Frequently Asked Questions

Experience has shown that some questions arise particularly frequently:

What are the functions of the mouse buttons? How do I select a point option? Which point options do I select if I require a reference point? What types of re-use are available? How do I draw an uninterrupted contour in a 3-D sketch? How do I move objects by a particular value, using a displacement vector? How can I modify the grids in sketching functions? How do I convert a HiCAD drawing into a graphic? How do I load the automatic "10-Minute Save" option?

Further questions and answers can be found in the ISD-Wiki.

What are the functions of the mouse buttons?

How do I select a point option?

When HiCAD prompts you to specify a point, you have the following options to do this:

1. All point options represented by one letter (R, A, D, W, P, N) can be selected via the corresponding keyboard button.
2. Press the RETURN key to activate the Point options menu.
3. A (quick) double left-click also activates the Point options menu.

Which point options do I select if I require a reference point?

Select Relative-Return (REL RET). Press the "R" key for the point option "Relative", then press the RETURN key.

Firstly, select the reference point and then enter the coordinate values separated by spaces, e.g.

What types of re-use are available?

• the HiCAD Clipboard
• Insert Part > Insert part, via Explorer or ...via DB article master or ...via DB document master
• Insert Part > Insert main part, via Standard Part catalogue
• User Library / New part library

How do I draw an uninterrupted contour in a 3-D sketch?

1. Sketch tab > Others > Sort GE in active sketch

2. Information tab > 3-D, Further > Information 3-D-Sketch 1
   (Check whether sketch contains self-intersections)
3. Information tab > 3-D, Further > Information 3-D Sketch
   (Check, whether the sketch is closed.)

4. After any further changes, select Sort GE in active sketch again.

How do I move objects by a particular value, using a displacement vector?

1. Specify the start point of the vector by selecting an arbitrary point in the drawing area.
2. Specify the end point with the point option Relative (R).

How can I modify the grids in sketching functions?

• Minus ( - )key: Refine grid,
• Plus ( + ) key: Coarsen grid,
• Space bar: Direct value entry.

How do I convert a HiCAD drawing into a graphic?

1. CTRL+C > Select format and size > Select detail > Select background colour
   The graphic is copied to the Windows clipboard
2. STRG+W > Select detail
   Depending on the selected option, the graphic is copied to a file or to the clipboard.
3. Print key
   The current screen content is copied to the clipboard.

For high-definition graphics the shortcut CTRL+C should be used.

How do I load the automatic "10-Minute Save" option?

To use one of the automatic 10-Minute Save" options HiCAD_NN, load the file HiCAD_NN.SZN in the HiCAD TEMP directory and save this file, with different name, as SZA file.

1. Drawing tab > New/Open > Load drawing
2. Select the HiCAD subdirectory Temp.
3. Switch file type to extension SZN.
4. Select the file hicad_N1. N is the number of the drawing in the Switch drawing tab of the ICN.

The Switch drawing tab of the ICN

Tips & Tricks