it uses the modifier keys: Shift, Control, and Alt. This use of
modified mouse clicks to grab things is called the "shift-grip"
interface. The Shift and Control keys are assigned in
combinations to the three basic transformation operations as
follows:
Modifier Key |
Transformation Operation |
Shift |
Translate |
Ctrl |
Rotate |
Shift & Ctrl |
Scale |
and the Alt key is assigned the meaning "constrained
transformation," which is described below. Thus, in general,
holding the Shift key and a mouse button down and moving the
mouse drags things around on the screen. The Control key and
a mouse button allow one to rotate things, and the
combination of Shift, Control, and a mouse button allow one
to expand and contract things. These general functionalities
are consistent throughout MGED, providing a unified
interface. The precise meanings of "drag things around,"
"rotate things," and "expand and contract things" depends on
the operating context.
When one is merely viewing geometry the shift grips apply
by default to the view itself. Thus they amount to panning,
rotating, and zooming the eye relative to the geometry being
displayed. When one is in solid-edit or matrix-edit mode
(what used to be called object-edit mode), the shift grips
apply by default to the model parameters. In this case, they
modify the location, orientation, or size of object features
or entire objects in the database.
The default behaviors in the viewing and editing modes may
be overridden by the "Transform" item in the "Settings" menu.
This allows the user to specify that the shift grips should
transform the view, the model parameters (if one is currently
editing a solid or matrix) or the angle-distance cursor (in
which case the mouse may be used to position the ADC, to
change its angles, and to expand and contract its distance
ticks). The behavior of the shift grips may be further
changed by the "Rotate About" item in the "Settings" menu,
which allows the user to specify the point about which
shift-grip rotations should be performed. The choices include
the view center, the eye, the model origin, and an object's
key point.
CONSTRAINED TRANSFORMATIONS
When the Alt key is held down along with either of the
Shift and Control keys the transformations are constrained to
a particular axis. For such constrained transformations the
mouse buttons have the following meanings:
Mouse Button |
Axis |
Button-1 |
x |
Button-2 |
y |
Button-3 |
z |
Thus, if the view is being transformed, Alt-Shift-Button-1
allows one to drag the objects being viewed left to right
along the view-x axis. Similarly, if the model parameters are
being transformed, Alt-Ctrl-Button-2 allows one to rotate the
object about a line passing through the rotate-about point
(as described above) and parallel to a y-axis. The coordinate
system to which these transformations are constrained may be
specified by the "Constraint Coords" item in the "Settings"
menu, which allows the selection of any one of the model,
view, and object coordinate systems.
Besides the default mouse button bindings described above,
the user can access the ''Settings'' menu with alt-Button1
and the ''Modes'' menu with alt-Button2.
Default Key Bindings
MGED offers the user ''short cuts'' to much of the
functionality available via the menus as well as the command
line interface. The table below lists the default key
bindings:
Key Sequence |
Behavior |
a |
toggle angle distance cursor (ADC) |
e |
toggle edit axes |
m |
toggle model axes |
v |
toggle view axes |
i |
advance illumination pointer forward |
I |
advance illumination pointer backward |
p |
simulate mouse press (i.e. to pick a solid) |
0 |
zero knobs |
x |
rate rotate about x axis |
y |
rate rotate about y axis |
z |
rate rotate about z axis |
X |
rate rotate about x axis |
Y |
rate rotate about y axis |
Z |
rate rotate about z axis |
3 |
view - ae 35 25 |
4 |
view - ae 45 45 |
f |
front view |
t |
top view |
b |
bottom view |
l |
left view |
r |
right view |
R |
rear view |
s |
enter solid illumination state |
o |
enter object illumination state |
q |
reject edit |
u |
zero knobs and sliders |
< F1 > |
toggle depthcue |
< F2 > |
toggle zclipping |
< F3 > |
toggle perspective |
< F4 > |
toggle zbuffer |
< F5 > |
toggle lighting |
< F6 > |
toggle perspective angle |
< F7 > |
toggle faceplate |
< F8 > |
toggle Faceplate GUI |
< F9 > |
toggle keystroke
forwarding |
< F12 > |
zero knobs |
< Left > |
rotate about y axis |
< Right > |
rotate about y axis |
< Down > |
rotate about x axis |
< Up > |
rotate about x axis |
< Shift-Left > |
translate in X direction |
< Shift-Right > |
translate in X direction |
< Shift-Down > |
translate in Z direction |
< Shift-Up > |
translate in Z direction |
< Control-Shift-Left > |
rotate about z axis |
< Control-Shift-Right > |
rotate about z axis |
< Control-Shift-Down > |
translate in Y direction |
< Control-Shift-Up > |
translate in Y direction |
< Control-n > |
goto next view |
< Control-p > |
goto previous view |
< Control-t > |
toggle between the current view and the last
view |
Besides the default key bindings
listed above, the user can access menu items with ''alt-key''
sequences. For example, the ''File'' menu can be popped up
with alt-f. The raytrace control panel can then be popped up
by typing ''r'' (i.e. ''R'' is underlined in the
''Raytrace..." menu item).
Control Panels
- ADC Control Panel
- The ADC Control Panel is a tool for setting ADC
parameters.
- Grid Control Panel
- The Grid Control Panel is a tool for setting
grid parameters.
- Query Ray Control Panel
- The Query Ray Control Panel is a tool for
setting query ray parameters.
- Raytrace Control Panel
- The Raytrace Control Panel is a tool for setting
raytrace parameters.
- Solid Editor
- The Solid Editor is a tool for editing
solids.
- Solid Editor (Internal)
- The Solid Editor is a tool for editing MGED's
internal solid (i.e. held in es_int while in solid edit
state). The internal solid is the in-memory copy of a solid
that is being edited.
- Combination Editor
- Color Editor
- The Color Editor is a tool for specifying colors
in either RGB or HSV.
-
Status Bar
The status bar contains two lines for
displaying information about the state of the active
pane. The first line contains information about the view
center, view size, local units, azimuth, elevation,
twist, and rate of rotation about the x, y and z axes.
The second line can contain several different things
depending on the state. If the angle distance cursor is
being drawn, information about its parameters are
displayed. Specifically, angle 1, angle 2, tick distance,
center and delta are displayed. Otherwise, if in the
VIEWING state, the frames per second is displayed.
If in SOL PICK or OBJ PICK state, the full
path of the illuminated solid is displayed. If in OBJ
PATH state, the full path of the previously selected
solid is displayed along with an indication of which
matrix along the path will be edited. And finally, if in
either SOL EDIT or OBJ EDIT state the
keypoint is displayed.
Menu Bar
-
File
- New - open a new database. Note - the
database must not already exist.
- Open - open an existing database.
- Insert - insert another database into
the current database.
- Extract - a tool for extracting objects
out of the current database. This tool consists of
an entry for specifying the destination file and an
entry for specifying the objects to be extracted.
- g2asc - converts the current database
into an ascii file.
- Raytrace - pops up the raytrace control
panel.
-
Save View As
- RT script - saves the current view
as an RT script file.
- Plot - saves the current view as a
plot file.
- PostScript - saves the current view
a postscript file.
-
Preferences
-
Units
- micrometers - set the unit of
measure to micrometers. 1 micrometer =
1/1,000,000 meters
- millimeters- set the unit of
measure to millimeters. 1 millimeter =
1/1000 meters
- centimeters - set the unit of
measure to centimeters. 1 centimeter =
1/100 meters
- meters - set the unit of measure
to meters.
- kilometers - set the unit of
measure to kilometers. 1 kilometer = 1000
meters
- inches - set the unit of measure
to inches. 1 inch = 25.4 mm
- feet - set the unit of measure
to feet. 1 foot = 12 inches.
- yards - set the unit of measure
to yards. 1 yard = 36 inches.
- miles - set the unit of measure
to miles. 1 mile = 5280 feet.
-
Command Line
Edit
-
Special Characters
- Tcl Evaluation - set the command
interpretation mode to Tcl mode. In this
mode, globbing is not performed
against MGED database objects. Rather, the
command string is passed, unmodified, to
the Tcl interpreter.
- Object Name Matching - set the
command interpretation mode to MGED object
name matching. In this mode, globbing is
performed against MGED database
objects.
- Color Schemes - pops up a tool for
setting colors used by drawing panes (display
managers).
- Close - close this instance of the MGED
GUI.
- Exit - exits MGED.
-
Edit
- Solid Selection - pops up a tool for
selecting a solid to edit.
- Matrix Selection - pops up a tool for
selecting a matrix to edit. Solid Editor -
pops up a tool for creating and editing solids.
Combination
Editor - pops up a tool for creating and
editing combinations.
-
Create
- Make Solid - gives the user a pulldown
menu from which to select a solid to create. The
following is a list of the available solid types
that the make command can
create: arb8, arb7, arb6, arb5, arb4, sph, grip,
ell, ellg, tor, tgc, tec, rec, trc, rcc, half, rpc,
rhc, epa, ehy, eto, part, nmg, pipe.
- Solid
Editor - pops up a tool for creating and
editing solids.
- Combination
Editor - pops up a tool for creating and
editing combinations.
-
View
- Top - view of the top (i.e. azimuth =
270, elevation = 90)
- Bottom - view of the bottom (i.e.
azimuth = 270, elevation = -90)
- Right - view of the right (i.e. azimuth
= 270, elevation = 0)
- Left - view of the left (i.e. azimuth =
90, elevation = 0)
- Front - view of the front (i.e. azimuth
= 0, elevation = 0)
- Rear - view of the rear (i.e. azimuth =
180, elevation = 0)
- az35,el25 - an oblique view (i.e.
azimuth = 35, elevation = 25)
- az45,el45 - an oblique view (i.e.
azimuth = 45, elevation = 45)
- Zoom In - zoom in by a factor of 2.
- Zoom Out - zoom out by a factor of 2.
- Default - same view as top (i.e. azimuth
= 270, elevation = 90)
-
Multipane Defaults - sets the view of all
four panes to their defaults.
Pane |
Azimuth |
Elevation |
upper left |
90 |
0 |
upper right |
35 |
25 |
lower left |
0 |
0 |
lower right |
90 |
0 |
- Zero - stops all rate
transformations.
-
ViewRing
A view ring is simply a dynamic list of views owned
by a pane (display manager). This mechanism supports
multiple views within a single pane. A view consists
of a position in model space, a view size and an
orientation.
- Add View - Adds a view to the view ring.
- Select View - a pulldown menu that lists
the views in the view ring that can be selected.
- Delete View - a pulldown menu that lists
the views in the view ring that can be deleted.
- Next View - go to the next view on the
view ring.
- Prev View - go to the previous view on
the view ring.
- Last View - go to the last view. This
can be used to toggle between two arbitrary
views.
-
Settings
-
Mouse Behavior - a menu for selecting
among the available mouse behaviors.
-
Default - enter the default MGED mouse
behavior mode. In this mode, the user gets
mouse behavior that is the same as MGED 4.5
and earlier.
Mouse Button |
Behavior |
1 |
zoom out by a factor of 2 |
2 |
center view, or some edit action if
in an edit state |
3 |
zoom in by a factor of 2 |
-
Pick edit-solid - enter pick
edit-solid mode. In this mode, the mouse is
used to fire rays for selecting a solid to
edit. If more than one solid is hit, a
listbox of the hit solids is presented. The
user then selects a solid to edit from this
listbox. If a single solid is hit, it is
selected for editing. If no solids were hit,
a dialog is popped up saying that nothing was
hit. The user must then fire another ray to
continue selecting a solid. When a solid is
finally selected, solid edit mode is entered.
When this happens, the mouse behavior mode is
set to default mode. Note - When selecting
items from a listbox, a left buttonpress
highlights the solid in question until the
button is released. To select a solid, double
click with the left mouse button.
Mouse Button |
Behavior |
1 |
Zoom out by a factor of 2 |
2 |
Fire edit-solid ray |
3 |
Zoom in by a factor of 2 |
-
Pick edit-matrix - enter pick
edit-matrix mode. In this mode, the mouse is
used to fire rays for selecting a matrix to
edit. If more than one solid is hit, a
listbox of the hit solids is presented. The
user then selects a solid from this listbox.
If a single solid is hit, that solid is
selected. If no solids were hit, a dialog is
popped up saying that nothing was hit. The
user must then fire another ray to continue
selecting a matrix to edit. When a solid is
finally selected, the user is presented with
a listbox consisting of the path components
of the selected solid. From this listbox, the
user selects a path component. This component
determines which matrix will be edited. After
selecting the path component, object/matrix
edit mode is entered. When this happens, the
mouse behavior mode is set to default mode.
Note - When selecting items from a listbox, a
left buttonpress highlights the solid/matrix
in question until the button is released. To
select a solid/matrix, double click with the
left mouse button.
Mouse Button |
Behavior |
1 |
Zoom out by a factor of 2 |
2 |
Fire edit-matrix ray |
3 |
Zoom in by a factor of 2 |
-
Pick edit-combination - enter pick
edit-combination mode. In this mode, the
mouse is used to fire rays for selecting a
combination to edit. If more than one
combination is hit, a listbox of the hit
combinations is presented. The user then
selects a combination from this menu. If a
single combination is hit, that combination
is selected. If no combinations were hit, a
dialog is popped up saying that nothing was
hit. The user must then fire another ray to
continue selecting a combination to edit.
When a combination is finally selected, the
combination edit tool is presented and
initialized with the values of the selected
combination. When this happens, the mouse
behavior mode is set to default mode. Note -
When selecting items from a menu, a left
buttonpress highlights the combination in
question until the button is released. To
select a combination, double click with the
left mouse button.
Mouse Button |
Behavior |
1 |
Zoom out by a factor of 2 |
2 |
Fire edit-combination ray |
3 |
Zoom in by a factor of 2 |
-
Sweep raytrace-rectangle - enter sweep
raytrace-rectangle mode. If the framebuffer
is active, the rectangular area as specified
by the user is raytraced. The rectangular
area is also painted with the current
contents of the framebuffer. Otherwise, only
the rectangle is drawn.
Mouse Button |
Behavior |
1 |
Zoom out by a factor of 2 |
2 |
Draw raytrace-rectangle |
3 |
Zoom in by a factor of 2 |
- Pick raytrace-object(s) - enter pick
raytrace-object mode. In this mode, the user
can pick an object for raytracing or for adding
to the list of objects to be raytraced.
-
Query ray - enter query ray mode. In
this mode, the mouse is used to fire rays.
The data from the fired rays can be viewed
textually, graphically or both.
Mouse Button |
Behavior |
1 |
Zoom out by a factor of 2 |
2 |
Fire query ray |
3 |
Zoom in by a factor of 2 |
-
Sweep paint-rectangle - enter sweep
paint-rectangle mode. If the framebuffer is
active, the rectangular area as specified by
the user is painted with the current contents
of the framebuffer. Otherwise, only the
rectangle is drawn.
Mouse Button |
Behavior |
1 |
Zoom out by a factor of 2 |
2 |
Draw paint rectangle |
3 |
Zoom in by a factor of 2 |
-
Sweep zoom-rectangle - enter sweep
zoom-rectangle mode. The rectangular area as
specified by the user is used to zoom the
view. Note - as the user stretches out the
zoom rectangle, the rectangle is constrained
to be the same shape as the window. This
insures that the user gets what he or she
sees.
Mouse Button |
Behavior |
1 |
Zoom out by a factor of 2 |
2 |
Draw zoom-rectangle |
3 |
Zoom in by a factor of 2 |
-
Transform - a menu for selecting a
transform mode. The transform mode determines
what will be transformed when using the mouse.
- View - set the transform mode to
VIEW. When in VIEW mode, the mouse can be used
to transform the view. This is the default.
- ADC - set the transform mode to ADC.
When in ADC mode, the mouse can be used to
transform the angle distance cursor while the
angle distance cursor is being displayed. If
the angle distance cursor is not being
displayed, the behavior is the same as VIEW
mode.
- Model Params - set the transform
mode to Model Params. When in Model Params
mode, the mouse can be used to transform the
model parameters.
-
Constraint Coords - a menu for selecting a
coordinate system to use while performing
constrained transformations with the mouse.
- Model - constrained transformations
will use model coordinates.
- View - constrained transformations
will use view coordinates.
- Object - constrained transformations
will use object coordinates.
-
Rotate About - a menu for selecting the
point about which to rotate.
- View Center - set the center of
rotation to be about the view center.
- Eye - set the center of rotation to
be about the eye.
- Model Origin - set the center of
rotation to be about the model origin.
- Key Point - set the center of
rotation to be about the key point.
-
Active Pane - a menu for selecting the
active pane. The active pane is the pane (display
manager) that is tied to the GUI, effectively
becoming the target of GUI interactions that
affect panes. In other words, if the user types
the command, ''ae 35 25'' in the command window,
and the active pane is the upper left pane, then
its view orientation will become azimuth=35 and
elevation=25. Similarly, if the user selects
Settings/Grid/Draw_Grid from the pulldown menus
the drawing of the grid will be toggled in the
active pane.
- Upper Left - set the active pane to
be the upper left pane. Any interaction with
the GUI that affects a pane will be directed at
the upper left pane.
- Upper Right - set the active pane to
be the upper right pane. Any interaction with
the GUI that affects a pane will be directed at
the upper right pane.
- Lower Left - set the active pane to
be the lower left pane. Any interaction with
the GUI that affects a pane will be directed at
the lower left pane.
- Lower Right - set the active pane to
be the lower right pane. Any interaction with
the GUI that affects a pane will be directed at
the lower right pane.
-
Apply To - a menu for selecting the
''Apply To'' mode. This further specifies what
pane(s) will be affected by actions that affect
panes.
- Active Pane - set the ''Apply To''
mode such that the user's interaction with the
GUI is applied to the active pane.
- Local Panes - set the ''Apply To''
mode such that the user's interaction with the
GUI is applied to all panes local to this
instance of the GUI.
- Listed Panes - set the ''Apply To''
mode such that the user's interaction with the
GUI is applied to all panes listed in the Tcl
variable mged_gui(id,apply_list) (Note - id
refers to the GUI's id).
- All Panes - set the ''Apply To''
mode such that the user's interaction with the
GUI is applied to all panes.
-
Query Ray Effects - a menu for selecting
the effects the user will see as a result of
firing a query ray.
- Text - set qray effects mode to
''text''. In this mode, only textual output is
used to represent the results of firing a query
ray.
- Graphics - set qray effects mode to
''graphics''. In this mode, only graphical
output is used to represent the results of
firing a query ray.
- both - set qray effects mode to
''both''. In this mode, both textual and
graphical output is used to represent the
results of firing a query ray.
-
Grid - a menu of grid related settings. A
grid is a lattice of points over the pane. The
regular spacing between the points gives the user
accurate visual cues regarding dimension. After
setting the anchor point and grid spacing, the
user can use snapping to gain a high degree of
accuracy while using the mouse.
- Anchor - this pops up an entry
dialog for specifying the grid anchor point.
The grid anchor point is a point such that when
the grid is drawn one of its points must be
located exactly at the anchor point. The anchor
point is specified using model coordinates and
local units.
- Spacing
- Draw Grid - toggles drawing the
grid.
- Snap To Grid - toggles snapping to
grid points. When snapping to grid points is
active, the user's mouse actions are
''snapped'' to the nearest grid point before
being further processed. This gives the user a
high degree of accuracy while using the
mouse.
-
Grid Spacing - a menu for selecting
''canned'' grid spacings. Note - all of these
selections will result in a square grid.
- Autosize - set the grid spacing
according to the current view size. The number
of ticks will be between 20 and 200 in user
units. The major spacing will be set to 10
ticks per major.
- Arbitrary - pops up the grid spacing
entry dialog. The user can use this to set both
the horizontal and vertical tick spacing.
- micrometer - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1 micrometer.
- millimeter - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing
- centimeter - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1 millimeter.
- decimeter - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1 decimeter.
- meter - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1 meter.
- kilometer - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1 kilometer.
- 1/10 inch - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1/10 inches.
- 1/4 inch - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1/4 inches.
- 1/2 inch - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1/2 inches.
- inch - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1 inch.
- foot - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1 foot.
- yard - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1 yard.
- mile - set the horizontal and
vertical tick spacing to 1 mile.
-
Framebuffer - a menu of framebuffer
related settings.
- All - use the entire pane for the
framebuffer.
- Rectangle Area - use only the
specified rectangular area of the framebuffer.
- Overlay - put the framebuffer in
overlay mode. In this mode, the framebuffer
data is placed in the pane after the geometry
is drawn (i.e. the framebuffer data is is drawn
on top of the geometry).
- Underlay - put the framebuffer in
underlay mode. In this mode, the framebuffer
data is placed in the pane before the geometry
is drawn (i.e. the geometry is drawn on top of
the framebuffer data).
- Framebuffer Active - this toggles
the framebuffer.
- Listen For Clients - this toggles
listening for clients. If the framebuffer is
listening for clients, new data can be passed
into the framebuffer. Otherwise, the
framebuffer is write protected. Actually, it is
also read protected. In other words, in order
for programs outside of MGED to communicate
with any of MGED's framebuffers, the intended
framebuffers must be listening.
-
View Axes Position - a menu of ''canned''
view axes positions.
- Center - locate the view axes in the
center of the active pane.
- Lower Left - locate the view axes in
the lower left corner of the active pane.
- Upper Left - locate the view axes in
the upper left corner of the active pane.
- Upper Right - locate the view axes
in the upper right corner of the active pane.
- Lower Right - locate the view axes
in the lower right corner of the active
pane.
-
Modes
- Draw Grid - toggle drawing the grid. The
grid is a lattice of points over the pane (display
manager). The regular spacing between the points
gives the user accurate visual cues regarding
dimension. This spacing can be set by the user.
- Snap To Grid - toggles snapping to grid
points. When snapping to grid points is active, the
user's mouse actions are ''snapped'' to the nearest
grid point before being further processed. This
gives the user a high degree of accuracy while
using the mouse.
- Framebuffer Active - this toggles the
framebuffer.
- Listen For Clients this toggles
listening for clients. If the framebuffer is
listening for clients, new data can be passed into
the framebuffer. Otherwise, the framebuffer is
write protected. Actually, it is also read
protected. In other words, in order for programs
outside of MGED to communicate with any of MGED's
framebuffers, the intended framebuffers must be
listening.
- Persistent sweep rectangle - this
toggles drawing the rectangle while idle. For
example, if the sweep rectangle is not persistent,
the rectangle will not be drawn unless the user is
actively sweeping out a rectangle (i.e. for
raytracing, zoom etc.). And if the sweep rectangle
is persistent, the rectangle will always be drawn.
- Angle/Dist Cursor - toggles drawing the
angle distance cursor.
- Faceplate - toggles drawing the
''Classic MGED'' faceplate.
-
Axes - a menu of axes
- View - toggle display of the view
axes. The view axes are used to give the user
visual cues indicating the current view of
model space. These axes are drawn the same as
the model axes, except that the view axes'
position is fixed in view space. This position
as well as other characteristics can be set by
the user using rset.
- Model - toggle display of the model
axes. The model axes are used to give the user
visual cues indicating the current view of
model space. The model axes are by default
located at the model origin and are fixed in
model space. So, if the user transforms the
view, the model axes will move with respect to
the view. The model axes position as well as
other characteristics can be set by the user
using rset.
- Edit - toggle display of the edit
axes. The edit axes are used to give the user
visual cues indicating how the edit is
progressing. They consist of a pair of axes.
One remains unmoved, while the other moves to
indicate how things have changed.
Characteristics of the edit axes can be changed
using rset.
- Multipane - toggle between multipane and
single pane mode. In multipane mode there are four
panes, each with its own state.
- Edit Info - Toggle display of edit
information. If in solid edit state, the edit
information is displayed in the internal solid
editor. This editor, as its name implies, can be
used to edit the solid as well as to view its
contents. If in object edit state, the object
information is displayed in a dialog box.
- Status
Bar - toggle display of the command window's
status bar.
- Collaborate - toggle collaborate mode.
When in collaborate mode, the upper right pane's
view can be shared with other instances of MGED's
new GUI that are also collaborating.
- Rateknobs - toggle rate knob mode. When
in rate knob mode, transformation with the mouse
becomes rate based. For example, if the user
rotates the view about the X axis, the view
continues to rotate about the X axis until the rate
rotation is stopped.
- Display Lists - toggle the use of
display lists. This currently affects only Ogl
display managers. When using display lists the
screen update time is significantly faster. This is
especially noticeable when running MGED remotely.
Use of display lists is encouraged unless the
geometry being viewed is bigger than the Ogl server
can handle (i.e. the server runs out of available
memory for storing display lists). When this
happens the machine will begin to swap (and little
else). If huge pieces of geometry need to be
viewed, consider toggling off display lists. Note
that using display lists while viewing geometry of
any significant size will incur noticeable compute
time up front to create the display lists.
-
Misc
- Z Clipping - toggles zclipping. When
zclipping is active, the Z value of each point is
checked against the min and max Z values of the
viewing cube. If the Z value of the point is found
to be outside this range, it is clipped (i.e. not
drawn). Zclipping can be used to remove geometric
detail that may be occluding geometry of greater
interest.
- Perspective - toggles perspective_mode.
- Faceplate - toggles drawing the
''Classic MGED'' faceplate.
- Faceplate GUI - toggles drawing the
''Classic MGED'' user interface (i.e. faceplate
menu and scrollbars)
- Keystroke Forwarding - toggles keystroke
forwarding. When keystroke forwarding is active,
any key events get forwarded to the command window
for processing as if the user was typing directly
into the command window. This behavior can often
save the user time by not having to move the mouse
out of the geometry window in order to type
commands. The effects of any commands apply to the
pane wherein the command was entered, regardless of
whether or not this pane is the active pane.
- Depth Cueing - toggles depth cueing.
When depth cueing is active, lines that are farther
away appear more faint.
- Z Buffer - toggles Z buffer.
- Lighting - toggles lighting.
-
Tools
-
Help
- About MGED
- Help on context - The new GUI provides
''Help on Context''. This is always available via
the right mouse button (i.e. button 3). The user
can right mouse click on some feature of the GUI
and a message window pops up with information about
the feature. This behavior works everywhere except
in the drawing panes (i.e. display manager windows)
where a right mouse button is bound to ''zoom
2.0''.
- Getting
Started
- Shift
Grips
- Commands - pops up a tool for getting
information on MGED's commands.
- Apropos - pops up a tool for searching
for information about MGED's commands.
- Manual - start a tool for browsing the
online MGED manual. The web browser that gets
started is dependent, first, on the WEB_BROWSER
environment variable. If this variable exists and
the browser identified by this variable exists,
then that browser is used. Failing that the browser
specified by the mged_default(web_browser) Tcl
variable is tried. As a last resort, the existence
of /usr/bin/netscape, /usr/local/bin/netscape and
/usr/X11/bin/netscape is checked. If a browser has
still not been located, the built-in Tcl browser is
used.