Our civil engineering software’s user interface has several features that will be examined in detail in the following sections.
The user interface is one of the most important elements of any software because it determines how easily the user can make the software do what is needed. A powerful software application with a poorly defined user interface has little value. The design of the user interface in our software uses current state-of-the-art constructs.
Ribbon Menu
The ribbon menu is designed to help you quickly find the commands you need to complete a task. Commands are organized in logical groups, which are collected under tabs. Each tab relates to a type of activity, such as entering input data or viewing analysis output. Each tab is organized into a series of panels, which are labeled by task.
Quick Access Toolbar
The Quick Access Toolbar provides a way to put the commands and buttons you use most often within easy reach. By default, the Quick Access Toolbar appears above the ribbon on the application title bar. However, users can choose to move it to a location below the ribbon.
File Menu
The File menu (sometimes called the Application menu) provides access to file-related commands. For example, it identifies commands to create, open, save, archive, and recover a project. In addition, other application-based commands are listed within the File menu. Selecting these commands will display backstage pages where settings and other options can be configured. For example, the Options backstage page allows the user to define settings that the software should use (e.g., Project data units, etc.).
Backstage Pages
The backstage pages (sometimes called backstage views) are accessed by clicking on the File menu. The backstage pages are used to provide access to application settings and options, as well as current project options and settings.
The following backstage pages are provided:
- Info – contains information about the current project
- Recent – listing of all recently worked on projects
- Options – application options and settings as well as project options and settings
- Map Coordinates – map coordinate system for the current project
- About – contains information about the product
Context Menus
While the ribbon menu is the primary access point for program commands, many commands are also accessible from context menus that are displayed when the user right-clicks on the Map Data Layers panel or on the Map View.
The contents of the displayed context menu changes based on what the user is pointing at or whether a command is already active.
Map Data Layers Panel
The Map Data Layers panel lists all the layers in the Map View and shows the features in each layer. The Map Data Layers panel helps the user manage the display order of map layers and symbol assignment, as well as set the display and other properties of each layer.
The layers at the top of the Map Data Layers panel are designed to display on top of those below. Therefore, layers that form the project site’s background, like an aerial image, should be placed near the bottom of the Map Data Layers panel, and layers that are intended to overlay the aerial image should be placed near the top. A typical project might have an image or a terrain base (such as shaded relief or elevation contours) near the bottom. Next comes base map polygon data, followed by polyline and point data near the top. And finally, on top of everything, is the data layer and the default drawing layer.
Some of the functionality associated with the Map Data Layers panel include:
- A layer can be moved up and down within the layers by clicking and dragging the layer.
- The checkbox to the left of each layer can be used to turn it on or off.
- To change the display properties for a layer, click on the […] Properties button. The corresponding properties dialog box will be displayed.
- To lock a layer to prevent it from being edited or moved, click on the padlock. Click again on the padlock to unlock the layer.
- Click on a layer to select it (or activate it).
The Map Data Layers panel is docked to the left side of the Map View by default but can be set to auto-hide. Click on the dropdown arrow on the right side of the title bar and select the desired docking behavior.
Map View
The Map View is the project’s main display area.
Compass Rose & 3D Navigator
The Compass Rose shows the orientation of the Map View relative to North. Placing the cursor over the Compass Rose causes it to change into a 3D Navigator, allowing the user better control over the 2D and 3D orientation of the Map View.
The user can move the 3D Navigator/Compass Rose to any location on the Map View. To reposition the 3D Navigator/Compass Rose, simply select it, hold down the [Ctrl] key, and then drag it to the desired location on the Map View.
Double clicking on the Compass Rose while in 3D view mode will cause the Map View to reorient itself into a top view. The 3D Navigator provides the following view of navigation capabilities.
3D Navigation Keypresses
While in 3D view mode, the up and down arrow keyboard buttons pan the Map View forward and backward. Similarly, the left and right arrow keyboard buttons pan the view to the left and right.
The user can override these arrow keyboard buttons’ functionalities by pressing the Shift + or Ctrl + and arrow keys, as described below.
- Ctrl + Up Arrow keypress – Rotate the 3D view upward.
- Ctrl + Down Arrow keypress – Rotate the 3D view downward.
- Ctrl + Left Arrow keypress – Rotate the 3D view to the left.
- Ctrl + Right Arrow keypress – Rotate the 3D view to the right.
- Shift + Up Arrow keypress – Raise viewpoint elevation.
- Shift + Down Arrow keypress – Lower viewpoint elevation.
- Shift + Left Arrow keypress – Rotate the 3D viewpoint to the left.
- Shift + Right Arrow keypress – Rotate the 3D viewpoint to the right.
Burger Menu Icon
The three horizontal lines (sometimes called a burger icon) stacked on the left side of the drawing project tabs represent a menu that contains additional options. When the user clicks on this icon, a dropdown menu is displayed, providing access to various options. The current active project is shown highlighted in the displayed context menu. The user can also switch between opened projects from the displayed dropdown menu.
The options within the burger menu are explained below:
- New Project: This option allows the user to create a new project or drawing file to start working on a fresh design.
- Open Project: This option allows the user to browse the computer’s files to select and open a specific CivilGEO project file.
- Recent Projects: This option opens the Recent Projects backstage page, which displays a list of recently opened projects for quick access.
- Save All Projects: This option allows the user to save all open projects at once.
- Close All Projects: This option allows the user to close all open projects simultaneously.
Multiple Project Tabs
The software has a multiple document interface (MDI) that allows more than one project to be opened simultaneously. The user can easily switch between different projects using the tabs on top of the Map View.
Unsaved Changes Indicator
A small asterisk (*) symbol on the project tab indicates that the current project has been modified but not yet saved, providing a visual reminder for users to save their work before switching tasks or closing the project. This helps prevent accidental data loss and improves workflow awareness.
Toolbar
The toolbar provides Map View commands, including:
- 2D/3D – Switches the Map View from 2D to 3D view mode.
- Select – Select elements and other related commands like Edit Vertices, Select Window, Select Window Crossing, Select Polygon Window, and Select Polygon Crossing.
- Zoom – Dynamically zoom on the Map View. Hold down the [Shift] key to zoom back. The mouse roller wheel can be used to zoom in and out; by holding down the roller wheel, it can be used to pan around.
- Navigate Forward – Similar to zoom (above), this command allows the user to step forward.
- Navigate Backward – Similar to zoom (above), this command allows the user to step backward.
- Zoom Extents – Zooms to the extents of the current layer.
- Pan – Dynamically pan around the Map View. Holding down the mouse roller wheel does the same.
- Rotate View – Used to rotate the view within the Map View while in 3D view mode.
- Free Look Camera – Used to rotate the view both horizontally and vertically from the current location to see to the left and right as well as above and below.
- Measure Distance/Area – Used to measure distances and areas on the Map View.
Map Coordinates
The lower left corner of the application shows the cursor’s current map coordinates.
Digitizing Modes
The following digitizing modes commands are located at the bottom of the application:
- Enable / disable ortho mode (or press Function Key F8)
- Enable / disable snap mode (or press Function Key F3)
Status Line
The status line is located at the bottom of the application and displays status messages while in the process of using commands. For example, while measuring distances in the Map View, the measurement results are displayed on the status line.
Map View CRS
The Map View CRS (coordinate reference system) is shown at the bottom right of the application. Clicking on the Map View CRS will cause the Map Coordinates backstage page to be displayed.
Scale Bar
While in 2D view mode, the Scale Bar provides a reference for estimating distances on the Map View.
Vertical Exaggeration Scale
While in 3D view mode, the Vertical Exaggeration Scale allows the user to adjust the amount of vertical exaggeration of the terrain surface to show 3D surface relief on the Map View. Placing the cursor over the scale causes the scale to become more visible.