User Interface

Lesson: Configuring the user interface in SketchList 3D cabinet design software.

Summary:

The user interface in SketchList 3D cabinet design software refers to the various windows and forms as they are laid out on your computer screen. The different functioning of the form – for example the new board form – is covered in detail in the lesson on creating new boards. This lesson is an overview of how to configure your screen layout for optimal use.

The default main screen SketchList 3-D is as follows.

The main menu bar across the top and the icon ribbon below it are two of the elements that are fixed in place on the SketchList 3-D main screen.

The image area to the right of the screen displays from one to seven different views of the design on which you are working. The more screens you show at one time the smaller they are appear.

The spreadsheet, form with the object or container form, and the hierarchical levels form can be moved to make more room for the image area. Any or all of these three closed as well. To reopen go to the view menu item in the main menu form and select the element you want to reopen.

The sheet, object or container, or hierarchical level form can also be moved. You may want to move one of these forms to a central position on your monitor for better viewing. Below is an example of what the screen look like when the assembly of form was centered.

Depending on the stage of the design you may find you use one type of form more than the other. For example it seems when the design is further along the spreadsheet may become a better tool because it shows specific information about a specific element of the design in context with other information.

To move one of these forms, simply click near the top with your mouse/cursor and slide the form where you want it to go. To put it back simply move it near the area where it was originally. With some experimentation you’ll see the different configurations of the screen that you can create.

When you find a layout that works particularly well for you, or multiple layouts that work well in different situations, you can save those layouts for use at another time. To do this go to the main menu set up option and click it.

And pick the layout option and click on create. A form will open for you to enter the name of this new layout.

Enter the name click OK.   On the main menu form to the right of the icon ribbon you’ll see a pull down menu box. You pull that menu down you will see layouts that you have created and saved. Pick the layout you want to use for that session.

Many users of SketchList 3D find that by maximizing the amount of screen available for the various forms and viewing areas increases productivity. One way to do this is to add one or more monitors to your computer. Most more-current laptops have an outlet on the back with which you can connect an exterior monitor. There are other connecting devices you can purchase for connection through your USB port which may allow you to support more than two monitors or displays.

If you add an additional monitor you have the screen real estate to have a one monitor devoted to the image areas, and the other monitor to be devoted to an enlarged spreadsheet and the object/container form. Viewing area either a. let you see more of your design at once or b. let you zoom in to a very close detail.

Explore the menu items by starting 3D on your computer and clicking on them one at a time. Most if not all entries on these menus is fairly straightforward. If a not a more detail description is available in this series of SketchList 3D lessons.

The icons in the icon ribbon are as follows.

1. Save project
2. Un-do
3. Re-do
4. Stop-start the time. Notice the time spent working on a project is displayed directly under this icon.
5. Measuring context. Clicking this symbol toggles SketchList 3D to present all locational values (for example left right, or top bottom, or front back) to be based upon the distance between the point of origin (left, front, bottom all equal zero) of the individual assembly or for the project.
6. The camera icon starts the height quality photo rendering
7. The change material icon changes selected material in a project or assembly.
8. The second change material icon changes the textures.
9. Set explosion distance for exploded parts view.
10. Insert assembly.
11. Insert board.
    1. Flat – like a back board on a bookcase. Also used for face frames.
    2. Vertical – side boards or dividers
    3. Horizontal – shelves, bottoms and tops.
    4. Generic – original new board form.
12. Insert hardware.
13. Insert door.
14. Insert drawer.
15. Turn on red dot stretch feature.
16. Turn on blue corner locator feature.
17. Display point of origin on containers and objects.
18.  Tape rule function – T on keyboard sets points of measure

On the line below the icon ribbon there is a pull down menu with which you set the number of image areas viewed at one time.

Next to that is a time display showing amount of time spent designing a project.

Next to that is information about the project assembly and various containers.

M key magnifies section of image area around cursor.

R key provide rotate function in image area.