TOOL-TIPS: While you are using MechDesigner:
When you start using MechDesigner, you will need to look up the Local-Help for each command - see below. As you become more familiar with MechDesigner, you can use Tool-tips. Tool-Tips show the name of the command, and a short hint of how to use it, or what the command does.
Eventually, you will not need the tool-tips.
To see a tool-tip: move your mouse-pointer above a toolbar icon, and pause a short time.
If you do not want to see Tool-Tips:
Show / hide tool-tips : 1.Click Edit menu (or toolbar) > Application-Settings | Accessibility tab > Menus > 2.Clear the Enable Hints and Tool-tips check-box - or - 1.Click Help menu > Toggle Hints (2×?) |
About the Local-Help
From MechDesigner 15.1, we include the Local Help with the installation.
The Local Help provides much more help than the tool-tips. Tool-tips are intended as a reminder of what the command does. so that you do not need to look-up the Local Help.
To download the latest Local-Help
Run MechDesigner as Administrator (even if you think you are, please do these steps): In the Windows Desktop: 1.Start Right-click the MechDesigner icon. 2.Click Run as Administrator If you open a model, it is best to save the model now, as MechDesigner may crash if the help file has been downloaded already. 3.Click Help menu > Download Latest Help...  Click 'Download Now' to install the Local Help 4.Click the Download Now button. 5.Check the Feedback-Area > Messages If the last (top) message is: Failed to Create : C:\ProgramData\PSMotion\Help\MechDesigner.chm, then see Permissions If the progress-bar under the Download Now button is making progress, then please wait until the last message is: Download Successful. |
After you download the local help, you can get contextual-help for commands, dialog-boxes, and parameters. |
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Command Help: |
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 COMMAND HELP: |
1.Move your mouse-pointer above a toolbar command, or a toolbar icon 2.On a desktop, press the F1 function key. or 2.On a laptop with a reduced key set, press the Fn+F1 keys together. |
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Dialog-boxes Help: |
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 DIALOG-BOX HELP: |
There are four small icons at the top of each dialog box: 1.Click the |
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Parameter Help: |
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 PARAMETER HELP: |
Parameters are in all dialog-boxes. In an open dialog-box you will find an icon to the left of each parameter's data-box. 1.Move your mouse-pointer over the Parameter icon to the left of its data-box. The help icon 2.Carefully, move your mouse-pointer slightly down and slightly left. The 3.Click. |
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shows over the iconRemember, you must do: Help menu > Download Latest Help BEFORE you get contextual-help.
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 Contents tab |
There are four(4) tabs at the top of the Topics; Contents tab (default) - Show the Table of Contents
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 Index tab |
Index tab Enter a keyword they you would like to find. Then click one of the links to the keyword. These are the keywords that the author has entered, You should be able to find the relevant topic. If you cannot find the topic you want, try the Search tab |
 Search tab |
Search tab •Enter a term, and click List Topics. •Select a topic and click Display, or Double-click a topic in the list. •Create Boolean searches with "AND", "OR", "NOT" and "NEAR". At the bottom of the Search tab: •Select Search previous results to use only the previously found topics for the next search. This allows you to narrow down your search by adding keywords. •Select Match similar words to highlight similar words in the found topics, or Search titles only to find only topics with the keyword in the title. |
You may need ask your I.T. department for these Windows' permissions on your PC. A)Do you have permission to see C:/Program Data ? 1.Go to Files Explorer > View tab > Show/Hide panel ☑Click Hidden items B)Do you have permission to download the local-help file ? Start as Administrator to download the Local Help 1.Navigate to: C:\ProgramData\PSMotion\Help 2.Right-Click the Help path-name 3.Click Properties at the bottom of the contextual-menu, to open the In the Help Properties dialog. 4.Click the Security tab 5.Click the Edit button, to open the Properties for Help dialog 6.In the Group or user-names box, click the Users group (usually) 7.In Properties for Help dialog, click the Allow check-box, for the Write option. 8.Click the Apply button, then the OK button to close the Properties for Help dialog. 9.Click the OK button to close the Help Properties dialog. Now you should be able to automatically download the latest help file. |