Introduction to the Backstage

Introduction

This topic will explain the Backstage, and the file options found in it. This topic will also provide links for those portions that are expanded into their own topic.

Backstage

The Backstage is where all the file options, Themes, Help options, Settings Part and Default, User Profiles, and keyboard shortcuts can be found. All of these options found in the Backstage are explained below.

 

  • New - The New command opens a new file. This does not close any files that are currently open.

    • Default Document - This group gives you access to New Document. When you click New Document, a document is loaded with the settings as they have been set in the Document Default page of the Settings dialog.

    • User Templates - This group gives you access to all of the User Template that have been saved. When you click a particular User Template, all of the information from the original document is copied into a new file.

    • Save Current Document as Template - This group gives you access to Save Template. When you click Save Template, the Save Templates dialog launches to allow you to name your template. Clicking Save will save the entire contents of the current file as a template in the User Templates group. When that template is selected again, the contents of the original file are opened in a new document.

 

  • Open - The Open command is used to open a previously saved file. 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 Supported Files.

 

ClosedSupported File Types

 

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

 

Important: 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.

 

The supported file types are listed next.

 

Supported File Types

Readable Writable
.bbcd .bbcd
.bbas .bbas
.bart .igs / .iges
.cad .dxf
.igs / .iges .dwg
.dxf .sat
.dwg .3dm
.sat .prt
.3dm .stp / .step
.x_t .stl
.x_b  
.sldprt  
.stp /.step  
.stl  

 

Supported File Types for BobART

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

 

Readable
Image Files Vector Files
.jpeg / .jpg / .jtf .mac .ai
.bmp .pcx .eps
.tiff / .tif .psp .pdf
.gif .rtf  
.png .sgi  
.psd .ras  
.afp .tga  
.ani .avi  
.cal .cur  
.crw .ico / .icon  
.cgm .wmf / .emf  
.cut .wbmp  
.djv .wpg  
.clp .smp  
.pcd .xwd  
.cin .xbm  
.cmp .xpm  
  .bbcd (preview)  

 

 

  • Save - The Save command is used to save any changes that were made to the current file. If the file has not already been saved, the Save As dialog 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.

 

ClosedSaving as file types other than .bbcd

 

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 FileName 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 its geometry contents into the currently open document.

 

  • Close - The Close command closes the currently open document without exiting the software. If changes have been made since the file was opened, a dialog box is displayed with a question about whether to save changes to the file:

 

    • Yes - If the file has been saved previously, the file will be saved and closed. If the file has not been saved previously, the Save As dialog will appear prompting you to name the file and choose a save location. Once saved the file will automatically be closed.

    • No - The file will be closed.

    • Cancel - The file will remain open.

 

 

  • Print - 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.

 

  • Recent Files - will list all recently opened saved files in the backstage area. Double-click a file name in the list, and it will be opened as a new graphics area tab.

 

  • User Profile - control the appearance of the user interface. You can use these options to select between predefined combinations of graphical details, colors, and fonts. Click User Profile to jump to the topic that covers this in detail.

 

  • Help - gives you access to Support, Licensing, and Licensing Tools. Click Help to jump to the topic that covers this in detail.

 

  • Settings - exits the Backstage, and opens the Settings dialog. Click The Settings Dialog to jump to the topic that covers this in detail.

 

  • Exit - is used to close the software. If changes have been made to any currently open files, a dialog will be displayed for each file, one at a time, to allow you the opportunity to save those files that have not already been saved, or to Cancel the close request.

 

    • Yes - If the file has been saved previously, the file will be saved and closed. If the file has not been saved previously, the Save As dialog will appear prompting you to name the file and choose a save location. Once saved the file will automatically be closed.

    • No - The file will be closed.

    • Cancel - The file, and software will remain open.

Next Topics

User Profile

Help

The Settings Dialog