With NX 9.0, you can now do more to customize the appearance of the User Interface...

[JohnRBaker]

Over the years people have asked how they could change the size, density and perhaps even the font of the text in the NX menus and dialogs. Up through NX 8.5 there was no way to do that since the text characteristics were hard-coded into the software. However, starting with NX 9.0 we've made a change in that NX now inherits the font settings from whatever was set in the current 'Windows Theme'. This way users now can alter the font settings which are used in things like the NX Ribbon and the dailogs.

To see what I mean, here's what NX 9.0 looks like out of the box, using the windows default theme with Normal 11 pt Tahoma font:

And here is how I've set-up my system, just changing the default to Bold font:

Now if you want to go even further, another alternative where I changed the font to Bold 12 pt Arial:

OK, how and where can I make these changes?

Go to the...

Windows Start-> Control Panel -> All Control Panel Items -> Personalization

...and select the large 'Window Color' icon at the bottom of the page and when the dialog comes-up...

...select that word 'Normal' on the schematic of the 'windows' and the Font panel will become active so that you can make changes. Once you select OK these changed will be applied and you'll see a new 'Unsaved Theme' icon appear in the 'Personalization' panel. Just select it, press MB3 and select the 'Save Theme' option and enter a name.

Now you can close out the dialogs and get back to work. Keep in mind that thses changes to the Fonts will be applied everywhere that depends the Windows theme settings, including potentially other 3rd Party applications, not just NX.

Anyway, this may help some of you who've been looking for a way to change the fonts used by NX. Now you have control over not only the Font's size but also the actual Font used as well as whether its displayed as Bold or Normal (note that even though it appears that you can change the color of the text, any changes will be ignored and the NX text will remain black).

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

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

 

[LRME20]

I just upgraded to NX9.0.3 from NX8. Whenever I start NX9, my Windows Theme changes (disables transparency and turns the windows to a light blue color. NX8 has never done this and continues not to do this to me. I already changed the system settings/performance options to "Adjust for best appearance" (Because I have plenty of RAM/Graphics memory, etc) but it still changes automatically.

I like my windows as they are and until I see speed decrease with my programs, I intend to use transparency so I would appreciate any HELPFUL suggestions! I have a feeling it is a setting in NX9 that I just can't find yet!

THANK YOU

Logan M

 

[JohnRBaker]

Have you checked...

Preferences -> User Interface -> Layout

...to see if the 'Enable Transparency' has been toggled OFF?

When you say it turns the windows to a "light blue color", what windows do you mean? The NX Window, the Graphics Window...? Could you provide a screen shot so that we can see what you're seeing?

On that same dialog indicated above, have you tried any of the other 'Themes'?

Also check which Microsoft Window theme that you're using since NX now picks up some of those setting as well. Try going to the Windows 'Personalize' dialog and select say the 'Windows Classic' theme and see if that changes anything (this is the one I started with and then made the changes I described in my first post above).

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

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

 

[LRME20]

"Enable Transparency" is checked...
I have "Classic with System Font" selected because I like the darker theme (not as hard on my eyes).

When opening NX9, it causes all of my other windows to change to a light blue color (IE10, explorer, other programs, etc). (See attachments)

 

[LRME20]

this is the "before picture".

It's like it is allowing Windows to change my visualization preferences even though I have turned that ability off in system preferences...

 

[JohnRBaker]

I can't reproduce it on my system. Have you called GTAC on this yet?

BTW, have you tried using the NX Theme named 'Light Gray' yet? It might provide you some eye-refief from the pure white scheme.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

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

 

[Toost]

Yes-no, the option to change the NX fonts isn't really new, It might though be different than before . See attached image.
This is NX 7.5 with a weird font selected in Windows.


Regards,
Tomas

 

[LRME20]

I have not contacted GTAC yet, but I suppose I will try that next.

I tried the "Light Grey" scheme, but I like the "Classic" scheme better. The NX9 window is fine, it is just annoying that it changes all of my other windows that are open! Thanks for your help!