Object Types and Properties

When a set of objects is finally selected, a dialog box appropriate for the type of the objects is displayed, showing each od the settable Properties for the type. For example, the dialog for a group of fences might look like this:

First of all, notice that some of the controls are enabled while some are disabled - grayed out. When asked for a group's properties, InSync canvasses the group, determining what properties the members of the group have in common. If it is found that all the members have a particular property set to the same value in all cases, then the corresponding control is enabled, and the common value is displayed. So enabled controls show which properties are already set in common, and which aren't.

This matching of features is not the only reason a control might be grayed out; the other reason is that this particular property is not available in the version of Punch! being run. To the left of each control is a round "radio button" called the enabler. If the enabler is grayed out as well, that means the control is not applicable in this version.

The enabler will always be open (unchecked), and enabled if the property is applicable to the version of Punch! being run. If the user clicks on a property's enabler, the associated control is enabled (whether it was so before the enabler was clicked or not). This allows the user to force a control whose property doesn't match on all the members to be manually set to a single value, thus forcing all members to a single value for that property. On those controls which have a common value, that value can be changed for all members simply by changing the value in the control. In our example above, the Post Height was not the same in the fences in the group, so the value was grayed out. The user has decided to set all the post heights the same, so he has clicked the enabler (which enables the control) and has filled in a value of "8-0", meaning 8 feet or 96 inches.

Now, perhaps you've changed some common property values, set the enabler and set some uncommon property values, and left others alone. What will happen when you exit from this dialog? Those values which haven't been altered will remain as they were, whether common or not. Those values which have been modified will be impressed upon all the members of the group, bringing them all into agreement on those properties only. For each individual object, the properties will stay at those values until changed by the user, either through InSync or through simply editing the object in Punch!. In other words, InSync acts only once, when the final OK button is clicked - it does not maintain the values after that. It is a one-time property setting tool.

Notice the kinds of controls that are on the dialog. In the upper left corner are three buttons which control three surface finishes on the fences in question. In version 8.0 and later, fences have three surfaces to be finished: the span surfaces, the post surfaces and the gate surfaces. Each button controls one of these. Note that on those three buttons, two of them (the two that are enabled) show color swatches which give a view of what the finish looks like. Pressing the button calls up a series of dialogs that precisely determine that property's final value, and displays the swatch.

Below the finish buttons is a control that allows for choosing the fences' common type. If it is enabled (as it is in the picture above), the window shows the common value. This value may be changed by clicking on the arrowhead at the right end of the control, exposing a dropdown list of the alternatives. Any one may be chosen. Note that InSync stops at noting that the common value of a fence type may be "custom"; it does not pursue looking into the kinds of custom fence that are being compared.

Below that control is a grouping for changing the elevation of the fences, and whether they are set to float on the terrain. These are set into a single group because they interact. Setting an elevation will turn off float; alternatively, setting float will cause the elevations to be set to the terrain elevation local to the handles of the fences, which may all be different values.

At the top right is a single true/false property controlled by a checkbox. Clicking on the checkbox when it is enabled will toggle the value of the property.

Below the checkbox property is a number of numeric properties, usually measurements. The units of these measurements are either inches or centimeters (actually, meters to two decimal places), depending on the Punch! project's current units type selection, and is announced in the first InSync screen. If inches or centimeters is not appropriate for the number, then the units will be displayed on the right. Some such controls simply count something (like the number of drawers desired in a cabinet), and in that case there will be no units either. To change these values, simply type in a new value. When you move the cursor to a different control on the dialog, InSync will rewrite the value into the edit window, giving you instant feedback on the value that InSync thinks you typed in. In general these edit boxes will understand minus signs, numbers, and a decimal point. An embedded minus sign will be considered to separate feet on the left from inches on the right (not applicable to metric or other units than inches).

This idea of redisplaying a value after a user types it into and edit control is very valuable for the user; he gets immediate feedback on what the computer though he typed, and adjustments can be made on the spot. Windows does have one difficulty with this operation. When a user is typing a value into an edit control (such as Post Height) it cannot know when the user is done typing. In the Punch! properties bar, Punch! requires that the Enter key be pressed to indicate finality. Instead of doing that, InSync requires the user to move the cursor to a different control on the dialog (an operation referred to as "loosing focus"). To make that easier, there will be a small Go button on any InSync dialog that has and edit control in it. When the user is done typing into the control he can click the Go button to force InSync to consider the entered value and to redisplay it as it is understood.

Finally, all properties dialogs will have the last three buttons - Help, Cancel, and OK. Help opens this help document in a Help window, so that this enlightening prose can be read. Cancel will exit InSync without making any changes to the Punch! model. OK will commit all the changes you have suggested, and also exit from InSync. The OK button will not be enabled until at least one change is indicated. That is the way our example above shows, but as soon as the cursor is moved out of the Post Height control, the value will be changed to "72.00" and the OK button will be enabled.

Below is a list of all the object types and their corresponding Properties which InSync can manipulate.

Notes:

1. Color used to tint texture if both present. That use is deprecated in v8.0 and up, but still works, There is no GUI to implement it, except for InSync. Scaling does not work in 8.0 and up.
2. Crown and custom molding in v8.0 and up.
3. Terrain features removed in v8.0 and forward.
4. Feature new in version 8.0 and up. Note 4a: Same as Note 4, but not in Platinum, Master Pro and AS18 v8.0.
5. New feature in version 4.5 and up.
6. New feature in v7.0 and up.
7. New feature in v7.5 and up.
8. New feature in v10.0 and up.
9. Styles include "custom" in v8.0 and up.
10. Feature beyond ability of InSync to edit.
11. Font includes face name, weight, height, underline and italics.

InSync and the contents of this help file are
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Comments and suggestions, as well as support, are entertained at Lmc@ThistleKeep.com.
"Punch!" and other titles of Punch! operations are trademarks of Punch! Software L.L.C.