File > Open
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File menu > Open File toolbar > Open |
See also File toolbar > Import Library Files
File-types:
You can open these file-types:
CXL - the file-type for a MechDesigner model. important: A file with the same file-name, but with the MTD file-type (for the motions in MotionDesigner) is also saved automatically to the same path as the CXL file. To open the model, the CXL and the MTD files must be in the same path. OLD MODELS: MechDesigner may find a sketch-element that is over-constrained. A pop-up will ask you if MechDesigner can delete the constraint to solve the sketch. Click YES if you want to open the file! Check important sketches after you open the model, then save the model again. See also: Why are there many CXL files? |
LXL - the file-type for a MechDesigner Library file. There are three options when you open a Library File. •Preselect a Plane - the Library File will add a new Mechanism-Editor. The model in the Library file will open on the XY-Plane of the new Mechanism-Editor. •Preselect a Part - the Library File will open on the Part. The Library File will be a child to the Part. •Preselect nothing - the Library Fie is opened and merged with the active Mechanism-Editor. See more: Open LXL File See also: Save As... LXL file-type |
ZXL is a file-type for a MechDesigner ZIP file - see Save as ... ZXL The file-types that may be in a ZXL file-type include: •CXL and MTD file-types •STL, SLDPRT, SLDASM and DXF file-types that you have linked to CAD-Lines. After you open the ZXL file, the STL, SLDPRT, SLDASM file-types become linked to the path in which you extract the ZXL files. Note: You can choose to specify the path into which you want to extract ZXL file-types: Application Settings | General tab | File Options > Extract ZXL files to: ◉Create sub-directory automatically - all files extract into a sub-directory to the path location of the ZXL file. ◉Specify ZXL output directory - you specify the path for the files. I recommend you select Specify ZXL Output Directory. I usually specify the same path as that of the ZXL file itself. You can also select or make a new path. See more: File menu > Save as... ZXL file-type. |
When you open a DXF file-type, you add a DXF-element to the Assembly-Tree as a child to the Model. The DXF element is the container for the DXF-drawing. You must link the DXF-Element to a CAD-Line to show the DXF-Drawing in the graphic-area. Thus, to show a DXF drawing, do: STEP 1.File > Open DXF file-type STEP 2.Edit a CAD-Line to open the CAD-Line dialog-box STEP 3.In the Cad-Line dialog-box > DXF tab, select the DXF-Element The DXF-drawing shows in the graphic-area. See more: CAD-Line dialog-box > DXF tab |
MEC is a Camlinks file-type. See more: Open MEC files |
Why are there so many CXL and MTD files?
If you explore to your model files, you will see many file-types. Why so many files? They are different backup files. BACKUP FILE-TYPES When you open a model the CXL and MTD files exist. The: In general: 1.CXL.n and MTD.n are copied to CXL.n+1 and MTD.n+1 Thus if: 1.CXL.2 and MTD.2 exist already, they are copied to CXL.3 and MTD.3 2.CXL.1 and MTD.1 are copied to CXL.2 and MTD.2 3.CXL and MTD are copied to CXL.1 and MTD.1 4.A copy of CXL and MTD are saved to RAM AUTO-SAVE After every # commands: 1.The copy of CXL and MTD in RAM are saved to ~CXL and ~MTD on disk 2.A new copy of CXL and MTD are saved to RAM WARNING : You overwrite the original model each Auto-Save See Application Settings > General tab > File Options to edit: •Number-of-Back-up copies •Number-of-Commands between each Auto-Save •Do you want to use Auto-Save? |