LayOut's application preferences are used to set various global behaviors for LayOut. Activate the Preferences from the LayOut menu.
ApplicationsUse the Applications panel of the LayOut Preferences dialog box to configure the applications used to edit images and text files.
Application for Editing Image Files
Click on the Choose button to select an application used for editing image files.
Application for Editing Text Files
Click on the Choose button to select an application used for editing text files.
Use the Backup panel of the LayOut Preferences dialog box to configure backup preferences.
Create Backup Checkbox
Check the 'Create Backup' checkbox to automatically create a backup file whenever you save a document. The backup file is the previously saved version of the file. This file will be saved to the same folder as the document file. The backup file will be named
Auto-save Checkbox
Check the 'Auto-save' checkbox to automatically save changes to your document into a temporary file at specific time intervals. Type the auto-save interval, in minutes, into the 'minutes' field. Should LayOut abnormally exit, this temporary file will be available under "Recent" files when you relaunch LayOut (or under New from Template if you've disabled template selection).
Use the Folders panel of the LayOut Preferences dialog box to identify locations for templates and scrapbooks.
Add Button
Click on the Add button to add a new path and folder to the folders list. The Browse for Folder dialog box appears. Navigate to the folder you want to add, or click the Make New Folder button to add a new folder.
Remove Button
Select a folder and click the Remove button to remove the folder from the folders list.
Restore Defaults Button
Click on the Restore Defaults button to restore all template and scrapbook locations to their default locations.
Use the Performance panel of the LayOut Preferences dialog box to indicate whether you want LayOut to automatically re-render SketchUp models that have had their settings changed from LayOut.
Auto-Update Checkbox
Check the 'Auto-Update' checkbox if you want all dirty SketchUp models in LayOut to automatically be re-rendered when changes are applied. A dirty SketchUp model is a model whose properties have been changed in LayOut, but has not been rerendered to reflect the changes. Dirty models are indicated by a yellow icon with an exclamation point.
A document with several large SketchUp models could take several minutes or even hours to re-render. Therefore, this option is recommended for documents with few small SketchUp models.
PresentationUse the Presentation panel of the LayOut Preferences dialog box to identify the monitor used for documents.
Same Monitor as Window Radio Button
Use the Same monitor as window setting to display a document on the same monitor containing the majority of your document window.
Primary Monitor Radio Button
Use the Primary monitor setting to display a document on the computer's primary display.
Secondary Monitor Radio Button
Use the Secondary monitor setting to display a document on the computer's secondary display. The secondary display in Mac OS X is the display without the menu bar across the top.
Use the Scales panel of the LayOut Preferences dialog box to create scales that apply to SketchUp models in your document area.
Add Scale Button
Use the Add Scale button to add a scale to the available SketchUp model scales.
Delete Scale Button
Use the Delete Scale button to delete a scale from the available SketchUp model scales.
Restore Defaults Button
Click on the Restore Defaults button to restore default scales.
Use the Shortcuts panel of the LayOut Preferences dialog box to configure keyboard shortcuts for menu items in LayOut.
Filter Field
Type a word in the 'Filter' field to quickly list only those menu items with the word.
Functions/Key
The Functions/Key contains a list of functions and their associated keyboard shortcut.
Use the Startup panel of the LayOut Preferences dialog box to identify actions LayOut should perform when started.
Prompt for Template Radio Button
Check the 'Prompt for template' radio button if you want LayOut to prompt you to choose a template each time you run LayOut.
Blank Document
Click the Blank Document to start LayOut without a template.
Use Selected Template Radio Button
Check the 'Use selected template' radio button to select a specific template to use every time you run the LayOut.
Cascade Main Windows Checkbox
Click on the 'Cascade main windows' checkbox to open new document area windows offset from each other.
Save Current Window Size Button
Click on the Save current window size button to save the current document window size.