Tool Palettes

Command: TOOLPALETTES, TOOLPALETTESCLOSE, TPNAVIGATE

The ToolPalettes command opens the Tool Palettes bar.

The ToolPalettesClose command closes the Tool Palettes bar.

The Tpnavigate command displays a tool palette or a tool palette group.

On a tool palette you can add blocks, hatches and commands in a tabbed window.

Drag a tool from the palette to the graphic screen to launch the related tool.

To open the Tool Palettes Bar

Do one of the following:

Hover over a toolbar (Windows) or an empty toolbar area (Windows and Linux), then right click and choose Tool Palettes Bar in the context menu.
Type toolpalettes in the command bar, then press Enter.

To set the view options

Right click in an empty space of the icon area on the Toolpalettes Bar and choose View Options... in the context menu.
The View Options dialog displays.
Drag the Image Size slider to adjust the image size.
Select either Icon with text, Icon only or List view.
Choose either Current Palette or All Palettes from the Apply to list button.
Click the OK button to confirm.

To add a new tool palette

Move the cursor to the icon area of the Tool Palettes Bar, then right click.
A context menu displays:

Choose New Palette in the context menu.
A new tab is added.
Type a name for the new palette in the Name field.

To open the customize dialog box

Move the cursor to the icon area of the Tool Palettes Bar, then right click.
A context menu displays:

Choose Customize Palettes in the context menu.
The Customize dialog box displays:

To import a tool palette

Open the Customize dialog box.
In the Palettes pane on the Customize dialog box, right click and choose Import in the context menu.
On the Import Palette dialog, select a folder, then select a palette file (*.btc or *.xtp).
Click the Open button or double click to import the palette.
The palette is added in the Palettes list.
Click the Close button to close the Customize dialog box.

Working with palette groups

To create a palette group

Open the Customize dialog box.
Place the cursor on the Palette Groups root folder name.
Right click and choose New Palette in the context menu.
A new group folder is added at the bottom of the palette groups tree.
Type a name for the new group.

To create a palette subgroup

Open the Customize dialog box.
Place the cursor on an existing group name.
Right click and choose New Palette in the context menu.
A new group folder is added as a subgroup of the selected group.
Type a name for the new group.

To add a palette to a group

Open the Customize dialog box.
Place the cursor on a palette.
Press and hold the left mouse button, then drag the palette onto a palette group name.
Release the left mouse button to add the palette to the group.

To remove a palette from a group

Open the Customize dialog box.
Select the palette in the group.
Right click and choose Remove in the context menu.

To set a palette group current

Open the Customize dialog box.
Select the palette group in the palette groups tree.
Right click and choose Set Current in the context menu.

To delete a palette group

Open the Customize dialog box.
Select the palette group in the palette groups tree.
Right click and choose Delete in the context menu.

To rename a tool palette

Right click tool palette tab and choose Rename Palette in the context menu.
Type a new name for the palette in the Name field.
Press Enter to confirm.

To delete a tool palette

Right click tool palette tab and choose Delete Palette in the context menu.
Click the OK button on the Confirm Palette Deletion box.

Adding a hatch pattern

Select the palette you want to add a hatch pattern to.
Open the Hatch and Gradient dialog box.
Select either Predefined or Custom from the Type list button.
Double click the Swatch field on the Hatch and Gradient dialog box.
The Hatch Pattern Palette displays.
Select the hatch pattern you want to add, then right click and Choose Add to Current Tool Palette.
The hatch pattern is added on the current tool palette.

(option) Repeat steps 5 and 6 to add more hatch patterns.
(option) Drag-and-drop patterns to change their order on the palette.

Adding a block

Blocks can be added from the current drawing or from any drawing.

To add a block from the current drawing:

Choose Drawing Explorer - Blocks in the Tools menu.
On the Drawing Explorer - Blocks dialog box select the block or blocks you want to add.
Right click and choose Add to Current Tool Palette in the context menu.

To add a block from any drawing:

If not already available, add the containing folder to the Folders list on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
Select the drawing in the containing folder on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
Click the Expand icon (+) of the containing drawing.
The Blocks icon of the drawing displays.
Click the Blocks icon of the containing drawing.
The blocks in the drawing display in the Details pane.
Select the block or blocks you want to add.
Press and hold the Ctrl key to select multiple blocks.
Right click and choose Add to Current Tool Palette in the context menu.

(option) Drag-and-drop blocks to change their order on the palette.

To add a drawing as a block:

If not already available, add the containing folder to the Folders list on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
Select the drawing in the containing folder on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
Right click and choose Add to Current Toolpalette as block in the context menu.

When placing a block from a toolpalette the -Insert command is launched.

To add a drawing as a component.

If not already available, add the containing folder to the Folders list on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
Select the drawing in the containing folder on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
Right click and choose Add to Current Toolpalette as component in the context menu.

When placing a component from the tool palette, the -BmInsert command is launched.

Adding a command

Choose Customize in the Tools menu.
Under Available Tools on the Customize dialog, expand the containing toolbox, then select the command in the commands list.
Right click and choose Add to Current Tool Palette in the context menu.

(option) Drag-and-drop commands to change their order on the palette.

NOTE	See the topic Creating Custom Tools to create your own tools, which you can then add to a tool palette.

Editing a tool

General procedure to edit a tool on a tool palette:

Right click the tool, then choose Properties in the context menu.
The Tool Properties dialog box displays.

Hatch tool properties

Block tool properties

Command tool properties

Edit the tool properties.
Click the OK button to confirm.

Managing tools

To manage the tools on a tool palette do the following:

Right click the tool.
A context menu displays:
Choose an option in the context menu.

To specify a tool image

Right click the tool and choose Specify Image in the context menu.
A file dialog box displays.
Select the image file, then click the Open button.

NOTE	To restore the original tool image: Right click the tool and choose Remove Image in the context menu.

To move a tool

Drag-and-drop tools to re-arrange tools on a palette: drag the tool to the desired location and drop the tool on top of the existing tool.

To move a tool from one palette to another, do the following:

Right click the tool on the source palette and choose Cut in the context menu.
Select the target palette.
Right click and choose Paste in the context menu.
The tool is added at the bottom of the palette.

To copy a tool

To copy a tool from one palette to another, do the following:

Right click the tool on the source palette and choose Copy in the context menu.
Select the target palette.
Right click and choose Paste in the context menu.
The tool is added at the bottom of the palette.