Toolbox

All functions are applied to a piece using the right mouse button. This leaves the left mouse button available for sliding pieces into the marker.

Special keys are available on the numeric keypad. Highlight the piece with your cursor, and select the functions from the keypad.

To apply an active toolbar function to a group of pieces, use the marquee selection box. If a piece is not completely surrounded by the marquee selection box, the system does not recognize it as part of the group.

Use this function to have the system automatically arrange and place a group of pieces that you slide into the marker area.

NOTE: When you draw a selection box, make sure that you completely enclose all the pieces you want to select. If any part of a piece is outside the box, the piece is not included in the group.

To select and slide multiple pieces into a marker

1. Click Auto Slide in the Toolbox menu.

2. With the right mouse button, draw a marquee selection box around the pieces in the icon menu or piece in the work area that you want to Auto Slide.

3. Once selected, hold down the left mouse button and slide the pieces toward the marker. The system places the pieces into the marker based on the setting chosen on the submenu (area, height, or length).

This function remains active until another one is selected from the Toolbox.

There are three Toolbox Modifiers used with the marquee selection box that affect how this function operates: Placed, Unplaced, Icons

Auto Slide Submenu Options

The Auto Slide function has additional options that allow you to further manipulate how pieces are placed into a marker. To access these options, click the arrow to the right of the function icon in the Toolbox. A drop down menu will display. Click the option to select it. Draw a marquee around the pieces with the right mouse button to apply the function to the pieces.

Primary Sort (one is always selected)

Area slide/place pieces, sorting largest area first

Length slide/place pieces, sorting largest (X-axis) first

Height slide/place pieces sorting tallest (Y-axis) first

Secondary Sort (can choose, or leave unchecked if desired)

X Alter slide/place pieces alternating with not flip and X-flips.

Y Alter slide/place pieces alternating with not flip and Y-flips

X,Y Alter Slide/place pieces alternating with not flip and X, Y flips.

Area X Alter

Length Y Alter

Height XY Alter

Area

Slide pieces into the marker starting with the largest piece.

Length

Slide pieces into the marker starting with the longest piece.

Height

Slide pieces into the marker starting with the widest piece.

X Alter

Alternate between placing pieces with no flip (as digitized) and placing pieces with an X flip. You can specify an X flip by defining it in a model or by assigning a lay limit flip code.

Y Alter

Alternate between placing pieces with no flip (as digitized) and placing pieces with a Y flip. You can specify a Y flip by defining it in a model or by assigning a lay limit flip code in Order Entry.

XY Alter

Alternate between placing pieces with no flip (as digitized) and placing pieces with an XY flip. You can specify an XY flip by defining it in a model or by assigning a lay limit flip code.

Use this function to create a temporary marriage between pieces chosen with the marquee selection box. This means that the system maintains the current position of each piece in the group when you slide them into a marker. The Group Slide function works the same way as if you created a marriage manually, by sliding the pieces in the marriage but then deletes the marriage immediately after the slide.

To select and slide multiple pieces into a marker, with the right mouse button, draw a selection box around the pieces. Once selected, you can move them into the marker.

NOTE: When you draw a selection box, make sure that you completely enclose all the pieces you want to select. If any part of a piece is outside the box, the piece is not included in the group.

Use this function to move a piece in the direction you indicate with the vector until it touches against another piece or the marker edge. When you release the mouse button, the piece is placed edge to edge against the closest piece without overlapping. This offers you a more controlled way to place pieces, as opposed to sliding, because you indicate the direction of movement with the vector

To butt a piece against another

1. From the Right Mouse Toolbox, select Butt.

2. Using the right mouse button, select the piece that you want to move.

3. Drag the vector in the direction you want the piece to move in order to have it butt up against another.

4. Right click to complete the placement.

This function remains active until another one is selected from the Toolbox.

Use this function to:

• place a portion of a piece over a portion of another piece,

• place a portion of a piece over the edge of a marker,

• put a measured gap between two pieces.

The default overlap displays in the OL field of the status area. You can change this amount by clicking the field and entering a new amount. A positive number overlaps pieces and a negative number places a gap between them. The figure shows how the piece on the right overlaps the piece on the left.

To place an overlapped piece

1. From the Toolbox, choose Overlap.

2. Right click on the piece you want to place.

3. Indicate the direction of the overlap. With the right mouse button, click and drag to create a vector in the direction of the piece (or marker edge) you want to overlap.

4. Right click again and the system places the piece. The amount of overlap or gap depends upon the amount entered in the OL field.

This function will remain active until you select another one from the Toolbox.

NOTE: If the piece overlaps any other piece, an OL displays in the status area beside the size field.

The Step Piece keys (=, [, ], ‘, or the icon on the toolbox) allow small controlled movements of pieces in Easy Marking. The = key steps a piece up, the [ key steps a piece to the left, ] steps piece to the right, and ‘ steps a piece down.

Use this function to line up two placed pieces in the marker so that their endpoints are even. This function works best with pieces that are similar in shape, such as rectangles, and with pieces that can be lined up along common lines. When aligning two pieces, the system "butts" the moving piece up against the placed piece. Pieces can only be moved vertically and horizontally. You cannot align pieces that are matched or are part of a marriage.

Note: The two endpoint lines must be within five degrees of being parallel in order to align.

To align two placed pieces

1. From the Toolbox, choose the Align icon.

2. Right click on the fixed, or nonmoving, placed piece whose endpoint you want to match with another piece.

3. Select the piece you want to match up to the fixed piece. Click and hold down the left button and draw a vector to the line on the fixed piece. When you release the mouse button, the piece slides into place.

• If the two endpoints are not within five degrees of being parallel, the system prompts you with the error message that there is not a common line.

• If you attempt to slide the piece in the wrong direction, the system prompts you with the error message that it cannot determine the direction the piece is to be moved.

This function remains active until another one is selected from the Toolbox.

Use this function to turn a piece to its next allowed position, based on how the Piece Options field was completed in the Lay Limits Parameter Table.

If the system prompts, "Override Required, this option was not allowed for in the table," select Settings/Global or Toolbox Override from the Toolbox Modifiers to work around this restriction.

If no flip was allowed for, the system rotates the piece 180 degrees. Clicking once on a flipped piece returns it to its original orientation.

Note: This function should only be used when working with face to face fabric, not with face-up fabrics.

To flip a piece

1. From the Toolbox, select Flip.

2. Right click on the piece you want to flip.

3. Every time you click on that piece, it flips to the next quadrant allowed.

This function remains active until another one is selected from the Toolbox.

Use this function to tilt and rotate a piece. The amount of rotation is restricted by the type of piece and the type fabric you are working with. You have the choice of entering an exact rotation amount in the TL field in the status area. Or, using the options in the Rotate submenu, you can apply present amounts.

If entering an amount in the TL field, each time you right click on a piece, it is rotated that amount in incremental steps. A rotation limit can be set up in the Order Entry Lay Limits Form. You cannot exceed the limit unless you override it by selecting the GL Override modifier or TB Override.

Rotate Submenu Options

The Rotate function has additional options that allow you to further manipulate how pieces are rotated. Access the submenu by clicking the arrow to the right of the function name in the Toolbox. Click the option to select it. Right click to apply the function to the selected pieces.

45 CW

Rotate the piece clockwise 45 degrees.

45 CCW

Rotate the piece counterclockwise 45 degrees.

90 CW

Rotate the piece clockwise 90 degrees.

90 CCW

Rotate the piece counterclockwise 90 degrees.

180 ROT

Rotate the piece 180 degrees.

Tilt CW

Tilt the piece clockwise. To specify how much you want the piece tilted, enter a numerical value in the TL field in the status area.

Tilt CCW

Tilt the piece. To specify how much you want the piece tilted, enter a numerical value in the TL field in the status area.

Variable

Tilt a piece in marker making in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Position the cursor on the piece to be rotated and right click. Slowly move the vector in the direction you want to tilt the piece. The amount of tilt that is allowed is shown in the status field. To override this, select GL Override, or TB Override from the Toolbox. Left click to set the position. Right click to set to 0 rotation

Reset Tilt

Allows you to undo all the tilts performed and return the piece to its original orientation.

Power Rotate Clockwise

Rotates a piece in a clockwise direction around a selected point on the piece until it touches another piece or the marker boundary.

Power Rotate Counterclockwise

Rotates a piece in a counter clockwise direction around a selected point on the piece until it touches another piece or the marker boundary.

This function allows you to place or unplace a selected piece located in the marker. You cannot overlap pieces unless you select GL Override or TB Override.

To place or unplace pieces

1. From the Toolbox, select Place.

2. Right click on the piece you want to place, or unplace. You may select pieces individually or draw a marquee around a group of pieces. If the piece is not matched, it will place it exactly where you put it. If it is a matched piece, it will place it a the closest match point.

3. For pieces that are already placed, right clicking on unplaces it and you can move it to a new location.

4. By alternating between the two mouse buttons, you can slide pieces into the marker using the left mouse button or place pieces using the right.

Use this function to apply dynamic blocking or buffering to a piece during marker making. With static blocking, pieces are affected automatically based on the information defined in the marker order. With dynamic buffering, you can selectively choose to apply blocking or buffering to each individual piece. If you already applied blocking or buffering to the piece, choosing this function removes it.

Note: The amount of blocking or buffering applied must be pre-defined in the Order's Blocking/Buffering Table.

To apply dynamic buffering

1. From the Toolbox, choose Block/Buffer.

2. Right click on the piece to apply (or remove) blocking or buffering. Depending upon how the piece was set up on the Order Editor, a BL (Block) or a BU (Buffer) displays in the status area when the piece is highlighted.

If the piece you select is married, the marriage is dissolved.

Points to remember…

• A split piece may be blocked or buffered as long as it was not originally blocked or buffered.

• In turn, if a blocked or buffered piece is split, the resulting pieces may NOT be blocked or buffered.

This function remains active until another one is selected from the Toolbox.

Use this function to divide a piece along a fixed line that was previously digitized with, or assigned, an internal label of P (Piecing Line). Assigning a line the label of P gives you the option of splitting the piece during marker making. You can also use Split to join previously split pieces back together.

Use this function to close (fold) an open mirrored piece at its mirror line or reopen a folded piece.

To fold a piece

1. From the Toolbox, choose Fold.

2. Right click the piece you want to either open or fold. If the piece is married, the marriage is dissolved.

This function remains active until another one is selected from the Toolbox.

Note: This function only works on a piece created as a mirrored piece. In addition, the Piece Option field in the Lay Limits Form for the piece must be completed with an F and the Marker Fabric Spread field must be set to either Tubular or Book Fold.

Tubular Fold/Piece Count Adjustment

When folding pieces in tubular markers, piece counts can be automatically updated when using folded pieces on tubular goods. Choices allow keeping one piece, or adding an additional piece when folding. The piece counts are maintained to ensure the proper number of pieces in the completed marker. If a folded piece needs to be opened again, a prompt will ask whether or not to delete the additional piece that was added. The Tubular folding option for the added piece is located in the Edit/Setting options. The function is activated by choosing Fold from the Marking Toolbox.

Use this function to center a piece in the middle of any open area in the marker. This can be used to place pieces inside internal cutouts of pieces defined with internal label H.

To center a piece

1. From the Toolbox, choose Center.

2. Right click on the piece you want to center. If the piece you choose is married, the marriage is dissolved.

This function remains active until another one is selected from the Toolbox.

Using the Fit Piece (/ on the numeric toolpad, or the icon on the toolbox) fit pieces into open spaces that would be considered a tight area, or difficult to slide into.

Float moves a piece away from another piece the amount that has been set in the float allowance (Edit/Settings). Unlike the Step function, float may move a piece in the X or Y direction and can only be used once per piece. The slash F key on the keypad can also be used to float a piece.

You can change matching from within Easy Marking by using one of two dialog boxes: Matching Lines or Matching Rules.

The method of matching you are currently using determines which dialog box the system displays.

Select Matching in the Toolbox.

To access one of these dialog boxes, select the piece you want to work with and right click. The dialog box displays only if the piece chosen is set up with matching. You can move the dialog box by clicking the title bar and dragging the dialog box to a new location on the screen.

Only one change can be made at a time. Select one of the following:

OK - Saves the changes and closes the dialog box.

Cancel - Closes the dialog box without saving any changes.

Default - Returns the fields to their default settings.

Use this modifier to rotate a piece off its horizontal axis for placement in a marker in when Slide or Butt functions are used. The piece rotates just enough so that its shape fits up against the piece you are sliding to. Pieces can be rotated up to the maximum amount specified in the Tilt/Rotate field of the Order Entry Lay Limits Form, which has a maximum setting allowance of 45 degrees.

Use this modifier to override restrictions and limitations specified in the Order Entry Lay Limits Editor. This setting remains on until it is selected again. All overrides should be used with caution. Overrides are recorded and will appear in marker reports.

Use this modifier to override restrictions and limitations specified in the Lay Limits Form. This setting remains on until a slide operation is performed or another Toolbox function is chosen. All overrides should be used with caution. Overrides are recorded and will appear in marker reports.

When using a marquee selection box to apply a particular function to a group of pieces, such as Auto Slide, this modifier allows you to limit the selection to include only placed pieces. The active toolbox function can then be applied to these pieces.

For example, if you turn Placed on and do not activate Icons and Unplaced, only placed pieces are selected if you draw a marquee selection box around a marker. You can now move the pieces out of the marker and then slide them back into it, without disturbing the unplaced pieces.

When using a marquee selection box to apply a particular function to a group of pieces, such as Auto Slide, this modifier allows you to limit the selection to include only unplaced pieces. The active toolbox function can then be applied to these pieces.

For example, if you turn Unplaced on and do not activate Icons and Placed, only unplaced pieces are selected if you draw a marquee selection box around a marker. You can now move the pieces out of the marker and then slide them back into it, without disturbing the placed pieces.

. When icon menu is active pieces remaining in the icon menu may be selected and manipulated with the Right Mouse function.