This tab contains part settings and general settings that apply to multiple VX levels.

 

 

 

General

 

Auto repeat commands

Check this box to automatically re-execute the last command when the <Return> key or the middle mouse button is picked.  If you plan to use a command repeatedly, this option can save you some time.

 

Show hints

Enables or disables the display of hint boxes permanently each time VX starts up regardless of the active VX session.  This is the same as selecting Help > Show Hints.

 

Auto open error window

When this box is checked, the message window is automatically opened when more than one error or warning message is displayed.

 

Show option form

The required and optional inputs for many commands can be displayed together on a single form.  Check this box to display these forms automatically.

 

• Short - Only the Required Inputs are shown.

• Long - Both the Required and Optional Inputs are shown.

 

Default linear units

Set the default linear units for all object in new VX files.  Select mic - microns, mm - millimeters, cm - centimeters, m - meters, mil - 1/1000 of an inch, in - inches, ft - feet or yd - yards.

 

Object tolerance (mm)

This sets the proximity tolerance in millimeters used to initialize new objects.

 

Maximum undo steps

This sets the maximum number of undo/redo transactions that can be logged during the active session.

 

Max undo memory (MB)

Set the maximum amount of system memory allocated to undo/redo data.  When this limit is reached, undo/redo data is on disk instead of in memory.

 

Default layer name

This sets the default layer where new objects will be located at the part and drawing sheet level.

 

Prompt streamlining

When the Command Options Forms are not displayed, this is referred to as "streamline mode" verses "play mode" when they are displayed.  The difference is an extra middle-click at the end of the prompt sequence in "play mode." Prompt Streamlining is when the "<middle-click> to finish" is not displayed.  Select from the following options:

 

• On - will only prompt while the Command Options Form is displayed.  It will skip the prompt for a feature sketch that is created from within another command such as Extrude Shape.

• Off - will always prompt.

 

Part/Sheet/Plan template name

When you create a new part or new file the New File/Object Form is displayed.  If you don't select an object from the default template file on this form, the objects in the template files that you define here are automatically used to initialize new objects of the corresponding class.  These default objects must be located in a file that resides in one of the directories defined by File >Search Paths...

 

One object per file

By default VX creates multi-object files.  Check this box to enforce one object per file when a file is not specifically created as a multi-object file.  You can toggle the active file between single and multi-object by selecting File >Properties...

 

With this option checked:

 

• When a new file is created, and you specify an object type (e.g. part, sheet, CAM plan, etc.) the file is created and an object of the specified type is automatically created and activated for editing.  The Object Level is skipped and you go directly to the level of the object type created.
   

• The "Go up to Parent Object" icon on the Utility Tool Bar will be disabled and you will not be able to return to the object level.  When the file is activated, you will always be placed in the single object automatically and you will not be able to exit that object without exiting the file.

 

Auto synchronize CAM Manager

When this box is checked, the CAM Plan Manager tree is automatically refreshed every time an undo or redo is executed instead of enabling the Synchronize button.  This option is better for smaller CAM plans.

 

Automatic file locking

When this is enabled, a file is automatically tagged as "locked" by the active instance of VX when it is "manually" opened by the user.  If the file is opened automatically (e.g. during assembly traversal), it will be locked by the active process at whatever point the file is edited.  Be sure to read the Important Notes below about this option.

 

Important Notes about the Automatic File Locking Option

 

 

Session

 

Enable session management

Session management enables a collection of advanced VX functions designed to further manage user sessions.  These functions can be found by selecting File > Manage Session.

 

If session management is enabled:
 

• File >Manage Session is enabled

• Session backup reminder is enabled (see below).

• At startup, VX automatically resumes your previous session if a backup exists.

• Backup Session is executed when you exit VX (if selected).
   

If session management is not enabled:
 

• File > Manage Session is not enabled.

• Automatic session backup is not enabled (see below).

• Save All Files is executed when you exit VX (if selected).

 

Backup session before regen

If Automatic session backup (above) is checked, check this option to force a session backup before part/assembly regens.  This option is disabled by default.

 

Emergency session backup

When this box is checked, VX tries to backup the active session automatically if the software crashes.  This will only occur if Enablesession management above is checked.

 

Session backup reminder

If Enable session management (above) is checked, check this box to enable automatic session backup reminders.  The active session will be backed up based on the backup interval (see below).  You can also backup the active session manually using the Backup Session (Ctrl+B) command.

 

A message reminder will be displayed - so keep an eye on the message area when this is enabled.  

 

 

Reminder interval (minutes)

Enter the backup interval in minutes.  This setting only applies if Session backup reminder (above) is checked.  You can also backup your session manually using the Backup Session command or with the (Ctrl+B) keys when Enable session management (above) is checked.

 

Reminder count (operations)

Enter the number of operations to perform before the next backup.  This will occur if the Backup interval (minutes) value has not yet been reached.  Both of these timers will reset when a backup occurs.  Session backups will only occur if Enable session management above is checked.

 

VX Folders

 

This section displays the location of the default User Directory and the current VX Install Directory.  See Installation Guide for creating another User Directory.

 

 

 

 

Merge shapes before cut

When this box is checked, the base shapes in a boolean or feature operation are merged (boolean addition) before the operator shapes are applied to them.  When unchecked, each base shape is operated upon independently, as if the other shapes did not exist.  Use the Part Settings Form to change the merge status at different times throughout a part's history.

 

 

Animate assembly alignment

When 3D alignment constraints are applied, a 1 second animation is displayed showing the component moving into place.  Check this box to enable the animation.

 

Display Layers by number

Check this box to list the first 256 (0-255) layers by number in the Layer Manager.

 

Auto regen on edit

Check this box to automatically perform a History Regen after a historic operation is edited.

 

Advanced Filleting

VX has developed a new Advanced Filleting Engine for v13!  We all know that some filleting requests can become very complex.  For most situations, the new Advanced Filleting Engine should increase the number of successful filleting results.  

 

However, you can use this configuration setting to tell VX to:

 

• Off - Turn off the new Advanced Filleting Engine (and use the old one).

• TryFirst - Try the new Advanced Filleting Engine FIRST when calculating fillets.  If that fails, the old one will be used.

• Try Last - Try the new Advanced Filleting Engine LAST.  The old filleting engine will be tried first when calculating fillets.   

 

Part datums

This selection sets the display of default datum planes at runtime.

 

• None - No default datum planes are displayed.

• Top - The XY plane is displayed.

• Front - The XZ plane is displayed.

• Right - The YZ plane is displayed.

• Triad - All default datum planes are displayed.

 

Datum format

Use this option to set the default datum plane format.  Select from the following:

 

X-Y Axis

Rectangle

 

Default part filter setting

This selection sets the default Pick Filter at the Part Level.

 

• All - Allow all entities.

• Feature - Filter only part features.

• Shape - Filter only shapes.

• Face - Filter only faces.

 

 

 

This tab contains sketch and drawing sheet level settings.  Grid spacing and dimension standards apply to both levels.

 

Grid spacing (mm)

Enter the default grid spacing in millimeters for new sketches and drawing

sheets.

 

Drawing standard

This selection sets the default dimensioning standard for new parts, sketches and drawing sheets.  Use the Dimension Attributes Form to set specific dimension attributes.

 

• ANSI - American National Standards Institute (3rd angle)

• ISO - International Standards Organization (3rd angle)

• DIN - DeutschesInstitutfuerNormung. (1st angle)

• JIS - Japanese Industrial Standard. (3rd angle)

• GB - Chinese Drawing Standard  (3rd angle)

 

Display drawing border

Display the borders on drawing sheets.

 

Highlight modified dimensions

In drawing sheets, automatically display changed dimensions in the highlight color (yellow by default).  You can change the highlight color from the Color tab.

 

Display auxiliary view arrows

Automatically display arrows indicating the direction of auxiliary views.  These are similar to section arrows.

 

 

Sketch

 

• Auto sketch orientation - Orient the sketch view when a sketch is activated.

• Project edges into sketch - Reference face edges in a sketch aligned with the face.

• Auto prompt dimension value - When this box is checked, you are automatically prompted for the value of a sketch dimension immediately after the dimension is "manually" added to the sketch.

 

 

2D Solver

 

• Enable 2D constraint solver - When checked, the sketch constraint solver is enabled.  If you disable this option, then all sketch geometry will "free" of any constraints or dimensions.

• Auto constrain sketch - When checked, constraints will be automatically created and placed with new sketch geometry. This is referred to as "Auto Constrain."

• Auto dimension sketch - When checked, dimensions will be automatically created and placed with new sketch geometry. This is referred to as "Auto Dimension."

 

 

View Layout

 

Upper Lower left view

Upper Lower right view

This configuration will be the default format during the Insert View Layout command.  You can override this configuration during the command. Each icon shown below represents the 4 quadrants of a drawing sheet.  Select from the list of views for each quadrant.  To eliminate a view from layouts, select the "Do Not" icon.

 

 

 

Method of projection

This selection sets the default projection for all views in a new layout.  If you modify one or more of the views, it is no longer a 1st or 3rd angle projection and this field is cleared.

 

• 1st angle - Sets the layout format above to the following views (LL=Top View, UL=Front View, UR=Left View and LR=Iso View)

• 3rd angle - Sets the layout format above to the following views (LL=Front View, UL=Top View, UR=Iso View and LR=Right View)

 

 

 

Use this tab to set a variety of VX system colors.  You can Apply the new colors without closing this form (see Other Options below).

 

Select each button to display the Color Browser.  You can select a basic color, a custom color (these are the VX default colors), or create new custom colors.

 

 

• It should be noted that some color settings can be enabled/disabled by other settings on the VX Configuration Form.  For example, if you uncheck the Use shaded edge color setting option from the Display tab, the Shaded edges color selector on the Color tab will also be disabled.

 

Old/New Color Scheme

Use these two buttons to toggle the defaults between the old color scheme (v12) and the new color scheme (v13).

 

 

 

Use this tab to control the background displayed within the VX graphics window.

 

Apply to active object

This allows you to change the background color in the configuration and either apply it to the active part or not.

 

 

Solid Background

 

Color

Set the solid background color when the "Gradient background" and "Background image" features are disabled (see below).

 

 

Gradient Background

 

Enable gradient background

Enable the gradient background feature.

 

Upper left ,Upper right, Lower left, Lower right

Specify the gradient colors for the four corners of the graphics window.  The background color will blend between these four colors.

 

 

Background Image

 

Enable background image

Enable the background image feature.

 

Display method

Use this to set the method for displaying the background image.  The options are Center, Tile, Stretch, Fixed width (enter the image width), and Fixed height (enter the image height).  For Fixed width and Fixed height, enter the width or height in millimeters.

 

Image file name

Load an image file as the background.  The size of the image is fixed and is placed at the center of the graphics window.

 

Old/New Color Scheme

Use these two buttons to toggle the defaults between the old color scheme (v12) and the new color scheme (v13).

 

 

 

This tab contains numeric and display toggle settings as well as other options.

 

Numeric Settings

 

• Curve display tolerance - The chord-height tolerance (pixels) for curve display (0.1-10.0).

• Surface display tolerance - The chord-height tolerance (pixels) for surface display (0.1-10.0).

• Dynamic view sensitivity - The sensitivity of Dynamic Viewing to mouse and SpaceBall motion (0.1-4.0).  The default is 1.0.  A greater value increases the sensitivity and a lesser value decreases it.  This factor is only applied to Dynamic Zooming and Rotation.  Panning tracks the mouse "exactly."
   

• Default view extent (mm) - The default view extent in millimeters for new sessions.

• Aspect ratio - The aspect ratio applied to the Graphics Window.  For example, if your monitor shows circles elliptical, you can use this setting to compensate for that.

 

 

Toggle Settings

 

Show back-facing edges as dashed

This refers to those edges hidden from view.  You can control this settings within the active session using the Part Settings Form.  Back edges are dynamically updated when Dynamic View is active.

 

Software OpenGL driver

VX will use the software based OpenGL driver supplied by your Windows operating system.

 

If you are experiencing graphics related problems while running VX and you are using a hardware based OpenGL graphics card, enabling this option will force VX to ignore the card's OpenGL driver and use the Windows software version.

 

 

Display edges in shaded mode

Display face edges during Shaded Display mode.  The edges are displayed using the same color as their parent face.

 

Use shaded edge color setting

The Color tab has a setting that allows you to control the color of part edges while in shaded display mode.  This setting allows you to enable or disable edge color shading.

 

Use transparency when unhiliting

Use this setting to enable or disable the transparency of faces when using the Unhighlight All command.  Unchecking this option may help if you have very large models or assemblies or a very slow computer.

 

Auto-scale dimensions

Check this box to automatically scale all dimensions to the current drawing scale.

 

 

Options & Defaults

 

Hidden lines

This setting determines how hidden lines are displayed during hidden line mode. Hidden lines can be Removed, Dashed, or Darker.

 

Initial window size 

This selection sets the VX window size at start up.

 

• Window - VX is displayed in a window.

• Full Screen - The VX window is maximized.

 

Gravity

This selection sets the default menu gravity at start up.

 

• dockable - Display components are dockable .

• upper-left / right / lower-left / right - Display components will gravitate to this location within the VX window.

 

Icon size

Set the icon size for all Design Tool Bars.

 

Window restoration

This setting determines the method used to repair VX windows when any portion of them are destroyed (i.e., when another application window passes over it).

 

• Standard - Redraw in memory and is then display.

• Quick Fill - Allow VX to perform window repair.  VX windows overlapped by other VX windows are repaired more quickly using this method.  Try using this method for very large or complex assemblies.

 

3D input device

If you have a SpaceBall 3D input device, select spaceball for this option and refer to Running VX with a SpaceBall for additional information.

 

Pick aperture size

Set the size of the pick aperture.  A larger aperture means that entities are more easily highlighted and selected but it is also easier to make incorrect selections.

 

Zoom reference point

Define the reference about which zooming will occur (cursor or center).

 

Edge thickness

Datum thickness

3D wire thickness

2D line thickness

Use the line width selector to select a default line width for each thickness.

 

 

 

Use the Files tab to set session related functions such as enabling session management, automatic session backups, etc.  You can also specify various file related defaults such as object template file name, the VX temporary directory and the default web browser for displaying VX help.

 
 

Files

 

Object template file

This VX file becomes the default file for the object templates displayed by the New File/Object Form when a new VX object is created (e.g. part, drawing sheet, etc.). By default, the template file name is "Templates.VX".  A default Templates.VX file is located in the "\resource" directory of your user directory.  Do not specify a path along with the template filename.

 

VX searches for the specified template file in your user directory first, then in the VX installation directories, then in the directories listed the VX Search Path Form.

 

However, if you put a custom Templates.VX file in one of the directories listed in the VX Search Path Form, it still will not be found by VX if there is a default Templates.VX file in one of the installation directories.  The solution is to move your custom Templates.VX file to your user directory or to give your template file a different name and log that name here.

 

Bundles default file

This sets the default file for attribute bundles.  See Attribute Bundles and Form Commonalities for more information.

 

Default session name

If Enable session management (above) is checked, enter the default name for new sessions.

 

Temporary directory

Enter the directory where VX temporary files are stored. Pick the folder icon to use the Directory Browser to select a directory.

 

Help (web) browser

Enter the system command (up to 80 characters) for loading the Help browser.  When the Browser button on the Help Menu is picked, this string is executed as a system command. Pick the folder icon to use the File Browser to select a system command file.

 

VX file directory

Enter the directory and path for locating new files during the Save File and Save All Files commands.  Pick the folder icon to use the Directory Browser to select a directory.

 

Standard Parts directory

Enter the default directory for standard parts (i.e., part tables).  The seed part for the part table should be stored in the same directory as the part table.  By default, part tables are given the .vxl (VX Library) extension, but .txt, .csv and .vxt can also be used.  See also, VX Part Libraries.

 

Moldbase directory

Enter the default directory to search for mold bases.  By default, mold base part tables are stored in the / moldbase_libraries directory of your VX install folder.  See Standard parts directory above for more information.  See also Insert Mold Base, VX Part Tables and VX Part Libraries for more information.

 

Symbol library

Clipboard library

These fields contain the name of the default VX object files that contain symbols and saved clipboards.

 

CAM machine library

CAM speed and feed

CAM tool library

CAM operation library

These fields contain the name of the default VX object file that contains a CAM plan with a library of machines, speed and feed tables, tools and operation definitions. The file can be located in your user directory or any directory defined in the VX Search Paths Form. VX provides default libraries.  See Applying VX CAM for more information.

 

CAM output directory

This field allows you to change the location of CAM output files.

 

VRML physical path

Enter the physical path where the Export HTML/Web - Link Document command will create and store VRML data files.  If you are running locally, this path might be "d:\vrml_depo."  Pick the folder icon to use the Directory Browser to select a directory.

 

This path must exist and this setting must be completed for the Export HTML/Web - Link Document command to run properly.

 

VRML virtual path

Enter the virtual path where the Export HTML/Web - Link Document command will view VRML data files from.  If you are running locally without a webserver, this path might be "file:/d:\VRML_Depo".  If you are running a webserver, this path might be "http://www.my-site.com/vrml."

 

This path must exist and this setting must be completed for the Export HTML/Web - Link Document command to display the HTML document in your web browser.

 

Page size definitions

This definition file is used to define the available print paper sizes.  There are two different files located in the /supp folder named "VXGL_SHEET_IN" and "VXGL_SHEET_MM."  When you start VX version 13 for the first time, you are asked if you want to operate in inches or mm.  By default, the definition file is set accordingly.  However, some users will want to print using inch paper sizes even though they are using MM units.  This configuration setting allows you to do that by changing the name of the definition file.

 

 

 

Use the User tab to specify user specific information such as user menus, user name and user id.

 

• User name - Enter the name of the active user.  This is used by the File Properties Form to identify the source of a locked file.

• User group - Enter the name of the active user group.  This is used only by VX PDM.  Every file is assigned the current User name and User group when it is checked in.   Refer to the PDM Tab below for more information about VX PDM.

• User id imprint - Enter a text string (up to 80 characters) embedded in the header of all new VX files.  For example, it might be your company's name.

 

 

 

Use the OpenVX tab to specify C language applications to dynamic link with VX at runtime.
 

• Applications - A comma separated list of applications (ex: App1,App2,...,AppN).

• Application libraries - A comma and semicolon-separated list of libraries (ex: App1Lib1, App1,Lib2,...App1LibN;App2Lib1,App2Lib2,...App2LibN;)

 

 

 

These settings are used by both a SmarTeam PDM configuration and by VX PDM.

 

General

 

• Use latest revision - When a file is retrieved from the PDM vault, check this box to always retrieve the latest version.

• Overwrite existing files - Check this box to overwrite files (without warning) when VX copies files from the PDM system to the work directory.

 

 

SmarTeam integration setup

 

• Integration Name - The name of the VX to SmarTeam integration.

• File type name - The name of the VX file type that is created in SmarTeam.

• Part class name - The name of the class as it was added to the SmarTeam Database.

• Drawing, Assembly, CAM, Misc class name - See Partclass name above.

• Default class - This refers to the default class to be used for files that are checked into SmarTeam. Possible choices are: Part, Drawing, Assembly, CAM or Misc.

 

Should none of these classes exist in the SmarTeam database then VX will default to the "Document" class that does exist in the SmarTeam database.  This is not a desired solution but it does ensure that the integration will always work.

 

 

VX PDM

 

These settings point to where files are located. The vault directory needs to exist before management is achieved.  The work directory will be created automatically if it does not exist.

 

• Vault directory - Pick the icon and select the folder to use as the vault directory.  Once a valid vault directory is specified, the commands on the Files > ManageVault menu are activated.

• Work directory - Pick the icon and select the folder to use as the work directory.  This directory can be your User Directory or any other directory.

• Auto refresh file list - Check this box to control the refresh of the VX PDM Form.  If checked, the file, revision and state lists are updated automatically when changes are made.  The only time you would want to turn this off is when you have so many files that it takes too long to update the lists.  You would then update the list only when necessary (i.e., by picking the Run Search button).

 

 

 

Set the PARTSolutions version compatibility to Version 7 or Version 8.

 

 

 

The following options are common to all tabs on this form.

 

OK - Save any configuration changes and close the form.

Apply - Apply any configuration changes but do not close the form.

Reset- Return all values to their previous settings.

Cancel- Close the form without saving any configuration changes.

Default- Return all values to the system default settings.