Getting to know...

2
The fundamentals

The Graphic User Interface (GUI)

The VISI-Series® user interface has been constructed to be as simple to understand as possible
(see Figure 2.1).

Figure 2.1: The VISI-Series® interface.

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Chapter 2 The fundamentals

Using The Mouse

The Microsoft Windows® operating environments make great use of a pointing device, such as a
mouse, trackball, etc. In this book, we refer to such devices as a mouse. We assume that the
mouse has two buttons, a primary and a secondary button, though your mouse may have more.
Each button can perform a pre-determined operation. These are:

Left-Click/Primary Mouse Button

This will be the most frequently used button. It will allow you to select and perform operations
with a single click of the button.

Right-Click/Secondary Mouse Button

This can be used to compliment the primary button. It will allow you to confirm your selections,
or alternatively call up a ‘Quick’ selection menu.

Wheel Button

This works completely independent of all other buttons. It will allow you to cycle through all of
your available ‘Views’ dynamically (by scrolling the wheel up or down).

Three/Four Button Mice

VISI-Series® makes extensive use of the primary and secondary mouse buttons. However, there
is a wide variety of mice, trackballs, etc., available with different button configurations and
some with more than two buttons. VISI-Series® does not provide additional functions for more
than two buttons, though the drivers for multi-buttoned mice undoubtedly will do so.

Window Select

‘Window Selection’, also called ‘Box Selection’, is a way to select elements using the mouse.
To use this method of selection:-

(i) Click on the Window Selection button you want to use.

(ii) Press the primary mouse button (click).

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 Principles of the VISI-Series® Chapter 2

(iii) Move the mouse. As you move the mouse, a selection window displays on-screen.

(iv) Move the mouse so that the selection box includes or excludes the elements you want.

(v) Press the primary mouse button again.

Using The Keyboard

VISI-Series® is Microsoft Windows® compliant and supports standard Windows® keyboard con-
ventions.

Pressing Several Keys at Once (+)

If an action requires you to push more than one key at the same time, we use the plus sign ‘+’ to
show which keys to use. For example, press Alt+F1. Please note that the plus key is not bold
because you do not need to press it.

Function Keys:

F1 Press F1 to display the on-line help.

F2 Press F2 to change the current view. By default, you cycle through the
Top, Front, Right and Dynamic views by using F2.

F3 Press F3 to change the current view. Pressing F3 displays the previous

view. Pressing F3 cycles through the views in the reverse order of F2.

F4 Press F4 to insert the Ø symbol in a text field.

Shift+F4 Press Shift+F4 to insert the ° symbol in a text field.

Ctrl+F4 Press Ctrl+F4 to insert the ± symbol in a text field.

F5 Press F5 to select mouse mode and intersection point mode from the Point
icons.

F6 Press F6 to select two element intersection mode from the Point icons.

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Chapter 2 The fundamentals

F7 Press F7 to select mouse mode and position on an element mode from the
Point icons.

F8 Press F8 to select mouse mode and centre of a circle mode from the Point
icons.

F9 Press F9 to select or deselect mouse mode from the Point icons.

Other Keys:

Shift+Click Press Shift and hold down the primary mouse button and move the mouse
to pan the view across elements on-screen.

Ctrl+Click Press Ctrl and hold down the primary mouse button and move the mouse
to rotate elements on-screen.

Ctrl+Shift+Click Press Ctrl+Shift and hold down the primary mouse button and move the
mouse to zoom into and away from elements on-screen.

Tab Press Tab, when prompted, to confirm selections you make. This is the
same as right-clicking or clicking on the Door icon.

Esc Press Esc to cancel and exit the current operation or command.

A When using the Angular dimension command, press A and move the
mouse to position the text and leader lines outside the selected elements.

M When using the Single element command, press M and move the mouse to
position the text and leader lines of the dimension.

Page Up/Down Press Page up or Page down to step forwards or backwards through the
commands you have issued in the current menu option.

Spacebar In some cases, during the creation of elements, there is more than one geo-
metrical solution for the parameters that you provide. Press the Spacebar
to toggle through the possible solutions to select the solution you want.

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Displaying Toolpaths

There are several keyboard short-cuts you can use to display toolpath operations. These com-
prise of:

Esc Press Esc to quit toolpath creation.

+ / - Keys Press + to accelerate the display of the toolpath. Press – to decelerate the
display of the toolpath.

Right-click After toolpath generation, right-click to immediately display a completed

toolpath. Right-click to display a context menu that lists commands useful
to your current task.

Using Dialogue Boxes

Dialogue boxes are standard elements of the Microsoft Windows® environment. Dialogue boxes
can provide information and let you enter information via text boxes, option buttons, check-
boxes, etc.

Moving Between Fields

You can move between fields within a dialogue box in several different ways:

(i) click on a new field using the mouse.

(ii) press Tab to move to the following field.

(iii) press Shift+Tab to move to the previous field.

(iv) press Enter to select a radio button or a check box or to move between text boxes.

Checkboxes And Option Buttons

Checkboxes and option buttons are provided to let you make a selection. Checkboxes are square
and option buttons are round.

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Chapter 2 The fundamentals

A de-selected checkbox

A selected checkbox

A de-selected option button

A selected option button

Closing Dialogue Boxes

To accept the settings and close a dialogue box, click on OK.

To close a dialogue box without accepting the information, press Esc or click on the Escape but-
ton. This exits the feature and discards any values you have inserted into the dialogue box.

The Graphic User Interface (detailed)

The software products described in this book share a common interface (see Figure 2.2). This in-
terface lets you easily adjust from one software application to another.

NOTE

Since this book describes several software products, the menu descriptions and illustrations may
show options that differ from those available to you.

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 Principles of the VISI-Series® Chapter 2

Main-Menu
Current View

Toolbar Pop-Down Menu

Variable Toolbar 1
Origin

Workplane

Variable Toolbar 2

Style Boxes
Status Line Additional Software Information

Figure 2.2: The VISI-Series® interface (detailed).

The following elements of the VISI-Series® interface are shown and discussed in the following
sections:

• Workplane & Origin

• Main-menu

• Pop-down Menu

• Toolbar

• Variable Toolbars

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Chapter 2 The fundamentals

NOTE

Please see the on-line help for additional information.

Workplane & Origin

The workplane and origins are constructional aids inside the VISI-Series® interface to indicate
the X, Y & Z construction planes.

Main-Menu

The main-menu provides your access to all major functions of the VISI-Series®.

Click on a main-menu selection to display the secondary menu options associated with it. Each
main menu selection has a letter that is underlined; Press Alt+the underlined letter to activate the
pop-down menu without using a mouse. For example, Alt+F opens the File pop-down menu.

The main-menu selections that you have available depends on the particular software product
that you are using.

Pop-Down Menu

The pop-down menus contain functions associated with the main-menu (see Figure 2.3). Click
on a pop-down menu selection to use it, or press the Ctrl+ key combination that is listed next to
some pop-down menu selections.

Pop-down menus with an arrow on their right side give you access to a cascading menu. To open
the cascading menu, move the cursor over the pop-down menu item. As long as the cursor re-
mains on the menu item, the cascading menu will stay open.

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 Principles of the VISI-Series® Chapter 2

Selected Pop-Down Menu Item

Cascading Menu

Arrow

Pop-Down Menu

Figure 2.3: A pop-down menu.

Toolbar

The toolbar icons are command buttons that VISI-Series® displays, regardless of the function you
are using (see Figure 2.4). These commands are always available.

NOTE

Please see the on-line help for more information on the VISI-Series® icons.

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Chapter 2 The fundamentals

Previous View Segment/Line (Pull-Out)

Include All Circle/Arc (Pull-Out)
Zoom In (Pull-Out) Profile (Pull-Out)
Workplane (Pull-Out) Curve (Pull-Out)
Attribute (Pull-Out) Surface (Pull-Out)

Refresh (Pull-Out) Solid (Pull-Out)

Query Dimension (Pull-Out)
Delete (Pull-Out) Undo (Pull-Out)
Operation Manager

Figure 2.4: The ‘Main’ toolbar.

Variable Toolbars

VISI-Series® displays any variable toolbar icons below the toolbar icons. Variable toolbar icons
are command buttons that are specific to the commands or operations you are currently using.

This section discusses selections from the following variable toolbar icon menus:

• Point icons

• Element icons

• Profile icons

• Selection icons

• Duplication icons

• Face icons

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 Principles of the VISI-Series® Chapter 2

Point Icons

The point icons (see Figure 2.5) let you control your selection of specific points or points on el-
ements, such as the middle or end point of a segment.

Current Environment (Point) Mouse Selection

Cartesian Co-Ordinates Polar Co-Ordinates
Intersection Point Two Element Intersection
Parametric Point Circle/Arc Centre
Circle/Arc Quadrant Point Selection

Figure 2.5: The ‘Application Point’ toolbar.

If the software displays a ‘P’, then point mode is active. Click on the Point/Element toggle to
change between point and element mode.

Element Icons

The element icons (see Figure 2.6) let you control your selection to specific types of elements.

Current Environment (Element) Set/Reset Filters

Segment Filter Line Filter
Circle Filter Arc Filter
Point (Single) Filter Curve Filter
Profile Filter Polyline Filter
Symbol Filter Text Filter
Dimension Filter Point (Set) Filter
Mesh Filter Solid Filter
Toolpath Filter

Figure 2.6: The ‘Application Point’ toolbar.

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Chapter 2 The fundamentals

If the software displays an ‘E’, then element mode is active. Click on the Point/Element toggle
to change between point and element mode.

Profile Icons

The profile icons (see Figure 2.7) are used to construct a continuous shape (profile) for use when
extruding 2D designs into 3D models and also setting machining boundaries. If the software dis-
plays an ‘A’, then automatic profile generation is active. If a hand icon is displayed, then manual
profile selection is active.

Tolerance Delete Original Geometry

Undo Invert
Fillet Automatic Generation
Manual Generation

Figure 2.7: The ‘Profile Selection’ toolbar.

To switch between automatic and manual profile selection, click on the ‘Manual’ or ‘Automatic’
profile icon.

Selection Icons

The selection icons (see Figure 2.8) let you easily select large numbers of elements when selec-
tion would otherwise take a long time or be difficult.

Inside Window Inside & Clipping Window

Outside Window Select All
Colour Selection Multiple Selection

Figure 2.8: The ‘General Selection’ toolbar.

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Selection Inside And Intersecting A Window

Like selection inside a window (see Figure 2.8), this feature lets you select all elements that lie
completely inside the selection window that you draw. Additionally, this feature selects all ele-
ments that touch the selection window.

Block Control

Use manual selection (see Figure 2.8) to individually select multiple elements by clicking on
them. Right-click after you make your last selection.

Duplication Icons

The duplication icons (see Figure 2.9) let you copy items when you modify, rotate, or translate
them.

Move Copy
Multiple Copies Incremental Translation
Last Selection

Figure 2.9: The ‘Copy Selection’ toolbar.

Move

Move (see Figure 2.9) lets you move an element to a new location without leaving a copy in the
original position.

Copy

Copy (see Figure 2.9) lets you move an element to a new location and also leaves a copy in the
original position.

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Multiple Copies

Multiple copies (see Figure 2.9) lets you move an element to more than one new location and
leaves a copy in the original position.

Incremental Translations

Incremental translations (see Figure 2.9) lets you set an X, Y, and Z co-ordinate for moving an
element.

Face Icons

The face icons (see Figure 2.10) let you select a face or edge in solid modelling.

Select Face Directly Select Face By Edges

Select Face By Loop Multiple Selection

Figure 2.10: The ‘Face Selection’ toolbar.

Select Face

Select face (see Figure 2.10) lets you select a face by clicking on it.

Select Edge

Select edge (see Figure 2.10) lets you select a face by clicking on two of its edges. This method
can be particularly useful if you have many small faces that are difficult to select.

Search Face

Search face (see Figure 2.10) lets you select a face by clicking on an edge. If the edge you select
is part of more than one possible loop, the software prompts you to select additional edges as
needed. This method may be faster than selecting by face or by two edges.

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Using Colours
The VISI-Series® software lets you assign up to 16 custom colours to screen elements for design
and toolpath creation. Additionally, VISI-Series® uses up to 65,000 colours for shading.

This section describes how to change and apply colours in the VISI-Series® software.

Graphics Area Background Colour

To change the background colour do the following:

(i) Click on System | Settings | Config Parameters. Click on ‘Next’ twice, until you reach
the ‘Graphical Parameters’ dialogue box (see Figure 2.11).

Figure 2.11: The ‘Graphical Parameters’ dialogue box.

NOTE

In the illustration above, red and green have a value of 0, or are absent. Blue has a value of 65.
So, the background colour appears blue.

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(ii) Background colour is defined by three fields. From top to bottom, these are red, green,
and blue (RGB). Each field can contain a number from 0 to 255 that describes the level of
red, green, or blue to be used in the display colour. Set a value in each field, for red, green,
and blue, that describes the colour you want the monitor to display.

NOTE

A value of 255, the maximum for each colour, in each field describes white. A value of 0, the min-
imum or absence of each colour, in each field describes black.

(iii) After you set the background colour values, click on OK.

(iv) Close the software.

(v) Open the software. The background colour you chose will display in the graphics area.

NOTE

To perfect the screen colour, you may need to experiment with varying red, green, and blue val-
ues.

Element Colour And Style

The VISI-Series® software provides default styles and colours that differentiate between types of
elements. You can change the default element styles and colours to meet your needs. Addition-
ally, using the three style boxes, you can setup three different line styles to more easily let you
change the look of elements.

NOTE

Ensure that you do not accidentally assign the same colour to both an element and the back-
ground.

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Changing Element Styles

To change the style and colour of elements, such as lines, curves, solids, or the workplane do the
following:

(i) Click on the ‘Style 1’ box (see Figure 2.12).

Style 1 box

Figure 2.12: Part of the VISI-Series® main interface.

(ii) The software will now display the ‘Select Type Of Element’ dialogue box (see Figure
2.13).

Figure 2.13: The ‘Select Type Of Element’ dialogue box.

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Chapter 2 The fundamentals

(iii) Double-click on the element you want to change. The software will now display the ‘Se-
lect Style Type’ dialogue box (see Figure 2.14).

Line Display

Line Style Selection Area

Figure 2.14: The ‘Select Style Type’ dialogue box.

a. If needed, select a line style from the line style selection area by clicking on the
line style you want to use.

b. To change the colour or for more line style choices, click on the line display.

c. The system will now display the ‘Change Attribute’ dialogue box (see Figure
2.15). Click on the new colour you want to use. The selected colour is in a box that
is highlighted.

Line Display

End Styles

Figure 2.15: The ‘Change Attribute’ dialogue box.

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 Principles of the VISI-Series® Chapter 2

d. Click on the end style you want the lines to use. Pick an end style for each end of
the line.

(iv) After you make your selections, click on OK.

(v) In the ‘Select Style Type’ dialogue box, click on Save.

(vi) Click on OK.

(vii) To exit, click on Cancel. To edit other element styles, double-click on the element style
you want to edit and repeat the steps outlined above.

NOTE

By clicking on ‘New’, you can set a new default line style.

Using The Style 2 And Style 3 Boxes

The Style 2 and Style 3 boxes (see Figure 2.16) let you quickly and easily assign alternate line
styles to elements that you are creating.

Style 2 box

Style 3 box

Figure 2.16: Part of the VISI-Series® main interface.

NOTE

By default, each Style box is assigned a different line style. To see these line styles in the style
boxes, as shown above, select a function that uses them, such as Wireframe | Segment/line | El-
ement - Element.

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(i) If needed, set the line styles as described in the preceding section.

(ii) Activate the function you want to use, such as Wireframe | Segment/line | Element - El-
ement.

(iii) Click on the style box that you want to use. This activates the style in the box.

(iv) Create the element you want. The element is created using the line style you selected from
the Style box.

Customising A Colour Palette

The VISI-Series® software uses 65,000 colours and makes 16 of these available or you to use in
a single colour palette. Colour palettes are a way of quickly assigning colour to elements.

To change the colours available in a colour palette do the following:

(i) Click on System | Settings | Colour Palette Definition.

(ii) The system will now display the ‘Change Palette’ dialogue box (see Figure 2.17). Click
on the colour you want to replace.

Figure 2.17: The ‘Change Palette’ dialogue box.

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(iii) The system will now display the ‘Colour’ dialogue box (see Figure 2.18).

Figure 2.18: The ‘Colour’ dialogue box.

(iv) You can define colours in this dialogue box by:

a. clicking in the colour matrix and black and white matrix

b. using hue, saturation, and luminosity

c. using Red, Green, Blue (RGB) values

(v) Click on the ‘Custom Colours’ box in which you want to place the new colour.

(vi) Click on the basic colour that appears closest to the colour you want to use.

(vii) Modify the basic colour to meet your needs using any of the methods noted above.

(viii) After you have defined the colour you want, click on ‘Add To Custom Colours’. The soft-
ware adds the colour you selected to the ‘Custom Colours’ box you picked.

(ix) If needed, create more custom colours.

(x) Click on OK. The custom colour you selected is added to your colour palette.

(xi) Click on Save palette.

(xii) If needed, select another colour to edit. Otherwise click on OK.

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Online Help (documentation)

A help file is your online documentation. We intend for you to use the help file extensively, in
conjunction with this printed documentation, for reference and use of information.

Opening help files can be done in three different ways:

(i) Pressing the [F1] key on your keyboard while using the VISI-Series® software.

(ii) Navigate to the help files using Windows® Explorer and double-click on them.

(iii) Selecting the ? | Books Online option from the main-menu within the VISI-Series® soft-
ware.

Using help files can also be done in three different ways:

(i) You can press the [F1] key on your keyboard while using while using the VISI-Series®
software. This will display the online help about the function that you are currently using.

(ii) You can navigate through the help file from the contents page. This structure lets you pre-
view the major topics included in the help file and may be more useful if you are unsure
of the exact topic you are looking for.

(iii) You can use the help index to search for a particular topic. This is the fastest way to find
the exact information you need.

44 Getting to know... The VISI-Series®