... open a dialog

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... open a dialog

Edit an element - open the element's dialog

To edit an element, you must open the element's dialog. There are many methods.

With each method, you must select the element. You can select the element in three places:

•Graphics-Area

•Assembly-Tree

•Selection-Window

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

See Selection-Filters

How to open a dialog:

Do one of these methods:

Click to exapand /collapseMethod 1: Use the Selection-Window

1.Click the element you want to edit (see also the SHIFT-CLICK exception below) in the graphics-area or the Assembly-Tree

The element is now in the Selection-Window

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

A shortcut menu shows next to your pointer

3.Click Edit element in the shortcut menu

The element's dialog opens.
Click to exapand /collapseMethod 2: Double-Click the element

Summary:

To open the dialog, double-click one element in the:

•Graphics-Area

•Assembly-Tree

•Selection-Window
Double-click to open the element's dialog-box

Double-click in the graphics-area

Example: Edit a Motion-Dimension FB

Double-Click in the graphics-area

1.Move your mouse-pointer above the element so that only the element you want to edit changes color to the Selection Color (see Application-Settings > Graphics tab > Display Colors)

2.Double-click the element

If it is difficult to double-click only the element in the graphics-area:

•Use Selection Filters to filter for the element type you want to edit.

•Use Display Filters to hide other element types

OR

Double-click in the Assembly-Tree

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

Double-Click element in Assembly-Tree

Double-Click in Assembly-Tree
Double-Click in Selection-Window

Double-Click in Selection-Window

OR

Double-click in the Selection-Window

1.First, click the element in the graphics-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.

Click to exapand /collapseMethod 3: Right-Click the element

Summary:

1.Right-click the element in the Selection-Window, the Assembly-Tree and graphics-area

2.Click Edit-Element in the shortcut menu.

Click, then Right-Click in Assembly-Tree

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 shortcut menu:

3.Click Edit Element
Right-click in the graphic-area

Right-click in the graphic-area

In the graphics-area:

1.Click the graphics-area to deselect all elements

2.Hover + Right-click an element.

The shortcut menu shows.

In the shortcut menu:

3.Click Edit Element

Click to exapand /collapseMethod 4: Edit toolbar > Edit Element tool

Edit element icon

You must pre-select the element you want to edit.

1.Click the element you want to edit in the Selection-Window, Assembly-Tree or graphics-area

2.Click Edit toolbar > Edit Element icon
Click element in Graphic-Area

Click element in Graphic-Area

Click element in Assembly-Tree

Click element in Assembly-Tree

For example:

To edit a Gearing FB:

1.Click the Gearing FB in the Selection-Window

or

1.Click the Gearing FB in the graphics-area

or

1.Click the Gearing FB in the Assembly-Tree

Click 'Edit-Element' icon in Edit menu

Click 'Edit-Element' icon in Edit menu

Then

2.Click Edit toolbar > Edit Element

The Gearing-FB dialog is now open.

Special Cases:

Click to exapand /collapseTo edit a dimension in the Part-Editor
Double-click Arrowhead

Double-click Arrowhead

1.Make sure you deselect all other commands.

Frequently, Add Dimension is the active command. You must deselect it.

E.g click the ESC key on your keyboard.

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

If you try to click the dimension number - R34.46 in the image to the left - MechDesigner does not respond.
Click to exapand /collapseTo edit a Gear-Pair or 2D-Cam
MD-GA-Doubleclick-GearPair

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 can only add or update the shape of a Polyline

•a Profile and Extrusion - you can only edit the Extrusion
btn_delkeywordTo edit an Extrusion
Shift-click a Profile

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 shortcut menu.
Click to exapand /collapseReasons you cannot edit an element

You cannot edit an element when:

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

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

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

•You cannot edit the element - for example, a Slide-Joint