Control of the Display

Once the editor has started, the imported curves will, by default, appear in the four graphics views. There are three orthogonal projections and a general oblique orthographic projection:

Figure 3:27. The Patch and Curve Editor.

The graphics windows can be resized by dragging the window corners. Alternatively, the windows can be arranged automatically by selecting TILE or CASCADE from the WINDOW menu. The user can choose the viewing direction for any orthogonal window using the popup menu launched by clicking the Right Mouse button on the background of the window.

In addition to the graphics views, there are three other windows.

The Data Bar contains spreadsheet-style grids that provide both display controls and numerical editing facilities.

Next to the Data Bar is the Output Window, which is used to display various informational and warning messages.

Above the Data Bar is the Tree, which lists all curve and patch elements in the design. The Tree can be used to change the display status (and other options) of curves and patches.

If a surface is present, it is often desirable to hide it during curve editing. This is done by ensuring that all of the surface display options are deselected (that means, none of the Surface Display buttons are depressed - these options are also found under DISPLAY \ PATCHES).

These three windows can all be toggled between being shown and hidden using VIEW \ DATA BAR, VIEW \ OUTPUT WINDOW and VIEW \ TREE respectively. They can also be floated or docked to any edge of the main window in a similar manner to standard toolbars.

The appearances of the curves within the graphics views are controlled by three operations:

• Zooming

• Panning

• Rotating (oblique view only)

There are different ways of achieving these operations, some of these being different to those used in other AVEVA Marine applications. In particular, there are two different methods for navigating within views. The user can choose whichever method best suits their style of working.

For additional information see Graphics View Control

Default navigation method

In default method, zooming, panning and rotating are performed in a similar way to other AVEVA Marine applications. In this case the cursor has two different modes - Navigating and Picking. Navigating mode is used for view navigation, and is entered by selecting VIEW \ MODE \ NAVIGATE, or by selecting the Tool button . All interaction with curves and surfaces requires the Pick mode which is entered by selecting VIEW \ MODE \ PICK or by selecting the Tool button .

View Tool navigation method

An alternative navigating mode can used by selecting VIEW \ MODE \ VIEW TOOLS. This causes three small view control icons to appear in the top right-hand corner of each of the graphics views. The cursor has only one mode, so the associated menu items and Tool buttons become disabled.