Introducing the new user interface

Description: 15 minutes

The first thing you'll notice with the new UI is a modern XP look and behavior.

After reading this topic, please watch the UI Tour video for a look at what's new and improved.

Improvements to the user interface

Dynamic viewing

Controlling the rotation center of a model is easier with five options for how to rotate.

Follow Mouse is the default option which rotates the model on the XY axis at the picked position. Hold down the Shift key to rotate around the Z axis. To change the rotation point,

  1. Right-click.
  2. Select Rotate Center.
  3. Select one of the viewing options below:

When any of the four rotation modes are selected, the icon labeled Toggle Rotate View Center in the View toolbar is activated. Click this icon to return to Follow Mouse mode.

Designer Modeling will use the last rotate center method used in the previous session, except for Selected, which is model dependent.

Modules menu

The Modules menu has been reorganized for clear distinction between base and licensed modules. Changes have been made to the Advanced Design and Legacy Modules tabs.

Buttons in the viewport

When a command is active, the OK and Cancel buttons appear in the viewport on the opposite side of the task panel. The Advanced button appears in the task panel.  Use the Advanced button to show the dialog after you've selected it from the context menu. If the task panel is not visible, the Advanced button will appear in the viewport.

Structure browser

Select items in the structure browser in the typical Windows Explorer way. (Not on UNIX)

Catch preview

A catch preview is created whenever the cursor is on a position where a point can be caught. The preview is updated with every cursor move. The Shift + Ctrl catch shortcut is also shown in the preview.

Default toolbars - (Windows only)

Task panel

Or, you can access the module task panel from the Modeling task panel.

(3D Documentation) task panel Modeling task panel with 3D Documentation menu at bottom Modeling task panel with 3D Documentation menu options from drop-down menu

UI settings

Under the Task Bar tab,

Under the Misc tab,

System Settings

The Measure tab of the System Settings menu has changed. Now, you can specify a decimal up to 6 places.

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