General Information
The following provides you with a brief operation overview, designed to make the initial steps easier for you:
- Calling the functions
- Double-click
- Identification
- Start Centre
- Create parts
- Process parts
- Drawing
- Load drawing
Calling the functions
There are usually various ways of calling the functions:
- Function call via Ribbon
To call a function via the Ribbon, activate the required tab, then click the icon for the desired function. The tabs are divided into function groups. Please note that many functions contain additional sub-functions, e.g. drawing variants or similar.
If a function group contains further functions, this is indicated by a small arrow 
(Others). If you click on this arrow, these functions are offered for selection in a pull-down menu.
- Function call via context menu
You activate context menus by right-clicking an object (e.g. a part, a dimension or a view etc.). Then, select the function you want in the context menu. The context menu displayed depends on the object type and the current identification type (object snap or element snap).
Double-click
HiCAD supports various double-click actions in the drawing.
Examples:
- Double-click on dimensioning: Dimensioning parameters window,
- Double-click on text: Text parameters function.
- Double-click on 3-D part: Part attributes window.
Identification type
You can quickly activate most functions via the context menu. HiCAD has various identification types:
Object Snap
If you move the cursor over your drawing, the object nearest to the current cursor position is automatically selected in this mode. This may be a part, but also a dimensioning or a view etc. If you then press the right mouse button, the object becomes the active object, and a context menu containing the functions relevant for processing the object is displayed. If the active object is, for example, a 2-D part, the 2-D part functions are displayed.
Element Snap
If you move the cursor over your drawing in this mode, the element nearest to the current cursor position is automatically selected. This may be a point, a line or edge or a surface. This mode also allows you to select dimensionings, views, texts etc., but not parts. It makes sense to use this mode, for example, to transform lines or points.
Group Snap (for Metal Engineering)
This mode is only relevant if you are working with the HiCAD Metal Engineering functions. It is used to quickly identify and process steel beam groups.
To switch between the different modes, click the icon in the transparent toolbar
and select the desired mode.
Start Centre
Once you have initially started HiCAD, the Start Centre is displayed. It makes the first steps in creating or loading a drawing easier for you. You can use the corresponding settings in the Start Centre to carry out the essential points for creating a new drawing in one work step:
- creating a new drawing including choice of scale
- automatically calling the required 2-D technology.
Please note:
Further information on Definition of Scales can be found in the same named topic in the Basics Help.
Once you have clicked OK to exit the Start Centre, you are prompted for the name of the first part. When you save for the first time, you then enter the drawing name.
The Start Centre also provides various options for making it easier to load drawings. For example, it enables you to do the following:
- use the database to load documents and parts,
- select a drawing in Explorer or
- import data via the interfaces.
Create parts
The New function group in the 2-D Part tab contains the functions for creating and loading parts. Use the Insert Part function group in the Drawing tab to load existing parts. When you have created a part you can start your construction.
Process parts
To process a part, simply right-click it. The processing functions available for the selected part are displayed in a context menu.
In addition, the tabs
- 2-D Geometry (for sketching)
- 2-D Part (processing)
- 2-D Dimensioning + Text
are available to the user.
Make use of the possibilities provided by the Information + Communication Navigator (ICN). Here, you can change properties of parts or even the part structure quickly and conveniently.
Drawing
Click the ISD Button 
at the top left of the window to access the standard functions for file management and to directly access the last opened drawing files. The ISD Button offers the following options.
Create new drawing files (New),
Load existing files (Open),
Save files (Save, Save as...) and
Close files (Close).
Open drawing
The Load drawing / Open file dialogue is explained in detail in the HiCAD Basics Online Help. Please note the following:
- If a drawing has already been loaded when you call this function, and the drawing has been modified, but not saved yet, HiCAD will ask you whether you want to save the drawing.
- When you Open a drawing via the interface function 2-D Import
a new drawing will be created. Then, the data of the interface file, e.g. ME10 or Technovision will beloaded into this drawing. - If you want an already loaded file to remain open in HiCAD, double-click an empty thumbnail in the Switch drawing tab of the ICN. In this way you can have up to 18 drawings open in HiCAD at the same time.
- HiCAD drawings can also be loaded via the Windows File Manager, or the Explorer. Just double-click the file name to load the desired drawing.
- Depending on the current setting of the Start Centre, the dialogue for the loading of drawings will be shown automatically after starting HiCAD.
