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Working with the graphics palettes

The Graphics palettes are a collection of dockable panes that define what is displayed in the Graphics view.

Each Graphics palette includes a toolbar offering options that relate to the palette. All toolbars offer the Lock image update command. When Lock image update is set no updating of the image in the current Graphic view occurs; unsetting Lock image update causes the image to be regenerated picking up all the changes to the graphic settings that have been applied. Rotating, zooming or panning the view unsets Lock image update. This feature is useful for large models which take a significant time to update the view.

Graphics display palette​

The Graphics display palette provides quick access to a frequently used subset of Graphic view settings.

The Graphics display palette toolbar offers:

  • Lock image update: (See above)
  • Wizard: Opens the Graphics settings dialog.
  • Reset display adornments: Resets the Graphics settings to the current defaults.

Right-clicking on a field displays a context menu offering the settings dialog for that field, where appropriate.

Entity display palette​

The Entity display palette provides a convenient way of specifying the entities that are to be displayed in the current Graphic view in terms of saved lists, grid surfaces, properties, etc. The categories are offered as branches on a tree control. The selected item is applied to the Display List for the current Graphic view.

The Entity display palette toolbar offers:

  • Lock image update: (See above)
  • Highlight mode: When set the entities selected in the tree control are highlighted in the Graphic view
  • Check boxes: When set the tree control is displayed with check boxes against each item to allow multiple selection.
  • Reset to all entities: Resets the Display list to to 'all' and clears all volumes.

Right-clicking on an item displays a context menu offering options to open the definition dialog, to select all entities with that item set, and to display the properties for the item in the Message pane, where appropriate.

Label Palette​

The Label Palette provides a convenient way of switching label options on and off in the current Graphic view.

The Label palette toolbar offers:

  • Lock image update: (See above)
  • Hide Labels: When set all labels are removed from the display in the current Graphic view, without adjusting the labelling settings. Unsetting Hide labels re-displays the labels.
  • Reset labels: Resets all labelling settings to default.
  • Labels and display methods: Opens the Labels and display methods dialog.
  • Apply adornments to selection: When set, labels are applied to the current selection only.

Contour palette​

The Contour palette provides a convenient way of setting contours in the current Graphic view.

The Contour palette toolbar offers:

  • Lock image update: (See above)
  • Hide Contours: When set contours are removed from the display in the current Graphic view, without adjusting the contouring settings. Unsetting Hide contours re-displays the contours.
  • Reset contours: Resets contour settings.
  • Layer combo: Sets the output layer for 2D element stress contours.
  • Contour settings: Opens the Contour settings dialog.
  • Apply adornments to selection: When set contours are applied to the current selection only.

Diagram palette​

The Diagram palette provides a convenient way of setting diagrams in the current Graphic view.

The Diagram palette toolbar offers:

  • Lock image update (See above)
  • Hide Diagrams: When set diagrams are removed from the display in the current Graphic view, without adjusting the diagram settings. Unsetting 'Hide Diagrams' re-displays the diagrams.
  • Reset diagrams: Resets diagram settings.
  • Layer combo: Sets the output layer for 2D element stress diagrams.
  • Diagram settings: Opens the Diagram settings dialog.
  • Apply adornments to selection: When set diagrams are applied to the current selection only.