User Interface

Learn how to use and customize the user interface to increase productivity and simplify your workflow.

This video demonstrates the following:

  1. Open a model.
  2. Open and tile views of the model.
  3. Modify element properties.
  4. Use tools on the ribbon and the Quick Access toolbar.
  5. Change the view display using tools on the View Control Bar.

Tour of the user interface

Transcript

To get started, you can open a project or family, or create either one from a template. You can also open a recently used file by clicking the project. The user interface provides all of the tools you need to work in a model.

The Project Browser organizes the views, schedules, and sheets of the current project. To display a different view, expand a group, and double-click the view title. Display the model in a single view, or open several views, and click Tile on the View tab to see the views at the same time.

When you select an element in the drawing, you can modify its properties on the Properties palette. For example, use the Type Selector to change the door type from single to double, and that change is reflected in all of the views. Use view controls in the drawing area to manipulate the model and see your changes.

The tools you need to design the building model are grouped by task on the ribbon. When an element is selected, object-specific tools are available on a contextual tab. You can customize the Quick Access toolbar to display the tools that you use most often. For example, right-click a tool, and click Add to Quick Access toolbar.

The View Control Bar provides options for changing the view display, such as the scale or visual style.

To save changes, use the File tab on the ribbon, where file-related tasks are located.

The user interface is designed to simplify your workflow, and with a few clicks, you can customize the interface to support the way that you work.