Cheat Sheet

***SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! Regularly. FormZ tends to freeze, avoid headaches***

Setting Up:
Tool Set: Pallettes > Customize Tools
Preferences: Edit > Preferences [Working Units, General Specifications, etc]

Window Navigation:
XYZ Reference Planes: This is for adjusting where the blue grid [reference plane] is
located in the work area. It can be in the XY, YZ or ZX direction. The reference plane
specifies on which plane your objects are drawn. Arbitrary is used to define a non orthogonal
plane.
Perpendicular Switch: Used for fixed movement perpendicular to the reference plane
Snaps: You can snap to a direction [radial, orthogonal, etc.] or to grid or to points. Use
Combo Snap for drawing exact shapes
Set View: The orbit tool in FormZ

Topological Levels:
Specifies what geometry is selected: Point, Segment, Face, Enclosure, Object, etc.

Object Type Modifier: To draw in 2d select 2d Surface

To draw in 3d select 3d Extrusion

Prompt Window: with Absolute selected all input values are based
on universal grid
with Relative on all input values based on existing
points

Extruding: Use the 3d Extrusion tool to create 3d object from 2d closed

plane *height of extrusion specified in Heights menu
**Lines need to be closed to extrude, use the Line Editing Tools
Importing and Exporting:
From Autocad/Illustrator: Save as in CAD as .DXF. In FormZ: File>Import
*also imports .DWG files
Exporting: File > Export > DXF via legacy translator
Exporting Images: Display > Image Options [to specify resolution and size]
File > Export > (desired image type)

Geometric Transformations:
Any transformation is modified by Self/Copy
*specify Self for singular transformations, Copy [One, Continuous, etc.] for plural

Attributes:
To change a surface style select Color and under tool
options make sure “Clear All Face Surface Styles” and
your desired surface style is selected

To change layer select Set Attributes and under tool

options make sure “Layer” is selected and your desired layer is
selected