Tutorials DetailCraft help Reference
Keys and mouse actions
Every keyboard shortcut and mouse, trackpad and touch action in DetailCraft, from the code.
Written for DetailCraft 0.3. The same help is inside the app: press F1.
How keys are written in this help: Keys, mice and trackpads. On a Mac, ⌘Ctrl is the Command key; elsewhere it is Ctrl.
Tools
These work when the cursor is not in a text or number field.
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
| VV | Select |
| BB | Beam |
| CC | Column |
| RR | Brace |
| PP | Plate |
| FF | Footing |
| EscEsc | Cancel the first point of a beam, brace or plate, or a paste; press again to go back to Select; in Select, clear the selection. With the More menu open, close it |
| fn DeleteDelete or DeleteBackspace | Delete the selection (everything selected, in one undo step) |
File and edit
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
| ⌘SCtrl+S | Save the model (download). Works even while typing in a field |
| ⌘OCtrl+O | Open a model. Works even while typing in a field |
| ⌘ZCtrl+Z | Undo (outside text fields; inside one it undoes your typing) |
| ⌘YCtrl+Y or ⇧⌘ZCtrl+Shift+Z | Redo |
Copy and paste
These work when the cursor is not in a text or number field (there they copy, paste and select your text as usual). Each paste, cut, duplicate or delete is one undo step. More: Copy, paste and duplicate.
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
| ⌘CCtrl+C | Copy the selected members and footings (with their holes, copes and connections) |
| ⌘XCtrl+X | Cut: copy the selection, then delete it |
| ⌘VCtrl+V | Paste: the copy follows the pointer; click a grid intersection for it |
| ⇧⌘VCtrl+Shift+V | Paste in place: at the coordinates it was copied from |
| ⌘DCtrl+D | Duplicate: a copy at once, moved by the offset in DetailCraft settings |
| ⌘ACtrl+A | Select all: every member, connection and footing |
| EscEsc | Select none |
If you have selected text on the page (in a report table, say) and nothing in the model, ⌘CCtrl+C copies the text, as usual.
New, Sample and the exports have no keys; use the toolbar.
None of these keys do anything while a dialog (the shop drawing preview or a question) is open.
Fields and panels
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
| ReturnEnter or TabTab | Apply a typed value (each change is one undo step) |
| ReturnEnter in a Grids, Levels, Custom profile, hole or cope field | The same as choosing that form's button |
| ←← →→ | Move between the Problems, Bill of materials and Bending schedule tabs when a tab has focus |
| EscEsc | Close the shop drawing preview or a question dialog (the same as Cancel) |
Screen and help
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
| ⌃⇧FCtrl+Shift+F | Cycle normal, full screen, full screen with the bars hidden. Control on every computer, a Mac included |
| ⌘,Ctrl+, | Open Settings (DetailCraft settings) |
| EscEsc | Leave full screen |
| F1F1 | Open this help |
Mouse
| Action | In 3D | In Plan and Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Click | Select a part, or place at the nearest intersection when a placing tool is on (or paste there while pasting) | The same |
| ⇧Shift, ⌃Ctrl or ⌘Ctrl and click | Add the part to the selection, or take it out | The same |
| Drag with the left button | Turn the model | Pan |
| Drag with the right button | Pan | Pan |
| ⇧Shift, ⌃Ctrl or ⌘Ctrl and drag with the left button | Pan | Nothing |
| Wheel | Zoom toward the middle of the view | Zoom |
| Drag with the middle button | Zoom | Zoom |
Drop a .detailcraft.json file on the app | Open it | Open it |
A click only counts if the pointer moves less than about 5 pixels between press and release; a longer movement is a drag.
Trackpad
| Action | Does |
|---|---|
| Two-finger swipe up or down, or pinch | Zoom |
| Press and drag | Turn (3D) or pan (Plan and Elevation) |
| ⇧Shift and press and drag | Pan in 3D |
| Two-finger click | Right-click (there is no menu in the view) |
Touch
Touch works for looking around, selecting and placing. DetailCraft is not laid out for small touch screens, and the toolbar has no hover tips there.
| Action | In 3D | In Plan and Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Tap | Select, or place at the nearest intersection | The same |
| Drag with one finger | Turn | Pan |
| Drag with two fingers | Pan | Pan |
| Pinch | Zoom | Zoom |
Keys the browser keeps
Some shortcuts belong to the browser and no page can use them, for example ⌘WCtrl+W (close tab), ⌘TCtrl+T (new tab) and ⌘NCtrl+N (new window). If ⌘YCtrl+Y opens your browser's history instead of redoing, use ⇧⌘ZCtrl+Shift+Z.
Shortcuts reach DetailCraft only when the page has the keyboard. If a key does nothing, or the browser acts on it instead, click an empty part of the DetailCraft window first (for example after typing in the address bar).