T-FLEX Parametric CAD. Fundamentals. 2D Design

Fundamentals. Two-Dimensional Design
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The control elements “Static text”, “Frame” and “Group Box” are not related to any variables and are used
for making a clear dialog layout and providing hints.
Static Text is a text string positioned in the specified area of the dialog box.
Frame is a rectangular frame or rectangular area of the specified color. By default, this is a black frame or a
rectangle of the background color.
Group Box is a frame with a text aligned with the top border of the box.
The two last elements are used for enhancing and structuring the visual appearance of control elements in the
dialog box. Other visual means can also be used for this purpose.
Other elements – “Edit Box”, “Button”, “Combo Box”, “Check Box”, “Radio Button”, “Preview” - are
related to variables or the model pages and is intended for manipulating those in certain ways.
Edit Box is a rectangular field for editing the value of the variables associated with this box. Edit box is used
for variables without lists of predefined values. It is possible to work in a mode when the displayed value
cannot be edited (in this case, in the Edit Box field the value of the connected to this field variable will be
shown but this value will not be possible to modify).
Button. A button defines the sequence of actions performed upon pressing it. Such actions can be:
- Activate Page (show contents of the specified page in the current dialog box);
- Open Dialog Box (displays the dialog box contained on the specified page, in a new window);
- Set Variable Value (assigns the specified value to the selected variable);
- Regenerate 3D Model;
- Run Macro (a macro is a program written in some programming language using T-FLEX CAD API
functions. See the “Macros” chapter for details or creating and working with macros).
Combo Box is a rectangular field with a pulldown list button on the right. A combo box is used for
modifying a variable value when there is a predefined list of values. The element parameters define
whether it is possible to edit the input value.
Check Box switches between the two values of the selected variable. The particular value depends on the
check box state.
Radio Button switches between the variable values defined in the radio group parameters. Radio buttons can
be conveniently used for variables with several fixed choices of values. (In the case of just two choices,
“Check Box” can be used instead.) In this case, a radio group of switches is created for the variable, each
representing one of its values.
The custom dialogs allow creation of “Preview” controls. Such an
element allows displaying a preview pane for a page per the specified
fixing factor in the dialog box for editing the fragment external variables.
Preview is not available in the dialogs called by the command
"Parameters|Model".
When creating a dialog box, besides the control elements proper, you can use any drawing elements: nodes,
construction lines, images, pictures, etc. Construction lines and nodes are not displayed as part of the dialog
box window, however, those can be used for precise positioning of control elements when creating
complicated dialogs.
Graphic elements and pictures can be used as additional detailing elements in the dialog box along with the
standard control elements, such as “Frame”, “Group Box”, “Static Text”. Those elements can be used, for