27 January 2013

Tip of the month! January: Grouping & saving objects



You spent some time on your plan, constructed a great looking wash basin or a stove but you don’t want to build it from scratch every time. No problem, simply group, save and reuse! Here’s how…


Grouping objects together to create a group / single object:

First select all the objects to be grouped by creating a selection window over them or holding down the shift key and selecting each one (my example below is wash basin made up of 6 single objects).




Now go to „Group” menu and select „Define By Name“.


Name the group as desired but preferably something meaningful as the same name is used for the object later when saving it. Palette CAD now treats this group as a single object so therefore we can now save it as such.


Saving self-created group / object

Select the group / object you wish to save and then go to the "Objects" menu and then select "Save Object". This opens the browser for object catalogues.





Background info: Basically a catalogue is the main, central folder. In a catalogue, you can create as many sub folders (files) as you wish. And in a file, you can save any number of objects.


We will do exactly that then, create a new catalogue and a file under it. Go to the left side of the browser, under the list of all the catalogues, and then press the right-hand button on your mouse. A menu will pop up, here select "New catalogue". Name it as desired, for example, “Self-Created Objects" and click on OK.

The catalogue "Self-Created Objects" has now been created. Alternatively, you can also use the default catalogue provided, "My Objects". 


It is not advised to save objects under existing branch specific catalogues, such as “Tiling” or “Wood”, for example, as these get updated, meaning old versions get deleted.

In our new catalogue “Self-Created Objects ", create a new file, for example "Wash Basins". Now look at the bar, which is displayed at the bottom.


Under "File" you must enter a name (in this case "Wash Basins”) in order for the "Save" feature to become selectable.


Field “Object” is where the name of the object is chosen, but it is normally copied from the name given to the group earlier.





Follow the above steps and then select  “Save“.


Job done!! Now you can use the newly made objects in all of your existing or future plans, so, what are you waiting for, get your creative hat on.



Greetings from Stuttgart,
Your Palette CAD-Blog Team






23 January 2013

January Blues

So it appears that after that little scare on 21/12/2012 the world still stands and we are still here. Good news I say! The holiday season is slowly getting left behind but I'm sure many of you like myself still feel the after effects long afterwards. January seems to go on forever which is weird as there is plenty to do so even the "longest month of the year" is not enough time to catch up on the aftermath of the holiday season.

Then we come to the new years resolutions. Here, I think, mine will bring many joy throughout 2013. I will start translating version 8 of Palette CAD into various languages before the end of January. Yes, that means as I write this super blog, we have a German version 8 that is ready to go, or version 8.04.156 to be precise. Although at this time I still cannot give any exact dates for finished translated versions, we are definitely one step closer and moving in the right direction. Following is the link to our YouTube channel where you can watch a few palette CAD 8 videos, I must confess that it is in German but will give you some idea of what to expect in the next few months: http://www.youtube.com/user/palettecadkanal?feature=results_main

So , what else is new at Palette CAD? Domestically we had a stand at Bau in Munich last week where we showcased version 8 of the program.  Internationally we will be at Kok in Wells, Austria from 29/01 until 01/02. Many of our European partners will be visiting, and I myself will be there, so if you want to meet the team please stop by our stand at hall 20, stand C 204. You can also find more information about the exhibition at www.kachelofenverband.at .

No new year starts without a look back at the previous one, so here are some fine examples of plans in Palette CAD 7 from our international users posted on our Facebook page. For your chance to get under the spotlight simply post your work at http://www.facebook.com/groups/164040557075439/ .

Keep warm this winter with Ofenbau Neuner from Katharina Schuchardt in Austria.

Mamma Mia, what wonderful kitchen design by Martin Stockner from Italy.

Palette Open proposal by Adrian Szulik from Poland.

Fantastic design, beautiful view by Miha Hrovat from Pečarstvo Hrovat in Slovenia.

Relax at sunset by Marianne Lüning from Sweden.


Finally, a  big thank you from all of us here at Palette CAD and together lets make 2013 a phenomenal year.


Greeting from Stuttgart,
Your Palette CAD-Blog Team