Where is everything in the menus? A tour of File, Edit, Model, Machine, Toolpaths, View, Gadgets, and Help, plus the right-click menus

File

New, New from template, Open, Close, Save, Save As, Save As Template, and the sleeper hit Increment and Save: if the filename ends in an underscore or hyphen plus a number (MyFile_1.crv3d), it saves as the next unused number (MyFile_2.crv3d). Instant versioning. Print/Print Preview/Print Setup; Import (Vectors/Bitmap, Component/3D Model, PhotoVCarve or Cut3D toolpaths); Export vectors as EPS, DXF, AI, SVG, or PDF (DXF keeps layer info). Open Application Data Folder opens the Windows folder holding gadgets, post-processors, textures, and toolpath defaults. It is the answer to many "where do I put this file?" questions.

Edit

Undo/Redo, Cut/Copy/Paste, Delete; a Selection submenu (all vectors, open vectors, duplicate vectors, current layer); Vector Selector; Align Selected Objects; Join Vectors; Curve Fit Vectors; Nest Selected Vectors; Job Size and Position (reopens Job Setup); Swap Sides (two-sided jobs); Notes; Document Variables; Snap Options; and Options (the program settings dialog).

Model

The 3D component side: Create Component, Create Component From..., Add Zero Plane, Import Component / 3D Model, Smooth Selected Components, Scale Model Z Height.

Machine

Machine Configuration, Add Machine, Install Offline Package, Search for Machine Online, Post-Processor Management (view, customize, changelog), Install Post-Processor, Update Post-Processor Database.

Toolpaths

Show Toolpaths Tab (pin/unpin), Recalculate All Toolpaths, Merge Visible Toolpaths, Create Job Sheet, Preview Simulation Quality (Standard up to Maximum), Toolpath Drawing submenu, Templates submenu (save/load toolpath templates), Tool Database, Materials.

View

Zoom to Drawing, Refresh 2D View (F5), Guide Lines submenu (visible/delete all/lock), Draw Origin, Draw Modeling Plane, Draw Material Block, Multi Sided View, Auto-Wrapping View (rotary), Color Shaded View, shaded-background/lighting/shadow options, Save Shaded Image (BMP/JPG/PNG/GIF), and Tile Windows Horizontal/Vertical/Cascade.

Gadgets

Install New Gadget..., Gadget Shortcuts (assign Ctrl+function keys), plus the preinstalled gadgets (Keyhole, Dragknife, Rounding, Wrapped Fluting/Spiral, Celtic Weave, Setup Sheet Editor). The menu rebuilds at every startup from the Gadgets folder in Public Documents.

Help

Help Contents, Keyboard Shortcuts, Video Tutorial Browser, What's New, Release Notes, Enter License Code, Post Processor Editing Guide, Migrate From Older Version, Check for Updates, Run Kickstarter, About.

Right-click menus

Context menus are everywhere: the 2D/3D canvas (Activate Layer of Selection, copy/move to layer/level/sheet/side, text operations), node editing (span menu: convert to line/curve/arc, insert point; node menu: smooth, cut, set start point, exact XY), the component tree, the layer list, and the Toolpath List (edit, rename, duplicate, recalculate, group).

Pro tips

• Increment and Save plus a numbered filename is the cheapest backup habit in the software.
• Official documentation: File menu
• Official documentation: Edit menu
• Official documentation: Model menu
• Official documentation: Machine menu
• Official documentation: Toolpaths menu
• Official documentation: View menu
• Official documentation: Gadgets
• Official documentation: Help menu
• Official documentation: Right mouse click menus