Chapter 1 Introduction to Autodesk Inventor - Goodheart-Willcox

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Figure 1-26. The browser bar contains information regarding the objects in a model or drawing. The browser in this figure is associated with a part file that contains two sketched features and a placed feature. Many of the items displayed in the browser are arranged in a tree structure, which contains parent nodes and child nodes. A sketched feature is an example of a parent node. The sketch from which the feature was created is the associated child node. The Origin folder is another example of a parent node. To display child nodes, pick the Expand button (+ symbol) to the left of the object name or right-click on the object name and select Expand All Children. To hide child nodes, pick the Collapse button (– symbol) to the left of the object name or right-click on the object name and select Collapse All Children. When AutoCAD is configured to display a screen menu, the commands appear in a separate screen. Using the Status Bar Pick to collapse the branch Pick to expand the branch The Origin folder contains planes, axes, and a center point to position and orient geometry Parent node Child node NOTE The browser can be moved and resized, and it can be docked or fl oat in the graphics window. The status bar is located along the bottom of the Inventor window. See Figure 1-27. The status bar is divided into panes that display and control a variety of drawing aids and tools. The left side of the status bar provides information about a tool option by displaying a help string. For example, if you highlight New... in the File pull-down menu, the help string in the status bar is Create a new document. When you access the Line tool to sketch a line, the help string is Select start of line, drag off endpoint for tangent arc. Figure 1-27. The status bar displayed when a part file is open. Help string Sketch resources Number of occurrences Number of open documents Displays memory usage Pick to access the Communication Center parent node: An item in the tree structure, similar to a folder, that is associated with subordinate child nodes. child node: Subordinate nodes that create, are associated with, or are consumed by a parent node item. help string: A short text description of what happens if you select a tool or option over which the cursor is hovering; or, if a tool is selected, a prompt indicating the appropriate action. Chapter 1 Introduction to Autodesk Inventor 23 dialog box: A window-like part of the user interface that contains various kinds of information and settings. The items on the right side of the status bar include a coordinate display field or sketch constraint information, number of occurrences in the document, number of open documents, memory usage, and a link to the Communication Center. Status bar items appropriate to basic Inventor functions are described when applicable throughout this textbook. Using Dialog Boxes Pick any menu selection or button displaying an ellipsis (…) to activate a dialog box. See Figure 1-28. The cursor is used to set variables and select items in a dialog box. In addition, many dialog boxes include images, previews, or other methods to help you select appropriate options. When you pick a button in a dialog box that is followed by an ellipsis, another dialog box appears. You must make a selection from the second dialog box before you can return to the original dialog box. A button with an arrow icon requires you to make a selection in the drawing area. Figure 1-28. Pick a menu option or tool button that includes an ellipsis (…) to display a dialog box. Tabs Preview box Check box Radio button Edit box Command button Ellipsis indicates a dialog box is available Drop-down list This dialog box appears when Print... is picked 24 Inventor and Its Applications 2009
Web site Supplemental Material Features of Dialog Boxes Dialog boxes contain many of the same features found in other interface items, including icons, text, buttons, and flyouts. For more information about these features, go to the Student Web site (www.g-wlearning. com/CAD/InventorApps2009) and select Chapter 1 in the Chapter Materials drop-down list. In the Supplemental Material section, select Features of Dialog Boxes. Identifying Tooltips Many buttons found in toolbars, the panel bar, and dialog boxes provide tooltips to help you understand and recognize the button. Figure 1-29 shows the tooltip for the Open button on the Inventor Standard toolbar. The tooltip tells you that the button you see activates the Open tool. Web site Web site Figure 1-29. Place the cursor over a button to reveal the button name as a tooltip. Exercise 1-6 Access the Student Web site (www.g-wlearning.com/CAD/InventorApps2009), select Chapter 1 from the Chapter Materials drop-down list, and select and complete Exercise 1-6. Supplemental Material Using the Customize Dialog Box The Customize dialog box is a basic tool for customizing the Inventor interface. It can be used to define settings for the work environment, toolbars, and tools. For more information on using the Customize dialog box, go to the Student Web site (www.g-wlearning.com/CAD/InventorApps2009) and select Chapter 1 in the Chapter Materials drop-down list. In the Supplemental Material section, select Using the Customize Dialog Box. Tooltip for the Open button tooltip: A small text box that displays when you hover over a button, giving information about the function of the button. Chapter 1 Introduction to Autodesk Inventor 25 multiple document interface: An interface that allows you to have several documents or document views open at the same time. Also called multiple design interface. Managing Multiple Documents You can use individual file Window Control pull-down menus and the Windows pull-down menu to manage the multiple document interface. The Window Control pull-down menu for an Inventor file is accessed by picking the Inventor file icon. If the file window is maximized, the Window Control pull-down menu is located to the left of the pull-down menu bar. If the file window is restored or minimized, the Window Control pull-down menu is located in the graphics window to the left of the file menu bar. The menu options available when you select a file icon function much like program window control menu options. However, when you restore, move, size, minimize, maximize, or close a file window, the operation affects only the file window, not the entire program. The Next option allows you to toggle among multiple open files. The Window pull-down menu, shown in Figure 1-30, contains options for controlling the multiple document interface. Pick the New Window option to create a new window for the active file. Additional windows enable you to have several design views open and accessible at once. The Cascade option arranges all windows in a cascading fashion. See Figure 1-31A. The Arrange All option arranges all windows in a way that shows each window in its entirety. See Figure 1-31B. The names of all currently open documents are displayed at the bottom of the Window pull-down menu. Refer again to Figure 1-30. The file name with a check mark next to it is currently the active window. To make a different window active, pick its file name. Web site Figure 1-30. Use the Window pull-down menu to create a new window, position the current windows, and view the list of open files. A check appears next to the active file. Exercise 1-7 Access the Student Web site (www.g-wlearning.com/CAD/InventorApps2009), select Chapter 1 from the Chapter Materials drop-down list, and select and complete Exercise 1-7. Currently active document This window was created when the New Window option was selected while Frame.ipt was active Currently open documents 26 Inventor and Its Applications 2009
Page 1 and 2: This sample chapter is for review p
Page 3 and 4: Web site Exercise 1-1 Access the St
Page 5 and 6: Figure 1-12. Work features are used
Page 7 and 8: When AutoCAD is configured to displ
Page 9 and 10: Figure 1-19. Common interface terms
Page 11: Using the Panel Bar The panel bar,
Page 15 and 16: Figure 1-33. The Autodesk Inventor

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