The File Menu

The New command is used to start a new file or graphics area. This does not close any open files, or graphics areas.

Open

The Open command is used to open a previously saved file. This includes any supported file type. The Open dialog box displays for you to locate and select the file to open. To view the supported file types or to find a file that isn't showing, click the arrow next to Files of Type. The list of supported file types is shown, and you can select the type of files that you want to display in the dialog box, such as All BobCAD Files.

If you are opening a BobCAD file, all of the information from the file is loaded into the software. If you are opening a file from another system, the part is placed in the graphics area with all available information from the file.

The Close command closes the currently open file or graphics area without exiting the software. If changes have been made since the file was opened, a dialog box is displayed. To save any changes, click Yes. To close without saving the changes, click No. To keep the file open, click Cancel. If you click Yes, the Save As dialog box its displayed for you to rename the file and select the location in which it is saved.

Save

The Save command is used to save any changes that were made to the current file or graphics area. If the file has not already been saved, the Save As dialog box displays for you to name the file and select the location to which the file is saved. Once the file has been saved, the Save command saves the file without opening a dialog box.

Save As

The Save As command opens the Save As dialog box for you to name the file, select the file type, and select the location to which the file is saved. The file type is set to BobCAD files (.bbcd) by default. To view what other types of files can be saved, click the Save as type arrow to view the list. You can then select the type of file format in which the file is saved.

The Save As command is used to save the current file in any of the supported formats. For example, you can use this command to save the geometry in the workspace as an STL file.

To Save As other file types:

1 When you are ready to save the file, in the File menu, click Save As.

The Save As dialog box displays.

2 Navigate to and select the folder in which you want to save the file.

3 In the File Name box, type the desired name of the file.

4 Next to Save As Type, click the arrow, and select the file format in which you want to save the file.

For example, select STL (.stl) to save solid/3D geometry in the workspace as an .stl file.

5 Click Save.

The file is saved to the specified location and ready for use.

Merge

The Merge command is used to open a file and add the contents into the currently open file or graphics area.

The Print command is used to print what is visible in the current graphics area. The Print dialog box opens for you to alter the print settings and select the printer.

Print Preview

The Print Preview command opens a print preview in the graphics area for you to view how the document will appear when it is printed. The following items become available at the top of the graphics area.

Print Setup

The Print Setup command opens the Print Setup dialog box for you to define the print settings used when printing a document.

Send

The Send command is used to send the active BobCAD file (.bbcd) via the default email program on the your computer. To make the command available, with the file open, in the File menu, click Save. When you click Send, the file is opened in the default email program as an attachment. You can then send the file to the recipient. If a default email program is not defined, the function terminates.

Recent Files

The Recent Files list at the bottom of the File menu (above Exit), lists the most recently opened files. You can click an item in this list to open the selected file.

Exit

The Exit command is used to close the software. You should save any open files first.

Supported File Types

In addition to reading and writing BobCAD files (.bbcd), the software can handle many more file types. The supported file types are listed next.

TIP: When trying to import or export (File Open/Merge or Save As) files to and from BobCAD-CAM, it is important to be aware of the filters used in the dialog box. Near the bottom of either the Open or Save As dialog boxes, the Files of Type (or Save As Type) filter determines what file types display in the dialog box. By default, this is set to BobCAD Files. For any other file type, you must change the Files of Type filter to either the desired file type or All Files in order to display other file types.

IMPORTANT: Only the BobCAD (.bbcd) file format saves all of the CAM Job information (stock, machine setup, and feature information) that you have created. When you Save As using any other file type, only the geometry in the file is saved. When creating other file types from BobCAD files, you should first save the file as a .bbcd, and then you can Save As (using a different file name) to export the geometry as another file type.

Supported File Types

Readable

Writable

.bbcd
.bbas
.bart

.cad

.igs / .iges

.dxf

.dwg

.sat

.3dm

.x_t

.x_b

.sldprt

.stp / .step

.stl

.bbcd
.bbas

.igs / .iges

.dxf

.dwg

.sat

.3dm

.prt

.stp / .step

.stl

Supported File Types for BobART

Readable	Writable
.bbcd .bbas .bart .stl/component	.bbcd .bbas .stl/component

Readable

Image Files

Vector Files

.jpeg / .jpg / .jtf
.bmp
.tiff / .tif
.gif
.png
.psd
.afp
.ani
.cal
.crw
.cgm
.cut
.djv
.clp
.kdc
.pcd
.cin
.cmp

.mac
.pcx
.psp
.rtf
.sgi
.ras
.tga
.avi
.cur
.ico / .icon
.wmf / .emf
.wbmp
.wpg
.smp
.xwd
.xbm
.xpm
.bbcd (preview)

.ai
.eps
.pdf

The File Menu

The File Commands

New

Open

Close

Save

Save As

Merge

Print

Print Preview

Print Setup

Send

Recent Files

Exit

Supported File Types

Supported File Types

Supported File Types for BobART