Is it possible to change the default setting for the default mode a specific tool is in when the command is initially activated?
Specifically, I find that when I need the Rectangle or Box command, I would like for it to be in “3Point” mode without having to click on it or type in '“P” each time I activate the tool.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Dear @Mike - welcome to the forum.
what you call “mode” is called “option” in the rhino terminology.
_Rectangle _3Point
will call the command _Rectangle with the option _3Point
the combination of command(s) and option(s) is called macro.
each button has 2 macros assigned to it. one for the left, one for the right mouse button.
the combination _rectange _3Point currently is assigned to the marked button in the linked / nested toolbar.
with some hotkeys (cltr, shift, alt/option… i never remember / always try) you can move / copy / edit (left or right mouse button) the buttons of a toolbar. for sure there is a nice tutorial / documentation somewhere - but pure try and error will do it also.
see details here:
check youtube for rhino3d customize toolbars …
you can redesign the interface / tools as you like them. for example make change the tool in the standard toolbar.
my recommondation instead of sticking to icons / buttons: use commandline input for the commands
hope this helps - kind regards - tom
Hi Tom,
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I rarely use the buttons to access/activate a command. I’ve been mindful of typing commands as a habit since I started using “CAD” software. My hope was there would be a setting I could change so when I type the rectangle command, it would default to the 3Point option without having to select it in the command line or type P to activate it.
It’s a minor thing, but I’m using Rhino to build cabinetry and I’m drawing a ton of rectangles and boxes. If I could eliminate the extra typing of a P followed by enter, every time I want to draw a rectangle it could save me a ton of time. It may sound crazy, but I’ve really struggled with the rectangle and box tool when transitioning to Rhino. It’s such a basic tool, but it functions differently from my previous software experience and it doesn’t feel intuitive to me yet. Once I realized I like the behavior of the 3Point option, it has gotten so much better, but I get irritated with that one extra step of selecting the option.
One thing that Tom skipped right by is the fact that macros can also be assigned to a key combination. The macro itself is just a text string exactly as it would be if typed in at the command line. The macro can be attached to an icon as Tom described, but if you are a typed command guy then you could assign it to a character.
I’m the last guy to advise you on this because I stick strictly to the menus, but the way it works is pretty well described in the help.
rhino has aliases (“nicknames”) and shortcuts (hotkeys + single character).
in next Version there will be instant aliases
you can set up an alias, shortcut, instant alias to any macro.
so my recommendation - set up an alias like “r3” or “rrr” to that maps to the macro
_Rectangle _3Point
i prefer aliases that can be typed with the left hand only.
kind regards -tom
Beautiful…Thanks for your help.
