Basic mouse and keyboard operations for using the software
Mouse
The software requires that your mouse have at least two buttons.
Single-Click: Many functions in the software are performed by clicking once with either the left or the right button on the mouse. A single-click is performed by pushing and releasing the mouse button.
Double-Click: Some functions in the software are performed by rapidly clicking the left mouse button twice. Be careful to hold the mouse still when double-clicking so that the software can identify your input as a double-click. The time necessary to complete a double-click is determined in your Windows settings, though on average, a double-click should be performed in less than one second.
Dragging: Dragging refers to moving the mouse while holding down the left mouse button.
Left button: In 2D – Click the left mouse button to select tools and objects. In 3D – Hold down the left button and move your mouse to rotate the view.
Right button: In 2D – Click the right mouse button to Undo. In 3D – Hold down the right button and move your mouse to zoom in/out.
Middle Mouse Button: The software lets you use the middle button of your mouse for panning while working in 2D or 3D and zooming in the 2d viewport. In order to pan the 2D or 3D viewport, hold the middle mouse button and move your mouse around. In order to zoom in/out in 2D, scroll the middle mouse button up/down.
Keyboard
Though the software uses the mouse most of the time, some keys on the keyboard can perform common functions to help you work faster.
These keys are called Hotkeys which are assigned to Tools, Guides, Angle Snaps and other options. You can see the assigned hotkeys of Tools and Guides by hovering your mouse over them. The Hotkeys of Angle Snap options are displayed next to each option. Other Hotkeys are listed below.
Along with the Hotkeys, the software also uses the following keys on the keyboard.
CTRL: Holding down the CTRL key while single-clicking on different items with the left mouse button allows you to select/deselect multiple items, both in the 2D viewport or 3D viewport. The CTRL key is also used to activate the 3D Terrain Tools in the Terrain stage.
Shift: Holding down the Shift key while drawing, activates World Angle
Space Bar: Enables/disables auto-rotation in the 3D viewport and Presentation Mode.
Delete: Allows you to delete the currently selected object.
Esc: In 2D – Allows you to stop drawing your current shape without completing it. This function can also be performed by left clicking on the last point drawn. The Esc key will also clear your mouse cursor of a library item when using Insert to place multiple library items. When in Presentation Mode, pressing Esc key will bring up the Presentation Menu. Additionally when in 3D, pressing Esc will move you to 2D.
CTRL Commands:
The following are commands and shortcuts that use the CTRL (Control key on the bottom of the keyboard). To use them, press and hold CTRL on your keyboard, then the letter or number associated with that command.
For example: to save your current design, hold down CTRL on the keyboard, and press the “S” key one time, then let go of CTRL. Please note, some of these commands only work in 2D.
CTRL + S: Save your current design. The first time this is pressed in a new design, you will be prompted to select or create the file name.
CTRL + O: Open an existing design. By default, this will open the Save folder, or the last folder that a .SAV file was opened or saved in. If you have not saved your work in the current design, you will be prompted to do so before the new design opens.
CTRL + N: Begin a new design. If you have not saved your work in the current design, you will be prompted to do so before the new design opens.
CTRL + P: Print the current design. This will load the Print Preview screen.
CTRL + A: Select all shapes from the current stage. If “Select objects from any stage” is checked, then all objects in the design will be selected.
CTRL + C: Copy the currently selected shape or object.
CTRL + L: Open or close the Library.
CRTL + X: Cut the currently selected shape or object. Cut is similar to Copy, but cut will remove the selected shape, while copy makes a duplicate of the shape without removing it.
CTRL + V: Paste the last shape/object that was cut or copied.
CTRL + Z: Undo the last action. For example: if you delete, move, or alter a shape, this function will undo that change. This can be used multiple times to go back several actions.
CTRL + Y: Redo the last action that was undone. Once undo is used, this will redo the undone action.
CTRL + G: Group several selected shapes/objects together in order to move or scale the objects as one object.
CTRL + U: Ungroup a group of shapes/objects. This is very helpful when first inserting items from the Library, as these shapes are often grouped by default.
CTRL + B: Hide or display a background image.
CTRL + Shift + B: Hide or display a GIS image.
CTRL + H: Hide the selected object.
CTRL + B: Hide or display selected measurements.
CTRL + Tab: Go to 3D view while in 2D, and vice versa.
CTRL + Left or Right Arrow Key: Rotate the sun/moon around the horizon.
CTRL + Up or Down Arrow Key: Raise and lower the position of the sun/moon.
Moving Between Stages with the CTRL Key:
The CTRL key also allows you to jump to different stages.
CTRL + Page Up: Go to the next stage.
CTRL + Page Down: Go to the previous stage.
F Key Commands
The F keys can be found at the top of your keyboard, numbered 1 through 12. Just pressing the button will operate the shortcut. There is no need to press any other key such as CTRL or ALT.
F5: View Presentation Mode. This will take you directly to the full screen 3D Presentation mode, not to the Finalize phase.
F7: Load the Configuration menu. In the Configuration menu, you can change the display quality for 3D and Presentation, and review other the software settings.
F10: Load the Project folder.
F12: Load the About the software screen. This screen contains your CD Key, video card, and other hardware information.
Tool, Guide, and Angle Snap Commands
These commands will swap between Tools and Guides and activate Angle Snaps. These commands allow you to continuing drawing without going to the panel. Again, there is no need to press any other key such as CTRL or ALT. Simply press the corresponding letter.
Q: Select the Move Tool
W: Select the Rotate Tool
E: Select the Scale Tool
R: Select the Smooth Tool
A: Select the Line Tool
S: Select the Arc Tool
D: Select the Outline Tool
F: Select the Freehand Tool
T: Select the Divide Tool
Z: Select the Rectangle Guide
X: Select the Circle Guide
C: Select the Measure Tool
V: Select the Text Tool
K: Set Angle Snap to None
L: Set Angle Snap to Relative Angle
G: Set Angle Snap to World Angle
3D View Commands
These are keyboard shortcuts and commands for the 3D View. There is no need to press any other key such as CTRL or ALT. Simply press the corresponding letter.
J: Walk mode. Same as Presentation Mode, allows you to walk along the ground. Press again to turn off.
Space Bar: Automated tour. The view will automatically rotate around the project. Press again to turn off.
Left and Right Arrow Keys: Pan your view around the project.
Up and Down Arrow Keys: Zoom your view in or out.
Presentation Mode Commands
These are keyboard shortcuts and commands for the full screen 3D Presentation Mode. Most of these shortcuts have a corresponding button that can be found by pressing ESC while in Presentation Mode. Again, there is no need to press any other key such as CTRL or ALT. Simply press the corresponding letter.
ESC: This will bring up the menu at the bottom of the screen, where all of these commands can also be found.
X: Exit Presentation Mode and return to the program.
R: Reset the view to where the Presentation mode began
A: Automated tour. The view will automatically rotate around the project.
Space Bar: Same as A, starts up the Automated Tour.
P: Take a picture/screenshot. These can be then be found in the screenshots folder.
F: While in Walk mode, enter Fly mode. Fly mode allows you to “fly” anywhere in the 3D view.
W: While in Fly mode, enter Walk mode. Walk mode plants your feet firmly back on the ground so you can walk around.
N: Go from day to dusk to night.
V: Records a video. These can be found in the Videos folder.
Enter Key: Play/Pause item and landscaping animations. This command will turn item animations on and off while in Presentation Mode.