QUICK REFERENCE


Select elements
Capture points
Modifying elements
AutoQ3D commands
Snap modes
Other notes
AutoQ3D CAD

Select elements

You can click in elements or select it with a window draging the mouse when the mouse cursor is in selection mode. To unselect a element, click again on it, or you can unselect elements within a window dragging the mouse from low corner to upper left corner or press <ESC> to unselect all the elements selected.

Capture points

In AutoQ3D, points can be introduced or captured in this ways:
  1. Using the mouse
  2. Typing values
  3. Typing absolute coordinates
  4. Typing relative coordinates
1. Using the mouse
You can select a point using the mouse, just click left button and the intersection with the viewport plane the point is selected. The viewport plane can be changed clicking in the little square in the viewport corner.


2. Typing values
To typing feet and inches the characters ' and " are used, the inches are converted to feet; example, for 4'6" is the same as writing 4.5
You can set values as the following, and when angle is required, degree value is used by default("r" for radians and "d" for degrees):
10
54.6
1.50r
23r30'7"
90d
32d20'8"
24'8"
3. Typing absolute coordinates
You can type directly the coordinates spaced with comas as the following:
1,0
2,4.6
0,0,0.3
13,2.45,5612
14'9",9'4"
Also you can type in magnitude and angle:
1<90
3.5<45
5<1.7r
74<40d
10<2.2r34'36.5"
20<12d23'30.67"
5'6"<15d2'12.5"
4. Typing relative coordinates
You can type directly the coordinates relatives with a point, just typing the "@" character before the relative coordinates, as the following:
@0.97,16
@3,5.6
@0,0,1
@23,5.312,3.17
@3'5",4.4"
Also yo can type in magnitude and angle:
@1<90
@3.5<45
@12<2.1r
@52<32d
@13<1.1r5'43.2"
@20<63d10'8.4"
@3<39d43'25.6"

Modifying elements

The secondary commands are introduced with the initial case at command line followed by <ENTER> or <SPACE> key.
To cancel any command or selection just press <ESC>.
Now you can enter this keywords in command line, if you enter in this way the basepoint will be "0,0,0"
Note: The groups elements, only the position and rotation can be modified with this options.
AutoQ3D displays little squares called "grips" around the selected objects. When you select a "grip", AutoQ3D displays the following choices:

Move.
It moves the object to a desired point.
    Secondary Commands
       Base point.Change the base point
        breaK. Move the items breaking the vertex of the others items
        Copy. Copy the objects

Scale.
Change the object scale.
    Secondary Commands
        Base point. Change the base point
        Copy. Copy the objects
        Reference Change the reference scale
        X. Change scale in the X axis
        Y. Change scale in the Y axis
        Z. Change scale in the Z axis
        XY. Change scale in the X and Y axis
        XZ. Change scale in the X and Z axis
        YZ. Change scale in the Y and Z axis
        All. Change scale in all axis

Stretch.
Change the desired point.

Rotate.
Rotate the objects.
    Secondary Commands
       Base point.Change the base point to rotate the object
       breaK.Move the items breaking the vertex of the others items
       Copy.Copy the objects
       Reference.Change zero angle reference

Mirror.
It puts the objects in the mirror.
    Secondary Commands
       Base point.Change the base point to make the mirror effect
       Reference.Change zero angle reference
Point->Texture.
Display the texture used by the object to select the texture coordinate in this point.
Point->Color.
Open a dialog color to change the color in this point of all objects selected.
Point->Normal.
Change the normal of this point of all objects selected.

AutoQ3D Commands

arc
Draw an arc.
    Secondary Commands
       Center.Create the arc specifying the center and then the angle.
       [End]->[Angle].After specify the first point, then set the [End], ask for the Angle.
area
Display the area of polygon of group.
array
This command copy the objects in rectangular or polar mode to a base point.
AutoQ3D first asks you for the Array mode, rectangular or polar, if you select the polar mode, then the program ask you for a determined angle which is going to be used to copy the objects.
Default angle number is 360 degrees. AutoQ3D then asks you how many segments will be copied.
If you select the rectangular mode the can you set the number of copies of the items, then only select the point and the copy is done.
    Secondary Commands(Rectangular)
       Items.Number of copies.
       Base point.Change the base point which the objects will be copied.
    Secondary Commands(Polar)
       Angle.Change the angle which the objects will be copied.
       Base point.Change the base point which the objects will be copied.
bl
block
Add the items to a new selection block.
jbl
jblock
Add the items to a selection block.
box
This command draw a prism, specifying the weight, the length anf the height. AutoQ3D generate the texture coordinates too.
cam
Insert a cam.
c
circle
Draw a circle
    Secondary Commands
       2P.Create the circle with 2 points.
       3P.Create the circle with 3 points.
clear
Clear the command line history.
dang
Create a text with the angle of the selected arc.
di
dist
This command shows the distance between 2 points.
dlen
Create a text with the length of the selected line.
e
erase
This command erases the selected objects, in case that there are not objects selected, AutoQ3D ask you to select them first to erase them later.
ex
extend
Extend a line to the seleted boundary.
extrude
This command extends the lines objects to triangles to a determined height by a axis changed by <F6>, the selected triangles are erased. The sense of the line determines the upper surface of triangles.
f
fillet
This command create a corner from two lines in the nearest endpoint found.
flip
Turns the triangles.
flipq
Swap two adjacent triangles.
g
group
Groups the selected items.
gedit
Enter to "Edit Mode" and can edit the selected group. Note: all the groups will be hidden if the edit mode is activated.
l
line
These commands are used to draw lines. AutoQ3D can change the colors before to set a point, without leaving the command line.
    Secondary Commands
       Close.This command is used to join the actual point with the first one.
       Undo.Undo the last point just to define a new one.
link
Create a link in the selected group.
mnormals
This command sums up the normals of points in common and then AutoQ3D normalizes them.
o
offset
Create a item paralel to the selected item.
oriset
Change the origin offset.
ortho
'ortho
(F8 key)
Select points with rect angles.
p
pan
'p
'pan
This command is used to move the viewport view.('p) y ('pan) commands works when another command is active and you do not need to leave the last command.
perpendicular
perpen
Create a perpendicular line.
poly
polygon
Create a polygon of n sides.
rect
rectangle
Create a rectangle with lines.
region
Create a surface from the selected polygons.
revolve
Create an surface by sweeping it around an axis respect a base point. The sense of the line determines the upper surface of triangles. AutoQ3D ask you the angle which is going to be used to copy the objects. The default angle vale is 360. Then AutoQ3D asks you the number of segments you wish to copy.
    Secondary Commands
       Angle.Change the angle where the lines will be revolve.
       Base point.Change the base point where the lines will be revolve.
       X/Y/Z. To change the plane to revolve.
       <X>,<Y> or <Z> Is the current plane will revolve.
rmbl
rmblock
Erase a block.
round
Round the selected items vertex to the selected decimals.
rmselbl
Remove the block from the current items selection.
rtv
rotateview
'rtv
'rotateview
This command is used to rotate the viewport view. ('rtv) y ('rotateview) commands works when another command is active and you do not need to leave the last command.
slice
This command cuts the objects depending the selected plane with the 3 points introduced, depending the sense of the points.
sln
'sln
Show/Hide the lines.
snap
'snap
(F9 key)
This command activate or deactivate snap mode to define points.
       end.end point.
       mid.middle point.
       cen.center point.
       int.intersection.
       nea.nearest.
       gri.grid.
snapl
Set the Snap property to 1 to the lines selected to set this line as Snapline when is grouped.
sph
sphere
Draw a sphere.
str
'str
Show/Hide the Triangles.
switch
This command change the points, the texture coordinates, color and normals. The point 1 to 3, 2 to 1 and 3 to 2.
tangl
Create a tangent line from 2 circles or one circle and one point.
    Secondary Commands
       Point.Create a tangent line from point.
tex
Is for calculate the texture coordinates of selected items proyecting the texture in a plane.
    Secondary Commands
       scaleU<val1>/scaleV<val2>.To change the scale of the texture in U or V, the current value is in val1 and val2.
texsp
sptex
Calculate the texture coordinates using the normal information of the selected items.
    Secondary Commands
       Scale.Change the scale.
tri
triangle
These commands are used to draw triangles. AutoQ3D can change the color before setting the point, without leaving the command (Triangle).
The upper surface is defined depending the sense we are setting the points and change the sense the time we set more triangles.
We can check this, activating the normals at the "Viewport->Viewport Properties" menu o deactivating Wireframe Mode, because the upper surface shape is solid and the lower surface has a wireframe shape.
    Secondary Commands
       Undo.Undo the last point before defining it again, it appears only at the definition of the first triangle.
tr
trim
Cuts the elements with the selected items.
trinormals
This command change the normals to be normal to the points of the triangle
u
undo
Ctrl-Z
Undo the changes
unlink
Unlink the selected group
x
explode
Ungroup selection, split in lines for circle/arcs
xs
Ungroup selection and the snap lines are deleted
z
zoom
'z
'zoom
This command is used to see the objects larger or shorter, changing the viewport scale.('z) y ('zoom) commands works when another command is active and you do not need to leave the last command.The numeric input in this command change the scale.
    Secondary Commands
       All.Display all the model.
       Window.Adjust the view the selected area.
       [numeric].when you you enter a numeric value, the zoom will change the scale to this value.

Snap modes

snap
'snap
(F9 key)
This command activate or deactivate snap mode to define points, ('snap) command works when another command is active and you do not need to leave the last command.
       end.end point.
       mid.middle point.
       cen.center point.
       int.intersection.
       nea.nearest.
       gri.grid.

Other notes

F1 Select Viewport 1
F2 Select Viewport 2
F3 Select Viewport 3
F4 Select Viewport 4
F5 Show/Hide Grips
F6 Change plane
F8 Activate/Deactivate Ortho
F9 Activate/Deactivate Snap
Ctrl-T Show/Hide Triangles
Ctrl-L Show/Hide Lines
Ctrl-Z Undo

AutoQ3D CAD

Copyright(c) 2004-2013 AutoQ3D Project Team. All rights reserved.
JPG support thanks to:
     Tom Lane, Philip Gladstone, Jim Boucher,Lee Crocker, Julian Minguillon,
     Luis Ortiz, George Phillips, Davide Rossi, Guido Vollbeding, Ge' Weijers,
     and other members of the Independent JPEG Group.
TIFF support:
     Copyright (c) 1988-1997 Sam Leffler
     Copyright (c) 1991-1997 Silicon Graphics, Inc