VX
Configuration Form 
Utilities 
Configuration... (All Levels)
Use this form to modify the default VX system configuration.
Some configuration
changes may require VX to restart. If
so, your data will be saved to a temporary location while the restart
occurs. You
will then be returned to your active session.
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 proximity tolerance (mm)
This sets the proximity tolerance in millimeters used to initialize new objects.
Maximum undo/redo
This sets the maximum number of undo/redo transactions that can be logged during the active session.
Compact undo/redo
When chunks of undo-redo data get big (e.g., edit a large point cloud), they are stored 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
File locks created by a particular
instance of VX are cleared when that instance of VX is shut down. A
file may be "manually" locked or unlocked using the "Lock"
switch on the "File/Properties" form.
When you open a file locked by
another instance of VX, you are warned that the file is locked by someone
else are given an option to pull a complete copy of the file in memory
so that your edits are not lost if the original file is overwritten while
you are trying to work with it. If
you do not pull a complete copy of the original file into memory, your
session can be corrupted if someone overwrites the original file while
you are referencing it.
If a file is overwritten by another
user while you are using it, VX gives a warning message and automatically
bumps you out of the file. You
then have to remove the file from your session (File/Manage
Session/Clear File Edits) and re-open it -- or run the "File/Manage
Session/Synchronize Files" command -- or clear
the session and start over. In
any of these cases, you lose changes made to the file in your active session.
If you try to overwrite a file
locked by another instance of VX, you are warned that the file is locked
by someone else and are given an opportunity to override the lock or to
save the file under a different name.
The "File/Properties" locking mechanism is a warning system rather than a rigorous system of file security. One user can easily override another user's lock. This is done at your own risk and presumes you are coordinating with other people using the file. VX PDM should be used for stricter control of files.
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.
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Backup 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.
Backup 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.
Merge shapes before operation
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.
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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.
Part datum
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.
Default part filter settings
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."
Sheet 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.
Use this tab to control the background displayed within the VX graphics window.
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, and Fixed 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.
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.
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Display edges in shaded mode
Display face edges during Shaded Display mode. The edges are displayed using the same color as their parent face.
Options
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.
Menu 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).
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.
Mold base 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.
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.
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.
