The Settings Default Dialog Box

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Introduction

The Settings Default dialog box contains all of the default settings that are available for the software, that are applied to all new files that are created after the settings are changed. To change the default settings for the current file only, you use the Settings Part dialog box.

Navigation

To access the Settings Default dialog box:

• In the Preferences menu, click Settings Default.

The Dialog Box Parameters

Directories

Each item listed shows the file path in which the files for each item are stored. Click the button next to each item to open the Browse for Folder dialog box. You can select a new folder in which to store the files for the selected item. Generally these should not be changed from the default directories.

• Data Folder - is the location for all of the BobCAD-CAM Data folders.

• Temp -is the location for storing the temporary files for the software.
• Backup - is the location for storing the backup files created.
• Images - is the location for storing the image files created when using the PrtSc (Print Screen) command while the software is open.
• Features- is the location for storing the features that are saved in the CAM Tree.

NOTE:     Incorrect modification of these file paths can cause the system to malfunction. Do not alter these paths unless you fully understand how they work.

Backup

• Backup

Select the check box to create and store backup files.

Clear the check box to turn off file backups.

• Use Backup Directory

Select this check box to store the backup files in the location determined by the Backup directory option.

Clear the check box to store the backup files in the same location as the saved file.

• Number of Backups - sets the maximum number of backup copies that are created for each file. 

Display

Color

The color group displays all of the items for which a default color can be assigned. To change a color, click the arrow next to the color and select the desired color.

• Background - the default background color of the Workspace.

• Selection - the default color of an entity when it is selected in the Workspace.
• Highlight - the default color of an item, that can be selected, when the pointer is over the item.
• Entity - the default color used for new entities that are created.
• Preview - the default color that is used to show the CAD preview.
  

For the following three items, you must click the name to turn on the color option.

• Toolpath - the default color for all toolpath display in the graphics area.

• Dim/Text - the default color of dimensions and text.
• Solids - the default color of solid entities.

Axis X-Y

• Show Axis X-Y - when turned on, the X- and Y-axes are displayed in the Workspace using the selected color.
• Show Gnomon - when turned on, the gnomon for the World Coordinate System will be displayed in the Workspace.
• Num. of Tick Marks - sets how many unit lines are displayed along each axis.

• Shading Quality - controls the appearance of surface topology in the Workspace. Moving the slider to the left causes surfaces to appear more jagged, and moving the slider to the right causes surfaces to appear smoother.

NOTE:      Moving the slider to the far right increases the amount of memory consumed for rendering images in the Workspace. This may result in stuttering movement when the view zoom, pan, and rotate functions are used. This function does not change the real surface quality, it only adjusts the display to save memory. With the slider all the way to the left, a round surface is still round though it may not appear to be.

• Wireframe Quality - controls the resolution of arcs and splines displayed in the Workspace. Moving the slider to the left decreases the resolution, and make arcs and splines appear more jagged, and moving the slider to the right increases the resolution, and make arcs and splines appear smoother.
• Perspective Distance - controls how far away from the part the view is, for an orthogonal view.
• Select Area - controls the area of selection for the cursor. Moving the slider to the left reduces the picking area of the cursor, and moving the slider to the right increases the picking area of the cursor.

Solids Wireframe Line

• Thicken Exterior Line - when turned on, the system displays thicker interior and edge lines than the normal display.
• Interior Line Brightness - controls the brightness of the interior lines displayed on surfaces and solids. Moving the slider to the right increases the brightness of the interior and edge lines, while moving the slider to the left decreases the brightness.

UCS Plane Display

• Color - the default color of the user coordinate systems. Click the arrow and select a color to change the display color used.
• Transparency Degree - controls the opacity of the UCS planes in the workspace. Moving the slider to the right makes the UCS planes more transparent, while moving the slider to the left makes the UCS planes more opaque or solid in color.

System

CAD Tolerance

• System - the default tolerance for drawing (computer aided drafting).
• Chain Select - sets the largest distance between two entities that is acceptable when selecting a chain.

Snap Increment  - Snap Increment acts like a uniform grid in the workspace to which wireframe entities or sketch handles are snapped.

• Distance - sets the unit spacing for the snap grid.

• Angle - sets the number of angle movements per increment when using snap increment.

• Scale - sets the increment to be added or subtracted from the overall scale amount. This is used when using the sketch handle to set the scale amount in the Translate feature.

CAM Tolerance

The following settings are the tolerances used to calculate toolpath and create the NC code. The value defines the maximum deviation allowed between the target geometry and the toolpath output. A larger number results in less NC program code but also creates a less accurate toolpath. A smaller setting improves the toolpath, but may generate more NC program code than desired.

• 2 Axis - sets the tolerance used for 2-axis features.
• 3 Axis - sets the tolerance used for 3-axis features.
• Lathe - sets the tolerance used for Lathe features.
• Spline Facet - sets the tolerance for spline creation or how far away the resulting entities can be from the mathematically correct spline, when spline entities are broken into lines and arcs for machining.

Color Button

The Color Button refers to any named button in the software that displays a special color when you turn on the option. This can also be for multiple options that show the selected item using the defined color.

• On

Select this check box to turn on the color button.

Clear the check box to turn off the color button.

• Color - sets the color used to show that an option is turned on or selected when using the Color Button.

Auto Save

• On

Select the check box to turn on automatic file saving.

Clear the check box to turn off automatic file saving.

• Save Interval (min.) - sets the period of time, in minutes, for how often the software automatically saves the file. For new files that haven't been saved, the software prompts you for the first Save As.

BobCAD Style

The BobCAD Style controls the appearance of the user interface. Select one of the following options: Office, DotNet, None, Glass, or Vista.

Other

• Use Compressed Menu

Select the check box to have all of the CAD menus combined into one menu.

Clear the check box to use the default CAD menus.

• Enter = Tab

Select the check box to make the Enter key function the same as the Tab key.

Clear the check box to use the normal Enter key functioning.

• Zoom to Cursor

Select the check box to have the zoom-in and zoom-out view commands use the mouse pointer screen position as the center of the zoom window. This allows automatic panning of the workspace when using the scroll wheel to zoom in and zoom out.

Clear the check box to have the zoom-in and zoom-out view commands always use the center of the screen.

• Invert Scroll Wheel

Select the check box to swap the direction of the mouse scroll wheel. For example, the default zoom-out scrolling direction becomes zoom-in direction.

Clear the check box to use the default scroll wheel direction.

• Use 3D Mouse

Select the check box to enable the use of a 3D mouse within BobCAD-CAM.

Clear the check box to turn off the use of a 3D mouse within BobCAD-CAM.

• Rotation Center

This option is used to display a small sphere in the Workspace that represents the center of rotation that is used with the view rotation commands. With an empty Workspace, this displays at the WCS, but updates based on the geometry and viewing position of the Workspace.

• Show Never - turns off the display of the rotation center indicator.

• Show Always - always displays the rotation center indicator.

• Show On Motion - only displays the rotation center indicator when modifying the viewing position.

Units

The Units group controls what type of units values are used in the software. Select from one of the following options: Millimeter, Centimeter, Decimeter, Meter, Inch, Custom. When Custom is selected, in the 1 Unit is box, type the equivalent value in millimeters for the custom unit.

• Dialog Digits - controls how many digits are displayed, in any dialog box, to the right of the decimal point.
• Lathe Coordinates (Z,X,Y) - causes the CAD functions to list coordinate values using lathe mode (Z,X,Y).
• Lathe Diameter Mode - causes the CAD functions to use diameter values instead of radius values.

Text

The Text group controls the default settings that are used for the Text function. The settings made here are displayed in the Data Entry tab for the Text function.

• Windows Font - enables the windows fonts for you to select a TrueType (.ttf) font from the font list.
• BobCAD Font - enables the BobCAD fonts for you to select a BobCAD.FNT font from the font list.

• Text Angle - sets the default angle, relative to the X axis, of the text placement.
• Text Height - sets the maximum size, along the Y-axis, of the text.
• Slant - sets the angle of the characters for the BobCAD Fonts only.
• Ratio - sets height to width ratio (X:Y) of the text size for the BobCAD Fonts only.
• Vectorize - sets the accuracy used when creating vectorized text.

Arrows

The following settings control the appearance of the arrows that are used when creating Dimensions.

In/Out

Select one of the options, as shown, to define whether the arrows for dimensions appear on the inside or outside of the witness lines.

Positions

Select one of the options, as shown, to define position and number of the arrows used.

Leaders

Select one of the options, as shown, to define the position and number of leader lines used.

Type

Select one of the options, as shown, to define the arrow types used.

Dimension

The settings made here are the default settings that are displayed in the Data Entry tab for creating Dimensions.

Dimension

• Font List - select the font type used for dimension text.
• Decimals - sets the number of decimal digits displayed.
• Scale - sets the scale or the ratio of the actual measured dimension, to what dimension is displayed in the Workspace. A value of 0.5 creates dimensions that are half of the actual measured value.
• Width - sets the length, from left to right, for the dimension text.
• Height - sets the maximum height, from top to bottom, of the dimension text.

Arrows

• Width - sets the length of the arrows that are displayed for dimensions.

• Height - sets the distance of the arrows, at the broadest end, that are displayed for dimensions.

Leader Extension

• Outside Arrow - sets how far past the end of the arrow the leader lines extend when the arrows are set to display on the outside of the witness lines.

Tolerance

• Tol.1 - click this option to turn it on or off, and type the first tolerance value that is displayed with dimensions.

• Tol.2 - click this option to turn it on or off, and type the second tolerance value that is displayed with dimensions.

• Decimals - sets the maximum number of digits to the right of the decimal that is displayed in the dimension tolerances.

Witness Line

• Extension - sets the distance that the witness lines extend past the leader line.

• Distance from Geometry - sets the distance between the witness lines and the dimensioned entities.

Dimension Line Text

• Spacing On - sets the distance between the dimension text and the beginning of the leader line.

• Distance From - sets the distance between the bottom of the dimension text and the leader line.

Point Styles

The Point Styles control how points that are created are displayed in the Workspace. Select one of the options, as shown, to define the point style used.

• Point Size - sets the size of the points that are displayed in the Workspace.

After making any changes in the Settings Default dialog box, click OK to accept the changes, or click Cancel to not accept the changes that were made. 

Related Topics

The Settings Part Dialog Box