The user interface
The embroidery software can be opened via the desktop icon or MS Windows® Start menu.
The screen illustrations in this publication are intended as representations, not exact duplicates of screen layouts generated by the software. The samples used to illustrate software features and capabilities may not be exactly duplicable, depending on your product level.
Design window
Your embroidery software has a single workspace or ‘design window’. This allows you to modify or create embroidery designs using the extensive toolset. You can have multiple designs open simultaneously and toggle between each via the design tabs.
Menu & toolbars
The main menu and toolbars are normally docked at the top of the screen above the design window. Use both to access common commands. As you get more familiar with them, you can speed things up by using keyboard shortcuts. For a list of available toolbars, go to the Window menu...
The software includes a 'Context' toolbar which changes according to the selected tool. If you have no tools selected, you will see a machine list as well as a hoop list. Here you can also set your measurement units – Metric or U.S. – and adjust screen background settings.
The Help menu provides easy access to online documentation in the form of release notes, user guide, and projects as shown...
Onscreen help provides quick access to step-by-step instructions. Context-sensitive help is available for tools and dialogs by pressing the F1 key.
Toolboxes
Toolboxes are like toolbars in that they contain software tools. However, each toolbox represents a typical scenario you will be engaged in, such as customizing designs or editing objects. Some tools may appear in more than one context. As such, toolboxes are organized in order of common operations, starting with managing your designs. See also Manage designs.
Dockers
The software includes a number of ‘dockers’ for key functions. These include operations to do with thread selection, object sequencing, as well as viewing and modifying design and object properties. For a list of available dockers, go to the Window menu...
Dockers are normally docked to the right of the design window. They may also be ‘floated’ by dragging the caption bar to the design window or double-clicking.
Depending on your level of product, available dockers may include some of all of the following...
| Docker | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Sequence | The Sequence docker offers an easy way to selectively view and sequence color blocks and objects. |
| Design Overview | Use this docker to toggle the Design Overview window on/off. Use this to view a thumbnail of the design. Use it to pan and zoom the design when working at high zoom factors. Set view settings independently to the design window. |
| Object Properties | This is an important docker if you are creating or editing embroidery objects. Use this together with the Context toolbar to access and modify the many properties of selected embroidery objects. |
| Design Information | Use this docker to view and modify design details prior to design approval or stitchout. |
| Threads | The Threads docker allows you to select thread charts and assign threads to the current design. The Threads docker works in conjunction with the Design Colors toolbar. |
Status bar
A Status Bar at the bottom of the design window provides continuous display of current cursor position status as well as instructions for use of selected tools.
Multi-hooping mode
Here is a screen image from the multi-hooping workspace which is accessed via the Multi-Hooping toolbox. If your embroidery is too large or contains a number of designs spaced around an article, you can split it into multiple hoopings. This means you can create embroidery designs that are larger than can be stitched in a single hooping. The multi-hooping workspace allows you to set up the position and sequence of each hoop. See Multi-hooping.
Integration with CorelDRAW
Integration with CorelDRAW is automatically activated depending on your product model. This is available for customers who already own CorelDRAW and have it installed on their computer together with Hatch.
CorelDRAW integration is currently only available for certain models of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite and CorelDRAW SE. And it is currently only available for integration with Hatch Composer and Digitizer. For more information, see FAQs.
