Dialog: Application Settings

CAD Linear Units

Imported DXF Files: Default Units

The units given to the DXF Drawings when you use Save AS..DXF file-type, and Open...DXF file-type.

Note: Make the units the same as the original drawing. See also: 'Edit a DXF-Element'

File Options

Extract ZXL Files: [See here for ZXL file-type].

The new directory will be a sub-directory with the same file-name

[I do not use this option as there is a danger that you open the new CXL file from the sub-directory to create a sub-sub-directories...and so on.

I usually specify the same directory as the ZXL file and do not create a sub-directory.

Enable Auto-Save check-box:

Note 1: You must use File Save before 'Auto-Save' becomes enabled.

Note 2: Each Auto-Save overwrites the file you have open. Save to a new File-name immediately you open an old file if you want to preserve old work. My preference is not to use Auto-Save.

# of Backup files

These are made when opening an existing file. Backup files have the extension CXL.1, .2, .3...n and MTD.1, .2, .3...n.

# of Commands between each Auto-save

At each Auto-save, we:

Tutorials Video Directory : see Tutorials

Database Directory : see Help menu > Language Database

Allow Internet Downloads : check box, needed to download tutorials

Cam Options

Cam Radius-of-Curvature (Rc ∕ Rf)%

Equation: Evaluate = (Cam Radius-of-Curvature, Rc  ∕  Cam-Follower Radius, Rf ) * 100 %

If the Radius-of-Curvature of the Cam becomes less than the '% * Radius of the Cam-Follower Roller':

Theme Options These are 'Themes' and not 'Styles'.

Active Style: If you have selected a style, then this field is the selected style[theme]. The images in this help use the Charcoal Dark Slate]

Target Style: Select from one of two styles:

Data Output and Vector Format

Format of the Data you save from a Graph FB or Cam-Coordinates FB.

Dimension Format

Data format of dimensions, as you see in the graphic-area

Note: Auto-Rebuild must be active to update the new Dimension Format in the display.

Top-Tip: Experiment with a dimension to help understand how Precision and Digits change the results

Precision:

The number-of-digits for the full number - before and after the decimal mark.

Digits:

The number-of-digits after the decimal mark.

Note: Digits and Precision are similar to Decimal Places and Significant Figures, but not identical.

Please experiment. Generally, Digits at 3, and Precision at 8, will give a number with 3 decimal places.

Graphic colours

You can change the colour of the elements or symbols that are in this table. Use button next to each to open the Windows® colour 'picker'.

Recommended Colours:

Parts-Outlines and sketch-element in the Mechanism-Editor are:

Blue if the Part is NOT kinematically-defined [Part Not Solved]

Green if the Part IS kinematically-defined [Part Solved]

Sketch-Elements in the Part-Editor:

Blue: when NOT Geometrically Defined

Black: when fully Geometrically Defined

Dark Red: CAD-Lines in the Part-Editor and Mechanism-Editor.

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

Black: X–axis Arrow

Green: Y–axis Arrow

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

Red: X–axis, Green: Y–axis, Blue: Z-Axis

Reference Geometry: Orange

Dimension used for a Line-of-Centers in a Gear-Pair: Grey

Dimensions used in a Design-Set: Magenta

Graphics Options

Sketch-element arc faceting quality: Low < Quality > High

Use the 'Quality' slider to edit the drawing accuracy of various symbols and sketch-elements.

Show Function-Block Captions check-box.

Click the check-box to display as a caption in the graphic-area the 'name' of the function-block.

Only View Solids in active Mechanism.

When 'Show/Hide Model in Mechanism' is active:

Menu

Toolbar Icon Size

Choose the style for the Menu bar and Toolbars

Text Size

English

See an English Joke! about sizes and language.

Language: English or Italian

Show or Hide Hints check box -

Show Hints check box

see also Help menu

If you do not need the hints, clear the Show Hints check box. We still show hints in the Feedback zone.

Graphic

Symbol Display Size [Pixels]: The size of elements in the graphic-area, such as arrow heads, Part-Outlines and axes.

Symbol Selection Size [Pixels]: The size of the pointer 'pin-head'. The larger this number the easier it is to select element, but you may select than one element.

Sounds

Enable Message Sounds: check box to let you listen to a sound each time MechDesigner sends a message to the Message Area in the Feedback-Area.

Click the buttons to hear the sound for each message.

Default Sizes

Parameters that apply to Solids. You can change all four in their dialog-boxes, also.

Ball-Joint Symbolic Radius

This parameter applies to Add Ball-Joint

See Also: Add Ball-Joint, Ball-Joint dialog

Default Bearing Diameter and...

Default Grounded Bearing Diameter:

The dimensions that apply to arcs and circles of Auto-Profiles with respect to moving and fixed Pin-Joints, respectively.

See Also: Add Auto-Profiles

Default Extrusion Depth

The dimension that applies to an extrusion when you add a Profile or Auto-Profile.

See Also: Add Auto-Profile and Add Auto-Profiles

See Also: Extrusion dialog-box