SISCAD-P has an icon-oriented graphical user interface.For the
user this means that the standard input device is the mouse.
With the mouse all system functions and alphanumerical inputs
can be activated. For the design of the user interface
of SISCAD-P the latest findings with regard to ergonomical
design and intuitive operating have been considered. The
Window-System, on which SISCAD-P bases, is OSF/Motif, a
standard in the UNIX-world.
The graphic area requires the major part of the available
space at the standard menu. The icon header above contains
functions, with which different modi, information menus and
other objects of general importance are executed. The right
column contains all icons for the operation and control of
the CAD commands. The icons are to be understood as a kind
of button,which has to be pressed (clicking with the left
mouse button) to execute the corresponding function.
The mouse is the most important input device for the user. With
it functions are selected, information is recalled and geometry
is created. By moving the mouse the cursor moves on the screen.
Clicking of a mouse button executes a certain action depending
on the respective position of the cursor. Basically the
operation of the window system, i.e. the touching, dragging or
dropping of windows is done with the left mouse button.
The following rules apply for the SISCAD-P user interface: