Window Layout
The picture below shows the Realtime Landscaping Pro interface with each section
of the interface labeled.

Menu Bar
The Menu Bar contains important settings and options, such
Program Settings and the ability to save your landscape
designs.
Click on a menu to
view the options that it contains. For example, click File to expose the saving and loading
options.
Object Category Tabs
Every object that can be added to your landscape design is
located under one of the Object Category Tabs. Simply click a tab to view
the available objects under it; for example, if click the Landscape tab
to expose the Add Plant button. Each object category tab is summarized
below.
•
Main – The Main tab contains some common file and clipboard
commands, such as Save, Copy, and Print.
•
Building – The Building tab contains objects used for construction
and hardscaping, such as House, Patio, and Retaining
Wall.
•
Terrain – The Terrain tab contains objects used for modifying the
topology of the landscape, such as Slope and Area Grader.
•
Landscape – The Landscape tab contains the core landscaping
objects, such as Plant, Region, and Path.
•
Water Features – The Water Features tab contains objects
used for adding ponds, irrigation systems, fountains, and more.
•
Swimming Pool – The Swimming Pool tab contains objects
related to swimming pools and swimming pool accessories.
•
Utilities – The Utilities tab contains useful “helper” objects,
such as Text, Overlay, and Lot Boundary.
•
Modeling – The Modeling tab contains objects used to create your
own landscaping accessories.
Object Creation Tools
The Object Creation Tools are located directly underneath
the Object Category Tabs. To access the object you wish to add to your landscape
design, first click the Object Category Tab that contains the object you are
interested in, and then click the button of the object you wish to add. To add
the object to your landscape, follow the instructions that appear at that very
bottom of the program.
If you are uncertain about what a particular object is,
just hold your mouse over the object’s button and a quick note will show you the
object’s name. If you would like more details about an object, click the
object’s button and press the F1 key.
See Adding Objects for
more information.
Editing Tools
The Editing Tools are located to the left of the screen
and allow you to manipulate objects. For example, using the Scale tool
you can shrink or enlarge an object, and using the Move tool objects can
be relocated.
View Tools
The View tools are located to the left of the screen and
allow you to adjust your view in both the Top-Down and Perspective views. For
example, the Orbit tool allows you to rotate your view around the
landscape, and the Zoom tool allows you to move your view closer to or
farther from your landscape.
For more information, see Adjusting the View.
Grid On/Off
The Grid toggle button is located to the left of the
screen and determines whether a square grid is displayed in your landscape
design. See Snap Settings for more
information.
Snap Tools
The top button, Snap Toggle, turns all snapping on and off
at once. The bottom button, Snap Settings, lets you control which snap options
are enabled. See Snap Settings for more
information.
View Tabs
The View Tabs are located near the bottom-left of the
screen, and allow you to switch between the Top-Down and Perspective views.
Additionally, the Realtime Walkthrough is also accessed from the View Tabs.
The Top-Down view is a two
dimensional view that is useful for adding and editing objects. Many objects can
be set to appear differently in the Top-Down view, allowing you to achieve a
stylized appearance.
The Perspective view is
a three dimensional view that is useful for sculpting the terrain, setting
elevations, and adding doors and windows. In the Perspective view, your
landscape design can be seen from any angle.
The Realtime
Walkthrough is a special viewing mode that allows you to walk through your
landscape in 3D. During the walkthrough, special animations and sound effects
are available.
Layer Tools
Layers help you organize your landscape design and make it
easy to work with groups of related objects. For example, you could put an
irrigation design into one layer, planting details into another, and so forth.
Another useful technique is to place alternate design ideas into different
layers that you can quickly show and hide when presenting to your client. For
more information, see Using Layers.
Object Properties
The Object Properties appear to the right of the screen
when an object is selected. Object properties are used to make important
adjustments and modifications to the objects in your landscape designs, such as
changing plant types or adjusting the height of a fence. For more information,
see Setting Object Properties.
Dynamic Help
The Dynamic Help provides very useful tips and
instructions near the bottom of the screen. For example, while creating an
object, a step by step guide is shown in the Dynamic Help bar.
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