Browser Context-Sensitive Menu

The Browser context sensitive pop-up menu offers a variety of operation choices which are relevant to the entity and context.

These options allow you to quickly expand or collapse system/entity folders, save model and assembly files, add assemblies/systems, add entities to containers, rename, activate/deactivate, copy and paste, or delete entities, and view various model information. You can access the context sensitive menu options by clicking the right mouse button on a folder, entity/item, blank space, or column header within the browser.

The visibility of browser context menu items is dependent on the current selection. Only menu items belonging to the type of selected items will appear. Options selected in an empty space apply to the entire model. Click on the items below to see the specific context menu options available for each selection:

Model Folder

System Folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

"Entity" folder (Body folder, Point folder, etc.)

"Entity" (Point, Joint, etc.)

Multiple Bodies

Empty Space

Column heading

Option	Description		Available for
Expand All	Fully expands all levels of the browser tree structure to show all items nested in the hierarchy.		Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External) "Entity" Empty space
Collapse All	Fully collapses all levels of the browser tree structure to show only the root-level model (system) entity in the hierarchy.		Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External) "Entity" Empty space

Expand All Children	Expands selected parent system (or folder container) to show all of its child entities. Opens all of the child entity folders (children), exposing every item nested at every level under the selected system folder (only).		Model folder System folder "Entity" folder
Collapse All Children	Collapses all child entities to show the parent system (or entity container) for the selected entity (or entities). Closes all of the child entity folders (children), so that only the top-most level is displayed for the selected system folder.		Model folder System folder "Entity" folder

Filter Using Entity Selector Type	Allow you to control what types of entities will be displayed in the project browser tree. When toggled on, the filtering is driven through the entity selector instead of the browser. The view will be filtered according to the currently active entity type selected on the toolbar (for example, Points, Bodies, Joints, etc.). Note: All 'Show…' filter methods will not be accessible while this option is enabled. Unchecking this option immediately removes all filtering (equivalent to the Show All Objects state).		Model folder System folder Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External) "Entity" folder "Entity" Empty space
Show All Objects	Removes all entity-based filter(s) so that all objects will be displayed in the browser. Note: This option is not available when the Filter Using Toolbar option is active.		Model folder System folder Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External) "Entity" folder "Entity" Empty space
Show Systems/Assemblies Only	Browser content is filtered to show only System or Assembly entity types.		System folder Assembly placeholder Assembly
Show Analyses Only	Browser content is filtered to show only the Analysis entity type.		Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External)
Show "Entity" Only	Browser content is filtered to show only the selected "Entity". Note: More than one type of entity may be filtered simultaneously (for example, joints and points).		"Entity" folder "Entity"

Save	Opens the Save dialog that will allow you to save a file in the .mdl file format.		Model folder Assembly Analysis (External)
Save As	Opens the Save As dialog that will allow you to save a file in the .mdl file format.		Model folder Assembly Analysis (External)

Select Object and Dependents	Allows you to select the object and all of its dependent entities with one click. This also works on the entity folder and selects all of the entities in that folder as well as their dependents.		"Entity" folder "Entity"
Add "Entity"	Opens the Add "Entity" dialog, allowing you to add an entity to the system or model definition. The name of the dialog changes depending on the entity type selected (for example, Add Body or BodyPair or Add Surface). The icon for this menu button indicates the type of entity to be added.		"Entity" folder Entity
Add > System/ Assembly	Opens the Add System/Assembly dialog wizard, which allows you to either add a new System, or add an Assembly. When adding an Assembly there are three options: Existing Data File, New Data File, and Specify Data File later (also known as an Assembly Placeholder).		Model folder Assembly Analysis (External)
Add > System	Opens the Add System dialog wizard, allowing you to add a new System to an existing system or inlined analysis.		System folder Analysis (Inline)
Add > Analysis	Allows you to add new analysis to your model, modify attachments, set initial conditions for an analysis, and set analysis options.		Model folder
Add > ...	Allows modeling entities to be added to a model, system, assembly, or analysis. Sub-menus residing below the top level Add menu, include the following:
	Reference Entity >	Allows you to add: Point Body Vector Marker Curve Graphic Surface Deformable Curve Deformable Surface	Model folder System folder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External)
	Constraint >	Allows you to add: Joint Motion Coupler Gear Advanced Joint	Model folder System folder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External)
	Force Entity >	Allows you to add: Force Bushing Field Spring Damper Beam Polybeam Contact	Model folder System folder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External)
	Control Entity >	Allows you to add: Solver Variable Solver Array Solver String Solver Differential Equation Control SISO Sensor	Model folder System folder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External)
	General MDL Entity >	Allows you to add: Output Dataset Template Response Variable	Model folder System folder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External)

Reload All Curves	Reloads all of the curve data present in the system.		System folder Curves folder
Reload Curve	Reloads the data for selected curve.		Curve entity

Show All	Displays all objects in the modeling window.
Hide Selected	Hides the selected objects in the modeling window.
Isolate	Displays only the selected objects, turning their display state to on, and turning all other entities off. When isolating Joints, SpringDampers, Bushings, Force, and Markers, the bodies associated with such entities are also displayed.
Reverse Displayed	Reverses the objects that are displayed in the modeling window
Reverse Selection	Reverses the selected objects.

Cut	Cuts the selected systems or entities from the browser tree. No confirmation pop-up dialog will appear. Items that have been cut from the model may be reinserted by using the Paste option on an appropriate System.		Model folder System folder Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External) "Entity" folder "Entity"
Copy	Copies the selected systems or entities from the browser tree. No confirmation pop-up dialog will appear. Items that have been copied from the model may be reinserted by using the Paste option on an appropriate System.		Model folder System folder Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External) "Entity" folder "Entity"
Paste	Paste puts any (previously cut) entities back into the browser tree at the selected hierarchical location. It is important to note that the Paste operation is not valid and is disabled/'grayed-out' in the "Entity" and "Entity" folder context menus. Container folders will be automatically generated, as needed, in order to accommodate the pasted entities. Any entities pasted more than once will have their varname(s) assigned automatically to ensure that they are unique.		Model folder System folder Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External)
Delete	Deletes the selected systems or entities from the model and removes them from the browser tree. A pop-up dialog to confirm the delete operation will appear to prevent accidental deletion of items. If Global entities (such as a Ground Body or Global Origin point) are included in the selection, they will be ignored and will not be deleted. Tip: The DELETE keyboard shortcut can also be used to delete the selected item(s). Note: Use the Shift+Delete keys to delete without confirmation.		Model folder System folder Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External) "Entity" folder "Entity"

Activate > Selected	Activates a previously "deactivated" item or selection of multiple items. Note: The icon for a "deactivated" item has a dimmed appearance in the browser tree.		System folder Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External) "Entity" folder "Entity"
Activate > Selected and Dependents	Activates the selected deactivated items along with its dependent entities. For example, a deactivated body can be activated along with joints that are defined on the body.
Activate > Selected and References	Allows you to activate the selected deactivated object(s) and all other deactivated objects that are used as references by the selected object(s) with one click. This also works on the entity folder, for example it activates all of the entities in that folder as well as their references		"Entity" folder "Entity"
Deactivate > Selected Only	Deactivates the selected item or items. The dependent entities will still be active. The browser icon for the deactivated item becomes 'dimmed' in appearance.		System folder Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External) "Entity" folder "Entity"
Deactivate > Selected and Dependents	Allows you to deactivate the selected object(s) and all other objects that are using the selected object(s) as references with one click. This also works on the entity folder, for example it deactivates all of the entities in that folder as well as their dependents.		"Entity" folder "Entity"
Change Label	Allows you to rename/change the label for a single system/entity. After a new name has been provided, use the ENTER key to complete the rename operation. To abort/cancel the rename operation at any time during data entry, use the ESC key (or click somewhere away from the data entry field). Tip: The F2 keyboard shortcut can also be used to invoke the rename data entry field.		Model folder System folder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External) "Entity"
Show Label	Display the label for the selected entity in the modeling window.		"Entity"
Show Labels	Display the labels for the selected entity folder in the modeling window.		"Entity" folder
Hide Label	Hide the label for the selected entity in the modeling window.		"Entity"
Hide Labels	Hides the labels for the selected entity folder in the modeling window.		"Entity" folder
Change Varname	Allows you to rename/change the variable name for a single system/entity. After a new name has been provided, use the ENTER key to complete the rename operation. To abort/cancel the rename operation at any time during data entry, use the ESC key (or click somewhere away from the data entry field).		"Entity"
Topology View	Displays an entity, system or a model in a schematic form to study the topological connectivity it has with other entities within or outside of its parent system. Refer to the Topology View topic for additional information.		Model folder System Assembly Analysis "Entity" folder Body Joint Bushing SpringDamper Beam Beam
Merge Bodies	Allows you to merge two or more rigid bodies. Refer to the Merging Bodies topic for additional information.		Multiple Body Entities
Ground	Allows you to change the selected rigid body to a grounded state.		Body
Make Designable...	Allows you to declare entity data-members as designable. These design variables could be used to perform an optimization using MotionSolve via the Optimization Wizard, or as parameters for a MotionSolve FMU generated from the MotionView model (designable FMU). See the MotionSolve Models as a Functional Mockup Unit (FMU) topic for additional information. Currently supported entities are: Points, Bodies (Rigid and Point Mass), Springs, Bushings, Forces, and Datasets. Depending on the type of entity that is chosen (before invoking the context menu), the Design Variable dialog box (as shown below) will list various tabs filtering each type of entity. To add a design variable using an existing point in the model, select the Points tab, then select the Point entity and choose the required datamember(s) from the right side of the dialog, and then press the "Add" button. Figure 13.		"Entity"
Select Assembly	Opens the Select Assembly dialog wizard that will allow for swapping out the current assembly for a different one. If the assembly placeholder has a type specified, it will only be possible to choose that type of assembly.		Assembly placeholder
Reselect Assembly	Opens the Reselect Assembly dialog wizard that will allow for swapping out the current assembly for a different one. If the assembly placeholder has a type specified, it will only be possible to choose that type of assembly.		Assembly
Apply Attachment Candidates	Processes all containers selected (including their children containers) and automatically chooses attachments, where candidates are available as attachments. If there is any ambiguity in selecting an attachment, a pop-up dialog appears allowing the ambiguity to be resolved. Requires usage of Attachment Candidates. See the Container Entities topic for additional information.		Model folder System folder Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External)
Show Shared Instances	Applicable for definition based entities (such as: Systems, Analysis, Datasets, etc.) that share their definition with other instances. Lists other instances that share the same definition as the entity listed under the Definition column. Refer to the Manage Shared Definitions topic for additional information.		DataSets Forms Templates CommandSets Systems GraphicSystems Analysis (Inline)
Separate Definition	Applicable for definition based entities (such as: Systems, Analysis, Datasets, etc.) that share their definition with other instances. Creates a new definition for the selected entity, thereby separating it from the definition that is shared with the other instances.		DataSets Forms Templates CommandSets Systems GraphicSystems Analysis (Inline)

Optimization Wizard	Opens the Optimization Wizard, allowing you to optimize multibody systems. See the Optimization with MotionView and MotionSolve topic for additional information.		Model folder

Add Auto Entity	Opens the Add Auto Entity dialog, allowing you to add an auto entity to the model definition. Note: This option is only available when the "MBD Vehicle Dynamics Tools" preference file is loaded.		Model folder
Add Events	Opens the Add Events dialog, allowing you to add an event to the model definition. Note: This option is only available when the "MBD Vehicle Dynamics Tools" preference file is loaded.		Model folder

Data Summary	Displays the Data Summary dialog for the selected item(s) so that the entity type may be inspected in a tabular format. The Data Summary menu button will be disabled (or 'grayed-out') for those entity types that are not supported within the Data Summary table.		Model folder System folder Assembly placeholder Assembly Analysis (Inline) Analysis (External)

Find	Displays the Find Dialog.		All folders and entities.

Python Script	Displays the Python Script dialog. Tip: The F8 keyboard shortcut can also be used to invoke the Python Script dialog.
Python Window	Launches the Python Console. Tip: The Ctrl+Shift+P keyboard shortcut can also be used to invoke the Python Command Window.

Varname	Allows you to show/hide the Varname column. The varname of an entity is commonly used when constructing parametric expressions or when debugging models.		Column heading only.
ID	Allows you to show/hide the ID column. When enabled, the column displays the current solver ID for all applicable entities. Pair IDs are shown comma-separated (0,0). Note: You can use the use Check Model tool to generate non-zero ID values.		Column heading only.
Definition	Allows you to show/hide the Definition column. This column displays the definition name for definition based entities such as: System, Assembly, Analysis, DataSets, Templates, Forms, and CommandSets.		Column heading only.
Color	Allows you to show or hide the Color column. When enabled, the color for an entity or a system can be specified by clicking on the color icon and making a selection from the Colors/Materials dialog. When the color of a system is changed, the new color 'cascades down' having an effect on the colors of its children; the colors are updated in both the browser (icons) and in the graphics window. Similarly, changing the color of the 'Model' will effect the color of all systems, as well as their children, therefore this feature should be used with caution.		Column heading only.
Mesh	Allows you to show/hide the Mesh column. When enabled, the mesh and shading attributes for the selected entities can be set by clicking on the mesh icon and making a selection from the Mesh/Shade dialog. The icons in the Mesh column are updated to reflect the settings for a given entity.		Column heading only.

All On	Enables the visibility of all available column headers (Varname, ID, Definition, Color, or Mesh).		Column heading only.
All Off	Disables the visibility of all column headers (except the Objects column, which cannot be turned off).		Column heading only.

Finding Entities in the Browser

The Browser is equipped with the ability to search for entities. There are two methods that can be used to search for entities: