File Options  See also: ZXL file-type.

Extract ZXL Files to:

◉Automatically to ZXL sub-directory: we add a sub-directory to the path of the ZXL file and extract all files to it.

◉Specify directory: Select a path, or create a new path, when you open a ZXL file-type.

☑ Enable Auto-Save check-box:

Enable to overwrite the file on disc with the model at each auto-save.

# of Backup files

When you open a model, a backup is made with file-extension: CXL.1, .2, ... CXL.#;  and MTD.1, MTD.2, ...MTD.#

# of Commands between Auto-save

When Enable Auto-Save is active, we save your model after # of Commands between Auto-Save. To auto-save:

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

2.Save the active model to file-name.CXL and file-name.MTD

Note: Before Auto-Save becomes active, the model must have a file-name.

Tutorials Video Directory - click the path box and specify a path for Tutorials Videos - see Tutorials

User Library Folder - click the path box and specify your User Library Folder See Import Library Files

Allow Internet Downloads : click the check-box if you will download any files.

 Theme Options 

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

Target Theme:

•Charcoal Dark Style (default) , Windows, Aqua Light Slate, Windows10 Dark, Tablet Dark, Slate Classico, Windows 10 SlateGray, Windows 10.

Note: Mostly, in this help documentation, the Theme is Charcoal Dark Slate.

 CAD Linear Units 

Imported DXF Files: units

The scale of a DXF drawing is 1:1 when you select the DXF units that are equal to the original DXF drawing.

See also: Edit DXF-Element

 Cam 'Soft Limits'  

Cam Radius-of-Curvature (Rc ∕ Rf)%

Cam Radius-of-Curvature, Rc ∕ Cam-Follower Radius, Rf ) * 100 %

If  | Radius-of-Curvature of the Cam | < % * Radius of the Cam-Follower Roller

•The Cam-Roller may not be able to contact the cam because of undercutting.

•The Cam track becomes red in the graphic-area.

•It is a soft-limit - a warning only.

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

 Data Output and Vector Format 

Data-format for data you save from a Graph FB or Cam-Coordinates FB.

•Float Number Format: See Internet Link here about number formats

•Precision and Digits - see below

Read-Only

List separator - character that separates values, e.g. in a CSV file.

Decimal Separator - character that separates integer part and the fractional part of a number.

 Dimension Format 

☑ Show Dimension Names check-box

Top-tip:Rename the Dimension if the Dimension is in a Design-Set - see Rename element

Data-format of dimensions, in the graphic-area

•Precision and Digits - see below

•Dimension Font Size - experiment (usually 14 is OK)

•Dimension font - the Windows font picker opens. Experiment.

Notes:

Precision: The number-of-digits in the - 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.

 Display colors 

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

Usually the colors are:

•type of blue for a Part that is Not Solved

•type of green for a Part that is Solved

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

•Orange: X–axis

•Green: Y–axis

XYZ-axes (RGB) at the Origin in Model-Editor:

•Red: X–axis,

•Green: Y–axis,

•Blue: Z-Axis

Display Options 

There are two sliders

<< Low (Sketch Quality) High >>

Slide the handle to the left to decrease and to the right to increase the number of facets around Circle and Arc sketch-elements.

<< Low (Extrusion Quality) High >>

Slide the handle to the left to decrease, and to the right to increase, the number of facets around Extrusions that you add to sketch-loops that have with Circle and/or Arc sketch-elements.

☑Display Function-Block Names

To display the names of Function-Blocks in the graphic-area.

This is very helpful if you rename the Function-Blocks - see Rename element

☑Enable Anti-aliasing

Click the Anti-aliasing Enabled check-box to remove the jagged edges from elements in the graphic-area.

Line-Width

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

Note: I find Anti-aliasing looks good for Lines, but not for Arcs, Circles, and especially not for Gears, which are drawn with many short Lines.

Menus 

Text Size

Text in Menus and Dialog-Boxes. They are related to the Icon Size

Large - too big ?

Medium - OK

Small - OK.

Font - choose a font for the dialogs, e.g. Tahoma

Icon Size

Large 48x48 -too big ?

Medium 32x32 - typical use

Small 24x24 - typical use

Tiny 16x16 - too small ?

Note : If the toolbar icons do not arrange correctly after you reset the ICON SIZE, re-start MechDesigner.

language (An English Joke about language)

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

Enable Hints with Tool Tips

We always show hints in the Feedback Area.

See also Help menu

 Graphics 

Symbol Display Size (Pixels): The size of symbols that represent the elements in the graphic-area.

Symbol Selection Size (Pixels): The size of the pointer pin-head. Increase to make it easier to select an element, but 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 message!

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

 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.

Default Ground Bearing Dia.

The default dimension given to arcs at moving and fixed 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-box