Customizing the CAD Environment

Customizing the CAD Environment

Assignment #15

CUSTOM TOOLBAR CREATION

Objective:

The student will create a custom toolbar and assign an image to the Control Panel Icon and Buttons.

Assignment:

Design a custom toolbar to allow the user to do colored solids. The toolbar is to be designed so that it is used without the aid of the keyboard.

The toolbar will display 7 colors. A single command will be assigned to each toolbox to change the color to the desired color and invoke the SOLID command.

The toolbar will also contain a toolbar button to change the color to BYLAYER.

The toolbar will also contain a toolbar button to exit the solid command.

To create the Toolbar type in the command CUI to load the Customize User Interface. The Customize User Interface consists of two tabs and each tab has two panes: the left pane and the right pane. The left pane has two rollouts: Customization in All CUI files and Command List.

To create a new toolbar right-click on the Toolbars element in the Customization in All CUI roll out and choose New Toolbar from the menu bar. A new menu with the name Toolbar1 is added to the list and its properties are displayed in the right pane. Rename the menu to MYSOLIDS.

To add an AutoCAD command to this toolbar select a command from the Command List and drag the command and drop it into the MYSOLIDS menu. Continue dragging the remaining commands from the Command List and dropping them into the MYSOLIDS toolbar. The toolbar items can be rearranged simply by dragging them to a new position.

To create a new AutoCAD command choose the Create a new Command button on the upper right corner of the Command List rollout. A command with the name Command1 is added to the list of commands. The Properties rollout in the right pane displays the properties of the new command.

Modify the name of the new command in the Properties rollout to RED.

In the Description field enter DRAWS A RED SOLID. The description is optional

In the Macro field enter ^C^C-color 1 solid

In the Button Image rollout panel click on the Edit button to edit the icon. In the Button Editor dialog box place a check mark in the Grid box. Select a color and use the draw tool to construct the new button icon. Save the new button using the Export option and save the image to your disk as RED BUTTON. Close the Button Editor dialog box.

Drag and drop the new command into the MYSOLIDS toolbar. Create the remaining commands inserting them into the MYSOLIDS toolbar.

To save the customized toolbar select the Transfer tab of the Customize User Interface. Click on the Create a new customization file icon on the right of the drop-down list in the right pane to make sure a blank customization group is displayed in the right pane.

Customizing the CAD Environment

Assignment #15

Click on the (+) sign located on the left of Toolbar in the main customization file in the left pane. Select the toolbar item MYSOLIDS and drag it to the Toolbar heading in the right pane. The toolbar item is now displayed in the right pane.

After the Toolbar is placed right-click on the new toolbar item in the left pane and delete it to make sure it is removed from the default customization file.

In the right pane click on the Save the current customization file icon to save the customized menu file. The file extension for a customized file is (.CUI). Choose the Apply and the choose OK to exit the Customize User Interface. Save the customization file as ASSIGNMENT15.

To load a partial customization file type the command CUILOAD at the command line. Use the Browse button to locate the file. Click on the Load button to load the partial customization file into the current AutoCAD drawing.

To remove a partial customization file from the current drawing type in the command CUIUNLOAD at the command line. Select the menu item from the Loaded Customization Groups: list and click on the Unload button to remove the partial customization file.

Evaluation:

Save your partial customization file and the custom button images to your USB flash drive storage device and the designated grading folder.

Refer to the PROJECT EVALUATION handout for the required items to be turned in for evaluation.

Vocabulary

SOLID COLOR CUI CUILOAD CUIUNLOAD

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