About the User Experience

Overview

At its core, the user interface concept offers a highly intuitive environment. By making every command accessible through the action bar, users have a highly predictable environment where the most common commands automatically emerge in the Selection Bar when an element is created or selected. The main enhancements include:

Automatic emergence of all relevant commands in the Selection Bar when selecting an element;
Permanent placement of the Selection Panel for more advanced commands;
Ease of modifications thanks to immersive 3D handles and editors;
Simplified validation by clicking in empty space, selecting a new element, or launching a new command.

User Experience and Interactions


Common Features	Description	Icon
Action Bar	The action bar places every Natural Shape command in a readily accessible location for intuitive design and modification.
Selection Panel	The Selection Panel lets you use more advanced commands.	-
Selection Bar	The Selection Bar automatically emerges when a geometry is selected. In addition to displaying information about the current selection, it provides access to a set of relevant commands by propagating the selection tool.
Selection propagation	When a selection is extended out of a command, the content of the action bar, Selection Bar, and available handles are updated. When a selection is extended during a command, the current command is validated and selection propagation is applied to previously highlighted elements. Available commands are ready to be launched.

Interactions


Interactions	Explanation

Manipulators	Manipulators offer a way for users to directly interact with their geometry by automatically emerging when an element is selected. They suggest the most appropriate commands based on that selection. If the element's type and characteristics permit, you can perform an operation directly within the handle function, otherwise, the Selection Bar appears so that you can select the most suitable command. When multiple elements are selected, the options in the Selection Bar offer only applicable commands to the specific elements. The default handles are clickable when a command is launched. Upon clicking, the associated editor in the Selection Panel automatically displays values specific to the selection, enabling you to modify any relative values from the keyboard.
Picker	Multiple pickers capture a scene's information. They are the axis, length, angle, reference, and point pickers: The axis picker captures a vector direction from a geometric element such as an edge direction or a normal planar face. The length picker captures the value of a length from a geometric element, an element supporting declarative information (such as a chamfer), or from a distance constraint. The angle picker captures the value of an angle from an element supporting declarative information (such as a chamfer or draft) or from an angle's constraint. The reference picker defines a ruler's new reference for the current transformation or from a geometric element. The point picker captures a new point.
Boolean Operations	Boolean operations occur in the event of clashing and offer four dedicated options for each command in the Selection Panel: Union Intersect Remove No Merge Note: Use these operations to generate a single body resulting from the intersection.
Interrupt	An interrupt feature occurs automatically to inhibit sequential updates from taking place. This is particularly useful for complex parts that could be subject to insufficient performance because of their complexity.
Validation	There are multiple ways to validate in-process operations. You can click geometry, a command icon, or anywhere in the empty space to start a new command. When selecting geometry, the Selection Bar and most suitable command handles appear.

Constraints and Supports

You can edit and create constraint supports directly in the Supports section of the Selection Panel. The panel to edit constraints appears when you select the 3D constraint or its node in the tree.


Selection Panel	Description
	Constraint
	Supports
	Contract for selected support

Note: Contract for selected support is displayed only in cases where different locations are available for the selected support.

The panel to edit constraints appears when you select the 3D constraint or its node in the tree.

A REROUTE command is used during the editing of a 3D constraint.

It is possible to select the constraint location based on the selected support. For example:


Selection Panel	Description
	ON AXIS
	ON CENTER
	ON FARTHEST ELEMENT
	ON NEAREST ELEMENT

Note: The constraint is validated by selecting the geometry. The REROUTE command appears to switch between supports and the

is used to select a new geometry.

Move Commands

Natural Shape uses a specific Robot and handles as move commands that enhance the User Experience. These graphical handles help you to translate and rotate geometries along three different directions while rulers provide added precision.


Handles	Description
	Robot axis handle focused on the V direction and a moved Vertex in the middle.
	Length ruler focused on the V direction.
	Reference handle.

Table 1. Color Coded Indicators
Direction/Rotation	Planar Translation	Color
W	UV
V	UW
U	VW

The Robot handle is composed of three direction handles along its local U, V, and W directions. In addition, there are three rotation handles around the U, V, and W directions as well as three planar translation handles along the UV, VW, and UW planes.


Handle	Description
	Robot axis handle focused on the W direction.
	Planar handles are inside of the rotation handles.
	Arc circles represent rotation handles.

Note: You can also edit each Position and Rotation value directly in the Selection panel to the right.

Direct access to the various handles is possible by clicking the Move command in the selection bar after selecting a volume, surface, or face.

Move Command Selection Panel and Functionality

The Selection Panel of the Move command provides a multitude of functions. The following tables describe each section.

Table 2. Geometry Section
Command		Description
Duplication	MOVE A COPY	Duplicates a moved object.
Flip along U		Flips the moved object around U.
Flip along V		Flips the moved object around V.
Flip along W		Flips the moved object around W.

Table 3. Translate Section
Position		Description
MOVE TO		Moves to picked position.
u		Aligns U to picked position.
v		Aligns V to picked position.
w		Aligns W to picked position.

Table 4. Rotate Section
Rotate		Description
ROTATE TO		Rotate to picked position.
u		Lets you pick a rotation angle value in 3D.
v		Lets you pick a rotation angle value in 3D.
w		Lets you pick a rotation angle value in 3D.

Table 5. Robot Section
Command		Description
Location		Lets you use the center of gravity as a new robot position to start a manipulation from there. Lets you pick a new robot position in 3D to start a manipulation from there.
Orientation		Lets you use the global axis system as a new robot orientation to start a manipulation from there. Lets you use the selection as a new robot orientation to start a manipulation from there. Lets you pick a new robot orientation in 3D to start a manipulation from there.
Reference		Lets you use the current position as a length reference.
Apply next operations only to robot.		Reorients the robot to start a manipulation from there.