Additional key functionality
In the Vectorworks program, several keys have additional functionality beyond the standard conventions:
|
Key |
Usage |
|
Esc |
Cancels the current operation. When a dialog box is open, this is the equivalent of pressing the Cancel button. In the Data bar or Object Info palette, cancels the entry in a field and returns the focus to the drawing area. Cancels rendering. Clears smart points. Deselects the working plane. |
|
Return (Mac), Enter (Windows) |
When a dialog box is open, this is the equivalent to pressing the Done or OK button. In a field in the Data bar or Object Info palette, this accepts the information and returns the focus to the drawing area. Adds a line of text to a text block. In the Object Info palette, press Shift+Return (Mac) or Shift+Enter (Windows) to save the entry and keep the focus in the same field, so that you can enter a different value if necessary. |
|
Tab |
Moves the cursor from one field to the next in the Data bar, Object Info palette, and dialog boxes. Press Shift+Tab to move backwards through the fields. |
|
Delete (Mac), Backspace (Windows) |
Removes the last segment of or cancels the creation of an object being drawn |
|
Ctrl (Windows) |
Prevents palettes from docking when they are moved near an edge |
|
Space Bar |
Engages the Pause/Boomerang mode. Holding down the Space Bar temporarily pauses the current tool. A second tool can then be selected and used. Release the Space Bar to return to the previous tool. |
|
Alt (Windows), Cmd (Mac) |
Temporarily activates the Selection tool, so you can change which objects are selected |
|
Command (Mac), Shift (Windows) |
Briefly expands the currently selected screen tip |
Using arithmetic expressions
Arithmetic expressions can be entered into most of the edit fields, including the Object Info palette’s Shape tab and the Data bar. For this reason, the dash (-) cannot be used as a separator between feet and inches.
Parentheses can be used to override the default operator precedence. For example:
1ʺ + 2ʺ * 3ʺ = 7ʺ (without parentheses)
(1ʺ + 2ʺ) * 3ʺ = 9ʺ (with parentheses)
Values can be entered in any unit; the program converts it into the current unit. For example, if the current unit is Inches and an entry of 4ʺ + 3 cm is made into the Object Info palette X field, the program converts the units automatically. The result, 5.1811ʺ, is displayed.
