Menu Bar: PathTrace Editor

PathTrace Menu Bar

PathTrace Menu Bar

File

Open File: Opens a saved file. This includes Path Files, WCX, WCA, and some DXF files.

Save File: Save the file.

Save File As: Save the file under a new filename or a new file type.

Cut Current Design: Bring the current design into MatDesigner to cut (remember to trace first).

Clear Segments: Starts over with an empty design. This operation cannot be undone.

Clear Image: Removes the Image currently loaded into the background.

Exit: Exit the program.

View

Zoom All: View the entire drawing.

Zoom Window: Draw a box around a specific area to zoom in to view.

Zoom Previous: Return to previous view.

View from Front: View the drawing from the front.

View from Back: View the drawing from the back.

Start Points: An arrow displays that shows the start cut point of each object on the current layer.

Cut Order Numbers: Displays the cut order of the current layer as numbers.

 

Edit

Undo: Undo the last command.

Redo: Redo the last command.

Convert Arcs to Splines: Converts circular and elliptical arcs to Bezier spline curves. Beziers can be tangified with less distortion.

Break All Intersections: Break all intersecting lines/arcs. Breaks them at the intersections where they cross one another.

Tangify all Circuits: Smooths all connections between segments below a certain angle. This provides a smoother cutting transition between arcs. The angle can be specified. Click on the Prep Design Tab, select Tangify Circuits and enter in the Max Angle.

Autojoin Segments: Have PathTrace automatically connect adjoining segments.

Explode All: Breaks all objects into individual entities (i.e., one square will be broken into four lines, where each line can be edited separately).

Mirror All: Mirrors the entire design by flipping it horizontally.

Help

PathTrace Manual: This is an on-line version of this manual.

Status Bar

The left side of the status bar displays information about the current command (if applicable).

The right side of the status bar displays the size of the current editor window, which can be useful for determining the size of a CutArt, and whether viewing the current project from the front or the back.

Zoom Buttons

Zoom All: Zoom out to full screen view.

Zoom to Window: Draw a box to zoom in to that spot.

Zoom to Previous View: Zoom to previous zoom view.

Tools Buttons

Open File: Opens a new file to edit. File types that can be opened into PathTrace:

  • Path files (saved from MatDesigner)

  • WCA/WCX files (Wizard CutArt)

  • DXF files (DXF files [Drawing Exchange Format])

Save File: Save the current mat. The default file type is Wizard CutArt (WCX). Because of the flexibility of CutArt, this is the preferred method.

Cut Current Design: Bring the current design to the

Cut Preview Screen to cut. Remember to trace it first.

Undo: Undo the last command. Undo does not include zooms.

Info: When toggled on, it gives information about the current design on the status bar. When toggled off, it displays instructions for the current operation on the status bar.

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