Opening a second VariCAD Window.
While working with VariCAD, you can open a second window (second instance of the application). This gives you a possibility to check other 2D/3D files, measure values and mainly, copying objects into a clip-board and pasting them into the working area. In the second VariCAD window, you can edit objects before you copy them into a clip-board. However, you cannot save VariCAD files directly. Apart from using a clip-board (Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V), you can save selected objects into a new file.
Unlike the full version of VariCAD, the second instance cannot run batch printing or batch files conversion. On the other side, you can check assembly structures, single solid structures, BOM and even contours (profiles) in sketching planes. In all such situations, it is possible to copy data into a full version of VariCAD.
This feature is especially convenient, if you run VariCAD on 2 monitors.
Working with Solid Tree Structure, Deactivating Solid Elements.
Working with a solid tree has been changed. Now, the behavior is identical in all cases. The feature can be invoked, if you right-click a solid and select from a pop-up menu, or if you click an corresponding icon in tool-bar and then select a solid, or click a solid and then a corresponding icon in a tool-bar.
Working with solid’s tree structure, you can deactivate/activate elements. If an element (like a hole, filet, added rib…) is deactivated, it remains in the structure. The solid is rebuilt without it. Obviously, deactivated elements can be later activated and solid is rebuilt again with them. This allows you to create variable shapes of mechanical parts.
If elements are inactive, you can select them only in the tree scheme. While browsing objects in the list, these inactive objects are highlighted the same way as active objects. Their displayed shape corresponds with the state when they were deactivated.
There are limited possibilities to change the inactive elements. It may be convenient in situations, when you change a location or a shape of other solid parts and the inactive elements would not fit into a new position, when they are activated.
Display of Preview of Open Documents.
If you have open multiple documents, you can change them from a pull-down menu or from a command. In the first case, you browse menu items, in the second case, a list of documents. While browsing documents, a preview of them is displayed. If the number of open documents is higher, you may not be sure what exactly each particular document contains.
This feature may cause a greater load to graphics, so it can be disabled. If VariCAD detects hardware which may be insufficient, the feature is turned off automatically. It is possible to turn it on/off explicitly in command “cfg”, in section “Working with Multiple Documents”.
Using a Clip-board in 3D.
Behavior of Copy and Paste of 3D objects has multiple options now. It can be set in command “cfg”, in section 3D. While inserted from clip-board, solids are located into a previous position or into coordinates center, according to settings. Moreover, solids from clip-board can keep their original transformation. This allows you to assemble 3D solids exactly according to original model. Until recently, this option was the only available for inserting from 3D clip-board.
Measure Distances, Angles….
All measurements are available from a corresponding tool-bar. Now, you can run them also from a pop-up menu, if you right-click an empty area. This works both in 3D and 2D.