New Buttons

SAVE EDIT

The ``save edit'' button allows the user, while in either the solid or object edit state, to save all edits and remain in the respective edit state. There is also a new command called savedit in mged proper.

ALT MOUSE MODE

The alternative mouse mode can be toggled on/off by pressing the ``alt mouse mode'' button. In this mode, the left button is used for translation, the middle button for rotation, and the right button for zoom. This mode is active only in the view state. So, if the state changes when in ``alt mouse mode'', the original mouse mode takes effect until the view state is resumed.

MULTI VIEWS

Pressing the ``multi views'' button toggles between displaying the main drawing window and the multi-views window. The multi-views window shows four different views at the same time. The default views shown are 45,45, bottom, left and top. All slider operations and view related commands affect only the lower right window which shares it's view with the main window.

SWAP VIEWS

The swap views mode can be toggled on/off by pressing the ``swap views'' button. This mode can only take effect when in ``multi views'' mode. This mode allows views to be swapped between the lower right window and any of the other three. For instance, a left button press in any window, except the lower right, puts that windows view into the lower right window. A middle button press swaps that window's view with the view in the lower right window. And a right button press puts the lower right window's view into the window where the button press occurred. However, mouse button presses in the lower right window continue to function normally. That is, they continue to function according to the current mouse mode.

INPUT WIN

Display of the input window can be toggled by pressing the ``input win'' button. However, this button becomes insensitive when in single display mode. The input window is used to capture events (buttonpress, motion, keypress, etc.) so that objects can be manipulated remotely while in multi-display mode.

RATE BASED

The sliders can be used in either rate based or absolute mode. In rate based mode, the slider value represents a rate of motion. And in absolute mode the slider value represents a absolute translation or rotation, thereby affording the user more control over object movement. When in absolute mode the labels for xslew, yslew and zslew change to xtran, ytran, and ztran respectively. In either mode, the mouse is still able to manipulate the object(s).

HELP

Display of the help menu can be toggled on/off by pressing the ``help'' button. A list of all mged commands appears in the menu. To see a short definition of a command, click on its' corresponding button.


FILE MENU

MGED DATABASE FILE

Causes a copy of the current database to be made. The user is prompted for a file name. If no file name is given, no database file is created.

POSTSCRIPT FILE

Copies the current display into a postscript file. The user is prompted for a file name. If no file name is given, no postscript file is created. For now, the postscript file also contains the old mged faceplate.

PIX FILE

Raytraces the current display and puts the result into a file. The user is prompted for a file name. If no file name is given, it puts the result into a frame buffer. The user is also given the opportunity to change the default rt options.

OPEN

Open another database. The user is prompted for a file name. If no file name is given, the user will be prompted to create a new database. At this time, if the user refuses to create a new database, the program is exited.

INSERT

This causes another database to be inserted into the current database. The user is prompted for a file name.

SHOW INFO

Toggles the display of the solid information window.

EXIT

Quit mged.


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