System Settings (Preferences)

All system settings are available in the Tools menu. If you change 2D drawing parameters such as text height or dimension style, the settings are saved when the session is finished. If you change system parameters such as colors, warning sounds, or file backup, the settings are saved immediately.

In most cases, new settings take effect immediately. There are a few settings, such as directories, that do not take effect until the VariCAD session is finished. In these cases, you are informed of this by a message.

This section describes a few functions for general system settings. Functions used to manipulate settings are described in greater detail in other sections of this help system.


Windows and Mouse Settings

Windows and Mouse - WPST

Sets the position of windows and method of dragging.



Windows and Mouse Settings window


Sound

Sound - SOU

Turns on or off warning sounds. Warning sounds are used when you enter invalid data, if you attempt to close a modified file without saving, etc.


Colors

Colors - COL

All colors used by VariCAD can be modified, such as colors of 2D or 3D objects, colors of 2D drawing in 3D, colors used for auxiliary images, and highlighting colors. You can save a modified color scheme as a new palette. There are predefined palettes as well.


The following colors can be set:


Except of 2D colors, all settings allow you interactive changes of a selected color. You can change a selected color’s coordinate dynamically, dragging a scrollbar associated with the red, green or blue color coordinate. A pattern drawing is displayed and you can visually check changes of the color. For rough settings, you can use a standard color dialogue.


Important note: If you change the background color, change, or at least, check the color of the crosshair cursor and other colors, which may be inexpressive on the changed background.


Palettes - PAL

This function allows you to define a new color scheme (palette), rewrite an existing palette or select a defined palette as current. If you created your own color settings previously and if you want to select a new palette, the current settings will be rewritten. We recommend saving the current settings as a new palette, if you want to use them again in the future.


Other Settings

Miscellaneous Settings - OST

Turns on or off the following warning messages: