The Options Tab

Use the Options tab to adjust 3D-Tool to your needs, activate 3D-Tool licenses, and get information on the program version and available updates.

Licensing

3D-Display Options

Preferences

Info

 Help

Licensing

Data Privacy
Show the 3D-Tool data privacy statement.

License Terms
Show the 3D-Tool End User License Agreement..

Licensing (not available in the Free Viewer)
Show the licensing dialog to request and enter 3D-Tool License and Demo Keys.
[Detailed description].

3D-Display Options

Change Background
Change the color and the gradient of the 3D-background.

  • Gradient background
    Display the background in a gradient that begins with the selected base color.
  • Top color intensity
    The slider adjusts the color intensity of the top color. Move it up for a brighter and down for a darker color.
  • Set as default
    Designate the current background as default.
  • Change color
    Set a base color for the background.
  • Update screen
    Apply all changes to the background. This way you can preview your settings without exiting the background dialog.

Change Wire Frame Angle (Default: 20)
Change the wire frame angle used for the display modes: Shaded/Edges, Wire Frame and Hidden Line. A line will be displayed at the edge between two triangles if their angle is greater than the wire frame angle. A small angle will create more lines than a large angle. The Set as default button designates the current wire frame angle as default.

Adjust Smoothing
Recalculate the smoothing for all models. To do so, enter an angle larger than "0". In shaded display, the edges of the visualization mesh are smoothed if the angle between the facts is smaller than the smooth angel. The larger an angle, the more the models will be smoothed. To prevent the models from being smoothed, reduce the angle to 0°.

Note:
The recalculation of the smooth vector overwrites the current smooth vectors and cannot be undone.

Preferences

The functions to change the language, to activate hardware acceleration, and to change the 3D-Tool preferences are located in the Preferences group of the Options tab.

Change Language
Change the language of 3D-Tool. Choose one of the available languages from the drop down list. The language will change immediately.

Preferences
Change the 3D-Tool preferences to your needs. A detailed description on all preferences can be found in the Preferences section of this manual.
[Detailed description]

Hardware Acceleration
Activate hardware acceleration for the current session. This will speed up the display.

All changes in 3D-Tool and other open programs should be saved before activating the hardware acceleration for the first time.

If there are strange effects after activating the hardware acceleration, it cannot be used.

  • Parts of the user interface are not shown or not shown correctly.
  • The model is not or is only partly shown.
  • The program crashes.
  • The program cannot be started.

In this case switch off the hardware acceleration or restart 3D-Tool. This is not a software bug but the result of an incompatible implementation of the OpenGL interface in the driver of the graphics card.

If there are no problems, the hardware acceleration can be set permanently through:
Options tab > Preferences group > Preferences button > Hardware.

If there are unexpected problems after this permanent activation and if you cannot switch off the acceleration, e.g. because 3D-Tool refuses to start then turn off the Hardware acceleration through:
Windows Start > Programs > 3D-Tool V 17 > Tools > OpenGl-Accelaration_Off.

Note
With 3D-Tool EXE-files, the hardware acceleration can be activated in the starting dialog of the EXE file or after start-up in the Options tab by clicking Hardware acceleration.

Tip
Updating the driver of the graphics card will often eliminate problems during the hardware acceleration.

Info

About 3D-Tool
See information about 3D-Tool, such as the program version, the serial number, and license type.

Tip of the Day
Show the Tip of the Day.

Check for Updates
Check online for a newer program version. This requires an internet connection.

Help

 Help ( F1)
Open the 3D-Tool Help. The Help can always be opened by pressing the F1 Key.

 Manual
Open the 3D-Tool manual. The manual contains the complete 3D-Tool Help. To view the manual, the Adobe Reader is required.

 Quick Reference
Open the 3D-Tool Quick Reference Card. The Quick Reference gives a brief overview of the 3D-Tool user interface. To view the Quick Reference, the Adobe Reader is required.