Using the 3D Data Bar

Use the Data bar when you draw to lock certain values for an object, such as the length of a hemisphere radius or the height of an extruded rectangle. The fields that are available on the Data bar depend on the active tool and on the action being performed.

The data displayed in the bar is gathered from the feedback segment of the object being created. The more common Data bar fields are described in the following table; other fields that can display are described where their use is relevant.

 

Parameter	Description
A	Angle
I	The absolute location of I in working plane coordinates
J	The absolute location of J in working plane coordinates
K	The absolute location of K in working plane coordinates
L	Length
Z	The Z (depth) of the object being drawn
Ctr X	The center of the object along the X axis
Ctr Y	The center of the object along the Y axis
Delta I	The offset distance from the previous click or position of I in working plane space
Delta J	The offset distance from the previous click or position of J in working plane space
Delta K	The offset distance from the previous click or position of I in working plane space
Delta X	The offset distance from the previous click or position of X
Delta Y	The offset distance from the previous click or position of Y
Delta Z	The offset distance from the previous click or position of Z
Radius	The radius of the object being drawn

The Data bar is controlled by a menu on the far right side of the Tool bar.

 

Menu Command	Description
Location of the Data bar
Use floating data bar	The Data bar “floats” with the cursor in the drawing area
Use floating data bar only when tab key is pressed	The Data bar floats with the cursor only when the Tab key is pressed; otherwise the bar does not display
Do not use floating data bar - show data bar fields on fixed data bar	The Data bar displays on the top left side of the window, at the top of the Tool bar
Do not use floating data bar - show data bar fields on tool bar	The Data bar displays on the right side of the Tool bar
Activation of the Data bar
Allow numeric keypad entry for instant data bar activation	When the Data bar is displayed, enter numbers on the numeric keypad to activate the first field
Do not allow numeric keypad entry for instant data bar activation	When the Data bar is displayed, press the Tab key to activate the first field (press Shift+Tab to activate the last field)
Field display on the Data bar
Show only primary fields on data bar	Show only the delta I, delta J, and delta K fields
Show primary and secondary fields on data bar	Show all fields except the cursor location fields (X, Y, and Z)
Show primary secondary, and cursor location fields on data bar	Show all fields
Display of the Exit Group button
Use large exit group button	When a group is being edited, show a large button with the label Exit Group in the upper right corner of the drawing area
Use small exit group button	When a group is being edited, show a small button with an arrow icon in the upper right corner of the drawing area

Drawing with the 3D Data Bar

To draw an object with the 3D Data bar:

1.	Select a 3D drawing tool and click once to begin to draw the object.

2.	Press the Tab key to activate the first field in the Data bar, or press Shift+Tab to activate the last field. Alternatively, if the Data bar options are set so that numeric keypad activation is enabled, you can type the value for the first field in the Data bar to activate it.

In click-drag mode, press and hold the mouse button when you press Tab or Shift+Tab.

3.	Enter values in the appropriate field(s), using the keys as follows.

 

Key	Action
Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh)	When the focus is in a Data bar field, sets the value that is currently displayed, and moves the focus to the drawing area When the focus is in the drawing area, completes the object (or completes the current segment of the object, for path objects such as polygons, walls, and dimensions)
Tab	When the focus is in a Data bar field, sets the entered value and moves to the next field (if no value was entered, the field is not set) When the focus is in the drawing area, moves the focus to the first field in the Data bar
Shift-Tab	When the focus is in a Data bar field, sets the entered value and moves to the previous field (if no value was entered, the field is not set) When the focus is in the drawing area, moves the focus to the last field in the Data bar

To clear an entry before it is set, press the Backspace key. The previous value in that field redisplays.

If the SmartCursor option is enabled in VectorWorks preferences, a dotted line displays to represent the location of the values entered for the X and Y axes.

4.

To complete the object according to the values you entered, click the mouse button. For non-path objects, you can also press Enter or Return to complete the object, if the focus is in the drawing area. For path objects, such as polygons, walls, and dimensions, you may need to click to complete the object.