MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > FAQs and 'How to...?' > General FAQs > How to ?

Open an element's dialog-box

To build a model:

STEP 1: Add an element	- see Menus and Toolbars
STEP 2: Open the element's dialog-box	- see below
STEP 3: Edit the element's parameters	- see How to edit a Parameter in a Dialog-Box

How to open a Dialog-Box

There are many methods you can use to open an element's dialog-box.

With all methods, you must be able to select the element. We can select the element in three places:

•Graphic-Area

•Assembly-Tree

•Selection-Window

It may be helpful to use a Selection-Filter to isolate for the type of element you want to edit.

See Selection-Filters

To open an element's dialog-box, do one of these methods:

Method 1: Use the Selection-Window

Click

1.Click the element (see also the SHIFT-CLICK exception below) in the graphic-area or the Assembly-Tree

The element is now in the Selection-Window

2.Right-click the element in the Selection-Window

A contextual-menu shows next to your pointer

3.Click Edit element in the contextual-menu

The element's dialog-box will open.

SHIFT+CLICK

SHIFT+CLICK Profile

An Extrusion is a child to a Profile. It is possible to show or hide the extrusion from the graphic-area. When the Extrusion is hidden from the graphic-area:

1.SHIFT+CLICK the Profile contour that is the parent to the extrusion in the graphic-area

The Profile AND Extrusion are now in the Selection-Window.

2.Right-click the Extrusion

In the contextual-menu:

3.Click Edit element to open the Extrusion dialog-box.

The Extrusion dialog-box will open.

Method 2: Double-Click the element

Summary:

You will open the dialog-box only if you do not simultaneously double-click a different element.

Double-click the element (one element) in the:

•Graphic-Area

•Assembly-Tree

•Selection-Window

Double-click to open the element's dialog-box

Example: Edit a Motion-Dimension FB

Double-Click in the Graphic-Area

1.Move your mouse-pointer above the element so that only the element changes color to the Selection Color (usually, it becomes red).

2.Double-click the element in the graphic-area

When it is difficult to double-click only the element in the graphic-area:

•Edit the Cursor Selection size - See Edit toolbar > Application Settings > Accessibility tab.

•Use Selection Filters to make it possible to select only the element type you want to edit.

•Use Display Filters to hide other elements.

Double-click in the Assembly-Tree

1.Double-click the element in the Assembly-Tree.

Double-Click element in Assembly-Tree

Double-Click element in Selection-Window

Double-click in the Selection-Window

1.First, click the element in the graphic-area or the Assembly-Tree one time so that it shows in the Selection-Window.

When the element is in Selection-Window,

2.Double-click the element in the Selection-Window.

Method 3: Right-Click the element

Summary:

1.Right-click the element in the Selection-Window, the Assembly-Tree and Graphic-Area

2.Click Edit-Element in the contextual-menu.

Click, then Right-Click in Assembly-Tree

Example: Edit a Motion-Dimension FB

In the Assembly-Tree:

1.Click to select the element in the Assembly-Tree

2.Right-click the element

In the contextual-menu:

3.Click Edit Element

Right-click in the graphic-area

In the Graphic-Area:

1.Click the graphic-area to deselect all elements

2.Hover + Right-click an element.

The contextual-menu shows.

In the contextual-menu:

3.Click Edit Element

Method 4: Edit toolbar > Edit Element tool

Do:

1.Click the Element in the Selection-Window, Assembly-Tree or Graphic-Area

2.Click Edit toolbar > Edit Element icon

Click element in Graphic-Area

Click element in Assembly-Tree

In the Graphic-area, Assembly-Tree, or Selection-Window:

1.Click the Gearing FB in the Selection-Window

1.Click the Gearing FB in the graphic-area

1.Click the Gearing FB in the Assembly-Tree

Click 'Edit-Element' icon in Edit menu

2.Click Edit toolbar > Edit Element

The Gearing-FB dialog-box is now open.

Special Cases:

To edit a dimension in the Part-Editor

Double-click Arrowhead

De-select other commands. Most usually, Add Dimension is active.

1.Double-Click the arrowhead of a dimension to open the Dimension dialog-box

If you try to click the dimension number - 34.46 in the image to the left - MechDesigner will not respond.

To edit a Gear-Pair or 2D-Cam

When you click a Gear-Pair or 2D-Cam it is possible to click four elements:

•the Gear-Pair (or 2D-Cam) - select it in the Selection-Window

•a Polyline - you cannot edit a Polyline

•a Profile and Extrusion - you can only edit the Extrusion.

To edit an Extrusion

Shift-click a Profile

To edit an Extrusion that you cannot see, but you can see its Profile or Auto-Profile.

1.SHIFT-CLICK the PINK Profile element

The Profile AND Extrusion elements are now in the Selection-Window.

2.Right-click the Extrusion element in the Selection-Window

3.Click Edit element in the contextual-menu.

Reasons you cannot edit an element

You cannot edit an element when:

•A different dialog-box is open. Close all other dialog-boxes. (ALT+F4 if you cannot see the dialog).

•You double-click two or more elements. You will open none or one dialog-box.

•A command is active, in the Command-Manager. You must complete or cancel that command.

•You cannot edit the element - e.g. a Slide-Joint