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:
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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.
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Type toolpalettes in the command bar, then press Enter.
To set the view options
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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.
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Drag the Image Size slider to adjust the image size.
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Select either Icon with text, Icon only or List view.
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Choose either Current Palette or All Palettes from the Apply to list button.
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Click the OK button to confirm.
To add a new tool palette
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Move the cursor to the icon area of the Tool Palettes Bar, then right click.
A context menu displays:
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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
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Move the cursor to the icon area of the Tool Palettes Bar, then right click.
A context menu displays:
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Choose Customize Palettes in the context menu.
The Customize dialog box displays:
To import a tool palette
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Open the Customize dialog box.
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In the Palettes pane on the Customize dialog box, right click and choose Import in the context menu.
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On the Import Palette dialog, select a folder, then select a palette file (*.btc or *.xtp).
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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
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Open the Customize dialog box.
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Place the cursor on the Palette Groups root folder name.
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Right click and choose New Palette in the context menu.
A new group folder is added at the bottom of the palette groups tree.
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Type a name for the new group.
To create a palette subgroup
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Open the Customize dialog box.
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Place the cursor on an existing group name.
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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
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Open the Customize dialog box.
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Place the cursor on a palette.
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Press and hold the left mouse button, then drag the palette onto a palette group name.
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Release the left mouse button to add the palette to the group.
To remove a palette from a group
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Open the Customize dialog box.
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Select the palette in the group.
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Right click and choose Remove in the context menu.
To set a palette group current
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Open the Customize dialog box.
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Select the palette group in the palette groups tree.
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Right click and choose Set Current in the context menu.
To delete a palette group
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Open the Customize dialog box.
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Select the palette group in the palette groups tree.
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Right click and choose Delete in the context menu.
To rename a tool palette
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Right click tool palette tab and choose Rename Palette in the context menu.
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Type a new name for the palette in the Name field.
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Press Enter to confirm.
To delete a tool palette
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Right click tool palette tab and choose Delete Palette in the context menu.
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Click the OK button on the Confirm Palette Deletion box.
Adding a hatch pattern
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Select the palette you want to add a hatch pattern to.
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Open the Hatch and Gradient dialog box.
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Select either Predefined or Custom from the Type list button.
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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.
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(option) Repeat steps 5 and 6 to add more hatch patterns.
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(option) Drag-and-drop patterns to change their order on the palette.
Adding blocks
Blocks can be added from the current drawing or from any drawing.
Adding blocks from the current drawing:
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Choose Drawing Explorer - Blocks in the Tools menu.
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On the Drawing Explorer - Blocks dialog box select the block or blocks you want to add.
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Right click and choose Add to Current Tool Palette in the context menu.
Adding blocks from any drawing:
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If not already available, add the containing folder to the Folders list on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
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Select the drawing in the containing folder on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
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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.
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(option) Drag-and-drop blocks to change their order on the palette.
Adding a drawing as a block:
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If not already available, add the containing folder to the Folders list on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
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Select the drawing in the containing folder on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
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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.
Adding all blocks from multiple drawings.
This procedure collects all blocks in each of the drawings of the selected folder and add them to a palette of the drawing name. New palettes are created if necessary.
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If not already available, add the containing folder to the Folders list on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
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Select the folder, then right click and choose Add blocks to Tool Palettes in the context menu.
To add a drawing as a component.
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If not already available, add the containing folder to the Folders list on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
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Select the drawing in the containing folder on the Drawing Explorer - Drawings dialog box.
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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
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Choose Customize in the Tools menu.
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Under Available Tools on the Customize dialog, expand the containing toolbox, then select the command in the commands list.
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Right click and choose Add to Current Tool Palette in the context menu.
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(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:
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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
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Edit the tool properties.
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Click the OK button to confirm.
Managing tools
To manage the tools on a tool palette do the following:
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Right click the tool.
A context menu displays:
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Choose an option in the context menu.
To specify a tool image
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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:
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Right click the tool on the source palette and choose Cut in the context menu.
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Select the target palette.
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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:
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Right click the tool on the source palette and choose Copy in the context menu.
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Select the target palette.
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Right click and choose Paste in the context menu.
The tool is added at the bottom of the palette.
Tutorial: Customizing Commands in the Tool Palette
Click here to watch