EM.Cube Glossary - Revision history

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<td>[[image:Cube-icon.png | link=Getting_Started_with_EM.Cube]] [[image:cad-ico.png | link=Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD]] [[image:fdtd-ico.png | link=EM.Tempo]] [[image:prop-ico.png | link=EM.Terrano]] [[image:static-ico.png | link=EM.Ferma]] [[image:planar-ico.png | link=EM.Picasso]] [[image:metal-ico.png | link=EM.Libera]] [[image:po-ico.png | link=EM.Illumina]]</td>
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[[Image:Back_icon.png|30px]] '''[[EM.Cube | Back to EM.Cube Main Page]]'''
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== Action History ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''Edit → Action History...'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Opens the "Action History" dialog which lists all the actions taken since the start of the current session of the [[EM.Cube]] application

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You can go back along the sequence of the action history list and select and highlight any action in that list. In that case, all the subsequent actions taken place after the selected action will be undone. This provides a convenient alternative to multiple Undo/Redo operations.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN45.png|thumb|left|480px|EM.Cube's action history dialog.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Arbitrary Work Plane ==

ICON: [[File:Arbitgrid tool tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Work Plane → Arbitrary Plane'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | W}}

FUNCTION: Sets up an arbitrary active work plane

TO SET UP AN ARBITRARY WORK PLANE:

#Activate the '''Work Plane Tool''' to enable CubeCAD's "Work Plane Mode".
#The Work Plane dialog opens up at the lower right corner of the screen.
#Use one of the following three methods to establish a new work plane.
#Hover the mouse over any object in the project workspace to highlight one of its faces. Click on the selected face snap point, <i>i.e.</i> the center of a highlighted planar face. A new work plane appears overlaid on the selected face.
#Or while you are moving the mouse in one of the three principal XY, YZ or ZX work planes, click any blank point and drag the mouse. A semi-translucent plane perpendicular to the current principal work plane is drawn and displayed in the project workspace. The normal plane follows the movement of the mouse as you drag it. Once you reach the desired orientation, press the keyboard's' {{key|Enter}} key to finalize the new work plane.
#Or click successively on any three distinct points in the project workspace (including other objects' snap points). A new work plane is established that passes through the three selected points.

In all the three cases above, a translucent plane appears showing the location and orientation of the new work plane. The transverse axes (local X and Y axes) of the new work plane are displayed in red and green colors, respectively. A new "User Coordinate System (UCS)" is established on the new work plane. In the work plane dialog, you can see the world coordinates of the center of the UCS and its rotation angles with respect to the project's world coordinate system (WCS). From this dialog, you can change both the center coordinates and the rotation angles of the new work plane. Note that the visible size of the work plane is purely for visualization purposes; otherwise, the work plane has infinite extents. You can also change the '''Color''' and '''Transparency''' level of the work plane.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN8.png|thumb|left|480px|EM.Cube's arbitrary work plane dialog.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN9A.png|thumb|left|640px|An arbitrary work plane and its local X (red) and Y (green) axes.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN9.png|thumb|left|640px|Drawing a box object on the arbitrary work plane.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Back View ==

ICON: [[File:view-back_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Set View → Back View'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Projects the physical structure onto the ZX-plane from the back

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:back_view.png|thumb|500px|EM.Cube's back view of project workspace.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Bottom View ==

ICON: [[File:view-bottom_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Set View → Bottom View'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Projects the physical structure onto the XY-plane from the bottom

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:bottom_view.png|thumb|500px|EM.Cube's bottom view of project workspace.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Copy Tool ==

ICON: [[File:copy.png]]

MENU: '''Edit → Copy'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+C}}

FUNCTION: Copies the selection into the Windows clipboard

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Cut Tool ==

ICON: [[File:cut.png]]

MENU: '''Edit → Cut'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+X}}

FUNCTION: Removes the selection from the project workspace and places it in the Windows clipboard

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Delete Tool ==

ICON: [[File:delete.png]]

MENU: '''Edit → Delete'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Delete}} '''Key'''

FUNCTION: Deletes the selection from the project workspace

PYTHON COMMAND: delete(node_name)

== Front View ==

ICON: [[File:view-front_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Set View → Front View'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Projects the physical structure onto the ZX-plane from the front

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:front_view.png|thumb|500px|EM.Cube's front view of project workspace.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Generate CAD Report ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''File → Generate CAD Report'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Generates a text file called “cad_report.TXT” listing all the current geometrical objects in the project workspace along with their type, LCS coordinates, rotation angles and extents. In the case of array objects, it reports the parameters of the key element and the number of array elements

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Grid Properties ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''View → Grid Properties...'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Modifies the type and settings of the project workspace's grid

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: [[EM.Cube]] offers two different types of grid: Adaptive and fixed. Note that the grid is hidden by default and can be displayed from the preferences dialog. The adaptive grid is the default choice, and its grid cell size changes dynamically according the viewport size. As a result of this, during a dynamic zoom process, the grid seems to maintain almost the same size even though your physical structure looks bigger or smaller depending on whether you zoom in or zoom out. The fixed grid, on the other hand, always maintains fixed dimensions and a fixed grid cell size. Therefore, the fixed grid grows or shrinks along with your physical structure due to a dynamic zoom operation. With a fixed grid, you can set different grid cell dimensions along the three principal axes.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN5.png|thumb|left|480px|EM.Cube's Grid Settings dialog.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN6.png|thumb|left|550px|EM.Cube's adaptive grid.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN7.png|thumb|left|550px|EM.Cube's fixed grid.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Help ==

ICON: [[File:help.png]]

MENU: '''Help → Help Index'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+Shift+H}}

FUNCTION: Opens the Help Index dialog

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Left View ==

ICON: [[File:view-left_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Set View → Left View'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Projects the physical structure onto the YZ-plane from the left

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:left_view.png|thumb|500px|EM.Cube's left view of project workspace.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Merge Viewport ==

ICON: [[File:single-port-view_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Merge Viewport'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | End}} '''Key'''

FUNCTION: Merges the four-port view into the normal single-port view

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== New Project ==

ICON: [[File:new.png]]

MENU: '''File → New Project...'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+N}}

FUNCTION: Starts a new blank [[EM.Cube]] project

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:Newproj.png|thumb|550px|EM.Cube's New Project Dialog.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Open Project ==

ICON: [[File:open.png]]

MENU: '''File → Open Project...'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+O}}

FUNCTION: Opens an existing [[EM.Cube]] project

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Pan View Tool ==

ICON: [[File:pan-tool_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Pan View'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Shift+RMB}}

FUNCTION: Moves the viewport around while the mouse is dragged

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Paste Tool ==

ICON: [[File:paste.png]]

MENU: '''Edit → Paste'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+V}}

FUNCTION: Places the contents of the Windows clipboard on the project workspace

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Perspective View ==

ICON: [[File:view-perspective_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Set View → Perspective View'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Home}} '''Key'''

FUNCTION: Sets an isometric view of the physical structure on an XY-plane

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:perspective.png|thumb|500px|EM.Cube's perspective view of project workspace.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Print ==

ICON: [[File:print.png]]

MENU: '''File → Print...'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+P}}

FUNCTION: Prints the contents of the main window on the specified printer

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Project Notes ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''File → Project Notes'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Opens a reserved text file called “project_notes.TXT” that can be used by the user to save project-related notes, comments and data

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Redo Tool ==

ICON: [[File:redo.png]]

MENU: '''Edit → Redo'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+Y}}

FUNCTION: Redoes the last operation

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Restore Program Defaults ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''File → Restore Program Defaults'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Restores the original black background and yellow selection color and turns off the project workspace's grid

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Right View ==

ICON: [[File:view-right_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Set View → Right View'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Projects the physical structure onto the YZ-plane from the right

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:right_view.png|thumb|500px|EM.Cube's right view of project workspace.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Rotate View Tool ==

ICON: [[File:rotate-tool_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Rotate View'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | RMB}} or {{key | Alt+RMB}}

FUNCTION: Rotates the viewport about the origin of the world coordinate system (WCS) while the mouse is dragged

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: Using the right mouse button ({{key | RMB}}) for rotating the view is a temporary operation and it doesn't change [[EM.Cube]]'s view mode. Clicking on the "Rotate View" button of the View Toolbar changes [[EM.Cube]]'s view mode to the "Rotate View Mode". In this mode, you can drag the mouse using either of the left or right mouse buttons to rotate the view about different axes. Also note that the axis of rotation in the case of rotate view mode is different than the axis of rotation using the temporary {{key | RMB}} or {{key | Alt+RMB}} shortcuts.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Save Project ==

ICON: [[File:save.png]]

MENU: '''File → Save Project...'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+S}}

FUNCTION: Saves the current [[EM.Cube]] project

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Save Project As ==

ICON: [[File:save.png]]

MENU: '''File → Save Project As...'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+W}}

FUNCTION: Saves the current [[EM.Cube]] project under a different name

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Save Python Command History ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''File → Save Python Command History'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Saves all the successfully executed Python commands in [[EM.Cube]]’ Python Interpreter during the current session of the current project in a reserved Python file called “python_history.PY”

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Select Tool ==

ICON: [[File:select-tool_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Normal View'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Esc}} '''Key'''

FUNCTION: Returns to the normal select mode

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Snap to Edge ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''View → Snap → Snap to Edge'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | E}}

FUNCTION: Toggles the "Snap-to-Edge" mode. In this mode, the mouse snaps to a point on the nearest object edge. Both the edge and the point on it are highlighted. You can move the mouse incrementally and locally on the highlighted edge. This mode is particularly useful for CAD operations that require selecting an object edge such as extruding, lofting or revolving an edge or bridging between two edges.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Snap to Face ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''View → Snap → Snap to Face'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | F}}

FUNCTION: Toggles the "Snap-to-Face" mode. In this mode, the mouse snaps to a point on the nearest object face. Both the face and the point on it are highlighted. You can move the mouse incrementally and locally on the surface of the highlighted face. This mode is particularly useful for CAD operations that require selecting an object face such as extruding, lofting or revolving a face or skinning between two faces.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Snap to Grid ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''View → Snap → Snap to Grid'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | G}}

FUNCTION: Toggles the "Snap-to-Grid" mode. In this mode, the mouse snaps to a point on the project workspace's grid. In that case, a small white (round or square) point appears on the screen beside the normal arrow cursor that shows the current location of the mouse in the project workspace. [[EM.Cube]]'s snap-to-grid mode is enabled by default. Note that you can enable the snap-to-grid mode without having to display the grid on the screen.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Snap to Node ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''View → Snap → Snap to Node'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | N}}

FUNCTION: Toggles the "Snap-to-Node" mode. In this mode, the mouse snaps to the nearest object snap point. However, only a node, vertex or point is highlighted.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Snap to Object ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''View → Snap → Snap to Object'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | O}}

FUNCTION: Toggles the "Snap-to-Object" mode. In this mode, the mouse snaps to the nearest object snap point. If the snap point is the midpoint of an edge, the edge is also highlighted. If the snap point is the center of a face, the fact is also highlighted. [[EM.Cube]]'s snap-to-object mode is enabled by default.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Split Viewport ==

ICON: [[File:four-port-view_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Split Viewport'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Displays a four-port view of the project workspace

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: Splitting the viewport provides simultaneous Perspective, Top, Front and Right views in the Project Workspace. Each split viewport’s settings can be changed individually. The name of the active viewport on which changes apply is always highlighted with a dark blue background; inactive views are indicated by a gray background. In the Four-Port View mode, you can zoom, extents or rotate the view for each viewport individually.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:fourport_new.png|thumb|500px|EM.Cube's four-port view of project workspace.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Toggle Navigation Tree ==

ICON: [[File:navtree.png]]

MENU: '''View → Navigation Tree'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Toggles the visibility of the navigation tree window

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Top View ==

ICON: [[File:view-top_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Set View → Top View'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Projects the physical structure onto the XY-plane from the top

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:top_view.png|thumb|500px|EM.Cube's top view of project workspace.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Undo Tool ==

ICON: [[File:undo.png]]

MENU: '''Edit → Undo'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+Z}}

FUNCTION: Undoes the last operation

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Undo View Change / Redo View Change ==

ICON: [[File:undo-view-change_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Undo View Change''', '''View → Redo View Change'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Reverts the viewport to the previous view angle and distance

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== User Preferences ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''Edit → Preferences...'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+H}}

FUNCTION: Opens the "User Preferences" dialog from which you can control a number of permanent project settings

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN40.png|thumb|left|480px|The "Colors" tab of the user preferences dialog.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN41.png|thumb|left|480px|The "Objects" tab of the user preferences dialog.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN42.png|thumb|left|480px|The "Guides" tab of the user preferences dialog.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN43.png|thumb|left|480px|The "Spin Buttons" tab of the user preferences dialog.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:VIEW MAN44.png|thumb|left|480px|The "Advanced" tab of the user preferences dialog.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Viewport Properties ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''View → Viewport Properties...'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Modifies the default settings of the viewport

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: This dialog is used to set the size and boundaries of the viewport manually. You can set the viewport size by specifying the coordinates of the "Top-Left-Near" and "Bottom-Right-Far" points. You can also set the coordinates of the viewing camera location.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:viewport_settings.png|thumb|600px|EM.Cube's Viewport Settings dialog.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Workspace Screen Capture ==

ICON: None

MENU: '''File → Workspace Screen Capture'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Creates a bitmap image of a screenshot the project workspace

NOTES, SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: The bitmap screenshot is stored in the "images" subfolder of the current project folder. It is listed under the "Image Files" tab of the data manager.

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== XY Plane ==

ICON: [[File:xygrid_tool_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Work Plane → XY Plane'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Z}}

FUNCTION: Makes the principal XY plane the active work plane

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:xy_view.png|thumb|500px|EM.Cube's perspective view of project workspace with active XY work plane and enabled grid.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== YZ Plane ==

ICON: [[File:yzgrid_tool_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Work Plane → YZ Plane'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | X}}

FUNCTION: Makes the principal YZ plane the active work plane

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:yz_view.png|thumb|500px|EM.Cube's perspective view of project workspace with active YZ work plane and enabled grid.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

== Zoom Tool ==

ICON: [[File:zoom-tool_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Zoom → Dynamic'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+RMB}} or '''Mouse Scroll Wheel'''

FUNCTION: Zooms into or out of the project workspace while the mouse is dragged up or down, respectively

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Zoom To Extents Tool I ==

ICON: [[File:zoom-to-extent_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Zoom → Extents'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+E}}

FUNCTION: Automatically zooms to fit the whole physical structure into the main window

PYTHON COMMAND: zoom_extents()

== Zoom To Extents Tool II ==

ICON: [[File:zoom-to-extent_tn.png]] (right-click)

MENU: '''View → Zoom → Extents All'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Ctrl+Shift+E}}

FUNCTION: Automatically zooms to fit the whole physical structure into all four viewports in the four-port view mode

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Zoom To Selected Tool ==

ICON: [[File:zoom-to-selected_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Zoom → Selected'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Automatically zooms to fit the highlighted object into the main window

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== Zoom Window Tool ==

ICON: [[File:zoom-to-area_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Zoom → Window'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None

FUNCTION: Draws a window to define the zoom boundaries

PYTHON COMMAND: None

== ZX Plane ==

ICON: [[File:zxgrid_tool_tn.png]]

MENU: '''View → Work Plane → ZX Plane'''

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: {{key | Y}}

FUNCTION: Makes the principal ZX plane the active work plane

PYTHON COMMAND: None

<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:zx_view.png|thumb|500px|EM.Cube's perspective view of project workspace with active ZX work plane and enabled grid.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>

<br />

<hr>

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