Menu Reference

This is a reference to every main menu and submenu, with links to appropriate sections.

General:

• Keyboard equivalents are user-configurable; factory (original) seetings are shown here (in red).
• Modifier keys can cause menu titles to change. All variations are given, as a separate group delimited by XXXX Group and End Group. Keyboard equivalent changes within a group apply to all group members (can usually change modifiers without trouble.)
• Descriptions are basic. Follow links to information about the function of each menu item.
• Not all items listed here may be available in all software versions. Refer to Manual Changes and Read Me file for your release version if a menu item does not appear here or does not appear to work. This file may also be updated periodically.

   

MENUS: Apple  | File  | Edit  | Selection  | Model  | Texture  | Animate  | Render  | Windows

Apple

About PatchDance... Displays the same splash screen seen at program startup.

File

New Group
New Project (command-N)
Open a new, Untitled Project, using the default and/or current Preferences and (Registered users only) the default document, if any.
New (Ignore Default) (command-option-N)
Open a new, Untitled Project, ignoring any default document that exists.
End Group

Open Group
Open... (command-O)
Open a file using the standard file dialog. The user can select the desired file type.

Open w/ Options...(command-option-O)
Same as Open... plus invokes the Open options dialog (if any) for the selected file type.

Open Default Project (command-shift-O),
Opens the Default Project, if one exists. Shortcut to avoid having to navigate to the Preferences Folder.
End Group

Merge File...
Same as Open... except that the new file is merged into (combined with) the current Project.

Close Window (command-W)
Close the active window. Closing all 3 Model windows plus the Camera view for a Project will close the Project. Can be unpredictable with floating palettes!

Close Project
Close the active Project. User has the usual save or cancel options.

Save Group
Save... (command-S)
Save the current Project to a file in any supported format, subject to user level restrictions.

Save w/ Options... (command-option-S)
Same as Save... except invokes the save options dialog (if any) for the current file format.

Save Default Project (command-shift-S)
(Registered Users only) Save the current Project as the Default Project. User must agree to overwrite previous Default Project, if any.

Save Alternate (control-S)
Automatically save a copy of the current Project. Used for automated backup or output to rendering applications, or to save in an alternate format. See the Files chapter for more information.

Save Copy... (control-shift-S)
Save the current Project to a file in any supported format, subject to user level restrictions. No effect on the current Project. Repeats Save Copy command below.

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End Group

Save As...
Save the current Project to a file in any supported format, subject to user level restrictions, and use the newly saved file as the current file. Used to change names, locations, file formats, etc. without deleting the previously saved file. See also Numbered Backups (automated version of this function).

Save Copy...
Save the current Project to a file in any supported format, subject to user level restrictions. No effect on the current Project.

Revert
Delete the current Project and restore from disk (Project must have been saved to disk at some point).

Numbered Backup Group
Numbered Backups
Toggle Numbered Backup status (item checked if turned on). Causes Save... to behave like Save As..., saving a serially numbered version of the file (0 - 999). Used to automatically produce a history (series of saved copies) of a file rather overwriting the disk file with each save.

Reset Backup Number (option)
Reset the serial number for Numbered Backups to 0. Will cause subsequent Save's to overwrite previous with the same numbers.
End Group

Save Camera
Save the contents of the Camera view of the current Project to disk. File name/type becomes current for subsequent Saves (no effect on Project). Currently limited to PICT files.

Save Camera As...
Same as Save Camera, but allows changing file name/type (becomes new current name/type).

Save Camera Copy As...
Same as Save Camera As..., but no effect on current file name/type.

Open TemplateŠ
Open a PICT file as a template in the current Modeling View.

Remove TemplateŠ
Delete (permanently) any template in use in the current Modeling View.

Hide Template / Show Template
Temporarily hides/restores the template in the current Modeling View.

More about Templates can be found in the General Chapter.

Page Setup...
Not used.

Print... (command-P)
Not used.

Quit (command-Q)
Close all open Projects and quit the program.

Edit

Undo Action (command-Z)
Undo Action, the most recent modeling action undertaken (allowing for multiple undo). Not all interface actions are undoable: see Undo System. Becomes Can't Undo if no undoable actions are available.

Redo Action (command-R)
Redo Action, provided that the most recent modeling operation was Undo Action (allowing for multiple Undo: see Undo System). Becomes Can't Redo if no redoable actions are available.

Repeat Action (command-L)
Repeat Action, the last eligible modeling action undertaken. Not all actions can be repeated: this is primarily intended as a shortcut for repeating menu actions with no keyboard equivalent. Become Can't Repeat if no repeatable action is available. See Repeat System.

Cut (command-X)
Standard Macintosh function. Works as expected with text (data entry fields); copies current selection if a Model window is active. Model information can be exported to other programs via QuickDraw 3D if enabled: see Cut & Paste and Exporting the Clipboard.

Copy (command-C)
Standard Macintosh function. See Cut above for differences.

Paste Group
Paste (command-V)
Standard Macintosh function. See Cut above for differences.

Paste At (command-option-V)
Standard Macintosh function. See Cut above for differences. Also, when pasting, offset by the difference between the 3D Cursor position and the position when copied to the clipboard (i.e., place the Cursor when Copying, then use Paste At to place in the same position, Cursor relative).
End Group

Duplicate Group
Duplicate (command-D)
Copy the current selection in place, selected, and deselect original selection. See Cut & Paste.

Duplicate Shifted (command-option-D)
Same as Duplicate above, but offset copied object(s) slightly.
End Group

Clear Selected Points
Remove all selected Points.

Clear Selected Splines
Remove all selected (BOTH endpoints) splines.

Clear Selected Patches
Remove all selected (ALL defining Points) patches.

Show Clipboard
Open a small window showing the current (geometry) clipboard contents. Requires the QuickDraw 3D Viewer to be present.

Preferences...
Opens the Preferences Dialog.

Selection

Select Group
Select All (command-A)
Select all Points in the current Project.

Deselect All (command-shift-A)
Deselect all Points in the current Project.

Swap All (command-option-A)
Swap the selection state of all Points in the current Project.
End Group

None
Deselect all Points in the current Project. (Same as Deselect All: kept for historical reasons.)

Swap All
Swap the selection state of all Points in the current Project. (Same as Swap All: kept for historical reasons.)

Grow Selection Group
Grow Selection
Expand the current selection by one Point (i.e., select all Points connected to a currently selected Point.)

Grow Selection (Cursor) (option)
Same as Grow Selection, but limit effect to the single object indicated by the Cursor.
End Group

Spline Select on Group
Select Splines
Select all splines. Actually selects all Points that are part of a spline.

Deselect Splines (shift)
Deselect all splines. Actually deselects all Points that are part of a SELECTED (both endpoints) spline.

Swap Splines (option)
Swap selection of all splines. Actually swaps all Points that are part of a spline.
End Group

Patch Select on Group
Select Patches
Select all patches. Actually selects all Points that are part of a patches.

Deselect Patches (shift)
Deselect all patches. Actually deselects all Points that are part of a SELECTED (all Points) patch.

Swap Patches (option)
Swap selection of all patches. Actually swaps all Points that are part of a patch.
End Group

By Texture...
Displays a dialog allowing selection changes based on Texture. Not implemented as of this writing.

Model

Points (submenu):

Hide Group
Hide Selected
Hide all selected Points.

Hide Deselected (shift)
Hide all selected Points.
End Group

Show All
Show all Hidden Points. (Shown Points are deselected.)

Show All Selected
Show all Hidden Points. (Shown Points are selected.)

New Point Group
New Selected
Create a new selected Point at the current 3D Cursor location.

New Deselected (shift)
Create a new deselected Point at the current 3D Cursor location.
End Group

Splines (submenu):

New (Selected Points)
Create a new, straight spline (if none exists) between TWO selected Points.

New (Selected + Cursor)
Create a new, straight spline (if none exists) between ONE selected Point and one Point indicated by the 3D Cursor.

Delete Splines
Delete all selected (both endpoints) splines.

Make Guide Group
Make Guide (Selected)
Convert all selected (both endpoints) splines to Guide Splines.

Make Guide (Deselected) (shift)
Convert all deselected splines to Guide Splines.
End Group

Make Guide (Cursor)
Convert all splines in the indicated (by the 3D Cursor) object to Guide Splines.

Release all Guides
Convert all Guide Splines to normal splines.

Release Guide (Cursor)
Convert all Guide Splines in the indicated (by the 3D Cursor) object to normal splines.

Guides in Marker Color
Toggle setting. If checked, Guide Splines are drawn in the Marker color, otherwise the Spline color is used.

Divide Splines
Divide all selected (both endpoints) splines in half, adding a new Point. This will DESTROY any patches that contain divided splines!
Patches MENU_Patch_hier

Patches (submenu):

New Patch
Create a new patch in a closed, 3 or 4 Point figure. More efficient than Fill Mesh when only one patch is desired. More info in Operations chapter.

Delete Patches
Remove all selected (ALL Points) patches. No effect on Points or splines.

Fill Mesh
Create patches in all selected, eligible locations (create surface over empty mesh). New Patch is more efficient if only one patch is desired. More info in Operations chapter.

Subdivide
Divide all selected (ALL Points) patches into 4 new patches. Contrast with Model / Splines / Divide Splines: this creates new Points and splines.

Snap (submenu):

Snap Cursor To... (DISABLED)
Marker item. All menu entries in first section Snap the 3D Cursor to the indicated point. Axis Control applies to these commands.

Snap Selection To... (DISABLED)
Marker item. All menu entries in this section Snap the current selection to the indicated location. IMPORTANT: This affects all selected Points. Only useful with Axis Control .

See Snap & Snap Palette in this Manual for a discussion of the Snap types and modes. They are not repeated here.

Shapes (submenu)

Set the Shapes Tool (O) to the desired shape, and select the mode.

Switch to Graphic Menu
Switch menu to graphic (icon) format.

Fill Mode
Fill in 2D shapes (rather than leaving as open forms). Checked if enabled.

Circle (Diameter)
Circle (Radius)
Circle (3 Pt)
CW Arc
CCW Arc
Quadrilateral (Side)
Quadrilateral (1/2 Side)
Quadrilateral (Diagonal)
Quadrilateral (1/2 Diagonal)
Quadrilateral (3 Pt)
Polygon (Diameter)
Polygon (Radius)
Sphere (Diameter)
Sphere (Radius)
Hemisphere (Diameter)
Hemisphere (Radius)

Shape Mode (2D, Extruded, converged to a point).

2D Mode
Extrude about Cursor
Extrude from Cursor
Converge from Cursor

Deformations

Set the cuurent Deform mode (see Deform Tool (Q)).

Magnet (T) (NOT a command key - operates via the Tool Palette)
Bend
Taper
Twist
Shear

Smooth/Unsmooth (submenu)
These operations are affected by options set in the Smooth section of the Operations palette.

DialogŠ
Open the Operations Palette if necessary, and scroll to the Smooth section.

Smooth
Smooth the current selection.

Average Handles
Average the positions of all handles on selected Points. Less smoothing effect than Smooth above.

Straighten
Convert splines to straight form, depending on Smooth section options.

Segment
Convert splines to segments, depending on Smooth section options.

Lathe/Reflect...
Open the Operations Palette (if necessary) and scroll to the Lathe section.

Extrude...
Open the Operations Palette (if necessary) and scroll to the Extrude section.

Loft (submenu)
See Loft in this Manual for details on usage.

Segments
Loft the current selection, using segments.

Straight
Loft the current selection, using Straight splines.

Smoothed
Loft the current selection, using smooth (faired) splines.

Join (submenu)

DialogŠ"
Open the Operations Palette (if necessary) and scroll to the Join section.

Join Points
Join selected points together based on options set in the Join section of the Operations Palette.

Average Points
Move selected points together based on options set in the Join section of the Operations Palette.

Randomize...
Open the Operations Palette (if necessary) and scroll to the Randomize section.

Flip Object (submenu)

Horizontal
Reverse the current selection (flip around) with respect to a VERTICAL line through the 3D Cursor in the current/last active Model Window.

Vertical
Reverse the current selection (flip around) with respect to a HORIZONTAL line through the 3D Cursor in the current/last active Model Window.

Trim...
Open the Operations Palette (if necessary) and scroll to the Trim section.

Bevel...
Not yet implemented.

Texture

Quick Colors (submenu)
Display a color swatch submenu. Choosing a color causes all selected patches to be colored. NOT UNDOABLE. Various modifiers apply, see QuickColors.

Palette...
Display a small palette containing buttons for each QuickColor.

Edit Texture...
Display the Texture dialog.

Quick Texture...
Display a small modal alert that allows quickly texturing the current selection (by texture name) without opening the larger Texture dialog.

Animate
Not available

Render

Create Camera
Create a Camera object (or move any existing one) to the 3D Cursor location.

Set Focus
Create a Focus object (or move any existing one) to the 3D Cursor location.

The remaining items are not yet available.
Render
Render As...
Render List
Render Folder
Settings...

Windows

Tile Windows
Relocate and resize all Model windows, the Camera window, the Tool Palette, and the Operations Palette to the default configuration. The Tool and Operations Palette's are ignored if closed.

Full Windows
Relocate and resize all Model windows, the Camera window, the Tool Palette, and the Operations Palette to the maximum configuration. The Tool and Operations Palette's are ignored if closed. the other windows are expanded to maximum size and placed on top of each other.

Match Scales
Reset the scales of all Model windows to that of the current/last active one.

Center Cursor
Center the 3D Cursor in all three Model windows.

Locate & Center (submenu)
Move the 3D Cursor to the given location and scroll the Model windows to center it. Refer to Model / Snap for a discussion of the terms.

Selection Center
Selection Centroid
Model Center
Camera
Focus
Space Center

Projects
Hierarchic menu of all open Projects.

General
Open the General, or Data Palette.

Hierarchy (submenu)
DialogŠ
Display the Hierarchy dialog.

Quick NameŠ
Display a small dialog to allow naming if the current selection without the full Hierarchy dialog.

Tools
Opens the Tools Palette (if closed).

Operations
Opens the Operations Palette (if closed).

Snap
Opens the Snap Palette (if closed).

Prompt Bar
Opens the Help Palette (if closed).

The following items open and/or bring to front the following windows:

North (command-1)

West (command-2)

Up (command-3)

Camera (command-4)

Images (command-5)
Refers to windows containing PICT images.

Adjust the scale of the current/last active Model window by a factor of 2:

Zoom In

Zoom Out (option)

Hide All Dialogs (command-6)
Hide all dialogs. Meant to unclutter the screen; doesn't apply to the Tool or Operations Palettes or the Help Window.

Show Hidden Dialogs (command-option-6)
Show any dialogs hidden by Hide All Dialogs above.

Camera Options (submenu)

Update Camera Only
Stop all real time updating in Model windows to allow more CPU time for the Camera View. Shortcut for locking/unlocking each Mode window individually. checked if active.

Shading off
Disable shading in Shaded rendering mode. No effect on speed, provided for the convenience of 2D artists who prefer solid colors.

Auto Create Camera
Checked if active (default). Create default Camera / focus pair when first patch is formed in a new model. May be turned off if you wish to create your own, or disabled by creating a camera and / or focus object manually.

Display Hidden in Camera
Checked if active. Display hidden objects in the Camera view. Useful for scene composition.