File > Open
Open a model that is on your hard-drive.
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File menu > Open |
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File toolbar > Open |
When Auto-save is enabled, we always save your changes so you will not lose your work. To make sure you do not accidentally save changes to an original file, save the model immediately to a new file-name BEFORE you start making your edits to make sure you are working on the new copy and not overwriting the original.
See also File toolbar > Import Library Files
Open these file-types:
CXL - the file-type that is for the MechDesigner model. There should also be the MTD file-type in the same path for the MotionDesigner motions. 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? |
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 file is opened and merged with the active Mechanism-Editor. See more: Open LXL File See also: Save as > LXL file-type |
ZXL - the file-type for a MechDesigner ZIP file - see Save as > ZXL The file-types that may be in a ZXL file are: •CXL and MTD file-types •STL, SLDPRT, SLDASM, and •DXF Note: You can choose the path to which you want to extract ZXL file-types: See: Application Settings | General tab | File Options > Extract ZXL files to: ◉Create sub-directory automatically - All files extract to a sub-directory to the ZXL file. ◉Specify ZXL output directory - enter the path for the files. I prefer Specify ZXL Output Directory. I usually extract the files 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 file of the DXF file-type you add a DXF-element to the Assembly-Tree as a child to the Model. The DXF element is a container for one DXF-Drawing. MD17+ :The name of the DXF-element in the Assembly-Tree in now the name of the DXF-Drawing. You must link the DXF-Element to a CAD-Line to show the DXF-Drawing in the graphics-area. Thus, to show the DXF-Drawing, do:
The DXF-Drawing shows in the graphics-area. See more: CAD-Line dialog > DXF tab |
MEC is a Camlinks file-type. See more: Open MEC files |
Why so many CXL and MTD files?
If you use Windows Explorer or File Explorer to find your model, you will see different files. Question: Why so many files? Answer: There are two files that are the active, or last saved, model. The CXL is the file-type for the MechDesigner model. The MTD is the file-type for the MotionDesigner motions. The other files are backup files. You control the number of backup files with: •Application-Settings > General tab > File Options > : Maximum # Backup files. For example, if Maximum # Backup Files = 3, and you open a model: 1.If CXL.2 and MTD.2 are the oldest, we copy them to CXL.3 and MTD.3 2.We copy CXL.1 and MTD.1 to replace CXL.2 and MTD.2 3.We copy CXL and MTD to replace CXL.1 and MTD.1 4.Finally, we open CXL and MTD file, which is then in your computer's RAM. Finally, we Auto-Save the model after a number of commands. See: •Application-Settings > General tab > File Options > : Enable Auto-Save •Application-Settings > General tab > File Options > : # Commands to Auto-Save When we Auto-save, we: 1.Rename the CXL and MTD files that are the active model in RAM to ~CXL and ~MTD on your hard drive 2.Save the active model to replace the CXL and MTD files in 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 |