add keyboard shortcut keystrokes

[Doug.S]

at least start with some of the most often used keys such as ctrl+r to open the render real view window (add keystroke shortcuts to the menu list in standard windows format) and ctrl+1 to go to 3D view of camera #1.

Also add to help file a master "key strokes" list/table.....some keys are obvious like delete key

Why? to make getting to functions much easier and faster than several deep menu finds/clicks

I'd be happy to list some and I'll bet others would too....then you'd have a "commonly used" list


Doug.S

[Allan Chesney]

This would be excellent - keystrokes are much quicker especially when they are the common Windows ones.

Allan

[Dave Taylor (TFP Product Manager)]

The documentation states:

Using Keyboard Shortcuts
You can use the keyboard instead of the mouse to execute most commands. To use the keyboard, type the underlined letter in the menu name, then type the underlined letter in the menu item name. If the menu item has a cascading menu, you need to type an additional letter. For example, to select the Walls tool you would type I (for Insert) and then W (for Walls) on your keyboard.

However the first step should include ALT + (pulldown menu key) exampe ALT + I for insert....

[Dave Taylor (TFP Product Manager)]

attached is a list of current keyboard shortcuts -

[Doug.S]

Thanks for the list.....and these are the standard windows keyboard shortcuts for "menu" items and the "underlined" letters help
However nested menus require two hands and way too many keystrokes to get somewhere fast...mouse is usually faster

AND note: if I hit alt+v the view menu unfolds down OK, but if I hit alt again to do alt+r...when I hit the alt key the drop down menu closes...I can't do anything that way....but if I hold down the alt and keep it depressed..then hit v then r it works....and is handy/fast

But real "shortcut" keystrokes are wonderful to use...and you can continue to have hand on mouse and use other hand to hit a key...

Real shortcuts are far easier (like done in many programs....and many programs are user programmable/changeable...Photoshop is an excellent example...but so are Carrara and Hexagon, both for 3D) ...here are some examples I'd like to see...

with an object selected...instead of right click for a menu...have each of the right click menu items assigned to a letter (some were done in FP11)...Such as:
hit "p' key to open properties window
hit "x" for move
hit "r" for rotate
hit "e" for elevate
etc.

or in any view, item(s) not selected...be able to invoke actions from the toolbars (does not have to be all of them, but at least the most frequently used....and with choices that are logical and of course don't conflict with each other (but can have more than one use for a key for different "states" of the program) like:
hit "2" to switch to 2D plan view
hit "3" to see 3D view...or "p" for perspective and "o" for overview, 1,2,3,4 etc for added cameras
have the keypad setup for all elevation/ortho views (maybe needs ctrl+) 5=top, 8=back, 2=front, 4=left side, etc
"z" changes cursor to "zoom window"
"w" = walk around
"L" = look around
"x" or "p" = slide/pan
and above all..."r" or ctrl+r" = open window to render the view...I use that VERY often
etc.

AND, tho the "F#" keys (F4 thru F9) are handy, they are NOT very logical...but at least aligned to same left to right pattern as the screen).....like "c" for collision or "o" for object snap or "a" for angle snap....and OK to have more than one key for a function....keep the "F" keys...just add the other keys or allow for user to set/change the key assignment.  Or a simple script of keystrokes in sequence like the menu string assigned to one key....like "r" = (alt+v, alt+r)

I could list many more....just think of what are the most common things done that are more than one click away and a single keyboard stroke would be easier and faster (easier on the brain and easier on time to accomplish).

Programming is easy...check a "state" of program (already known for other reasons), the keystroke goes to a table and activates an action that already exists and would otherwise be invoked some other "long" way.

Not needed for everything...just the most frequent things...like "render"...did I mention that before?...yes!!

Doug.S

PS....using both mouse and keystrokes is also ergonomically good for you...to change hand position and motion...to reduce fatigue and damage to your body

[Doug.S]

attached is a list of current keyboard shortcuts -

Thanks again as some of these are very useful.

I'm working with making my own master list and reference "card" for my frequent uses

You missed a couple and some are invalid so I assume you got these from an Envisioneer file...

Missing:   V,R    and V,V

TFP needs:  V,3,P    V,3,O   V,3,C

NFG (do not work, probably Envisioneer):   V,Q     V,3,C   F,I,A     T,H,D   T,H,W     T,Y,I       (But V,3,C should work; bug?)


Doug.S

[Doug.S]

Using the "list" from Dave.T I selected ones I use a lot (but not memorized as yet...tho they are mostly very logical)

I made a "cheat sheet" printed on 4"x6" card-stock and keep it handy next to PC

see attached .jpg if you wish to print for yourself

Doug.S

[bbqboyee]

As an avid TurboCAD user and a new TFP user, the missing shortcuts that I find almost unbearable to do without are the ones that would seem to be the easiest to implement: tying the '+' and '-' (plus and minus) keys to the "zoom-in" and "zoom-out" functions.  I mean come on; what could be more obvious?   

[bbqboyee]

Oh, and how could I forget: why on EARTH don't the arrow keys have any effect, at least in the 2D views?

[Allan Chesney]

Steve,

The Arrow keys do have an effect - they will move whatever you have selected (in 2D or 3D views), in the direction of the arrow.  It is referred to as Nudging and the distance of the Nudge is set in Setting /Program Settings /Drawing Aids.  It is VERY useful if set to a very short distance for moving things very close together so they line up precisely.  I have mine set to 1 mm all the time for this purpose. Presumably yours is set to very small too, the fact that you had not noticed it work. You can change it to whatever works best for you.

Allan

[bbqboyee]

Hi Allan,

Thanks for the response, but I'm speaking about when there is nothing selected.  In TurboCAD this has the effect of scrolling the viewing window over the area being viewed.  This seems like a pretty obvious behavior to me; I was very surprised to find that it had no effect in TFP.

[Allan Chesney]

Steve,

Right, and I agree with you. It would be very useful. Some of the other methods of moving are a bit fiddley.

Allan