Maximum cube size is the highest size that can be selected via the Cube Size dialog. For convenience that size will be referred to as MaxCubeSize. MaxCubeSize is not invariant; it is a settable parameter. The upper limit for MaxCubeSize is that which applies for unmarked cubes and its value is usually different for normal (scroll-disabled) operation and scroll-enabled operation. In both those cases the upper limit, to be referred to as MaxLimSize, is also dependent on the setting for minimum facelet width for unmarked cubes. MaxCubeSize cannot be set to a value lower than 16. The upper limit values are subject to constraints imposed by the program and the monitor in use. The usable upper limit is also dependent on the user's visual acuity (acuteness of vision). The absolute program limit is size 99. Table 1 gives the upper limit values for two screen/operating system examples.
Table 1: Values for standard (unmarked) cubes
Monitor screen size (horizontal x vertical pixels) | Minimum facelet width (pixels) excluding border | MaxLimSize for scroll-disabled operation | MaxLimSize for scroll-enabled operation |
1366 x 768 | 2 | 66 | 99 |
3 | 49 | 75 | |
4 | 39 | 60 | |
5 | 33 | 50 | |
1280 x 1024 | 2 | 94 | 99 |
3 | 70 | 76 | |
4 | 56 | 61 | |
5 | 47 | 51 |
It is apparent that for screens that have as aspect ratio close to 1, scroll enabling has only a minor effect.
MaxCubeSize can be set via the Program Settings dialog to a lower value than the MaxLimSize limit which appears in the above table. The default setting for MaxCubeSize is to make it equal to the MaxLimSize applicable for the chosen minimum facelet width. It is to be emphasized that the minimum facelet width applies only to cubes whose size is in the vicinity of the MaxLimSize. For cubes of lower size (but greater than size 6) the facelet width is maximized to fit the available client area.
Under certain rare conditions it is possible the settings saved on exit for cube size, MaxCubeSize, and minimum coloured element width, may be incompatible (e.g. if the user changes to a screen of lower resolution). The program will always try to accommodate the previously chosen cube size even if that means changing the minimum coloured element width to a lower value but within the limits shown in the above table.
For cubes with numerically marked centres the upper cube size limit is much lower than that for standard cubes with unmarked centres. Coloured facelet elements have a one pixel separator. The minimum usable facelet width for unmarked cubes is considered to be 2 pixel whereas that for numerically marked cubes is 8 pixel. Hence the upper cube size limit for numerically marked cubes is expected to be approximately 1/3 of the equivalent unmarked cube value for these facelet widths. The numerically marked cube minimum facelet width is adjustable in the 8 to 12 range via the Program Settings dialog. Table 2 gives the upper limit values for numerically marked cubes for the same two screen examples as used in Table 1.
Table 2: Values for numerically marked cubes
Monitor screen size (horizontal x vertical pixels) | Minimum facelet width (pixels) excluding border | Maximum size for scroll-disabled operation | Maximum size for scroll-enabled operation |
1366 x 768 | 8 | 22 | 33 |
9 | 19 | 30 | |
10 | 18 | 27 | |
11 | 16 | 25 | |
12 | 15 | 23 | |
1280 x 1024 | 8 | 31 | 34 |
9 | 28 | 30 | |
10 | 25 | 27 | |
11 | 23 | 25 | |
12 | 21 | 23 |
Once again it is apparent that for screens that have as aspect ratio close to 1, scroll enabling has only a minor effect.
The use of corner markings allows the maximum usable cube size to be increased relative to that applicable for numerical marking. Extension values of 2, 4 or 6 pixels are available. The larger the extension the higher the usable cube size. Table 3 gives the upper limit values for corner marked cubes for the same two screen examples used in the above tables.
Table 3: Values for corner marked cubes (for default 6 pixel extension)
Monitor screen size (horizontal x vertical pixels) | Minimum facelet width (pixels) excluding border | Maximum size for scroll-disabled operation | Maximum size for scroll-enabled operation |
1366 x 768 | 2 | 66 | 99 |
3 | 49 | 75 | |
4 | 39 | 60 | |
5 | 33 | 50 | |
6 | 28 | 43 | |
1280 x 1024 | 2 | 94 | 99 |
3 | 70 | 76 | |
4 | 56 | 61 | |
5 | 47 | 51 | |
6 | 40 | 43 |
Maximum available cube size values for the particular monitor in use are calculated at switch-on and can be viewed by clicking the Help button whenever the Cube Size dialog is open.