The Vivien interface

When you create or open an event document, the Vivien event window displays. This section describes the event window and all its components.

In this section

Vivien_event_window

Menu_bar

Toolbars

Floating_Toolbars

Shortcut_bars

Window_Position Management

Ruler_Tool

Work_area

View tabs

Custom_tab_window

Working in the Virtual View tab

Virtual view fixture selection

Exporting images from Virtual View

Virtual view output

Library Browser

Status bar

Instruction tooltip

Popup frames

Vivien event window

The following graphic shows the Vivien Virtual Event Designer event window.

Menu bar

The menu bar is located at the top of the Vivien event window, above the work area. The available menus change depending on the tab selected at the bottom of the work area. The menu bar is dockable, which means you can move it to another area on your screen.

By dragging the grab bar to the left of the menu, you can place the menu bar on the edges of the work area (top, bottom, left or right).

You can also drag it off the edge of the work area and into its own window. This window remains on top of the Vivien screen and can be dragged anywhere on your display.

You can access menu commands using a mouse, keyboard, or using hot keys. For more information, see "Hotkeys".

To access menu commands using the keyboard

1. Press ALT + n, where n is the underlined letter in the menu name.

Result: The menu displays.

2. Press the key corresponding to the underlined letter in the command that you want to execute.

Some commands have shortcuts that do not require menu selection. In those cases, the shortcut keys are listed to the right of the command in the menu.

Example: To undo the last command, press CTRL+Z.

Toolbars

Toolbars provide button access to most commands. This is in lieu of selecting the commands through the menus in the menu bar.

Like menus, the available toolbars change depending on the tab selected at the bottom of the work area. However, unlike menus, you can customize how the toolbars are arranged and which toolbars display.

Toolbars are typically found directly under the menu bar. You can move toolbars around the screen by dragging the grab bar to the left of the menu.

You can place them on the edges of the work area (top, bottom, left or right). You can also drag them off the edge of the work area and into their own windows. These windows remain on top of the Vivien screen and can be dragged anywhere on your display.

The following toolbars are available (listed in alphabetical order).

Align toolbar

Camera toolbar

Command Line toolbar

Draw toolbar

Edit toolbar

Guest Management toolbar

Layer toolbar

Lights toolbar

Modify toolbar

Layouts Edit toolbar

Layouts Insert toolbar

Layouts View toolbar

Scene toolbar

Standard toolbar

Text toolbar

Text toolbar (Layouts)

Tools toolbar

View toolbar

View Type toolbar 

To hide and display toolbars using the toolbar list

1. Right-click in the toolbar area.

Result: A list of toolbars displays.

Note: Toolbars that are grayed in the toolbar selection list are not used in the selected tab.

2. Click the name of the toolbar you want to display or hide. A check mark to the left of the toolbar name indicates it is currently displayed.
3. Repeat to display or hide multiple toolbars.

To hide and display toolbars using the Options menu

1. From the Options menu, choose Application Options.

Alternatively, right-click in the toolbar area and from the toolbar list, select Toolbars.

Result: The Application Options window opens.

2. Click the Toolbars tab.
3. Select the check boxes of the toolbars that you want to display.

Toolbars that are grayed in the toolbar selection list are not used in the selected view tab.

For more information on the Toolbars tab, refer to "Toolbars tab".

Floating toolbars

Floating Toolbars are available in Vivien to offer common features conveniently at your cursor. When you right-click on a view, in addition to the usual right-click menu, a floating toolbar will appear either above or below the right-click menu (depending on where you clicked on the screen).

The icons displayed are the same as the ones displayed in the menus and toolbars. If you are not familiar with an icon, hover over it and a tooltip will appear displaying the feature's name.

Shortcut bars

Shortcuts provide quick access to library items and views. The shortcut bars located on the left side of your screen display and organize shortcuts. Click a shortcut bar to display the shortcuts for that shortcut type (for example, click the Chairs shortcut bar to display all the chair shortcuts).

In the Shortcut Bar, a separator can be inserted between the shortcut icons or a group of shortcut icons. The shortcut bar separator helps you group, segregate and organize the various shortcut icons accordingly.

Shortcut separators can be inserted from the Manage Navigation Shortcuts window or you can right-click on the space within the shortcut bar and choose the Add Separator menu.

The available shortcut bars change depending on the selected view tab.

There are two types of shortcuts:

• Library
• View

Library shortcuts

Add frequently used library items to the shortcut bar to make access more immediate than browsing the library for the items. You can create library item shortcuts under the following shortcut bars:

• Architecture
  
• A/V
  
• Objects
  
• Lighting
  
• People
  
• Chairs
  
• Tables
  
• Table Sets
  
• Banquet
  
• Staging
  
• Manufacturer
  
• Selection Sets

View shortcuts

You can save multiple versions of some Vivien views and quickly open them from the shortcut bars. For example, in the Spreadsheets tab, the default spreadsheet is named Title Block and has a shortcut under the Spreadsheets shortcut bar. You could create a different version of the spreadsheet by creating a shortcut for it and then making your changes to the spreadsheet. Any changes you make to the spreadsheet while the shortcut is selected are saved automatically and associated with that shortcut. You can quickly switch between the two versions of the spreadsheet by clicking their shortcut icons.

You can create shortcuts for the following views:

Working with shortcuts

The procedure for creating, modifying, and working with shortcuts is the same regardless of the type of shortcut.

To create a new shortcut

1. Click the appropriate shortcut bar.
2. Right-click on the space below the shortcut bar and choose the appropriate New option.

Result: For Library shortcuts you are prompted to select the object. For View shortcuts, you are prompted to type a name for the new shortcut.

3. Click Insert or OK.

Result: The shortcut is created and added to the bottom of the list on the shortcut bar selected in step 1.

To remove a shortcut

1. Right-click the shortcut icon that you want to remove and choose Delete.

Result: You are prompted to confirm the deletion.

2. Click OK to confirm.

Result: The selected shortcut is deleted.

To rename a shortcut

1. Right-click the shortcut icon that you want to rename and choose Rename.
2. Enter a new name for the shortcut.
3. Click OK.

Result: The selected shortcut is renamed.

To clone a shortcut

1. Right-click the shortcut icon that you want to clone and choose Clone Shortcut.
2. Enter a name for the copy.

Result: The selected shortcut is cloned and the copy is added to the bottom of the list.

To arrange shortcuts

1. Press ALT, click the shortcut icon and drag the shortcut to the desired location.
2. Release the mouse button to place the shortcut.

To set the display size for shortcuts

1. Right-click on the open space on the shortcut bar and choose either Icons or List (depending on your current setup).

Result: Choosing Icons displays all shortcuts as icons. List causes the shortcuts to be listed in the shortcut bar area, thereby allowing you to fit more shortcuts in the area.

The settings are applied to all shortcuts.

Note: To scroll to the bottom of a long list of shortcuts, use either the scroll button on your mouse or the scroll bar along the side of the shortcut bar.

To use a shortcut

1. Click the shortcut icon.
2. For library shortcuts, click on the drawing to place the object.

To modify a shortcut’s properties

1. Right-click the shortcut icon that you want to modify.
2. Choose Properties.

Result: The Shortcut Property dialog box appears. These settings affect the object or view of the selected shortcut.

Note: Event Resources and Layouts shortcuts open the View Options dialog box. See "Customizing the inventory" and "Modifying layout settings".

3. Enter the new name of the shortcut in the Name box.

For library objects, the name of the object as listed in the library, displays in the Type box.

4. For light fixtures, you can modify the type of lens and lamp associated with the light fixture by selecting the appropriate option from the Lens and Lamp drop-down lists, respectively.
5. Click Properties to view the properties of the library entry.
6. When you are satisfied with your selections, click OK.

To configure the shortcut bar

You can configure the shortcut bar to show fewer/more categories, and reorder the categories that you see.

1. In the bottom right corner of the shortcut bar, click the Toolbar Options arrow.
2. In the resulting pop-up menu, you have the following choices:

• Show More Buttons: Click to add the next shortcut category to the bottom of the shortcut bar. This button is enabled only if you have hidden some shortcut categories.
• Show Fewer Buttons: Click to remove the bottom-most shortcut category from the shortcut bar. Click consecutively to remove each category shown from the bottom upwards.
• Navigation Pane Options: Click this button to arrange the order of the shortcut categories shown in the shortcut bar.

To manage shortcuts

1. On the shortcut bar, right-click and select the Manage Shortcuts menu.

Result: The Manage (shortcut type) Shortcuts dialog box appears.

2. On the Manage (shortcut type) Shortcuts dialog box, select the checkbox next to the shortcuts you want to manage. You may click Select All to select all shortcuts in the list.
3. To insert a shortcut separator in the list, select a shortcut and click the Add Separator. A separator indicator will be added to the list after the selected shortcut.

Result: On the shortcut bar, a shortcut separator appears on the space below the selected shortcut.

Tip: On the shortcut bar, you can also right-click on the space where you want to insert a separator and click the Add Separator menu.

4. To move a selected shortcut in the list, click Up or Down. The shortcut will move one position up or down respectively.
5. To move a selected shortcut to the top of the list, click Move selected shortcuts to top.
6. To sort selected shortcuts alphabetically, click Sort alphabetically.
7. To remove a selected shortcut, click Delete.

Window position management

Most tools in Vivien when selected create a separate window where all the options of the feature are available. How these windows appear and are accessed in Vivien can be customized to suit your individual work style. If a Vivien document is saved, Vivien will remember your window preferences for the next time the document is opened.

Window position options can be accessed by clicking the down arrow at the top of the window, and opening the Window Position drop-down menu.

• Floating: The window will appear in the foreground of the Vivien document. The window will not be attached to any border of the work space or any other window. If the resolution of Vivien or the work space is resized, the window will remain in position and in the foreground.

• Docking: The window will be attached to a border of the work space. If the resolution of Vivien or the work space is resized, the window will change resolution as well to match new size.

• Tabbed Document: Tools with complementary or similar features can share the same window. The tabbed document can be either floating or docked. At the bottom of the window will be tabs showing the names of the different features. Select the tab of a feature to have that specific feature be displayed in the window.

• Auto Hide: This option is only available for docked windows. When enabled the window will be hidden from view by default. A tab will appear on the side of the Vivien document with the name of the auto hidden window. When the tab is selected, the window will reappear in its previously docked location. The window will continue to be visible until another window or feature is selected.

• Hide: The selected window will close. To view the window again, the feature must be accessed again.

Ruler tool

The Ruler Tool helps you plot your events in the drawing views by providing a visual aid for coordinate reference and measurement. By default, the Ruler is aligned with the document origin and displays coordinate information along the top and left side of the view. Its scale matches the default grid scale.

As shown in the graphic below, the Ruler has different colors to represent different axes (X=Red, Y=Green, Z=Blue).

The Ruler dynamically updates its resolution based on the zoom ratio that you select. As you zoom in on your drawing, the precision of the ruler is increased, displaying fractions and decimals; when you zoom out, the precision is decreased to the point where both the grid and ruler disappear. The ruler matches the unit type currently set in your file, either Metric or Imperial.

The Ruler displays values with the negative sign to the left of 0’0” when in Plan, Front and Right view, or to the right of 0’0” when in Back and Left view.

Ruler icons

On the Drawing Quad tab (as shown above), each of the three drawing quadrants can have a different drawing origin. If desired, you can move the zero position of the ruler (-0 0+) to correspond to this point.

Based on the origin in the active quadrant and the corresponding position of the Ruler, the icon in the upper left corner of the Ruler changes.

The following graphic shows a Drawing Quad tab in which the Ruler origin is different in each view:

To change the Ruler’s origin

By default, the ruler is aligned with the document origin, which means that the zero mark (-0 0+) starts at the Document Origin. However, you can move the Ruler from this default position to the origin of the current view. Note that doing so does not affect the origin or ruler of any other view.

1. In the Drawing Quad tab, click the quadrant in which you want to move the Ruler.
2. Click the icon in the upper left corner of the Ruler (or right-click on the actual Ruler) and select one of the following options:

• Display Ruler at Document Origin: Select this option to realign the Ruler’s zero point with the Document Origin, which is set by default to be the center point of the Vivien venue defined for the event. When the ruler is displayed at the Document/User origin, its background color of the ruler is white.
• Display Ruler at View Origin: Select this option if you want to realign the Ruler to the View Origin of the current view, if different than the original Document Origin. To indicate this change, the background of the Ruler change from white to match the axis colors.
• Move Ruler (Set View Origin): Select this option if you want to choose a new origin for the ruler. Then click the cursor on the point in your drawing that you want to designate as the zero mark for the Ruler.

To turn the Ruler on or off

By default, the Ruler is turned on when you open a new Vivien file. You can turn the ruler on and off while working in your file by using the Ruler Toggle icon.

1. In one of the Drawing tabs, on the Tools toolbar, click the Ruler Toggle icon.

 The Ruler Toggle button.

Result: The Ruler appears or disappears.

Note: You can also toggle the ruler on or off by using the Draw Defaults tab in Document Options.

2. Click Options > Document Options.
3. Click the Draw Defaults tab.

• To turn the Ruler off, clear the Rulers On/Off checkbox.
• To turn the Ruler on, select the Rulers On/Off checkbox.

4. Click OK.

Work area

The work area changes depending on the selected view tab.

View tabs

View tabs display at the bottom of the work area. These tabs define work areas that are designed for specific tasks. For example, the Drawing Wireframe tab displays a CAD-like work area for drawing your event plan. The Event Resources tab includes a split work area that lets you work with your objects in the drawing and manipulate object information in tabular format. You cannot edit tabs or save custom tabs, however you can display them in separate popup frames.

When you first create a new event document, Vivien defaults to the Drawing Wireframe tab.

Click any of the tabs to change the work area.

Drawing Wireframe tab

Use the Drawing Wireframe tab to create the event drawing.

In Vivien Virtual Event Designer, you can view the drawing from different perspectives. You can view the drawing in two dimensions (flat), from the top (plan), left or right, and you can view the drawing in three dimensions (3D). The work area has a grid to help you place objects.

Drawing Quad tab

The Drawing Quad tab has four views of the event drawing to help you work with and visualize your plan. It includes three wireframe views (by default, a plan view, a front view, and a right view), and a 3D Virtual view that simulates the way the view would look in real life without any custom lighting. In the Virtual View, surfaces are “filled in” or solid (shaded) rather than outlined as in drawing wireframe views. You can move the camera in this view, but you cannot add or manipulate objects in it.

Lighting Wireframe tab

Use the Lighting Wireframe tab to customize different lighting effects. You add light fixtures in the Drawing Wireframe tab, but any modification to the lighting must be done in the Lighting Wireframe tab where you can isolate the lighting and immediately view the effects.

Lighting Quad tab

Similar to the Drawing Quad, the Lighting Quad tab has four views of the drawing. It includes three wireframe views and a 3D Virtual View.

Virtual View tab

The Virtual View tab displays a realistic (rendered) view of the drawing in 3D that simulates the way the event would look in real life with the custom lighting you may have added. Surfaces, are “filled-in” or solid (shaded) rather than outlined as in drawing wireframe views. For information on arranging the image in this tab and exporting images from it, see "Working in the Virtual View tab".

Images tab

The Images tab provides an area to store images like renderings and logos. Renderings are stored here automatically when you use the default render options. You can export images from this tab and save them as a graphic file on your computer, to be used in proposals, sent to your clients by email, etc. You can import any other images in many graphics formats (for example, bitmap, .jpeg, .gif, .tiff, .png, .tga, and so on).

Spreadsheet tab

Use the Spreadsheet tab to create spreadsheets containing information unrelated to the event resources, but relevant to the event (for example, budgets, schedules, human resource requirements). You can add these spreadsheets to your printable layouts for the event.

Reports tab

The Reports tab enables you to open a series of pre-formatted reports that are generated by Vivien, containing all guest information and table seating assignments, plus some catering lists for your event. These reports are available for you in three pre-defined template styles. Reports are designed to be printed documents.

Layouts tab

The Layouts tab provides all the tools necessary for creating professional printouts of your event document. You can include drawings, spreadsheets and images in your layouts.

Event Resources tab

The Event Resources tab allows you to work with your information in a wireframe drawing view and manipulate it in tabular format. The event resources provide an inventory of all the items in the drawing that were added from the Library. Changes to the event resources view are reflected in the drawing view and vice versa. You can export the event resources to an external spreadsheet program where you can format and manipulate the information.

Guest Management tab

The Guest Management tab enables you to: seat your guests at tables and chairs; track which guests have been seated and which have not yet been seated; number banquet tables using the numbering tool; and label chairs and tables using a variety of options.

Custom tab window layout

You can create your own custom tab layouts, and specify your workspace as you wish. This feature allows you to customize your workspace with any combination of layout windows, and then saves these setting in a layout tab.

The Views that can be displayed in a Custom tab include:

• Wireframe view
• Virtual view

Custom tabs are stored with the application. Once created, a Custom tab will always be available on the computer (until it is deleted).

Note:  You can currently create up to 5 custom tabs in your installation.

To create a custom tab

1. From the View menu, select Custom Tab > Create.

Note: You can also click the + tab by the layout tabs.

2. The New Custom Tab window will appear.

3. In the Custom Tab Name field of the New Custom Tab window, enter a name for the new tab.
4. In the Specify Workspace section, select how many panes will be in the custom tab.

Note: A preview of how the tab will look will appear in the Preview section.

5. In the Specify Views section, select what view will be displayed inside each pane from the drop-down menu.

Note: Refer to the Preview section for the location of the pane in the custom tab.

6. When done customizing the tab, click OK.

Result: The custom tab will be created. The custom tab will appear with the default tabs at the bottom of the layout.

To rename a custom tab

1. Select the custom tab you want to rename.
2. From the View menu, select Custom Tab > Rename.

Note: You can also right-click the custom tab and select Rename.

3. The Enter new tab name window will appear.

4. In the Enter new tab name window, enter the new name for the custom tab.
5. Click OK.

Result: The custom tab will be renamed to the new name.

To duplicate a tab

You can copy any existing tab in wireframe mode. This will create an exact duplicate of the original tab. You can then use or edit both tabs as needed.

1. Select the custom tab you want to rename.
2. From the View menu, select Custom Tab > Duplicate.

Note: You can also right-click the tab and select Duplicate.

Result: The selected tab will be copied and appear with the other tab.

To hide a tab

You can hide tab that you do not want to see in wireframe mode. This is useful if you have a number of custom tabs and want to reduce clutter.

1. Select the custom tab you want to rename.
2. From the View menu, select Custom Tab > Hide.

Note: You can also right-click the tab and select Hide.

3. The selected tab will be hidden from view.

To unhide a tab

1. From the View menu, select Custom Tab > Unhide > [Hidden tab name].

Note: To unhide all hidden tabs, select Open all Hidden Tab.

Tip: You can also right-click the tab and select Unhide > [Hidden tab name].

Result: The selected hidden tab will be visible again.

To delete a tab

1. Select the custom tab you want to delete.
2. From the View menu, select Custom Tab > Delete.

Result: A dialog box will appear asking if you really want to delete the tab.

3. To confirm the deletion, click YES.

Result: The tab will be permanently deleted.

To change tab ordering

You can change the order which tabs are ordered.

1. Select the custom tab you want to move.
2. Click and drag the tab left or right to a new position.

Custom Tab Manager

The Custom Tab Manager is a feature to help you keep track and manage any custom tabs you create.

• Select All: Will select all custom tabs in the manager.
• Select None: Will clear all custom tabs in the manager.
• Delete: Will delete the currently selected custom tab(s).
• Name: The name of the custom tab.
• Visible: Displays if the custom tab is currently hidden from view.

To access the custom tab manager

From the View menu, select Custom Tab > Custom Tab Manager.

Result: The Manage Custom Tabs window appears.