File > Open
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File menu > Open |
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File toolbar > Open |
See also File toolbar > Import Library Files
Open these File-types:
When you save a model, you save two files to the same path, with the same file-name. CXL - the file-type that is for the MechDesigner model. MTD - the file-type that is for the MotionDesigner motions that model needs. OLD MODELS: MechDesigner may find a sketch-element that is over-constrained. A pop-up asks you if we can delete for you the constraint so that we can 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 so many CXL and MTD files? |
Small Bug: After you open a Library LXL file-type, the model is unresponsive to your mouse-pointer. To solve this bug, do ALT+C on your keyboard to cycle the model, or do Run menu > Cycle, then do again to stop the model. LXL - the file-type for a Library file. There are three options when you open a Library File. •Preselect a Plane - the Library File adds a new Mechanism-Editor. The model in the Library file opens on the XY-Plane of the new Mechanism-Editor. •Preselect a Part - the Library File opens on the Part. The Library File is 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 the file-type for a MechDesigner ZIP file - see Save as > ZXL The file-types that may be zipped-up in a ZXL file are the: •CXL and MTD file-types •STL, SLDPRT, SLDASM and DXF file-types that you may 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 the path to 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 path location that is a sub-directory to that of the ZXL file. ◉Specify ZXL output directory - you enter the path for the files. I recommend you select Specify ZXL Output Directory. I usually use 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 STEP 3.In the CAD-Line dialog > DXF tab, select the DXF-Element The DXF-drawing shows in the graphic-area. See more: CAD-Line dialog > DXF tab |
MEC is a Camlinks file-type. See more: Open MEC files |
Why are there so many CXL and MTD files?
If you use Windows Explorer to find your model files, you also see many other files. Why so many? They are the backup files. A The CXL is the file for the MechDesigner model. The MTD file is for the motions in MotionDesigner, It opens also when you open the CXL file. When you open a model, we also look for the oldest backup files and copy them to another backup file. •CXL.n and MTD.n are copied to CXL.n+1 and MTD.n+1 Thus if: 1.CXL.2 and MTD.2 are the oldest, they are copied to CXL.3 and MTD.3 1.CXL.1 and MTD.1 are copied to replace CXL.2 and MTD.2 2.CXL and MTD are copied to CXL.1 and MTD.1 3.A copy of CXL and MTD are saved to RAM AUTO-SAVE When you Enable Auto-save, we auto-save the model for you after a number of commands: 1.CXL and MTD in RAM are saved to ~CXL and ~MTD on disk 2.New copies of CXL and MTD are saved to RAM WARNING : You overwrite the original model with each Auto-Save. See Application Settings > General tab > File Options to: •Enable or disable Auto-save •Edit the number of Backup files •Edit the number of commands between each Auto-Save |