(NX5) Easy way to save part display defaults? (for existing parts)

[morans]

Hello, we just switched over to NX5 from NX3 and still getting adjusted to the changes in the interface. With that said, I was curious to see if there was an easy way to save and load a configuration for the display properties of an existing part.

For example, I'd like to load a part and have the ability to change things like:

Use default/UG color palette

Turn off "show line widths"

Turn off "Edge emphasis"

Custom "object colors" (line, solid body, points, spline, Datums, etc)

Change Background color to black, from shaded

Change Pre-selection colors

Change Default Font and sizes (and dimension/leader properties)

...and so on.

As far as I know, the only way to do this is by setting every last option manually which gets very repetitive and wastes a lot of valuable time.

For the rare occasions when we start a part from scratch, I have a template file setup that will already have all these options setup, but recently more and more of our files are being sent to us from various companies who all have thier own system of doing things and setting their parts up.

Does anyone have any suggestions for this? It's very frustrating when you're on a time constraint and need to do this on 50+ parts

thanks in advance

 

[cowski]

macro

 

[morans]

I thought about using some sort of macro/script to automate the work, but I have a feeling that our IT department wouldn't be soon keen on it.

So I can assume that there is no easy way to do this from inside UG yet?

 

[cowski]

UG provides macros and journals. Of the 2, journals are the 'newer technology'. Journaling was added in NX3 and more commands have been supported in each subsequent release. Macros and journals record your actions for playback at a later time and/or on a different file. Either seems like it would be well suited for what you list in the opening post.

To use them go to Tools -> Macro (or journal) -> record... Enter a filename for your macro and then simply perform the actions you want to record. Go back into the tools menu and press 'stop recording' when you are done. You will now have a macro file that you can play back in another file of your choosing.

 

[morans]

amazing, thanks a lot Cowski. I was unaware that you could do this right inside of UG. I'll hopefully get some time to play with it after lunch.

have a beer on me. Thanks again

 

[JohnRBaker]

The best approach is to create a Visualization Template.

Start a session of NX 5.0 and create a new part file where all of your display settings are what you would like them to be. Now if you don't already have at least one User-Defined Resource Bar tab already defined, go to...

Preferences -> Palettes...

...create a new palette. Now open that new Palette and place your cursor over some 'white space' and press MB3 and select...

New Entry -> Visualization Template

...and when the dialog comes up give it some appropriate name and if you want to cover ALL possible items, just hit the OK button.

Now open the old NX 3 part file and go to this Resource Bar tab and drag this new item out onto the display and the part file will be updated to whatever display settings were saved in the Visualization Template. Now just repeat for each part file.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[morans]

John, thank you very much for the tip. As soon as get this model out I'm going to give it a try. Thanks for the help and input from both of you, it's really appreciated.

I have one dumb question though and figured it would be better to ask here than start a new thread.

what happened to [right click > update display]? Is there a hotkey that I could use for this? It was great for working in areas with a lot of detail.

 

[ewh]

Hold down the control key at the same time.

"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[morans]

that works for drafting, but unfortunitly not for modeling :\

 

[JohnRBaker]

Yes, we did remove the 'Update Display' from the 'View Pop-Up' but it's still available under...

View -> Layout -> Update Display

...or you could do what I did and that was add an Icon to my Visualization Toolbar and assign that action to it. Of course, the best approach would be to just go to Customize and drag a copy of that Menu item back onto the MB3 View Pop-Up dialog, or if you don't want to do that, also in Customize you could simply assign it a 'hot-key', perhaps something like 'Alt+U' as that one is currently not being used anywhere.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[morans]

ok, thanks again john. My co-workers say thanks as well lol

 

[ewh]

I tried it in modeling (both NX5 and NX6) before I posted, and it works for me (RMB and control key at same time)... I've never had to use it in drafting.

"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[morans]

that's odd. It doesn't show up in the menu. I've had to use that method in NX3/4 in the past while certain dialogs were open, but it doesnt work in 5. I'll try dragging the icon over to it.

thanks again

 

[morans]

Hey John, just wanted to thank you again. I finally got some free time to setup the template file and it worked perfectly. Thanks a bunch, this is going to make life much easier from here on out