You can create single or multiple objects in TAD.

There are many ways to create an object. As indicated elsewhere in this documentation, an object need not be something you can touch and feel (i.e. some built-matter) In TAD, one is able to work with spaces too. In fact, one can even insert pseudo-objects or objects that have no architectural meaning but are mere place holders (e.g. the viewpoint from where to look at the 3D scene, light locations, etc)

Objects may be 2D or 3D.

However; one always first creates a shape in plan on some reference plane (often the ground itself) and then extrude that shape later to get the 3D volume you want. In TAD 2D and 3D shapes co-exist. Of course, when you invoke the 3D Draft view command, only the 3D volumes would be visible.

Here is how one creates a new object:

1. In the Class Pane, select the class where you want to create an object.
2. On the Create menu, click Create new object. Alternately, you can press Ctrl + Shift + F1.
3. Some of the hotkeys that we have to create objects are listed here

Note: Alternately, press = (equals to) followed by a name to create an object. The default size of this object is 1 unit x 1 unit.

Shapes from the web
From version 6.7.7.0 onwards, TAD now has the capability to import all kinds of shapes from the system clipboard. Once you invoke the creation floating dialog; you would see a largish TAD Shapes button. Click on that, and the browser on your computer would open to a website where you can sketch out TAD shapes

In future; more such websites would crop up at multiple locations. You can list out those URLs in a text file called tadshapeurls.txt It is in the same folder where you installed the main executable of TAD. Simply add to that list, as you find more websites that can yield TAD Shapes. We have created one here https://tad.in.net/goodies/tadsketcher0.5.html

The instructions for using that TAD Sketcher is available. Other developers can make similar utilities and you can use them to create shapes and insert those shapes into TAD

IMPORTANT difference between TAD and CAD
In CAD softwares; an architect would lovingly create the shape in the manner the architect wants; as he inserts that shape into the CAD environment. TAD does not work like that. TAD wants you to first create some shape or the other so that you can quickly get to other aspects of your design. You can lovingly edit all shapes later on; to get it to be the way you wanted in your mind. This is a paradigm shift. TAD, initially seems more non-visual and conceptual. We believes it frees your mind and asks your mind to think about other logic of your design; other than the visual.

The Create menu will bring up a tabbed dialog; from where you can create the starting shapes for the objects in many different ways. Once you become an expert; you can also use the Headsup Command Line to directly create shapes.

• Create an object
• Creating outlines
• Creating reflections
• Merging shapes
• Breaking an object

... more (this page will be edited soon)

Once you create an object, some of the common activities that are often done

1. In the Site Info pane, click the Object tab.
2. Enter height for the object.
3. Select a level for the object. The level refers to the level from the ground plane.
4. Right click 'isKind of' to select an 'isKindOf' value. An object can be an atom, connector, envelope or an artefact. For more information on objects, see Types of objects in TAD. These concepts are described in detail in kind of objects.

Note that the object that you created is automatically added to the current class. If that is not what you expected; you can always drag the name of the object in the object list to the correct class.

Advanced methods for setting attributes of an object