colors of the pens to your personal preferences. However, the pen colors should make sense with regard to the color of the drawing area. (See Colors.) You can define eight different pen types. To do so, select a pen number between 0 and 7 first, then you select the pen thickness. Finally, you may specify a name for these settings. The pen name is of no significance unless you are exporting a drawing into the DXF format.
 

Line : You can define eight different line types. Each line type consists of up to three sections. A section is made up of one line and one space. A continuous line has zero sections. A regular dashed line has one section. In this case, you should set line and space to equal length. A dot-dash line consists of two sections where one section forms the dot and the other one forms the line. The dot could have a length of e.g. 0.1 mm.
As for pens, the line name is relevant for DXF12 export only.  

  • View : The following settings effect what is displayed on screen:
 

Patterns : (De)activates the displaying of the patterns.

Room : (De)activates the displaying of the lines that define the borders of a room. If this option is active, the room border lines are drawn using the guide line color. The texts assigned to the different rooms always remain visible.
 

  • Input : Choose the measurement units for:

Figure input : Choose whether you want to make the numeric input using the metric system or using the imperial system. These settings effect the input of any figures, but do not effect the values of the dimension chains. (The display mode of the dimension chains depends on the settings you arranged in the dimension chain dialog box.)

Pen/Line/Text size : Choose the unit of measurement in that you want to specify the pens, the lines and the text sizes.

Paper size : For doing the output to printer or plotter you can adjust the unit measurement of the paper sizes here.

Angle input : Choose the format in that you want to work with angles.

Room inscription : Here, you can choose the desired measurement units for the room inscriptions. In addition, you can specify some text that is added with the calculated numbers for area and volume. Any changes you make here, will effect all existing room inscriptions as well.  


  • Dim

Link to elements : This options switches compound measuring on or off. If you want to do compound measuring, this option must be active before entering the dimension chains.

Move figures : Use this option to turn offsetting of dimensional numbers on or off. Offsetting these numbers means that numbers denoting small distances such as 11.5cm are located higher above the dimension chains than the other, larger numbers. These settings can be changed any time and all numbers are adjusted automatically.

Accuracy : Control the accuracy of the dimension figures.

Accuracy (arch) : Here you decide about the accuracy of the architectural dimension figures.  


  • Local : Here, you can specify the paths under which CYCAS should find and store files.

You can save these paths in the "default.prefs" or handle them on a per-project basis. This might be of interest, if you are e.g. doing 3D input and you want to save the dialog boxes with the 3D input specifically for this project. In order to do so, you simply create a new directory anywhere and you enter the path to that directory in the "Settings, Local".
When the program is started, CYCAS always loads the "default.prefs".

Autobackup : If you wish to use the automatic backup of CYCAS, you need to specify the time interval in minutes in that CYCAS shall save your current project. The drawing will be saved with the same file name, but with the extension ".bak".  


Colors : Customize CYCAS' user interface. Choose a color for the drawing area, the active elements, and the guide lines. Please note that all references to colors in this user manual will always refer to the default color settings.  


  • GUI : Customize CYCAS' user interface. Choose a suitable font and adjust the screen aspect ratio. These settings depend on the screen resolution you want to use for drawing.

Font : Choose a font and font size to use for the user interface.

Aspect Ratio : Adjust the aspect ratio of the drawing area. Depending on the screen resolution of your monitor you may have to re-adjust the aspect ratio. Use a ruler to measure the size of the rectangle displayed on the monitor. If the aspect ratio is correct, a square on the drawing area should actually look square. This setup then should be saved to your "default.prefs". The "default.prefs" are always loaded when starting CYCAS.

Support GTK Themes : For some reasons it could be useful to turn this option off.


 
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8.2 Keyboard shortcuts  
 

The following list shows all keyboard shortcuts:

Change the visible area:

Space key
or
middle mouse button
Center the visible area around the mouse pointer.

Change the visible area using the numeric keypad:

numbers,
except 5
Move the visible area in all eight directions.
5 All elements are displayed.
+ Enlarge scale
- Decrease scale
* Open layers dialog box

More functions of the view menu:

/ Gauge
M Memorize the currently visible area
R Recall the memorized area

Snap-to functions:

i Construction of intersecting points
m Construction of middle points
d Construction of dividing points
t Construction of tangent points

The following keys for:

ESC Cancel
TAB Select menu: OK
a / A Absolute coordinates
u / U Undo
x / X Moving along x-axis
y / Y Moving along y-axis
z / Z Moving along z-axis

The function keys:

F1 Help
F9 Edit: Delete

Ctrl and function keys:

F1 Pen 1 (black)
F2 Pen 2 (yellow)
F3 Pen 3 (red)
F4 Pen 4 (blue)
F5 Pen 5 (purple)
F6 Pen 6 (green)
F7 Pen 7 (brown)
F8 Pen 8 (grey)

Shift and function keys:

F1 Line   _________   (continuous line)
F2 Line   __ __ __ __ (short dashes)
F3 Line   ___ ___ __   (long dashes)
F4 Line   __ . __ . __   (dash-dot)
F5 Line   . . . . . . . . . .  (dots)
F6 Line   __ . . __ . .     (dash-dot-dot)
F7 Line   __ __ . __ .   (dash-dash-dot)
F8 Line   ___ . ___ .    (dash-dot, long)

Call the function lists:

L Line
C Circle
W Wall
O Opening
D Dim
T Text
R Room
P Pattern
H 3D
B Unit
E Edit
S Symbol

Menu Project:

Ctrl + S Save
Ctrl + , Settings
Ctrl + P Print
Ctrl + N New
Ctrl + Q Quit

Menu Clip:

Ctrl + X Cut
Ctrl + C Copy
Ctrl + V Paste


 
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8.3 Data exchange by way of the DXF-Format  
 

  • Export of DXF files

    CYCAS exports 2D and 3D DXF files. The "-Entities" option disables the output of a file header which can increase compatibility with some CAD programs. Furthermore, you can specify the measurement unit used for output (m, cm, mm, inch, feet). Finally, you choose whether to export the entire file, the visible objects or only selected objects.


  • Import of DXF files

    Imports DXF files to the current layer. 2D as well as 3D files will be read. Here, you can choose whether to convert the input file to m, cm, mm, inch or feet.

    In addition, CYCAS professional offers you the choice to do the import adapting the multi layer structure of the DXF file.


 
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8.4 Export  
 


At the beginning of each export function you can decide whether you want to export the entire file, all visible objects, or the selected objects only.
When exporting to POV-Ray, Lightwave and Real3D, not only the 3D data but also the material assignments will be exported. In those cases the colors and properties of the materials will be passed on.
In Settings, Local you can select the desired export path for the data. (See 8.1 Settings, Local.)  

Export to EPS-Format : Exports 2D drawings from CYCAS into the EPS-Format. Choose which elements you want to export. The size of the exported vector graphics is determined automatically. The elements will be exported according to the display in the drawing area. The activated option "All colored black" in the view menu, causes an EPS export appropriate to the display.
Tip: Some layout programs prefer to import the .eps file named .ps.

Export to PDF-format : Exports 2D drawings into the PDF-format. (Also see EPS-Format.)


Export to SVG-Format : Exports from CYCAS 2D graphics into the format SVG. (See EPS-Format.)  


Export to LWO-Format : Saves your 3D data to Lightwave object format. After selecting the elements to be exported you must specify a reference point. The objects will be aligned to that point in Lightwave.  


Export to POV-Format : When exporting to POV format, the 3D data, the materials, the eye point and target point as well as the light sources and background settings will be preserved.


 
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