Tips and Tricks
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There are several new time saving features in V8 and V9. This will outline some of them. If you’d like to review the full Training Tutorial from 2020, please log into www.2020.net.
- Quick Lookup: Now when typing in an item code in the Quick Search box (under the catalog list) you need to have at least 3 characters. Tip: If you only know the first 2 letters, press the space bar.
- Quick Drag / Rotate: You can now click (hold) and drag and item in the floor plan or elevation. If you double click, you get the rotation handles where you can select the corner to pivot from and rotate it.
- Scroll Zoom: If your mouse is equipped with a scroll wheel, you can use it to zoom in and out of the floor plan. In Version 9, with some mice, you can double click on the wheel to zoom 1:1.
- Item Display Settings: By right clicking on an item (or group of items) you can select Display Settings to edit the properties for only those items. For example, you can take a hutch section and make it dotted to represent an optional design. Or you can change the font size for an island only. Or you can make a beam or cube or obstacle invisible or transparent so you can see the items below.
- Move Label: By right clicking on any item, and selecting Move Label, you can now move a label to better fit on an item and reduce cramming in codes. This can also be done in the Elevation mode.
- Variations: By right clicking on any item, you can view other items with the same overall size and substitute it without have to delete and replace. For example, the customer doesn’t want the BPP24, so you want to switch it to a BFD24, simply Right Click on the BPP24, select Variations, click on BFD24, and click OK.
- Wall Handles: When you click on a wall, you’ll see coloured squares that you can click on to do a quick edit. You cannot type in dimensions, but you can use the Page Up key to change the incremental dimension change.
Quick Tools
These icons located in the bottom right hand corner of your screen can either help or hinder your design. They can be turned on and off at any time as necessary.
In-Out/Up-Down
– When moving or duplicating an item, this button
controls whether or not any changes made to the cabinet’s position
remains the same or if it follows the default placement rule. I
recommend leaving it clicked on.
Area
Snap – This will only allow items to move in a set increment
(previously set in Preferences.) I recommend having this clicked
off.
Item
Snap – This will allow items to snap together when they get in
close proximity. I recommend having this on. If an item
needs to be placed close, but not snapped together, you can click this
off or hold the Shift key down while moving the item.
Collision
– When on, items will ‘bump’ into each other. When off,
items can be placed ‘overlapping’ one another. I recommend having
this on. If an item needs to collide, i.e. a panel into a wall,
you can click this off or hold the CTRL key down while moving the item.
Ortho
– Useful when adding lines, Ortho on will only allow line to draw
at 45 degree increments. This is really handy when drawing a
mirror reference line when 90degree is critical. Other then that,
I recommend leaving it off until you need the precision.
Link
– Just like in Edit Shape, this will keep wall together when doing
a quick edit. Leave it on until necessary.
Auto-Save
– In this blank spot, you’ll occasionally see a disk flash
when it is performing an Auto save.
Silent
Mode Global Assistant – When running the NKBA Assistant in
Silent Mode (as previously set in Preferences,) this will light up Red
when an infraction has occurred. Simply click on it if you’d like
to see what the infraction is. - Wall Properties: When you right click on a wall and click on Properties, you can set a Top Align height for that wall.
- User Dimensions: It’s much easier to dimension in 2020. You can click on Dimensions and select the type of dimension you want. You can also turn on the toolbar (click on View > Toolbars…> and check on Dimensions, then place it where you like.) You’ll now get a snap point to select when you want a dimension, and you can only dimension what is active on the layer.
- Drawing Layout (formally Multiview): Now you can click on View > Show Drawing Layout to select from several different templates to show more then one picture on a page. You can now have a small vanity floor plan, picture, and countertop detail in one drawing. Please see me if you’re interested in learning how to work with this.
- New Edit Box: Place Tab – By selecting a reference item on the floor plan so that it appears with the blue boxes around it, you can select a separate item from the catalog list and use the Arrows to place the new cabinet in the direction in reference to the original item. You can also enter in an Offset Value that can help when you want to leave 24” of space for the Dishwasher for example.
- Move Tab: Using the move tab, you can type in the offset you want and move the selected item or group of items and then click on the arrow in the direction of your choice. This is great for shifting islands over.
- Coords Tab: Sometimes used to enter in values and dimensions for placement for greater accuracy.
Item Attributes
The Item Attributes window has been completely redesigned. You can now set a specific distance for In/Out or Up/Down from here.
The Add-on tab replaces the old Attachments tab. It is structured in such a way that you can click on the + to expand a category and simply click the check box to add it. All add-ons are then listed in the lower left hand corner.
All of the previous tabs are now grouped into one Variable tab. Once in there, you can scroll through the long list of variables, or click the category on the left side if you know what group it’s in.
The Notes tab remains the same as before.
Edit/Switch Items
An Edit/Switch is required when a new catalog is loaded or if you’re opening you older version files. The switch process is much smoother and quicker then it was in Version 6.1. Plus now in Version 9, when you first open a drawing it will prompt you and allow you to update automatically. This can fix multiple catalogs at once.
Also, after doing an Edit/Switch, you should go into Styles and Pricing and double check your selections.
Using Edit / Switch Items…
Reasons to use Edit / Switch Items
1)
When
a catalog has been updated,
2) When switching all or part of a drawing to a different catalog,
3) To delete an item,
4) To switch out an item,
5) To refresh a drawing.
2) When switching all or part of a drawing to a different catalog,
3) To delete an item,
4) To switch out an item,
5) To refresh a drawing.
1A. In V8, when a catalog has been updated, you’ll get an error message #584 when you open your existing drawings stating that the catalog “has been reinstalled.” Simply click on OK.
1B. For users on V9, you will then be prompted with the following options
a.
In
older versions, or if you select Do it later in V9, your floor plan
will appear with the dots (warning pattern) on the items that are
out-of-date. This means that something about that cabinet has
changed and it should be updated. Please DO NOT simply go into
Display Settings and turn off the warning patterns. Instead, use
Edit / Switch Items to update the drawing. The updated catalog
may have corrected codes, dimensions, or pricing.
b. You can access it at any time by clicking on Edit > Switch Items… On the left side you select the original catalog. On the right side you select the new desired catalog. In this example, click on Automatic. Any items that are left have not switched.
c. You should click on the Switched Items tab to see what it was on the left and what it’s become on the right. If anything did not switch properly, please make note of it and email me the details.
d. Click Apply and OK
b. You can access it at any time by clicking on Edit > Switch Items… On the left side you select the original catalog. On the right side you select the new desired catalog. In this example, click on Automatic. Any items that are left have not switched.
c. You should click on the Switched Items tab to see what it was on the left and what it’s become on the right. If anything did not switch properly, please make note of it and email me the details.
d. Click Apply and OK
2) If the client decides part-way through the design process that they would like a 2-tone island, there are 2 different ways to handle this using Edit/Switch Items. The method you chose depends on how complex the drawing is;
a.
Manual
Switch - Select the original catalog on the left and the Accent
catalog on the right. Select all of the desired items,
one-by-one, from the list on the left, and click on its match on the
right. When you’re done, click on Apply and OK. Don’t
forget to go into Styles and Pricing to make your new Accent selects.
b. Copy/Paste – You can cut the complete island out and paste it into a new drawing. Now in Edit / Switch Items, you still select the original catalog on the left and the accent catalog on the right, but now you can select Automatic to switch everything. Then simply copy and paste it back in.
b. Copy/Paste – You can cut the complete island out and paste it into a new drawing. Now in Edit / Switch Items, you still select the original catalog on the left and the accent catalog on the right, but now you can select Automatic to switch everything. Then simply copy and paste it back in.
3) When reviewing your order, you might find an item, add-on, or accessory in the Item List that you don’t want. Or perhaps an item that’s too small to click on, or even a corrupted duplicate item. You can click on Edit, Switch Items, select the catalog, and simply highlight the item in the list that you no longer want and click on Delete.
4) Sometimes in the design process customers want to make changes. For example, perhaps they want to change from 30” uppers to 36” uppers. You can use Edit Switch Items to change these items too.
a.
You
simply select the same catalog on both the left and right
side. Find the first 30”h item on the list. On the right
side, simply change the code to be a 36”h. Click on Manual.
You’ll get a warning message, but as long as you’re changing to a
standard size item, you can click on OK.
b. It will switch the codes, graphics, and prices, and even adjust the alignment. You will have to up/down or redraw the top mouldings.
c. It’s much more convenient and quicker than deleting and replacing cabinets without fear of losing any add-ons or modifications.
b. It will switch the codes, graphics, and prices, and even adjust the alignment. You will have to up/down or redraw the top mouldings.
c. It’s much more convenient and quicker than deleting and replacing cabinets without fear of losing any add-ons or modifications.
5) Rarely, but sometimes in elevation views, the automatic dimensions can appear offset from the actual cabinet placement. You can use Edit, Switch Items to refresh the drawing which will reset all the automatic dimensions.
Adding your logo / company name
You can easily replace the default 20-20 logo at the bottom of your typical floor plans and renderings with your own company logo or simply with text. Keep in mind this is best achieved if the logo is a square, as a rectangular logo will be ‘forced’ to fit in the box and may not appear as desired.
Logo
1) Ensure you have the desired image file saved somewhere on you computer so that you can find.
2) In 20-20 Design V8, click on File > Preferences… >
3) On the left hand side of the Preferences window, select File Paths, as shown here.
4) On the right hand side of the Preference window, on the 3rd line down next to Title block logo, click on the Browser button (the 3 dots) and choose the path which points to your desired image file.
5) Now at the bottom, click on Apply, then click on OK.
6) Now back in Design, click on Render > Perspective…
7) In the Perspective View Settings window that pops up, find the box indicating the Default printer selected and click the Setup… button.
8) Now, in the Page Setup window, in the lower right hand corner, there’s a box indicating Include Text or Logo as shown here. Check on Logo, and pull down on the arrow to select which logo to apply.
9) Click on OK, click on View, and setup for your perspective, and your logo will appear on the bottom frame of your printout. This will remain your default until you manually change it by repeating these steps.
Text
1) If your logo doesn’t fit well in the box, or you’d simply prefer to type in a name and phone number, then in Design click on Render > Perspective…
2) In the Perspective View Settings window that pops up, find the box indicating the Default printer selected and click the Setup… button.
3) Now, in the Page Setup window, in the lower right hand corner, there’s a box indicating Include Text or Logo as shown here. Check on Text, and click the Edit button.
4) Here you can enter in up to 5 lines of text.
5) Click on OK, again on OK, then View and setup for your perspective. This text will appear on the bottom frame of your printout. This will remain your default until you change it manually by repeating these steps.
Please click here to access Gary's old "Tips and Tricks" page.
DISCLAIMER: This site is not directly affiliated with 20-20 Technologies or ProKitchen Software. Please click on their links to access their sites. I am an independent catalog creator who uses their software to provide you with improved catalogs to help improve your business.