Project: HiCAD Basics

User Interface

HiCAD presents itself in a brand-new design - with multifunctional toolbar (Ribbon) and QuickAccess toolbar. For visual representation, several styles are available.  

The new multifunctional toolbar (Ribbon) adapts itself dynamically and context-sensitively to the current working situation, thus significantly facilitating the retrieval of the required function.

The QuickAccess toolbar can be customised according to the user's individual needs, thus enabling direct access to frequently required functions - irrespective of the currently activated tab of the Ribbon.

In addition, you can assign to each command of the Ribbon a key combination, enabling you to access the Viewer functions also via the keyboard if required.

Another new feature is the transparent toolbar for a quick and direct access to frequently used functions such as zoom function, switching of the identification mode or the shading functions.

The HiCAD User Interface consists of the following areas:

1. Drawing area

In this area you create and process your CAD-drawing. The drawing detail shown in this area corresponds to the current display detail. To enlarge or downsize your drawing or drawing detail, you can use several zoom functions.

2. TheISD Button provides access to file management.

3. QuickAccess toolbar

Use this toolbar to directly access frequently used functions- without having to switch tabs.

4. Multifunctional toolbar (Ribbon) with tabs and function groups

The multifunctional toolbar (Ribbon) enables you to quickly retrieve the functions that are required for a particular task. For this purpose, the HiCAD functions are grouped into several categories, each of which is displayed on one tab.

5. Transparent toolbar

Enables a direct and quick access to frequently required functions such as zoom functions, switching of the identification mode or shading functions.

6. Information + Communication Navigator (ICN)

Enables direct access to all opened models, drawings and views, as well as to the assembly structures, attributes or PDM properties of the individual parts.

7. Docking windows for panoramas, drawings and plugins

You can use these options to assign panoramas to objects, to open drawings faster and to call plugins.

8. The Upper info bar provides the user with explanatory information (user guidance texts).

9. The Lower info bar provides the user with explanatory information (user guidance texts).
10. Status bar
11. User Interface Settings

Use this option to hide and redisplay toolbars, change graphic window settings, calling of various tools (Catalogue Eitor, Configuration Editor etc.)

12. Settings for surface/line/edge parameters

Please note:

• With the exception of the drawing surface and the menu bar, you can position or hide the various areas of the screen layout as you please.
• Functions which are not possible in the current context or are not part of your HiCAD configuration are greyed out in the Ribbon, the pull-down menus and the context menus.

• In the title bar of the HiCAD screen, path and name of the current drawing file will be displayed. If you are also working with HELiOS, the currently active project for drawings managed via the database will be additionally displayed.

Furthermore, it is displayed whether a read-only file has been opened.

A file is considered as read-only file, if

• it has been opened with the HELiOS function Open, read only ,
• the Workflow status is indicated with released,
• if it has been opened with Open drawing, read-only via Explorer in HiCAD or
• you do not have the required user rights for opening the file.

• Use the UserInterfaceEditor.exe tool to customize the user interface according to your requirements. You can start the tool directly from HiCAD. The following options are available:
• Definition of user-specific Ribbon tabs,
• Customization of the QuickAccess toolbar,
• Customization of the transparent toolbar,
• Customization of the keayboard.

To start the tool, click the icon to the right of the QuickAccess toolbar and select Customize QuickAccess Toolbar.

Multifunctional Toolbar (Ribbon) • ICN • Transparent Toolbar