Set Up the Drawing Area

Some settings affect how you work in the drawing area:

• Background colors (Options dialog box, Display tab, Colors). You specify the background colors used in model space, layouts, and the block editor. Background colors on the Model tab change to indicate whether you are working in a 2D design context, 3D modeling (parallel projection), or 3D modeling (perspective projection).
• UCS icon and crosshairs cursor (Options dialog box, 3D Modeling tab). You specify that the 3D display options and labels for the UCS icon can be set in the 3D Modeling tab of the Options dialog box.
• Color assignments for X, Y, and Z (Options dialog box, Display tab, Colors). In 3D views, any interface elements that are associated with the UCS X, Y, and Z axis use special color assignments. The X axis is colored or tinted red, the Y axis is green, and the Z axis is blue. These tints can be turned on or off in the Drawing Window Colors dialog box.
• Clean Screen. You can expand the drawing display area to display only the menu bar, status bar, and command window. Click View menu Clean Screen. A check mark is displayed next to the option. Click Clean Screen again to restore the previous setup. A clean screen button is available in the lower-right corner of the application window.
• View Transitions. You can control whether view transitions are smooth or instantaneous when you pan, zoom, or change from one view to another (VTOPTIONS command). The default is a smooth transition.
• Tooltips. Several types of tooltips provide pop-up information for interactions with toolbars, object snaps, and drafting operations.

3D Modeling with Perspective Projection

• Ground Plane (Options dialog box, Display tab, Colors). When perspective projection is turned on, the XY plane of the UCS displays as a ground plane with a gradient color. The ground plane displays a gradient from the ground horizon to the ground origin.
• Sky (Options dialog box, Display tab, Colors). The area not covered by the ground plane is the sky, which displays a gradient color from the sky horizon to the sky zenith.
• Underground (Options dialog box, Display tab, Colors). If the ground plane is viewed from below ground, the ground plane displays a gradient from the earth horizon to the earth azimuth.
• Ground Plane Grid (Options dialog box, Display tab, Colors). When perspective projection is turned on, the grid displays as a ground plane grid. Colors are set for major grid lines, minor grid lines, and axis lines.

  

Switch Between Model Space and Layouts

You can control how you change between model space and one or more layouts. The classic interface provides a Model tab and one or more layout tabs. To optimize space in the drawing area, you can turn off these tabs and use the equivalent buttons on the status bar. The control to change between the two interface designs is included as an item on the Model and layout tab shortcut menu, and on the shortcut menu of the Model/Layout button on the status bar.

Specify Application Fonts

• Font (Options dialog box, Display tab). Change the fonts used in the application window and in the text window. This setting does not affect the text in your drawings.

Control the Display of Dockable Windows

Many windows, such as the Properties palette, a tool palette, and DesignCenter, are dockable. That is, they can be docked, anchored, or floated.

Settings for these and other options are often changed on a shortcut menu, available by right-clicking the title bar of the palette or window.

• Resize. Drag an edge of the window to change its size. If the window has panes, drag the bar between panes to resize the panes.
• Allow Docking. Select this option if you want to dock or anchor a dockable window. A docked window adheres to one side of the application window, causing the drawing area to be resized.
• Anchor. Attach, or anchor, a dockable window or palette to the left or right side of the drawing area. An anchored window rolls open and closed as the cursor moves across it. When an anchored window is open, its content overlaps the drawing area. An anchored window cannot be set to stay open. The Allow Docking option must be selected before you can anchor a window.
• Auto-hide. A floating window rolls open and closes as the cursor moves across it. When this option is cleared, the window stays open continuously.
• Transparency. The window becomes transparent so that it does not obscure objects under it. This option is not available for all windows.

Control the Display of Toolbars

To display or hide toolbars, right-click any toolbar to display a list of toolbars. A check mark next to a toolbar name indicates that it is displayed. Click a toolbar name in the list to display or clear the check mark.

A toolbar can be docked or floating. A docked toolbar is attached to any edge of the drawing area. Undock a toolbar by clicking the double bars and dragging it into the drawing area. You can click the title bar and drag it to a new location or dock it. Resize a floating toolbar by dragging an edge.

Lock the Position of Toolbars and Dockable Windows

Once you have arranged toolbars and docked, floating, or anchored windows the way you want them, you can lock their position. Locked toolbars and windows can still be opened and closed and items can be added and deleted. To unlock them temporarily, hold down CTRL.