The data-boxes are the same in MechDesigner and MotionDesigner.
We can use the Dimension dialog-box to show the tools and different procedures you can use to edit a parameter in a data-box.
 The Data-Box in a Dialog-Box |
In the image, I have added a 'window' to show the 'Dimension' data-box in the Dimension dialog-box. It is typical of all data-boxes in MechDesigner and MotionDesigner.
The data-box has three parts:
68.24987846
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'Data-value' : this is the 'parameter'.
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10
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Spin-Increment value box
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Spin-Box arrowheads
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Three different procedures to edit a data-value:
 Enter a value directly with your keyboard. |
Enter the data-value directly:
| 1. | Enter the value in the data-box with your keyboard |
| 2. | Press Enter to update the value |
You must press the 'Enter' key (also called the Return key) to enter the new value.
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 Enter an Equation |
Enter the data-value as a 'symbolic equation':
| 2. | Press Enter to update the value |
You must use the 'Enter' key to enter the value.
| • | Simple Arithmetic: +, –, *, ∕; |
| • | Trigonometric: Angles are Radians, |
| o | ArcSin(), ArcCos(), ArcTan2( ; ) |
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 The Spin-Box controls in a Data-Box. |
The to use the Spin-Box tool, we should first look at these two values:
 Top-Row: data-value: = 67.12345
 Bottom Row: Spin-Increment value: = 1
The Spin-Box tool is inside the Blue box. It also has two rows:
 : Data-Increment: Click the Left or Right arrow button to change the data-value by the spin-increment.
 : Spin-Increment: Click the Left or Right arrow button to change the spin-increment value by a multiple of 10.
You cannot enter your own Spin-Increment.
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Use the Spin-box tool - the Blue-Box:
| ❑ | Click the Top arrow-buttons to change the Data Value value by the Spin-Increment : |
| • | Click the top - left arrow button, and the data-value will become [67.12345 – Spin-Increment] = 66.12345, then 65.12345, 64.12345,... |
| • | Click the top - right arrow button, and the data-value will become [67.12345 + Spin-Increment] = 68.12345, then 69.12345, 70.12345,... |
| ❑ | Click the Bottom arrow-buttons to change the Spin-Increment : |
| • | Click the bottom - left arrow button, and the spin-increment becomes 0.1. then 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001,... |
| • | Click the bottom - right arrow button, and the spin-increment becomes 10, then 100, 1000, 10000,... |
WARNING : The model re-builds each time you click the arrowheads of the top arrows in the spin-data box!
When the MechDesigner model has many 'steps, and the model is complex, then the model may need seconds to update each time you click the spin-box.
See MechDesigner > Edit menu > Machine Settings > Cycling Separator number-of-steps
In this case, use your keyboard to enter a data-value, or reduce the 'number-of-steps', or de-select the Auto-Update, or both.
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Hide / Show the Spin-Box tool :
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Double-Click
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Double-Click the dimension box to Toggle the Spin-Box tool on and off.
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 The 'Zero/Round' menu |
'Zero' or 'Round' data
| 1. | Right-click inside the data box |
The 'Zero and Round' contextual-menu shows.
| • | 'Zero' : to make the data value Zero! |
| • | 'Round' : to change the data to the nearest value that is exactly divisible by the Spin-Increment |
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