25.1.2 Tool palettes

Amapi 3D supports three tool palettes:
· Construction
· Modeling
· Assembly

You can choose between two interfaces:

q “Workshop“ (the classical Amapi 3D interface):

Standard

Workshop

Construction Palette	Modeling Palette	Assembly Palette

This interface was ergonomically designed so as to allow the user’s movements to follow as closely as possible the natural movement of a designer at the drawing table, or a sculptor in his/her workshop.

The floating tool palettes are displayed on the top right side of the scene. Within a palette, each tool is represented by an icon.

· How do you select a tool?

1. Before using a tool, make sure that the current (selected) object is the one you want to work on. (See chapter User Manual/ Modeling help tools/Control Panel/Selection tools/Wand.)
2. Click on the icon depicting the tool you want to use.

· How do you switch tool palettes?

To switch tool palettes, if you have chosen the Workshop interface, move the cursor out of the scene by the right hand side of the screen and then back into the scene.

· How do you end the action of a tool?

There are two ways to do this:
· Validate the action:

· In the Assistant Palette: Click on the “OK” button.
or
· Through the keyboard: Press the Return key.
Validating an action puts the tool aside: the cursor switches back to the Wand, which allows you to select another element or tool.

· Put the tool aside:

Move the cursor out of the scene through the right hand side of the screen to put the tool aside (to drop it) and move it back into the scene. You will then be able to select another element or tool.

q “The Standard Interface”

Standard

Workshop

The advantage of this interface is that it is familiar to most users. The three tool palettes are grouped into a single palette displayed at the left-hand side of the screen. You can position it anywhere you want in the scene.

· How do you select a tool?

1. Before using a tool, make sure that the current (selected) object is the one you want to work on. (See chapter User Manual/ Modeling help tools/Control Panel/Selection tools/Wand.)
2. Click on the icon depicting the tool.

· How do you change tool palette?

Using this interface, the three tool palettes are constantly displayed. Therefore, you do not need to change palettes.

· How do you end the action of a tool?

There are two ways to do this:
· Validating the action:

· In the Assistant Palette: Click on the “OK” button.
or
· Through the keyboard: Press the Return key.
Validating the action causes the tool to be dropped. The cursor switches back to the Wand, allowing the user to select another element.

· Putting the tool aside:

Selecting another tool automatically drops the previous tool.
· Select another tool in the Tools Palette to continue working on the current palette.
Or
· Select a construction tool to build a new object.