1.7 Customizing the GUI
The GUI allows several levels of customization, ranging from a simple change in the sizes of the GUI and the areas in it to a more complex change in the menu hierarchy and design of the dialog boxes. GUI attributes which can be changed include the following items: 1.7.1 Changing the GUI Layout
The ANSYS toolbar, Main Menu, and Graphics Window, as well as the overall size of the GUI can be resized. To resize the areas in the GUI, drag one of the borders around the areas of the GUI while holding down the left mouse button.
In order to change the overall size of the GUI, position the mouse on one of the corners of the GUI and drag it diagonally toward the center of the GUI while holding down the left mouse button. GUI size settings can be saved by selecting Utility Menu> MenuCtrls> Save Menu Layout.
1.7.2 Changing Colors and Fonts
The system-level fonts determine the default ANSYS GUI font component. ANSYS uses the fonts that are set at the Display Properties system level. The fonts in the ANSYS GUI are based on the system font settings. Use the Utility Menu> MenuCtrls> Font dialog to modify the GUI fonts. Once these settings are changed, use the Utility Menu> MenuCtrls> Save Menu Layout to save the settings. The saved settings will override the system fonts and become the ANSYS default.
The Main Menu fonts can also be modified by using the “right mouse button” - preferences function. At this level, specific fonts and colors are set in the Main Menu at a functional level. The analyst can change the overall fonts, and change the colors according to the progressive level as s/he opens the nested menu items.
1.7.3 Changing the GUI Components Shown at Start-Up
By default, the main areas of the GUI (Utility Menu, Main Menu, Standard Toolbar, ANSYS Toolbar, Input Window, Graphics Window, and Output Window) display when the GUI is activated.
1.7.4 Changing the Mouse and Keyboard Focus
The ANSYS program uses the concept of input focus to determine which window on the screen is active; that is, which window receives input from the mouse and the keyboard. A window may have implicit focus (also known as pointer focus), in which case moving the mouse pointer into that window makes it active. With explicit focus, it is necessary to move the pointer into the window and click the left button for that window to be active.
The ANSYS GUI also gives automatic keyboard focus to the Input Window. This means a command can be entered without first moving the mouse into the Input Window. If a dialog box is brought up, then keyboard focus is automatically redirected to it so the analyst can enter data without moving the mouse. This feature is sometimes called the hot keyboard feature.