A TurboCAD Tool-bar and Alibre Short-Cut Queries

I might learn Alibre Atom enough for simple, single-part 3D models and their elevation-drawings; but for more complicated parts, assemblies and geometrical constructions, need TurboCAD in orthographic only (much against its own will). Or a drawing-board....

So:

Originally using TC 2019 I up-dated it to 2021.

Yesterday I opened my wagon engine's GA drawing and was dismayed to find several tool-bars, including basic ones like the Lines menu and the Copy in Place tool removed from the screen, They are still available indirectly, but I could not rebuild my extensive tool-bar display.

Has anyone else found unexpected changes to their own TurboCAD tool-bar layouts; and if so, how did you correct the problem?

.....

On Alibre, its latest up-dates have switched off the Desktop starting symbol. It's there but inoperative. I thought you can make screen short-cuts from the computer's programme index, but not in Windows 11.

Instead I had to open it from a drawing - not so easy since Microsoft's changes ruined my carefully-built filing system and I have not managed to repair all the damage.

So how do I create a new screen short-cut for Alibre, please?

Q. So how do I create a new screen short-cut for Alibre, please?

The usual way is to click the Start button bottom left. This should open a panel with all the applications listed. To create a shortcut, click and hold down on the Alibre icon then drag and drop it to the desktop. Entering Alibre in the search may help if the Application list is huge.

Double clicking the Alibre icon from the Start menu should also launch it.

Dave

Thank you. That's what I thought but it won't work.

The "Start" sign here is a little blue square with a square cross on it.

A left click on it does show Alibre and others, but they can't be drag-copied anywhere.

Right click does not open the Applications list directly, but a long "Settings" menu containing "Installed Apps". This is a more analytical tool, showing programme sizes and a degree of user's control over what is installed or not. Again, although Alibre is right at the top by starting with "Al", it can't be dragged onto the desktop.

Aaaargh! Problem solved! Only just spotted it!

The up-date has put a new Desktop symbol up, helpfully labelled "Alibre Atom 3D 27...". (So those first two digits are the version.). It was right up at the top corner, hiding among a lot of other things I'd not normally look at - the original symbol was a lot more noticeable!

Right, I have now deleted the V26 symbol and moved the V27 one into its place on my normal sight-line!

Oh silly-billy me. The digital equivalent of me putting a big spanner down on the bench then failing to find it five minutes later.

@@@@@@

One problem cleared. Now, what has IMSI done to my TurboCAD to make its easy bits harder?

Nigel,

I was about to say that unless you select otherwise, Atom3D adds a desktop shortcut at the end of the install - but, looks as though you eventually spotted the result.

Because Atom3D allows you to choose whether to install a new version to replace previous one, or to run 'side-by side', each version has its own unique shortcut.

I run TC 2016 and what you describe happens occasionally to me too. The way to restore your previous settings is Use the tools drop down menu and select customise. Then select (click) load from and it should return you to the format contained in either the std template as saved and amended by you or any other you care to select. Note this also dictates where the template is saved to should you wish to amend and add any addl elements. Works in 2016 version.

Thank you chaps!

.

Andy -

Yes - that seems to have sorted it!

Thankyou!

TC 2021 puts an extra step in the Tools menu to find "Customise" but it's pretty obvious where it is.

I noticed it opens that tool and commands library which I learnt long ago, and is one TurboCAD function I particularly like.

Experienced users like to operate as much as possible with the so-called SEKE Keys (I forget what that stands for) for speed and to avoid what they regard as clutter along the top of the screen. That's a lot of combinations to remember to be effective though, and I prefer the more explanatory toolbar & menu route.

.

I have my engine's partially-drawn GA on TurboCAD, and need refer to that to design the components. For example - and this is where I had that tools problem - I need know the distance between the tops of the cross-heads and the cylinder covers, to be able to design the stuffing-boxes and guide-bar mountings. It looks as if I'll need move the whole engine down a bit to give more room - the cylinder top altitude being more or less set!