General  

 
 

This page deals with the following categories of options in the General tab:
 

Ruler  
 
 

Show ruler

Select this option to display the ruler in your sheet. It means you visualize the cursor coordinates as you are drawing. 

By default, this option is not selected.
 

Grid  
 
 

Display

Select this option to display the grid in your session. Note that this option is also available via the Tools toolbar.

By default, this option is selected.

Snap to point

Select this option if you want geometry (as well as 2D components) to begin or end on the various intersection points of the grid. Note that this option is also available via the Tools toolbar.

By default, this option is selected.
From V5 R15 onwards, this option no longer applies to annotations.
Now, only the Snap by default (SHIFT toggles) setting is used to specify whether snapping should be activated by default for annotations. For more information, refer to Annotation and Dress-up.
 

Allow Distortions

Select this option to apply different graduations and spacing between H and V.

By default, this option is not selected.

Primary spacing: H & V

The Primary spacing field lets you define the spacing between the major lines of the grid. To define your grid, enter the values of your choice in the H and/or V fields.

By default, primary spacing is set to 100 mm.

Graduations / H & V

The Graduations field lets you set the number of graduations between the major lines of the grid, which actually defines a secondary grid. To define your grid, enter the values of your choice in the H and/or V fields.

By default, graduations are set to 10.
 

Colors (for pre-V5R14 drawings)  
 
  These options apply to drawings created with versions prior to V5R14. For drawings created with V5R14 onwards, sheet and detail background colors are defined in the standard file, in the node Sheet colors of under the General node.

Sheet background

Choose the color that will be used for the sheet background.

By default, the color is white.

Detail background

Choose the color that will be used for the background of 2D components.

By default, the color is white.

Graduated color

If you want the sheet background and/or the detail (i.e. 2D component) background to be graduated, select the associated box.

By default, these options are not selected.
 

Tree

 
 

Display parameters

Select this option to display in the specification tree the formula parameters used in the drawing.

By default, this option is selected.

Display relations

Select this option to display in the specification tree the relation parameters used in the drawing.

By default, this option is selected.

Display features under views

Select this option to display in the specification tree the representation for fixed elements, 2D component instances, and use-edges (in case of 2D Layout) used in the drawing. Under these nodes individual representation of objects (fixed elements, 2D component instances and use-edge with details of type of projection) are displayed.

By default, this option is not selected.
 

View axis

 
 

Display in the current view

Select this option if you want the view axis to be displayed when you activate a view.

By default, this option is selected.

Zoomable

Select this option if you want to be able to zoom view axes (as you can do with geometry).

By default, this option is selected.

Reference size

Enter the size that you want to use as a reference to display view axes size.

By default, the reference size is 30 mm.
 

Start Workbench  
 

Hide new dialog box when starting workbench

Select this option if you want to hide the New Drawing dialog box (in the case of Drafting) and the New Layout dialog box (in the case of 2D Layout for 3D Design) when you start the workbench.

By default, this option is not selected.
 

Paper Unit  
 

Length

The Paper Unit specifies a unit for parameters depending on the sheet scale.

Note that when the view scale is modified, these parameters are not modified accordingly. For example, the distance between a dimension and its geometry is always computed according to the sheet scale, and not according to the view scale.

Example of parameters using the Paper Unit are:

  • Distance between a dimension line and its geometry

  • Dimensions line-up

  • Font size
    (however, note that the view scale can be applied to a font size by selecting the Apply Scale option from the Properties dialog box, Text tab, Options area)

  • etc.

The Paper Unit can be set in Millimeter (mm), Centimeter (cm) or Inch (in).

By default, Millimeter (mm) is selected.