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Getting Started with EM.Cube

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[[Image:Splash-generic2.jpg|right|800px720px]]__NOTOC__<strong><font color="#07417e" size="4">A Visual Simulation Electromagnetic Modeling Environment for Simulating Everything from DC to Light<br /></font></strong>
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<td>[[image:cad-ico.png | link=Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD]] [[image:fdtd-ico.png | link=EM.Tempo]] [[image:prop-ico.png | link=EM.Terrano]] [[image:postatic-ico.png | link=EM.IlluminaFerma]] [[image:staticplanar-ico.png | link=EM.FermaPicasso]] [[image:planarmetal-ico.png | link=EM.PicassoLibera]] [[image:metalpo-ico.png | link=EM.LiberaIllumina]] </td>
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[[Image:Back_icon.png|40px30px]] '''[[EM.Cube | Back to EM.Cube Main Page]]'''
== An EM.Cube Primer ==
=== EM.Cube in a Nutshell ===
[[EM.Cube]] is a visual software environment for electromagnetic (EM) modeling. It features several distinct simulation engines that can solve a wide range of modeling problems such as electromagnetic radiation, scattering, wave propagation in various media, coupling, interference, signal integrity, field interactions with biological systems, etc. Using [[EM.Cube]], you can solve problems of different sizesand length scales, varying from a few microns in MEMS devices to several miles or larger in the case of large urban propagation scenes.
[[EM.Cube]] has a highly integrated modular architecture. We have eliminated the hurdle Its six computational modules offer a mix of learning too many different software tools for solving different types of problems by creating a full-wave, static and asymptotic numerical solvers in both time and frequency domains. An intuitive, streamlined user interface that is shared among all of [[EM.Cube]]'s computational modules and simulation engines. [[EM.Cube]]'s modules offer a mix of full-wave, static and asymptotic numerical solvers in both time and frequency domains. Once you learn the basics of the software application, you will find enormous computational power at your fingertips. [[EM.Cube]] allows you to plan and execute complex, system-level simulations of multi-scale electromagnetic structures. [[Image:Info_icon.png|30px]] Click here to find out '''[[What's New in EM.Cube 2016?]]'''
[[Image:Info_icon.png|30px]] Click here to learn more about '''[[EM.Cube Application Gallery | Examples of EM.Cube's Applications]]'''.
=== EM.Cube's Modular Architecture ===
[[EM.Cube]] brings together several computational modules that can be used to solve a large variety of electromagnetic modeling and RF design problems. Each module revolves around a specific numerical method that is optimized for a certain class of problems or applications. [[EM.Cube]]'s framework is based on total separation of the visual software interface and simulation engines. The numerical solvers communicate with the [[EM.Cube]] application solely through ASCII input and output files. This creates the opportunity makes it possible to utilize the same user interface effectively to drive different simulation engines.
At the heart of [[EM.Cube]] is [[Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD | CubeCAD]], a general-purpose parametric CAD modeling environment. [[EM.Cube]]'s computational modules are all customized variations of [[Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD | CubeCAD]] equipped with a particular simulation engine. Therefore, they all share the same input utilities (geometry definition and mesh generation) and same output utilities (data visualization and processing). [[Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD | CubeCAD]] features a powerful 3D CAD modeler with a large selection of native objects (solids, surfaces, curves) and a wide range of object creation, editing and transformation tools. You can import external CAD files with different popular standard formats. [[Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD | CubeCAD]]'s intuitive, mouse-driven , point-and-click and drag-and-drop tools let you quickly build very sophisticated structures either from the ground up or by combining native objects with imported external structures. You can also export your projects to a number of popular CAD formats. [[Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD | CubeCADEM.Cube]]'s Data Manager is a versatile utility for processing and plotting your simulation data either as 3D visualizations overlaid on your physical structure or in the form of a variety of graph types. [[Image:Info_icon.png|30px]] Click here to learn more about the basic functionality of '''[[Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD | CubeCAD]]'''. Besides sharing a common CAD modeler and common data visualization tools, all computational modules also feature a hierarchy of common elements: *Physical Structure*Computational Domain*Sources*Observables*Discretization The specific contents of each element may vary from module to module depending on the underlying physics. For example, the geometric objects listed under your project's physical structure may have different sets of properties in each module. Many source and observable types are shared among several computational modules. === EM.Cube's Computational Modules ===
In addition to [[Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD | CubeCAD]], [[EM.Cube]] currently offers six distinct computational modules:
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[[image:cad-ico.png | link=Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD]] </td>
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'''[[Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD | CubeCAD]]''' </td>
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CAD Module </td>
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This is the basic 3D CAD modeling environment for creation, import and export of native and external geometric objects. </td>
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This module features an asymptotic SBR ray tracer for physics-based, site specific modeling of radio wave propagation in urban and natural environments. </td>
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[[image:po-ico.png | link=EM.Illumina]] </td>
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'''[[EM.Illumina]]''' </td>
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Physical Optics Module </td>
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This module features an iterative Physical Optics (PO) solver for asymptotic modeling of electromagnetic scattering from large metallic structures and impedance surfaces in the free space. </td>
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Static Module </td>
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This module features two three electrostatic and , magnetostatic and steady-state thermal simulation engines that can be used for static or low-frequency analysis of circuits, lumped devices and transmission lines. </td>
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MoM3D Module </td>
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This module features two [[3D Method of Moments]] (MoM) solvers for full-wave frequency domain modeling of 3D free-space structures: A Wire MoM simulator and a Surface MoM simulator. </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-color: rgb(153, 153, 204); padding: 10px; width: 50px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> [[image:po-ico.png | link=EM.Illumina]] </td> <td style="border-color: rgb(153, 153, 204); padding: 10px; width: 80px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> '''[[EM.Illumina]]''' </td> <td style="border-color: rgb(153, 153, 204); padding: 10px; width: 80px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Physical Optics Module </td> <td style="border-color: rgb(153, 153, 204); padding: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> This module features an iterative Physical Optics (PO) solver for asymptotic modeling of electromagnetic scattering from large metallic structures and impedance surfaces in the free space. </td>
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{{Note|Among Besides sharing a common CAD modeler and common data visualization tools, all computational modules also feature a hierarchy of common elements: *Physical Structure*Computational Domain*Sources*Observables*Discretization The specific contents of each element may vary from module to module depending on the underlying physics. For example, the geometric objects listed under your project's physical structure have different sets of properties in each module. Many source types like plane waves and Hertzian short dipoles or observable types like field sensors, far-field radiation patterns and radar cross section (RCS) are shared among several computational modules. Of [[EM.Cube]]'s computational modules, [[EM.Tempo]] serves as a general-purpose electromagnetic simulator than can handle most types of modeling problems involving arbitrary geometries and complex material variations in both time and frequency domains.}}
== EM.Cube Installation ==
|-
! scope="row"| Operating System
| Windows 8.110| Windows 78.1 or higher
|-
! scope="row"| Processor
| i9 Intel Xeon 3GHz| i7 Intel Pentium 4 1GHz
|-
! scope="row"| RAM
| 16GB 32GB | 4GB8GB
|-
! scope="row"| Graphics Card
| 2GB 8GB NVIDIA QuadroRTX| 128MB OpenGL Compliant4GB NVIDIA Quadro
|-
! scope="row"| Display
| Ultra HD
| HD (1080p) 96 DPI
| SVGA (1024 x 768) 96 DPI
|}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| Windows
| Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 8.0 or later with Javascript and Cookies enabled.
|-
| Flash Active X plugin 8.0 or later.
|-
! scope"row" rowspan="2"| Other Platforms
| Google Chrome, Firefox 3.0 or later with Javascript and Cookies enabled.
|-
| Flash Plugin 8.0 or later.
You need to place the license file that has a ".lic" file extension in the directory "C:/Program Files (x86)/EMAG/Licenses/".
== Getting to Know EM.Cube's User Visual Interface ==
Before you start using [[EM.Cube]], it is important to familiarize yourself with its visual user interface. This is called the [[EM.Cube]] Desktop and consists of a number of visual elements:
*Splash Screen
*Main Window at the center of the screen
*Menu Bar at the top of the screen
*Four Six horizontal and vertical toolbars below it*Module Bar on scattered at the top, left edge and right of the screen*Navigation Tree window Wide Control Window on the left side of the screen*Simulate Toolbar on the right side of the navigation treewith two tabs: Navigation Tree and Python Interpreter
*Status Bar at the bottom of the screen
*Main Window which serves as the project workspace*Python Command Window Quick Tips on the right side of the project workspacescreen
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=== Splash Screen ===
 
The splash screen pops up every time you launch the application. It has four buttons:
 
*'''New''': Lets you start a brand-new project.
*'''Open''': Lets you open an existing project.
*'''Help''': Opens your browser and takes you the the [[EM.Cube]] Wiki.
*'''Update''': Checks for new updates and alerts you if your [[EM.Cube]] version is no the latest one.
 
You can click one of the four buttons of the splash screen to proceed. Or you can simply close it using either its "x" button at the upper right corner or using the keyboard's {{key|Esc}} button.
 
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[[Image:splash1.png|thumb|left|480px|EM.Cube's splash screen.]]
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=== Main Window ===
 
The main window with a default dark background occupies the largest part of the [[EM.Cube]] desktop. The main window is also referred to as the Project Workspace throughout the [[EM.Cube]] documentation. This is where most of your interaction with [[EM.Cube]] such as CAD construction and data visualization takes place. All the input to [[EM.Cube]]'s simulation engines is created and assembled through the main window, including geometrical and material definitions, sources, boundary conditions, meshes, and observables, <i>i.e.</i> the output quantities you instruct [[EM.Cube]] to generate at the end of a simulation. After a simulation run is completed, the main window is where you view the 3D visualization of the simulation results.
=== Menu Bar ===
* '''Object Toolbar''': This toolbar contains all the tools for drawing [[Building_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD | CubeCAD]]'s native geoemtric object types.
* '''Tools Toolbar''': This toolbar provides a large number of geometric object editing and transformation tools.
* '''Wizard Toolbar''': This toolbar provides easy access to all most of [[EM.Cube]]'s preloaded wizards.
* '''Simulate Toolbar''': This toolbar provides access to most important simulation-related functions and operation such as the mesh generator and the simulation run dialog.
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[[Image:Modulebar_new.png|thumb|left|500px450px|The module bar and navigation tree allow you to move among [[EM.Cube]]'s modules and access the properties of the current project's various items in each module.]]
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*Sources
*Observables
 
=== Main Window ===
 
The Main Window occupies the largest part of the [[EM.Cube]] desktop. The main window is also referred to as the Project Workspace throughout the [[EM.Cube]] documentation. This is where most of your interaction with [[EM.Cube]] such as CAD construction and data visualization takes place. All the input to [[EM.Cube]]'s simulation engines is created and assembled through the main window, including geometrical and material definitions, sources, boundary conditions, meshes, and observables, <i>i.e.</i> the output quantities that you instruct [[EM.Cube]] to generate at the end of a simulation. After a simulation run is completed, the main window is where you view the 3D visualization of the simulation results.
=== Status Bar ===
== Managing EM.Cube Projects ==
=== Creating, Opening, Saving & Closing Projects Starting a New Project ===
You can When you start the [[EM.Cube]] application, the splash screen pops up. This screen walks you through the process of setting up a new project if you click its {{key|New}} button. Alternatively, you can close the splash screen without clicking any of its four buttons and land on a blank project workspace in CubeCAD. Here you can start drawing your new geometric objects and build a physical structure for your project. If you click the {{key|New}} button of the splash screen, the '''New Project''' dialog opens up. You can also open the new project dialog at any time by selecting the menu item '''File &rarr; New Project...''', or clicking the '''New''' [[File:New.png]] button of the System Toolbar. In either case, the "New Project Dialog" opens up. The default name of the new project is "UntitledProj1UntitledProj"followed by an index. The new project folder by default is created in the "Projects Folder" of your [[EM.Cube]] installation folder. This is normally located in the "EMAG Folder" inside your hard drive's "Documents Folder". From the New Project Dialognew project dialog, you can change the location of the new project folder to anywhere on your hard driveusing Windows Explorer's folder tree. Before you start the new project, you can change its name to anything you like. Simply type in a new name to replace the default "UntitledProj...". The problem type is assumed to be "Generic" by default. This creates a blank project in CubeCAD by default. From CubeCAD, you can switch to any of [[EM.Cube]]'s other computational modules and continue to build your project. The new project dialog lets you set the project length units. The default option is '''Millimeters'''. For computational modules, you need to set the operational frequency. The dialog lets you select the frequency unit, which is '''GHz''' (Gigahertz) by default. You can set the project's center frequency and bandwidth. Once you have changed all the settings, click the {{key|Create}} button to make the changes effective and start your new project. Keep in mind that you can always change the center frequency and bandwidth of your project later. However, changing the length units in the middle of a project is highly discouraged after you have already constructed a detailed physical structure.
Before you start the new project, you can change its name to anything you would like. Simply type in a new name to replace the default "UntitledProj0". From the new project dialog, you can also set the project length units. The default option is millimeter. For computational modules, you need to set the operational frequency. The dialog lets you select the frequency unit, which is Gigahertz (GHz) by default. You can set the project's center frequency and bandwidth. Once you have changed all the settings, click the {{key|Create}} button to make the changes effective.
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[[Image:NewprojNewproj1.png|thumb|left|600px800px|EM.Cube's New Project dialog.]]
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=== Choosing a Problem Type ===
 
In most cases, you will prefer to start a generic or blank project and build up your physical structure either in CubeCAD or in one of [[EM.Cube]]'s computational modules. [[EM.Cube]], however, also provides a library of 16 ready-made project templates to get you started as quickly as possible. These projects cover different problem types or applications such as wave propagation, radiation, scattering, circuits, periodic structures, etc. They construct highly parameterized structures in various computational modules. Some of the benefits of the new project templates are:
 
*You learn how to define variables and parameterzie geometric objects, material groups and other project properties.
*You learn how to define excitation sources and simulation observables in different computational modules.
*You can use a project template as a starting point and then change various parameters or add new geometric objects or other project attributes.
*Each project template has a Python script, which you can access from the models dialog.
*You can learn how to put together simple Python scripts.
*You can use the Python scripts of the existing project templates as a starting point and create more complicated projects scenarios. You can build a library of reusable project templates.
 
The following table lists [[EM.Cube]]'s new project templates and their purpose:
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col"|
! scope="col"| Problem Type
! scope="col"| Module
! scope="col"| Python Script
! scope="col"| Notes
! scope="col"| Model
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 1
| style="width:150px;" | Generic
| style="width:50px;" | CubeCAD
| style="width:100px;" | N/A
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a blank project.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:blank.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 2
| style="width:150px;" | Simple Outdoor Propagation Scene
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Terrano]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_prop_scene.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a two brick buildings with a vertical half-wave dipole transmitter and a grid of isotropic receivers.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:Ter prop.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 3
| style="width:150px;" | Simple Indoor Propagation Scene
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Terrano]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_indoor_scene.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a brick building with internal wall partitions, a vertical half-wave dipole transmitter and a grid of isotropic receivers.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:Ter indoor.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 4
| style="width:150px;" | General Radiation
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Tempo]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_gen_radiation.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a wire dipole with a lumped source attached to a square PEC ground plane.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:Tem rad.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 5
| style="width:150px;" | General Scattering
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Tempo]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_gen_scattering.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a metallic cylinder target with a dielectric coating illuminated by a vertically incident plane wave source.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:Tem scat.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 6
| style="width:150px;" | General Periodic Structure
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Tempo]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_gen_periodic.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a periodic unit cell containing a metallic cross illuminated by a vertically incident plane wave source.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:Temp per.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 7
| style="width:150px;" | General Waveguide Structure
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Tempo]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_gen_waveguide.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a vertical rectangular hollow waveguide terminated in a rectangular metallic flange excited using a waveguide port.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:Tem wg.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 8
| style="width:150px;" | Finite-Sized Planar Structure
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Tempo]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_finite_planar.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a probe-fed square patch on a finite-sized conductor-backed dielectric substrate excited by a lumped source on the vertical probe line.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:tem_planar.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 9
| style="width:150px;" | Planar Filter
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Tempo]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_lp_filter.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a microstrip lowpass filter excited using two microstrip ports with a Gaussian pulse waveform.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:Tem lpf.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 10
| style="width:150px;" | Shielded Resonator
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Tempo]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_shielded_structure.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a hemispherical dielectric resonator fed through an extended cylindrical probe in a dielectric substrate at the bottom of a shielded metallic box.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:Tem shielded.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 11
| style="width:150px;" | MMIC Circuit
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Tempo]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_mmic.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a two-port planar component excited using two microstrip ports on a multilayer substrate inside a shielded metallic box.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:Tem mmic.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 12
| style="width:150px;" | Netlist Amplifier Circuit
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Tempo]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_netlist_amp.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a linear amplifier circuit containing an active two-port device with a simple Netlist model excited by two microstrip ports.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:Tem amp.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 13
| style="width:150px;" | Unbounded Planar Structure
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Picasso]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_unbounded_planar.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a probe-fed square patch on a laterally unbounded conductor-backed dielectric substrate excited by a probe gap source.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:pic_patch.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 14
| style="width:150px;" | Unbounded Microstrip Structure
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Picasso]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_unbounded_microstrip.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a two-port planar microstrip bandpass filter structure excited using two scattering wave ports.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:pic_mstrip.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 15
| style="width:150px;" | Unbounded Slot Structure
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Picasso]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_unbounded_slot.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a slot structure in an unbounded ground plane excited using an underpassing micrsotrip feed with a shorting pin.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:pic_slot.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 16
| style="width:150px;" | Multilayer Periodic Surface
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Picasso]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_netlist_amp.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a periodic unit cell using a concentric square loop and patch elements printed on a multilayer dielectric substrate illuminated using a plane wave source.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:pic_per.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 17
| style="width:150px;" | Wire Structure
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Libera]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_wire_structure.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a multi-wire metal structure including a spiral helix excited by a wire gap source.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:lib_wire.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 18
| style="width:150px;" | Air-Filled Capacitor
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Ferma]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_air_capacitor.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates an air-filled parallel plate capacitor with the top plate connected to a voltage source.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:fer_cap.png|75px]]
|-
| style="width:10px;" | 19
| style="width:150px;" | Air-Core Solenoid
| style="width:50px;" | [[EM.Ferma]]
| style="width:100px;" | emag_air_solenoid.py
| style="width:400px;" | Creates a current-carrying vertical solenoid with an air core.
| style="width:75px;" | [[image:fer_sol.png|75px]]
|}
 
=== Opening, Saving & Closing Projects ===
Previously saved projects can be opened using the menu item '''File &rarr; Open Project...''', or by clicking the '''Open''' [[File:Open.png]] button of the System Toolbar. If you are in a different project that has been modified, and your changes have not been saved yet, a warning message will appear asking you whether you want to save the current project before opening another project. Once the standard Windows open dialog pops up, you can browse the Windows Explorer and locate any project you wish to open. You have to open the project folder and select the project file with a ".PRJ" file extension.
You can close a project at any time using the menu item '''File &rarr; Close Project'''. A message pops up that prompts if you wish to save the existing project. You can quit the [[EM.Cube]] application using the menu item '''File &rarr; Quit''' or using the keyboard shortcut {{key|Ctrl+Q}}. Note that when you close a project, you are still in the [[EM.Cube]] application. If you start a new project, you may still carry some of the program settings from the previous project. Quitting and exiting the application ensures that all the default settings would take effect the next time when you start a new project.
[[Image:Info_icon.png|40px30px]] To find additional details about [[EM.Cube]]'s file operations, see the '''[[Glossary of EM.Cube's Basic File, Edit & View Operations]]'''.
=== Changing Project Settings ===
The frequency dialog can be accessed from '''Menu &rarr; Simulate &rarr; Frequency Settings...''', or by clicking the '''Frequency''' [[File:Frequency-tool.png]] button of the simulate toolbar. The project's current center frequency is displayed on the status bar with the current frequency units. Double-clicking on this value is another way to open up the frequency dialog. From this dialog you can change the values of center frequency and bandwidth as well as the frequency units.
[[Image:Info_icon.png|40px30px]] To find additional details about these dialogs, see the '''[[Glossary_of_EMGlossary of EM.Cube's_Simulations Simulation-Related_Functions_&_Operations Related Operations | Glossary of EM.Cube's Simulation-Related FunctionsOperations]]'''.
=== Handling Project and Data Files ===
=== Customizing Your Desktop ===
 
Most of the visual elements of [[EM.Cube]]'s user interface can be customized. [[EM.Cube]] will remember the last state of your visual interface when you exit the application and will restore it the next time you start the application. These information are saved in the Windows registry and remain there until you delete them. You can move the menu bar and the six toolbars around and drop them at any location on the screen. Hover your mouse on the handle of any toolbar and simply drag it. The toolbars become horizontal when they are placed inside the main window. In this case, they are said to be floating inside the main window. If you hover the mouse on one of the four edges of a floating toolbar, its shape changes to a double arrow. You can expand or shrink a floating toolbar horizontally or vertically. When you drop a floating toolbar to an edge of the screen, the toolbar docks onto that edge.
You can customize the [[EM.Cube]] Desktop to your liking in a number of ways. For example, you can change its view mode temporarily, change the background color of your project workspace, and display or hide the grid. These functions can be accessed either through the "View Menu" or "View Toolbar" or through the "Preferences Dialog" of the Edit Menu, which can opened using the menu item '''Edit &rarr; Preferences...'''. In general, the changes you make through the menus and toolbars are valid during the session of your project, while the changes you make in the preferences dialog are permanent and are written to the Windows registry. That means your changes persist the next time you open the [[EM.Cube]] application.
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[[Image:Enable_Grid.png|thumb|left|720px640px|Enabling the grid of EM.Cube's project workspace and selection a low-contrast color for the grid.]]
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When the "Snap to Grid" mode is enabled, a text reading like '''Grid Snap: 5''' appears on [[EM.Cube]]'s status bar. This shows the current grid cell size. As you zoom in or zoom out, the grid cell size changes accordingly. You can turn the "Snap to Grid" mode on and off from the status bar by double-clicking on this text to toggle its state. Besides the adaptive grid that is the default grid type, [[EM.Cube]] also offers a fixed grid option, which can be zoomed in or out together with the physical structure in the project workspace.
[[Image:Info_icon.png|40px30px]] To learn more about [[EM.Cube]]'s grid types, see '''[[Glossary of EM.Cube's Basic File, Edit & View Operations#Grid Properties | EM.Cube's Grid Properties]]'''.
=== Changing the Environment Colors ===
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[[Image:BckColor1.png|thumb|left|550px360px|The default background and selection colors of EM.Cube's project workspace.]]
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[[Image:BckColor2.png|thumb|left|550px360px|Changing the background and selection colors of EM.Cube's project workspace.]]
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! scope="col"| Persistent Mode: Menu
|-
! scope="row"| Normal View
| style="width:150px;" | {{key|Esc}}
| style="width:200px;" | '''Select''' [[File:select-tool_tn.png]]
| style="width:200px;" | '''View &rarr; Select'''
|-
! scope="row"| Pan View
| style="width:150px;" | {{key|Shift+RMB}}
| style="width:200px;" | '''Pan''' [[File:pan-tool_tn.png]]
| style="width:200px;" | '''View &rarr; Pan View'''
|-
! scope="row"| Rotate View
| style="width:150px;" | {{key|RMB}} and {{key|Alt+RMB}}
| style="width:200px;" | '''Rotate View''' [[File:rotate-tool_tn.png]]
| style="width:200px;" | '''View &rarr; Rotate View'''
|-
! scope="row"| Dynamic Zoom
| style="width:150px;" | mouse scroll wheel and/or {{key|Ctrl+RMB}}
| style="width:200px;" | '''Zoom Dynamic''' [[File:zoom-tool_tn.png]]
| style="width:200px;" | '''View &rarr; Zoom &rarr; Dynamic'''
|-
! scope="row"| Zoom to Fit
| style="width:150px;" | {{key|Ctrl+E}}
| style="width:200px;" | '''Zoom Extents''' [[File:zoom-to-extent_tn.png]]
<hr>
[[Image:Top_icon.png|48px30px]] '''[[Getting_Started_with_EM.Cube#An_EM.Cube_Primer | Back to the Top of the Page]]'''
[[Image:Back_icon.png|40px30px]] '''[[EM.Cube | Back to EM.Cube Main Page]]'''
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