In view of the drawing process and geometrical properties, objects can also be divided into two groups: '''Dimensional''' objects and '''Nodal''' objects. A dimensional object is characterized by a local coordinate system (a center and local X-, Y- and Z-axes) and a number of dimensional parameters such as length, width, height, radius, etc. Examples of dimensional objects are box, sphere, rectangular strip, line, helix, etc. [[EM.Cube]] provides a diverse list of native parameterized dimensional objects in all the three categories of curves, surfaces and solids. A nodal object is characterized by a set of points (nodes). [[EM.Cube]]'s nodal objects include Polystrip, Polyline, NURBS Strip, NURBS Curve and Polymesh objects.
[[CubeCAD]] provides a diverse set of [[Standard Objects|standard objects]] that are fully parameterized. In addition to the center coordinates and rotation angles, these objects have a variety of dimensional parameters that are used to set and control their size and geometrical shape. More complex objects can be created by editing and combining these basic shapes. Objects can be created by clicking on one of the object buttons on the '''Object Toolbar''' or from the '''Object > Solid''', '''Object > Surface''', or '''Object > Curve''' menus. Once an object tool is selected, left click anywhere on the work plane to draw the object. The following table show a list of [[EM.Cube]]'s standard solid, surface and curve objects:
<table>
[[Image:cad_manual-0_new.png|thumb|360px|CubeCAD's Navigation Tree.]]
[[CubeCAD]]'s Navigation Tree groups and organizes objects using a hierarchical system. Located at the top of the Navigation Tree and under the [[CubeCAD]] icon are two main groups: '''Geometrical Construction''' and '''Data Visualization'''. Under Geometrical Construction, you create or import and manage CAD objects. Under Data Visualization, you create or import and display 3D representations of real, complex, scalar or vector data in a variety of formats. The Data Visualization group and its usage will be discussed later in this manual. The next sections of the manual will present a detailed discussion of CAD objects, their creation, transformation and management.
'''Geometrical Construction''' (represented by the [[File:physstruc_tn.png]] icon) contains the '''Parts''' that form a structure. '''Parts''' (represented by the [[File:layer_tn.png]] icon) contain all the native objects that you draw in [[CubeCAD]]'s project workspace as well as all the CAD objects that your import from supported external CAD files. Parts are made up of one or more colors. [[CubeCAD]]'s objects are grouped by '''Color''' represented by the [[File:coloricon_tn.png]] icon. You can create many colors and add objects to each color group. All the objects belonging to a '''Color''' literally share the same color or texture. When you start [[EM.Cube]] for the first time and draw a new object in [[CubeCAD]], a default color named "Color_1" is immediately created to hold your new object. The default color is grey. You can change the name, color or texture of this default group or add new color groups. To create a new Color, right click on the '''Parts''' item of the Navigation Tree and select '''Insert New Color...'''. A dialog opens up that contains a default name for the new color. Accept the default name or type in a new name for the new color group.
To delete a color group, right click on its name in the Navigation Tree and select the '''Delete''' item from the contextual menu. Note that once a color is deleted, all the objects belonging to that color group are also deleted. You can delete all the color groups at once by right clicking on the '''Parts''' item of the Navigation Tree and selecting '''Delete All Colors''' from the contextual menu.
=== Transferring Objects Among Different Groups or Modules ===
You can move objects from one color to another in [[CubeCAD|CUBECAD]]. You can also move objects from [[CubeCAD|CUBECAD]] to other modules or among different modules. To transfer an object from its current color group to another color group, first select it in the Project Workspace and right click on its surface to open the contextual menu. Select '''Move To''' from the contextual menu. This menu item opens up to a number of submenus that include [[CubeCAD|CUBECAD]] and possibly the names of some other [[EM.Cube|EM.CUBE]] modules. Each submenu leads to yet other submenus that contain the names of all the object groups that are available for object transfer. For instance, if [[CubeCAD|CUBECAD]] has three color groups, color_1, color_2, color_3, you will see submenus like''' Move To [[File:larrow_tn.png]] [[CubeCAD|CUBECAD]] [[File:larrow_tn.png]] Color_1''', '''Color_2''' or '''Color_3'''.Select the desired object group to transfer the selected object to. The transferred object's name is removed from its original color group and is added to the new color group. The color of the transferred object also changes to that of the new color group. In exactly the same way, you can transfer any object from its current group in any module to any other object group in any other module as long as it is listed in the '''Move To''' submenus.
You can also transfer objects from the Navigation Tree. When you import external CAD objects, they are always imported into [[CubeCAD|CUBECAD]] initially. Then, you have to move them to the right module. In such cases, you can select one of more object names on the Navigation Tree and right click on the highlighted selection to access the '''Move To''' submenus in the contextual menu. If you have highlighted a multiple selection using the '''Ctrl''' or '''Shift''' keys, remember to keep holding those keys down when right clicking; otherwise, you will lose the selection.
[[File:moveobject_new.png|500px]]