1.1.6 Status Bar

The purpose of the Command Line is to provide dynamic feedback and allow coordinate Location information usually provided in terms of (X,Y) or (X,Y,Z) components along Cartesian axes. entry related to commands during program operation. Once a command has been initiated, the Command Line prompts the user for subsequent information such as coordinate Location information usually provided in terms of (X,Y) or (X,Y,Z) components along Cartesian axes. and object selection. In certain cases, numerical coordinate Location information usually provided in terms of (X,Y) or (X,Y,Z) components along Cartesian axes. entry is supported and the Command Line will convert to a text box An entry field that anticipates text entry via the keyboard. Text boxes are activated with a left-click of the mouse and present an "I-beam" cursor for text editing. to allow such data to be entered manually (as shown for the Move command).  For more information, reference Entering Coordinates.

Absolute Coordinates reports the exact location (Cartesian Referring to positive or negative numerical values used to define position in three-dimensional space based on the three orthogonal axes (X, Y, and Z) and an origin (0,0,0). Synonymous in Visual with "cardinal". X,Y,Z) of the mouse crosshairs Two thin, intersecting, orthogonal lines affiliated with the mouse pointer in the Design Environment. The crosshairs are used to pinpoint locations in the Design Environment and provide a visual cue to the plane in which the mouse pointer is moving via color. within the modeling space with respect to the origin (0,0,0). For more information see Cartesian Coordinates.

Relative Coordinates reports the location (Cartesian Referring to positive or negative numerical values used to define position in three-dimensional space based on the three orthogonal axes (X, Y, and Z) and an origin (0,0,0). Synonymous in Visual with "cardinal". X,Y,Z) of the crosshairs Two thin, intersecting, orthogonal lines affiliated with the mouse pointer in the Design Environment. The crosshairs are used to pinpoint locations in the Design Environment and provide a visual cue to the plane in which the mouse pointer is moving via color. within the model The entire lighting system composed of Luminaires, Solid Objects (perhaps), and Calculation Zones. space relative to a previously selected coordinate Location information usually provided in terms of (X,Y) or (X,Y,Z) components along Cartesian axes. while in a command. Visual additionally displays polar coordinates Location information usually provided in terms of (X,Y) or (X,Y,Z) components along Cartesian axes. (distance and an angle). Relative Coordinates are only reported for subsequent coordinate Location information usually provided in terms of (X,Y) or (X,Y,Z) components along Cartesian axes. selections and are useful when relative distances are more convenient or intuitive than absolute locations. For more information also see Cartesian Coordinates.

The View Angles section shows reference angles for how the lighting model The entire lighting system composed of Luminaires, Solid Objects (perhaps), and Calculation Zones. is currently being viewed.

The Orthogonal Mode button allows the Orthogonal Mode to be turned on or off and indicates the mode is active when it has a gold background. This mode restricts movement to being perpendicular or parallel to the coordinate Location information usually provided in terms of (X,Y) or (X,Y,Z) components along Cartesian axes. axes.

The Snap Mode button is a toggle button A button that turns a feature on when highlighted in yellow and off when not highlighted. Successive left-clicks of the mouse cycle the on/off state. that allows the Snap Mode to be turned on or off and indicates the mode is active when it has a gold background. The Snap Increment combo box An interface tool that couples a text box with a menu of choices. indicates what increment Visual will use if that mode is activated. Clicking the small down arrow initiates the list box for common selections (part of which is shown at far right. Custom values can be typed into the box. See Incremental Snap for more information.

The Object Snap buttons allow specific modes to be activated that help to draw objects more accurately. The icons provide visual cues to the modes of: endpoint, midpoint, center, intersection, and perpendicular. A mode is active when it has a gold background. See Entering Coordinates for more information.

The Zoom buttons allow the quick change of the view by: Zoom All, Zoom Window, Zoom Previous, Zoom In, Zoom Out, and Zoom to Center. For more information see Zoom and Basic Viewing.

The Align Cursor to Plane and Align Cursor and Plane to Current View buttons allow for easier construction of objects in specific planes Two-dimensional and flat objects.. See

The Calculation Status and Mode indicates whether an interior or an exterior scheme will be used and if only direct illuminance The area density of the luminous flux incident on a surface. will be calculated or if interreflected The portion of the luminous flux from a luminaire arriving at the workplane after being reflected one or more times from room surfaces. illuminance The area density of the luminous flux incident on a surface. will also be calculated and presented. This field also displays units that are used; this can be feet or meters for length and footcandles or lux The metric standard unit of illuminance. One lux is equal to one lumen per square meter. for illuminance The area density of the luminous flux incident on a surface.. Left-click this field to display information about the last calculation time.

Calculation Type shows if electric lighting only or electric and daylighting is/are calculated. Daylighting is an additional module that can be included in Visual. See www.visual-3d.com for more information on installing daylighting capability.

Luminaire Any light emitting object, or configuration of light emitting objects, referenced within the Luminaire Schedule in Visual. Consists of photometric, graphical, and descriptive information. Counter as the name implies, provides an up-to-date count of the total number of luminaires Any light emitting object, or configuration of light emitting objects, referenced within the Luminaire Schedule in Visual. Consists of photometric, graphical, and descriptive information. in the lighting model The entire lighting system composed of Luminaires, Solid Objects (perhaps), and Calculation Zones..