PowerCADD Forum

Looking for a keystroke to activate the Move Dialog Box.
Not to execute the command just to enter the dialog box so I can begin to type new move data.

When I open the PowerCADD Preferences >> Commands >> Menus >> Edit the Move . . . menu item does not appear !!! only the Move menu item does

Does my memory serve me was there ever a Move... menu item present in the Commands area

I am a big user of the Tab key to enter the Edit Dialog Box - once an item is selected hit the Tab Key and I am in the dialog box ready for more keystroking and tabbing

The Move you seem to be referring to a Floating Window - NOT - a menu command (i.e. not in the Edit menu...)

So, to set a key command for the Move Window (which is a sneak peek into the Move Dialog box accessed from the Edit menu > Move...), open the Preferences > Commands dialog like you have already, but choose Menus > WINDOW > then choose Move (screen shot attached)

Then assign the desired key command (e.g. Control + Command + M )

Close the Preferences dialog and the assigned key command can then be used to open and close the Move Window just like pressing TAB opens the Edit Window

it can get confusing as there's a Move command (edit menu), a move points tool (tool palette) and the Move Floating Window which essentially is a peek into the Move command's various dialog box options.

I hope that helps
Cheers
Huc

Thanks for the well crafted response but for me this does not solve the problem I was looking to solve . . .

I was trying to get a single keystroke to activate the MOVE DIALOG BOX (whether open or closed) and at the same time ACTIVATE the first entry area in the DIALOG BOX in the same manner that the TAB BUTTON works in the EDIT DIALOG BOX - thus not having to use the mouse:

Recap: The TAB BUTTON works in three ways with the EDIT DIALOG BOX:
- If the EDIT DIALOG BOX is not open it will open it up and ACTIVATE the first area for data entry - no mouse required
- If the EDIT DIALOG BOX is open it will ACTIVATE the first area for data entry - no mouse required
- Hitting the Tab button again will cause the other areas to ACTIVATE within the dialog box - no mouse required

The MOVE DIALOG BOX when only assigned to a "single keystroke" - like the letter "M" works only one way:
- If the MOVE DIALOG BOX is open or closed it just executes the criteria that is set up in the MOVE DIALOG BOX

The MOVE DIALOG BOX when assigned to a "special leading character" and a letter like "M" works only one way
- It just toggles the Move Dialog Box to open or close

As you may be able to see I try to use the keyboard as much as possible - fast and accurate - unlike a mouse!!

Why not just keep the "move" box on your open window?

I always have the Move Window open along with several others . . .

My quest was to select an item with the mouse and then use a keystroke to place the cursor into the open Move Window

To act just like the TAB button works for the open Edit Window - you select an item and hit TAB and the the first field in the Edit Window is activated and then you use the TAB button to bounce between the available fields in the Edit Window! All the while using the keyboard to make entries.

Whenever I can I use keystrokes as a mouse is slow and inaccurate as opposed to keystrokes!! With a large monitor I spend a lot of time running the mouse around the screen once an item is selected. This is true for many programs both on the MAC and WINDOWS side.

I get into a rhythm using keystrokes that improves my productivity and interaction with software in general!

Rant off . . .

Hi Dan,

What you're asking can't currently be done in PowerCADD. The programmers would have to set the variables in each floating window as a definable item for a keystroke. At the moment the Tab key only jumps into the Edit window unless you actually click into a field in another floating window.

Would use of 'Nudge' partially solve your problem? You only need to set its value once and then when you select an object you can use any of the arrow keys to move the object by that amount.

David

Hi Dan,

In the Preferences window, under Commands, scroll down the Active Commands list and assign a new keystroke to the Move... command. I've added Option-M in the attached image but you can add whatever you want. Then hitting that keystroke will activate the Move window if it's closed and jump straight into the first edit field. You'll have to Tab to the second field but at least that's a keystroke.

Derek

Derek,

Thank you - as this is a confirmation of what I have used in the past.

However my issue at hand is that I am missing the "Move..." menu selection as noted below when trying to add it to Keystroke Commands!!

Not sure why "Move..." is missing - anyone know how to get it back.

And while I am in the subject of keystoke commands - I seem to recall there was a way to print out your keystroke commands - any help would be appreciated!!

Is it possibly related to something not being checked in Loader, or possibly your version of PC? (I'm running 9.1.10 and I see both "move" and "move..." in my Commands window.)

Well a quick note to PCADD Technical Support and a very quick response from Todd showing how to modify the PowerCADD 9 Key Commands file solved my problem.

Now a keystroke allows the Move ... dialog box to activate the first field without needing to mouse over on the dialog box.

For me this was a big deal.

Thanks Todd