AstuteBuddy Panel

The menu item to show and hide the AstuteBuddy panel can be found in the main menu under Window > Astute Graphics > AstuteBuddy. But by default, the AstuteBuddy panel will automatically be shown when an Astute Graphics tool is selected and automatically hidden when any other tool is selected. This behavior can be customized using the AstuteBuddy preferences.

AstuteBuddy Panel

1. Flyout menu

Provides a single menu item, which opens the preferences dialog (see AstuteBuddy Preferences). 

2. Panel banner

The AstuteBuddy panel banner has a help button on the right which opens the help documentation in the Astute Manager. If this does not automatically appear, please ensure your Astute Manager is running first.

3. Tool Name

The name of the currently-selected Astute Graphics tool, for example “Extend Path tool.”

4. User Manual Button

Clicking the button opens the documentation for the current tool in the Astute Manager, which provides more extensive descriptions that can be fit on the AstuteBuddy panel. This button can be hidden using the preference Show User Manual Button.

5. Tool Overview

A brief, high-level overview of the currently-selected Astute Graphics tool. For example, when the Extend Path tool is selected, it displays “The Extend Path tool works on the endpoints of open paths to make them longer (or shorter). Paths can be extended in several ways: straight, spiral, constant radius, or by extending the cubic bezier.”