Click Edit toolbar > Application-Settings

OR

Click Edit menu > Application-Settings

The Application Settings dialog is now open.

 File Options  See also: ZXL file-type.

Extract ZXL Files to:

◉sub-directory of ZXL file: we add for you a sub-directory to the ZXL file, and extract the files in the ZXL file to the new sub-directory.

◉Specify directory: you specify a path in which to extract files that are in the ZXL file.

☑ Enable Auto-Save:

Enable to automatically save the active model, after # Commands to Auto-Save AND overwrite the active model in RAM.

Maximum # (Number) of Backup files

When you Enable Auto-Save, you can edit the number of backup files.

You will see new files on your hard drive: for example: CXL.1, MTD.1 (youngest); CXL.2, MTD.2 ; ... CXL.#, MTD.# (oldest)

When you open a model, we do the steps in the example here.

# (Number) Commands to Auto-save

When you also Enable Auto-Save, this parameter controls the number of commands between each Auto-Save event.

See the example here of an Auto-Save event.

User Library directory - click the box to specify the path for your User Library directory

Allow Internet Downloads : enable to allow downloads.

 Theme Options 

Active Theme: After you select a Target Theme, the box shows the Theme.

Target Theme: Select from:

•Charcoal Dark Style, Windows, Aqua Light Slate, Windows10 Dark, Tablet Dark, Slate Classico, Windows 10 Slate Gray, and Windows 10.

 CAD Linear Units 

Imported DXF Files: units

We use these units to scale a DXF-Drawing that you import.

The scale is 1:1 when the units are equal to those of the original DXF-Drawing that you import.

See also: Open DXF File, Edit DXF-Element

 Cam RoC Warning 

IF

•The Cam-Profile is more likely to Undercut

•The Cam-Profile is red in the graphics-area as a WARNING ONLY - a soft-limit.

Note: Precision of calculations do not change when you edit these parameters.

 Data Output Format 

Data-format of data you can save to your hard disk. E.g. Data from a Graph FB or a Cam-Coordinates FB.

Float Number Format: See Internet Link here about number formats

Precision and Digits - see below

List separator (read-only) - the regional character that separates values.

For example, “,” in a CSV file.

Decimal Separator (read-only) - the character that separates the integer and fractional parts of a number.

For example, “.” in 12.3456

List Separator Options:

Select a “List Separator” for data exported or saved to a file- e.g. a save Cam-Coordinates as a TXT file.

 Dimension Format 

☑ Show Dimension Names

If you do not enable Show Dimension Names, you can click on a dimension to see its name in the Selection-Window.

Data-format of dimensions, in the graphics-area:

•Precision and Digits - see below

•Dimension Font Size - experiment (typically 14)

•Dimension font - the Windows font selection dialog picker opens. Experiment with the font.

Notes:

Precision: The total number-of 'useful' digits in the real number before and after the decimal mark.

Digits: The number-of-digits after the decimal separator.

Usually, set : Precision ≥ Digits + 3. However, it depends on your model requirements.

List separator options - read-only

Precision and Digits

 Display colors 

Edit the color of the symbols in the graphics-area.

Recommended colors:

•Part Not Solved (not kinematically-defined) is a blue

•Part Solved (kinematically-defined) is a green

XY-axes in the Mechanism-Editor and Part-Editor are:

•Red: X–axis

•Green: Y–axis

XYZ-axes (Triad) at the origin of the Model-Editor:

•Red: X–axis

•Green: Y–axis

•Blue: Z-Axis

 Display Options 

There are two sliders

<< Low (Sketch Quality) High >>

Drag the slider to the left to decrease or to the right to increase the number of facets around Circle and Arc sketch-elements.

<< Low (Extrusion Quality) High >>

Drag the slider to the left to decrease or to the right to increase the number of facets around Extrusions

☑Show Function-Block Names (see images left)

Enable to show the name of each Function-Block above the FB icon in the graphics-area.

This is more helpful if you rename Function-Block - see Rename element

☑Enable Anti-aliasing*

Enable to remove the jagged edges from the elements in the graphics-area.

Line-Width

Edit the Line-Width to increase or decrease the thickness of sketch-elements.

* Anti-aliasing : is OK for Lines, is bad for Arcs, Circles, and is very bad for Gears.

Generally, I do not Enable Anti-Aliasing.

Menus 

Text Size - in menus and dialog

Large - too big? ; Medium - recommended ; Small - OK?

Commands - new in MD17

Both (show Menus AND Toolbars) ; Menus only ; Toolbars only

Icon Size

Large (48×48 ) - too big? ; Medium (32×32) - recommended ; Small (24×24)OK ; Tiny (16×16) - too small?

Note : If the toolbars do not show correctly, re-start MechDesigner.

Show Element-Properties Dynamically

To show Element-Properties in the Extended-Hints box when you move your mouse over elements. However, this may annoy you when there are many elements.

Note: To show the Element-Properties in a dialog, CTRL+Click the element

Enable Hints with Tool Tips See also Help menu

Show the hint when you move your mouse over a command icon. We also show the hint in the Feedback Area.

Language (from MD17-1-136)

English, Italian, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Chinese.

 Graphics 

Symbol Display Size (Pixels):

The size of the symbols that represent the elements in the graphics-area.

Symbol Selection Size (Pixels):

The size of the pointer “pin-head”. Increase the size to make it easier to select an element, but, at the same time, you may also select more than one element.

 Sounds 

☑Sounds Enabled

Enable the check-box to hear a different sound with each message in the Feedback-Area. There are many messages!

Click the buttons to hear the sound for the three types of messages.

 Default Sizes 

Default Part-Offset (default = 0)

The default offset of all Profile/Extrusions you add to a Part.

Default Ball Radius

The default size of the Ball-Joint symbol.

See also: Add Ball-Joint ; Ball-Joint dialog

Default Bearing Dia. (dia. = diameter)

Default Ground Bearing Dia. (dia. = diameter)

The default dimension given to arcs at Pin-Joints when you do Add Auto-Profile(s).

See also: Add Auto-Profiles

Default Extrusion Depth

The default Extrusion-Depth parameter in the Extrusion dialog.

See also: Add Auto-Profile ; Add Auto-Profiles ; Extrusion dialog