Display Options

Selecting Settings / Display Options from any menu where it is available displays the dialog box above.  These settings are key to the function of n4ce and a moment should be taken to understand each of their functions. 

• Units

  • Lengths: Defines the major unit used to display linear dimensions in grid views, dialog windows and reports, unless overridden by a specific tool.  For instance the default is meters, but when adding CAD dimensions to a floor plan, it may be necessary to set the dimension to mm for very small openings.
  • Angles: Defines the major angle unit to be used to display angular dimensions in grid views, dialog windows and reports.
    
    

• Decimals

  • Defines the number of decimal places to be used in grid views, dialog windows and reports for Length, Angles, Areas and Volumes.

• Curves

  • Bi-Arc Fitting:  This option defines how n4ce renders curved line work such as curve fitted polylines and curve fitted contours.  If this option is enabled then n4ce renders curved segments as a series of intersecting arcs.  This is much faster to redraw and generates a lot less data. If it is disabled, then n4ce draws curved segments as a series of very short straight lines, the length of which is controlled via the Curve Chord field.  Smaller numbers result in smoother curves, but many more nodes. 
    
    
    • Curve Chord: Defines the length of the chord used to draw arcs. Smaller values  improve the appearance of curves at the detriment of node count and possibly speed. 0.5m is the default value and offers a good compromise.
      

      Larger values - Less accurate, but faster to draw

      Smaller values - Better looking curves, but more data

    • Curve Offset: Defines a line simplification variable that is used to control the degree of curvature that is maintained before points are removed from polylines. Essentially for curved contours and curve fitted features, this tries to minimise the number of points along straighter segments, and keep them where there are significant changes in direction greater than this value stipulates.  This option can have a huge effect when combined with the bi-arc fitting option above.  Between these two options, huge savings in exported drawing sizes and screen redraw speed can be achieved. A value of 0 turns the tool off, otherwise, values around 0.1 can achieve good results and not remove too much data. 
      
      
• AutoSave 
  • Enabled: Allows the background autosave to operate and save a backup copy the current project.
  • Interval: If the enabled option is ticked, then this defines the time interval in minutes between which the autosave will make a backup of the current project into the Temp folder.
    
    
• CAD Move Preview: This option disables the redraw of CAD detail as it is either copied or moved. If a large number of objects are to be moved, then turning this off will make the copy or move process much easier to conduct.
• Cursor Scale: This allows you to change the cursor scale depending on your preference. Automatically saves when you close n4ce.