Options

For more information on any of the following Options, click on the particular option or simply scroll down.

File Options

Auto Save: You can turn auto save on or off by clicking in the box next to Auto Save. A check mark in the box symbolizes that auto save is on, click again to remove the check which symbolizes that auto save is off. Next to Interval you can insert a number that will determine how often auto save will save your file. Auto Save is defaulted to be "On"

If your computer stops responding while you are working in EDS IV, the next time you open EDS IV you will be given the option to recover any work that was saved with Auto Save. After the recovered files are open you should save them with a new name. Do not save them in the temp directory because these files are managed by EDS IV and will be deleted.

If Auto Save is not turned on, there is no way to recover these files.

Open File: You can have your files open up to actual size or to fit the whole screen.

Preserve Condensed Connectors On Open: When checked EDS IV will create a jumpstitch object for each portion of a condensed design that was in the needle up mode. If the box is not checked the needle up sections of the condensed design are discarded and EDS IV automatically creates connectors to move between sections of the design.

Auto Scroll/Notes

Auto Scroll: Auto Scroll works as you are in the middle of digitizing an element. When you move your cursor out of the view window, auto scroll will scroll the view window to follow the direction of your cursor. You can change the speed of the auto scroll from 1 to 10.

Notes Editor: If you choose to use a different editor than the default (Microsoft Word for example), click in the radio button next to Specify Editor and then browse to the desired one. Notepad is the default editor.

Measurement Units

Measurement Units: You have the option of changing the measurement units on the properties listed. You can have the units in embroidery points, millimeters, centimeters, or inches.

Editing Properties

Wireframe Point Size

You have the option of changing the size of the wireframe points when you view them in the View Window. The default is Small (9 pixel).

Digitizing Properties

Tablet Digitizer

This option applies only to EDS IV Summit product level.

The process of digitizing with a tablet is similar to on-screen digitizing. You can create elements by inputting a series of straight and/or curved points. Please scroll down for further information.

The required components for tablet digitizer are as follows:

Digitizing Tablet - Any tablet that conforms to Summagraphic's Microgrid Format (most tablets supported by EDS III fall into this category).
Tablet Toolbar - A "stick on" template that closely resembles the EDS IV input toolbar
Computer Serial Port - capable of handling 2400baud, no parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit.
EDS IV Summit Level - The tablet will only function with the EDS IV Summit Level product.

Tablet Setup

If you have the Summit product level, the tablet may be set up by clicking on the "Tools:Options" menu in EDS IV. Then click on the "Digitizing Properties" tab.

All controls (except sound) will initially be disabled. To enable all controls, click on the "Tablet Present" checkbox. Select the COM port per your hardware capabilities. You can select how your puck buttons are mapped. Default mappings are as follows:

Button 1 - Straight Point
Button 2 - Enter
Button 3 - Curved Point
Button 4 - Move Tablet Toolbar

The Tablet Toolbar

The tablet toolbar is a stick on device that contains tools for the various digitizing functions. Because of it's similarity to the EDS IV input toolbar, only differences are described below. For reference on any item besides the six provided below, click on the desired toolbar button.

Set Origin - To set the origin of the artwork, click on this tool followed by a puck click (any puck button not mapped as the "Move menu" button) on the origin of the artwork.
Set Horizontal - To set the angle of the artwork, click on this tool followed by a puck click (any puck button not mapped as the "Move menu" button) on the bottom left edge of the artwork followed by another click on the bottom right edge of the artwork.
Move Artwork - This function allows you to digitize a design which has artwork larger than the active area of the tablet digitizer. You are able to digitize up to a point, then move your artwork and resume digitizing with no break in the design. To move artwork and maintain the original origin, perform the following steps:

Click on the Move Artwork tool
Click on a point (example point x) on the artwork
Move the artwork
Click on point x again
Click on the bottom left edge of the artwork followed by another click on the bottom right edge of the artwork
Continue digitizing as normal

Retrace On/Off - Click on the retrace button to switch from 'On' to 'Off'. When this function is 'On", an newly digitized walk stitches will retrace back to the first digitized point.
Backspace - This tool simulates the pressing of the "Backspace" key on the keyboard. Each time this tool is clicked on, the last entered point is removed from the screen.
Escape - This tool simulates the pressing of the "Escape" key on the keyboard. Click on this tool to remove the last digitized element.

Before any toolbar function can be used, the toolbar position must be given to the computer by:

position the menu to the desired location on the tablet.
click on the orientation mark on the bottom left of the toolbar (use the puck button mapped as "Move Menu")
click on the orientation mark on the bottom right of the toolbar (use the puck button mapped as "Move Menu")

Digitizing Hints

The artwork origin and angle are saved in the registry. Once the parameters are set, it is only necessary to change them when the artwork is moved.
It is not necessary to "start a digitizing session" as it was in EDS III. Once the tablet is configured the user may enter points by choosing the appropriate input tool from the tablet toolbar or the EDS IV input toolbar and then entering straight and/or curved wireframe points.
While an element is being digitized from the tablet, mouse input from EDS IV is ignored. Mouse input will be recognized once the element is finished being digitized.
All element parameters such as density, underlay, stitch length, etc. are set from the property sheets as done for on screen digitizing. Click here for further reference on Property Tabs, Properties.

Digitizing Sound Effects

This feature only applies to EDS IV Summit product level. EDS IV supports the ability to produce audible sounds when a mouse button or puck button is clicked during digitizing. To enable this effect, click on the menu item "Tools:Options" followed by a click on the "Digitizing Properties" tab (you must have the Summit product level). The following dialog will appear:

When "Sound" is selected to "On", an audible tone will be heard from the computer each time a button is pressed on the active digitizing device (mouse / puck). The following table shows what tones will be heard depending on the operating system and hardware present:

Windows NT / 2000 with a sound card	Unique tone from sound card
Windows NT / 2000 without a sound card	Unique tone from computer speaker
Windows 98 with sound card	Unique tone from sound card
Windows 98 without sound card	Standard system "beep" from computer speaker