Windows 7 users need to upgrade to FastLook DBMS v5

Its official!  We just received confirmation from Microsoft that key components required by FastLook DBMS v4 are unsupported in the Windows 7 operating system.  Any user wanting to run the DBMS in Windows 7 will need an upgrade to the latest FastLook DBMS v5.

You can download a demo of FastLook DBMS v5 from our website.  Here is a link to the demo page.  Please contact our Sales Department at sales@kamelsoftware.com for a quote on the upgrade.

Thanks, Jim

Maintenance Update Available

Here's a note to all FastLook and WebLook users to run your Maintenance Tool to get the latest updates.  Just today we released some new code that improves the printing in both products.

FastLook Keyboard Guide

I was asked by a customer at a training session recently to post a guide for all keyboard shortcuts used in FastLook Plus and FastLook Pro.  Below I have posted the guide, but if you would like it in PDF form you can download it from here

Navigation Panel

There are a number of keys that work to help you move around the Navigation Panel to find a drawing easier.  Make sure that the File List has “focus” for these keystrokes to take effect, so click on the File List prior to using any of the methods.

Alphanumeric Keys - Simply type the first letter you want i.e. "s" and the list will auto highlight the first "s" word. Type "s" then "t" and it will go to the first word starting with "st" and so on.

F5 – This key will refresh the display of the folders and files listed in the Navigation Panel.

F12 – Pressing this key while the File List has focus will cause FastLook to view the NEXT file in the list.

F11 – Pressing this key will cause FastLook to view the PREVIOUS file in the list.

Up Arrow – Pressing this key will move the selection up one filename in the File List.  Unlike the F11 key referred to above, this will not cause the file to be viewed.

Down Arrow – Pressing this key will move the selection down one filename in the File List.  Unlike the F12 key referred to above, this will not cause the file to be viewed.

Page Up – This key will move the selection to the top filename displayed in the File List.

Page Down – This key will move the selection to the bottom filename displayed of the File List.

Home – Selects the first filename in the List.

End – Selects the last filename in the List.

ESC – Stop drawing generation.

Enter or Return – Causes FastLook to view the selected filename.

General Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL + T - Presents dialog with the time it took to generate the current drawing or image in seconds.

CTRL + R - Presents dialog with the version information of the software.

CTRL + V - Displays dialog for the user to enter the path and file name with extension.  If a path is not entered, FastLook uses the working directory as a default. If an extension is not entered, FastLook searches to find all matches, but will honor a DWG extension over others found. This function will accept DOS Wildcards in the argument.

Mnemonics

Mnemonics provide another keyboard alternative to the mouse. A mnemonic is an underlined alphanumeric character in a menu title or menu item. It reminds the user how to activate the equivalent command by simultaneously pressing the Alt key and the character key that corresponds to the underlined letter.

When keyboard focus is already on the Menu, the Alt modifier is not always required.  For example, to choose the Find command from the Edit menu, the user can hold down the Alt key and press E to post the Edit menu, release the Alt key, and then press F.

Menu Titles	Menu Items
File	Open File,  Open OverLook Window,  Search for File,  Compare Files,  File Types, Mail,  Export File,  Print,  Setup Printer,  Launch,  Exit
Edit	Copy (Bitmap),  Copy (Vector),  Copy (B&W Vector),  Copy Selected data to Clipboard,  Clipboard Data Options,  Find
Display	Zoom Extents,  Zoom In,  Zoom Out,  Zoom Previous,  Zoom Limits,  Layers,  Default Layer Config,  Stored Views,  Pan,  Rotate 2D,  3D Rotate*,  View Point.  3D Display Mode*,  Gray Scale,  Monochrome Vector,   Invert Black & White Raster,  Contrast,  Page,  Redraw                 * - denotes FastLook Pro version
Redline	Redline Edit Mode,  Place ViewMark,  Display ViewMark,  Leader Note,  Note,  Line,  Box,  Circle,  Arc,  Polyline,  Cloud,  Sketch,  Sticky Note,  Insert Symbol
RedlineEdit	Select Entity,  Undo Delete,  Additional Modes,  Fill,  Hatch,  Hatch Pattern,  Create Symbol,  File Preferences,  Additional Redline Files
Links	View Links,  Link Edit Mode,  Previous Link,  Go to First Link,  Link History,  Box,  Polyline,  Circle,  Cloud,  Insert Symbol,  Select Entity,  Delete Link File
Info	File Info,  Measure,  Calibrate Measure,  Associated Files,  Block Attribute List, Get Block Attributes,  Get Extended Data, Get Object data, Get Database Links
Options	Redlining,  Edit FTP Sites,  Save Last Directory Used,  Display File Size,  Open Files in New Windows,  Set HPGL Pen Colors,  Options,  Save Options
Window	Cascade,  Tile,  Arrange Icons,  Use tabs for Windows,  Open New Window, Close All Windows
Help	Help,   Report A Problem,   About FastLook

Redline/Link Function Keys

There are a number of keys that are used to help draw and edit redline and linking entities.

CTRL Key - To temporarily place FastLook in Ortho Draw Mode, simply hold down the CTRL key while drawing a line or line segment.  This functionality pertains to Lines, Leaders and Polyline entities.
SHIFT Key – The Shift Key has multiple functions.

Snap To function - When redlining or linking, the accurate placement of many of FastLook's redline and link entities may be facilitated by using the Snap To function.  To activate this function, simply hold down the SHIFT key while placing the vertex of an entity. FastLook will use a user-defined "pick area" surrounding the cursor to locate the closest entity and its end point. The starting point of the redline or link entity will automatically "snap to" the end point of the entity. This function may also be used in many of the Redline-Edit commands such as Move, Copy and Edit.

Selecting Multiple Entities - You may select multiple entities by holding down the SHIFT key while you click on an entity. To deselect an entity without affecting other selected entities, hold down SHIFT key as you deselect the entity.

C Key – To facilitate the closing of either a Polyline or Sketch entity you may press the C Key, meaning “Close”.  FastLook will automatically close the entity by drawing a line from the last point you set to the first.  This makes these entities suitable for filling or hatching.

E Key – Another way to end the drawing of a Polyline or Sketch entity is to leave it open by pressing the E Key, for “End”, or click the right mouse button.

ESC Key – Press the Escape Key to cancel out of a drawing mode or cancel the drawing of any entity.

Cancel a Drawing Mode - To aid in the placement of multiple entities of the same type, FastLook will remain in the drawing mode for that entity type. To cancel this mode, you either press the ESC key, click the right mouse button in the drawing window, or choose another drawing tool.

Cancel Drawing Operation - If you have started to place a redline entity on an image and would like to discontinue the operation, simply click the right mouse button once or press the ESC key. This will discontinue the current operation, but will leave you in redline draw mode.

DELETE - You may delete any redline or link entity by simply selecting it and pressing the DELETE key.