View & Display Options

Most display options are available from the View menu. Additional mouse and trackpad gestures can be used to zoom and navigate the editor.

Zoom and Navigation

Zooming

Zoom in or out using ⌘+ and ⌘−, the mouse touch surface, or a pinch gesture on a trackpad.

Panning

Pan around the editor by right-clicking and dragging with the mouse, or by sliding two fingers on a trackpad.

Zoom to Fit

Adjust the zoom to fit the entire mechanism in the editor.


Grid and Measurements

Grid

Displays evenly spaced grid lines behind the contents of the editor to help with positioning and alignment.

Grid Size

Set the horizontal and vertical spacing for the grid.

Units

Select Inches, Millimeters, or Meters as the units for the current mechanism.

Tip: Grid spacing and other measurement values use the units selected for the current mechanism.

Auto Dimensions

Show or hide the automatically generated dimensions for all elements in the mechanism.

The Linkage window

A mechanism with the grid and automatic dimensions visible.


Showing and Hiding Content

Labels

Show or hide labels and annotations that identify elements in the editor.

Show Mechanism

Show or hide the mechanical components of the mechanism, including links, connectors, gears, and other moving parts.

Show Drawing

Show or hide drawing elements such as lines, points, splines, and measurements.

Show Background

Show or hide the mechanism's background image without removing it from the document.


Hints

Show or hide visual guides that indicate how selected elements will be positioned when using alignment and arrangement commands.

Hints example

Hints for four selected connectors


Video Area

Show or hide the boundary of the area captured when exporting a video.


Window Layout

Show Status Bar

Show or hide the status bar at the bottom of the editor window.

Show Sidebar

Show or hide the sidebar on the side of the editor window.

Sidebar Panel

Select which of the various sidebar panels is visible in the sidebar.