Mouse Drag, Double-Click, Right-Click, Hints
Contents
Drag, Hints and Selection-Boxes
Many mouse actions in MechDesigner will be different to those in your CAD software.
Notes:
| • | Mouse-pointer, mouse, cursor, mouse-cursor and pointer are the same term |
| • | Click and Left-button-click are the same term for the standard mouse setting. |
Drag + Add Element
We use drag to add many different elements. For example:
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Drag to add Elements:
You may (usually not) need to:
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Drag + Move Element
We use drag to move elements in the graphic-area. For example: In the:
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Drag to Move Elements:
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PAN Drag & SHIFT Drag
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CTRL Key + Drag = PAN
SHIFT Key + Drag = SPIN
See Keyboard shortcuts for different Spin options |
Hover + Drag + Add Sketch-element = Merge-Points
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In the Part-Editor, to create a sketch-path/sketch-loop you must Merge (the) Points of adjacent sketch-elements. To merge-points is to reduce the two Points that are coincident to one merged-point. You can use Geometry toolbar > Merge-Points, or use the following, much more efficient procedure: |
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To add the first sketch-element:
To add the second sketch-element: Before you Mouse-Button-Down
The new sketch-element should now be in the graphic-area., Its start-Point should be Merged with the end-Point of the first sketch-element. Continue to do 2 and 3 to add more sketch-elements. To add the last sketch-element: Before you Mouse-Button-Down:
Before you mouse-button-up...
A sketch-loop is complete. Should you fail to hover correctly, repair the sketch-loop with Geometry-toolbar > Merge-Point. |
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Right-Click in Graphic-Area
COMMAND-MANAGER
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When the Command-Manager is active... If you have selected all of the elements to fill the selection-boxes... ...Right-Click in the graphic-area =
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If you have not selected all of the elements to fill the selection-boxes... ...Right-Click in the graphic-area = |
MECHANISM-EDITOR
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Right-click in the graphic-area to:
The image shows the Mechanism-Editor shortcut contextual-menu |
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Hover + Right-Click an element To show a contextual-menu:
- or -
The element shows in the Selection-Window
The image shows the contextual-menu when you Hover+Right-Click a Part. |
PART-EDITOR
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Right-click in the graphic-area to:
The image shows the Part-Editor shortcut menu. Add Arc is about to be selected. The Edit Part command (top) is always active at the top of the contextual-menu in the Part-Editor - but not very clear! You can click this command to close the Part-Editor. |
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Hover + Right-Click an element To show a contextual-menu:
- or -
The element shows in the Selection-Window.
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Double-click an element to edit
See also: How to Edit an Element. When you double-click an element, you open its dialog-box. |
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To edit a Part:
The Part-Editor opens. |
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- or -
The Part-Editor opens. |
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To edit a Dimension in the Part-Editor:
Note: nothing happens if you double-click the dimensional value/number |
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To close the Part-Editor:
The Y-axis is a much easier to double-click than the X-axis*. The X-axis and the CAD-Line are collinear. |
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To edit Gear-Pairs or 2D-Cams Best-Practice: Use the Assembly-Tree or the Selection-Window to locate the Gear-Pair or 2D-Cam elements:
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In the Assembly-Tree or Selection-Window
- or -
If it is possible to edit the element, the element's dialog-box opens. |
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To stop 'Tool-Tips' showing next to your pointer:
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Tool-tips, or Hints, can hide the tool and icon that you want to use. To show or hide Tool-Tips next to your pointer:
- or -
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