Basic Screen Menu Layout

Basic Screen Menu Layout

PRIMER runs within a single window, owned by the window manager, which has several sub-windows inside it. A typical PRIMER session will look like this:

The various sub-windows always exist within the master window, and may be moved and resized at will inside it. They will keep their relative size and position as the master window is changed in size and/or shape, and will reappear after the main window is de-iconised.

The default layout of the main sub-windows is as follows:

These windows cannot be dismissed. A brief description of their functions is:

• "Top menus" This is included in the same window as the Graphics area. It allows access to some of the basic options.
• "Quick Pick control" controls the mouse action when applied within the graphics area.
• "Graphics area" Is where graphics are drawn.
• "Tools" This menu provides access to many different functions available in PRIMER .
• "Keywords"This provides access to all the Keywords supported by PRIMER .
• "Menu Tabs" These control which option is displayed in the current menu panel. Model and Part Tree will always be available in addition to selected options.
• "Current Menu Panel" Displays the menu for the option currently selected by the menu tabs.
• "Dialogue & list" Allows "command-line" input and output, also provides a listing area for messages.
• "Viewing and Drawing Commands" provides all aspects of view control: direction, perspective, scale, etc and contains the drawing commands and their settings.

While you are free to re-position these master windows it is recommended that you keep to this default layout. This is because when further sub-windows appear their position and size is designed assuming this layout, and aims to obscure as little useful information as possible. The TIDY command in the "Viewing and Drawing" box will restore the screen layout to this default state.