User interface

The CADMATIC P&ID application window includes the following main elements.

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1. Customizable Quick access toolbar.
2. Title row, displaying <diagram name>/<workspace name> – <application version>.
3. Button for accessing the Online help.
4. Ribbon toolbar, consisting of tabs with command buttons (some including a drop-down menu) arranged into tool groups.
5. The default location for the Properties pane, Object templates pane, and Markups pane.
6. Status bar, displaying information fields on the left and in the middle and command buttons on the right.
7. The default location for the Messages pane.
8. Context menus, opened by right-clicking the active diagram.
9. Working area, shows the open diagrams.

User interface elements are described below.

• User interface
  • Quick access toolbar
  • Tabs
  • Working area
  • Properties
  • Object templates
  • Markups
  • Messages
  • Status bar
  • Context menus

Quick access toolbar

You can add your most frequently used commands to the Quick Access Toolbar, and remove them if usage decreases. If a command you add to the quick access toolbar includes a menu in the ribbon toolbar, then the menu is available also in the Quick Access Toolbar.

• You can add items to the Quick Access Toolbar by right-clicking the command in the File menu or the ribbon toolbar and selecting Add to quick access bar.

  

• You can remove an item from the Quick Access Toolbar by right-clicking the item, either in its original location or in the Quick Access Toolbar, and selecting Remove from quick access bar.

  You cannot remove the default commands: Undo and Redo.

  

• You can position the Quick Access Toolbar above or below the ribbon toolbar, and minimize or restore the ribbon toolbar, through the customization menu.

  

Tabs

The ribbon toolbar consists of the File menu and tabs that contain toolbar buttons arranged into groups.

• File menu
• Home tab
• Data tab
• Drafting tab
• Import & Export tab
• Tools tab

Working area

The working area is where the actual diagrams are created and viewed.

When you have several diagrams open, use the menu of the Windows status bar button to switch between the diagrams or to arrange the diagram windows.

Right-clicking the active diagram opens a menu with commands that are applicable in the given context. All context-menu commands are described in Context menus, and object type specific context menus are shown in P&ID object types.

Properties

The Properties pane shows the database data of the selected object and allows editing the data.

For more details, see Property Pane.

Object templates

The Object templates pane includes the available object templates that define diagram symbols and connection lines.

For more details, see Template Pane.

Markups

The Markups pane shows markups added to diagrams in CADMATIC eShare.

For more details, see Markups Pane.

Messages

The Messages pane can display various messages such as the commands the user selects, the information the program shows to the user, and error messages.

For more details, see Message Pane.

Status bar

The bottom of the application window displays the status bar.

On the left, the status bar displays fields that can show the following information:

1. The prompt shown to the user while performing a command, such as 'Pick objects to set', and 'Ready' after the command has finished.

2. The active diagram's name, if several diagrams are open.

3. The active diagram's editing status, such as 'Browse', 'Edit', or 'Modified'.

4. The active diagram's origin point.

5. The selected object's origin point, or the cursor location if Track location in status bar is enabled.

6. The cursor's restricted status, such as 'X-fixed', 'Y-fixed', or 'Locked to line'.

7. 'GRID' is shown when the grid is displayed (F7).

8. 'ORTHO' is shown when cursor movements prefer orthogonal directions (F8).

9. 'SNAP' is shown when snapping to grid points is enabled (F9).

10. 'Automatic Insert' is shown when the active insertion command will automatically restart until the user cancels it (Esc).

On the right, the status bar displays action buttons:

• – Turns both grid and snapping on or off. When enabled, the grid is displayed and the cursor snaps to the grid.

• – Turns Ortho on or off. When enabled, the program tries to keep connection lines orthogonal (aligned with grid points).

• – Opens a menu with the following items:

  • A list of open diagrams. Select a diagram from the list to make that diagram the active diagram.

  • Tile Horizontally – Select this to arrange the open diagrams horizontally.

  • Tile Vertically — Select this to arrange the open diagrams vertically.

  • Arrange – Select this to open a dialog where you can arrange the layout of the open diagram windows by dragging.

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• – Shows the Message Pane if it is hidden.

Context menus

Context menu for selecting objects | Context menu for one object | Context menu for multiple objects | Context menu for selecting objects in commands

Context menu for selecting objects

When nothing is selected and there is no active command, right-clicking the diagram opens a context menu with the following commands.

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Command	Shortcut	Description
Select objects intersecting a box		Allows selecting objects that are partly or completely inside a rectangle defined by selecting two corner points. The options Allow selecting drafting objects and Allow selecting diagram objects define what this command can select.
Select objects inside a box		Allows selecting objects that are completely inside a rectangle defined by selecting two corner points. The options Allow selecting drafting objects and Allow selecting diagram objects define what this command can select.
Select objects connecting two points		Allows selecting diagram objects, connection lines, and connected labels along a route defined by selecting two connection points. There can be several possible routes between the selected points. In the Accept Route dialog, selecting Yes accepts the currently selected route, and selecting No tries to include additional routes in the selection. Show/hide image
Select by… System		Opens a dialog for selecting all objects that use a specific system. Show/hide image
Select by… Line		Opens a dialog for selecting all objects that use a specific line. Show/hide image
Select by… Type of object		Opens a dialog for selecting all objects that represent a specific object type or object sub-type. Show/hide image
Paste	Ctrl+V	Pastes the contents of the clipboard into the active diagram.
Allow selecting drafting objects		When enabled, selections can include drafting objects.
Allow selecting diagram objects		When enabled, selections can include diagram objects.
2D-digitize		Opens the 2D-digitize menu.
Move to nearest grid point	F6	Moves the cursor to the nearest grid point.
Grid	F7	Shows or hides the grid.
Ortho	F8	Enables or disables cursor movements being restricted to orthogonal directions. Ortho is only applied to the cursor in relevant contexts, such as when moving a diagram object.
Grid, Snap & Cursor step settings	F10	Opens the Grid, Snap & Cursor Step dialog. See Grid, Snap & Cursor step settings (F10). Snap is only applied to the cursor in relevant contexts, such as when moving a diagram object.
Cancel	Esc	Cancels the context menu.

2D-digitize

The 2D-digitize context menu includes the following commands.

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Context menu for one object

When a single diagram object is selected and there is no active command, right-clicking the diagram opens a context menu with the following commands.

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Main-level commands

In the context menu of diagram objects, the main level can contain the following items. Object type determines which of these menu items are shown.

Browse menu commands

The Browse node of the context menu of diagram objects can contain the following commands.

Context menu for multiple objects

When multiple diagram objects are selected and there is no active command, the context menu includes the following commands.

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Context menu for selecting objects in commands

When using a command that requires objects to be selected, the context menu includes the following commands.

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Command	Shortcut	Description
Select/Deselect	Space	Selects the object under the cursor.
Insert previous set	P	Re-selects a previously selected set of objects, if still possible.
Objects inside a box		Allows selecting objects that are partly or completely inside a rectangle defined by selecting two corner points.
Objects intersecting a box		Allows selecting objects that are completely inside a rectangle defined by selecting two corner points.
Objects connecting two points		Allows selecting diagram objects, connection lines, and connected labels along a route defined by selecting two connection points. There can be several possible routes between the selected points. In the Accept Route dialog, selecting Yes accepts the currently selected route, and selecting No tries to include additional routes in the selection. Show/hide image
Select by… System		Opens a dialog for selecting a system, and then allows the user to define a rectangle by selecting two corner points. Accepting the selection selects the objects that are completely inside the rectangle and use the given system. Show/hide image
Select by… Line		Opens a dialog for selecting a line, and then allows the user to define a rectangle by selecting two corner points. Accepting the selection selects the objects that are completely inside the rectangle and use the given line. Show/hide image
Select by… Type of object		Opens a dialog for selecting an object type or sub-type, and then allows the user to define a rectangle by selecting two corner points. Accepting the selection selects the objects that are completely inside the rectangle and represent the given object (sub-)type. Show/hide image
Highlight selection	L	When this option is enabled, the objects that are selected in the active diagram are highlighted.
Undo	U	Reverses the previous action.
Done	Enter	Accepts the action.
Cancel	Esc	Cancels the context menu.