Click Edit toolbar > Application-Settings

OR

Click Edit menu > Application-Settings

 File Options  See also: ZXL file-type.

Extract ZXL Files to:

◉sub-directory of ZXL file: Automatically, we add for you a sub-directory to that of the ZXL file in which to extract files that are in the ZXL file.

◉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 # of Backup files

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

The names of backup files are: CXL.1, MTD.1 ; CXL.2, MTD.2 ; ... CXL.#, MTD.# ; ...

See: Why so many file-names?

# Commands to Auto-save

When you Enable Auto-Save: you can edit the number of commands for each Auto-Save event.

We:

1.Rename file-name. CXL and file-name.MTD to file-name.~CXL and file-name.~MTD

2.Save file-name. CXL and file-name.MTD to RAM.

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 the DXF-Drawing.

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 

Enter the value such that, if :  

•The Cam-Profile is more likely to be Undercut

•The Cam-Profile is red in the graphics-area

It is a WARNING ONLY - a soft-limit.

Note: Precision of calculations do not change if 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 exported data - e.g. TXT file of Cam-Coordinates.

 Dimension Format 

☑ Show Dimension Names

Top-tip: Rename Dimensions that you add to a Design-Set - see Rename element

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

•Precision and Digits - see below

•Dimension Font Size - experiment (typically 14)

•Dimension font Size - the Windows font 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 (equivalent term is : not kinematically-defined) is a blue

•Part Solved ( equivalent term is: 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

Text size in menus and dialogs.

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

Select a font - for example, Tahoma

Commands (New MD17)

Both (Menus and Toolbars) ; Menus only, Toolbars only.

Icon Size

Large - size is 48×48 pixels (too big?)

Medium - size is 32×32 pixels (OK, recommended)

Small - size is 24×24 pixels (OK, recommended)

Tiny - size is 16×16 pixels (too small?)

Note : If the icons in the toolbars do not show correctly after you change the ICON size, then reset the Icon-size to Medium and, if necessary, re-start MechDesigner.

Show Element-Properties Dynamically

Select the check-box to show Element-Properties “dynamically” in the Extended-Hints box, in the Feedback Area as you move your mouse over an element.

Optionally, you can open the Element-Properties “statically” if you CTRL+Click an element - see Element-Properties

Enable Hints with Tool Tips See also Help menu

Show a hint for a command as you move your mouse over the icon. (However, the hints frequently get in the way of the command icon).

We also show the hints in the Feedback Area.

Language (from MD17-1-136)

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

Note: If you change languages, please wait ~10seconds.

 Graphics 

Symbol Display Size (Pixels):

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

Symbol Selection Size (Pixels):

The size of the pointer pin-head. Increase 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 moving and fixed (with Base-Part) 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