Customize work environments in Autodesk Inventor LT

When you install Autodesk Inventor LT, a default ribbon, browsers, marking menu, and tools are available for each environment. You select the type of environment you want to work in when you create a file or open an existing one.

Each environment has a set of default user interface items. You can customize an environment in the following ways:

  • Change the order of ribbon tabs. Click the tab you want to move, drag it to the appropriate position, and release.
  • Create a custom panel for each of the ribbon tabs. Right-click any command on tab, and choose Customize User Commands. In the dialog box, add a command. The command displays on a User Commands panel.
  • Make additional panels available on a tab. Right-click the ribbon, and select Panels. You can use the same workflow to remove panels from view.
  • Switch on large icons.
  • Display the ribbon without text.
  • Display the marking menus without text or icons.
  • Add custom keyboard shortcuts or modify the default shortcuts.
  • Add custom command aliases or modify the default aliases.
  • Replace default marking menu commands with commands that you choose.
  • Delete commands from the marking menu.

You can save your customized ribbon, keyboard, and marking menu settings into a single XML file. Then restore them after you install a new version of Autodesk Inventor LT using the Customize dialog box.

For more information on customizing the ribbon commands, refer to The Ribbon

 

Procedures

Save or restore customization settings

After customizing keyboard command aliases and shortcuts, as well as custom ribbon panels and marking menus, you can save the customized settings in an .xml file format. You can restore the customized settings. For example, you can restore your settings after installing a new release of Autodesk Inventor LT.

To save customization settings

  1. Click Tools tabOptions panel Customize.
  2. Change the command aliases or shortcuts.
  3. Click Export. The Export Customization Settings dialog box is displayed.
  4. Navigate to the folder where you want to save the settings. You can create a folder, if necessary.
  5. Enter a file name, and then click Save.

To restore customization settings

  1. Click Tools tabOptions panel Customize.
  2. Click Import. A dialog box is displayed.
    NoteClose all Autodesk Inventor LT files before importing your settings
  3. Click Yes to load the customized settings.

Add symbols to prompted entries

 

A prompted entry prompts you for an entry when this property is defined in a title block, border, or sketched symbol. In addition to text, you can add a character, such as a diameter symbol to a prompted entry.

  1. On the taskbar, click Start Programs Accessories System Tools Character Map.

    The Microsoft Windows Character Map dialog box displays.

  2. Double-click the appropriate symbol.
  3. Click Copy, and then paste the value cell in the Prompted entry or Edit property fields dialog box.
NoteSymbols added in the Format Text dialog box from the Insert symbol menu, use the AIGDT (Autodesk Inventor LT Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) font. You can change the font of symbol by copying symbols from the Microsoft Windows Character Map dialog box.

 

Change the document settings

You can change settings for the active document. To apply the settings to new documents automatically, change the settings in the templates that you use to create documents.

  1. Click Tools tab Options panel Document Settings.
  2. Click a tab:
  3. To set units of measurement for a part file, use the Units tab.
  4. To set snap spacing, grid spacing, line weight display options, and other sketch settings for a part or drawing, use the Sketch tab.
  5. To set adaptivity or 3D snap spacing for an active part file, use the Modeling tab.
  6. To set the Repair environment default error check, use the Modeling tab.
  7. To set the highlighting of invalid dimensions and other annotations in an active drawing file, use the Drawing tab.
  8. To size the graphics window on file open, use the Modeling tab. The setting only affects the view on file creation and can be set in your template file.
  9. To set the lighting style and display appearance, use the General tab.
  10. The Display Appearance settings, General tab, include parameters for edge display, visual style, various shadows, reflection, ground plane, and projection.
    NoteThese settings are stored in the document. Any document can display independently from the application settings. Set the document parameters and select the application option Use document settings.
  11. Enter the settings.
  12. Click Apply to save the changes.

Change the display appearance settings

Display appearance settings control how a document displays in the graphics window when it is opened. To open all documents with the same display appearance, use Application appearance settings. To control how individual documents look when opened, use document appearance settings.

For example, document level control gives you the ability to open one dataset as wireframe and another as shaded. You can open documents in different visual styles without having to alter the appearance settings at the application level. Select Use document settings on the Application Options > Display tab.

New documents have the document appearance settings available. Migrated documents have document appearance settings seeded from the application options appearance settings. After opening a migrated document, you can adjust the display appearance as needed.

To modify document appearance settings:

  1. On the ribbon, click Tools tabOptions panel Document Settings.
  2. Click Display Appearance Settings.
  3. Adjust the parameters in the dialog box.
  4. Click the Ground Plane settings command to access the parameters for displaying the ground plane.
  5. Click OK to accept modifications and close the Display Appearance settings dialog box.
  6. Click Apply to cause the appearance modifications to persist in the document.
  7. Click Close.

When you modify the document appearance settings, you can use the document settings for display. To take advantage of these document settings, turn on the application option Use document settings.

To establish use of document appearance settings:

  1. On the ribbon, click Tools tabOptions panel Application Options.
  2. Click the Display tab.
  3. In the Appearance section, click Use document settings.

Thereafter, any document with document appearance settings opens with those settings.

Legacy documents without document appearance settings open with the application options appearance settings. Thereafter, you can specify the document appearance settings to use for the document.

References

Customize - Ribbon tab

On each tab in the ribbon, you can create one custom panel where you add commands that you want to use from that tab. To generate a custom panel, specify one or more commands to add.

Access:

Ribbon: Tools Customize
Note If commands are not available for the active environment, they are disabled.

Choose commands from

Controls the display of the list of commands. Click the drop-down arrow to narrow the selection.

Choose tab to add custom panel to

Controls which tab receives the generated custom panel. Click the drop-down arrow to select a tab.

Add

Adds specified commands to the custom panel in the active tab.

Remove

Removes specified commands to from the custom panel in the active tab.

Import

Imports the user-defined panel settings from an .xml file. Click Import to display the Open dialog box. Navigate to the desired file, and then click Open.

Export

Saves the current user-defined settings in an .xml file. Click Export to display the Save Copy As dialog box. Select a file location, enter a file name, and then click Save.

Customize - Keyboard tab

Add and modify custom command aliases and shortcuts.

Access:

Ribbon: Tools tab Options panel Customize, and then click the Keyboard tab.

Keyboard

Categories

Select a category filter to display all the commands associated with a category.

Key Filter

Select a filter to narrow the view of associated commands.

Keys

List of assigned keys in use as keyboard shortcuts and command aliases.

Accept and Reject

Appear when you click in the Keys field next to a command. Click Accept to assign a shortcut or Reject to discard a shortcut.

Command Name

List of command names associated with the selected category.

Type

List of assigned key types: alias, shortcut, or blank (not assigned).

Category

List of command categories.

Use default multi-character Command Aliases

When this option is checked, the multi-character Command Aliases delivered with Autodesk Inventor LT are in use. This setting is not checked by default.

Reset All Keys

Removes all custom keyboard shortcuts and command aliases and restores defaults based on the setting of the "Use default multi-character Command Aliases" check box.

NoteThis check box is not reset.

Copy to Clipboard

Copies contents of the Keyboard tab, including headings, to the Clipboard. May be pasted into a spreadsheet or other document. If this command is selected while a shortcut is being edited, any changes to the shortcut are discarded and reset to the last value.

Buttons

Export

Saves the customized settings in an .xml file. Click Export to open the Export Customization Settings dialog box. Select a file location, enter a file name, and then click Save.

Import

Click Import to restore the customized settings from the .xml file saved during export.

NoteClose all Autodesk Inventor LT files before importing your settings

To retain your custom settings, import your settings after installing a new Autodesk Inventor LT release.

Close

Click to close the Customize dialog box.

Customize - Marking Menu tab

Personalizes the command selection and appearance of the marking menu.

Access:

Ribbon: Tools tab Options panel Customize , and then in the dialog box, click the Marking Menu tab.

Commands

Environment

Specifies the corresponding marking menu for an appropriate environment.

Sub-Environment

Provides additional marking menu options for the subenvironments in the Part, Drawing, Assembly, and Welding Assembly environments.

Select Menu Location

Specifies a location on the menu for new commands. Click the menu location (North, South, East, West, and so on).

Search Command

Finds a command when you enter the first few characters, or the full name of a command. Click Search to display a list of all commands that begin with that character string.

You can select the environment from which to choose the new command. Then select a command from the list.

Show Text Only

Displays text only, and no icons, in the marking menu nodes.

Show Icon and Text

Displays icons and text in the marking menu nodes. Turned on by default.

Show Icon Only

Displays icons only in the marking menu nodes.

Restore Default

Discards your changes, and returns the current marking menu to its default node selections.

Click the down arrow at the far right of the Restore Default button.

Use Classic Context Menu

Disables the marking menus and reverts to use of the legacy right-click context menus.

Note To disable the marking menu, selectView tab Windows panel User Interface, and on the drop-down menu, clear the Marking Menu check box.

Delete Commands from the Marking Menu

To delete a marking menu command, right-click the command node and on the context menu, click Remove. To restore a deleted command, right-click the command node and click Reset Node.

Buttons

Import

Restores the customized settings from the .xml file saved during export.

NoteClose all Autodesk Inventor LT files before you import your settings.

To retain custom settings, import your settings after you install a new release of Autodesk Inventor LT.

Export

Saves the customized settings in an .xml file. Click Export to open the Export Customization Settings dialog box. Select a file location, enter a file name, and then click Save.

Close

Closes the Customize dialog box.

Document settings

The document type (.ipt and .idw) determines the available tabs.

Access:

Ribbon:Tools tab Options panel Document Settings

The following tabs are available:

 

Document settings - Standard tab

Sets the active standard for the current document .

Access:

Ribbon: Tools tab Options panel Document Settings, and then click the Standard tab in the dialog box.

Parts and sketches

Adds the selected style to the default standard associated with the document.

Material Style

Click the arrow to select the active material style for the current document.

Active Lighting Style

Click the arrow to select the active lighting style for the current document.

Display Appearance

Displays the dialog box where you specify the document display appearance parameters.

Enable the use of document display parameters by setting the application appearance option to Use document settings.

Drawings

Active Standard

Click the arrow to select the active standard for the current document.

Adds the selected standard to the default standard associated with the document.

Display Appearance

Control the appearance of how a model looks when it is opened or when a new view onto the model is opened. To use document based display appearance settings set the Application Option for Appearance to Use document Settings.

AppearanceThese settings apply to model edges whenever they are visible.
Display hidden edges dashed

Controls the display of model hidden edges as either solid or hidden lines:

Checked

Hidden edges are displayed as dashed lines.

Not checked

Hidden edges are displayed as solid lines.

Hidden Edge Dimming

Sets the percent of dimming for hidden edges. Enter the percentage of dimming to apply or click the up or down arrow to select the value.

Range is from 10% to 90%. Unchecked and no dimming effect is applied.

Depth Dimming

Sets a dimming effect to convey the depth of a model. Select the check box to turn on Depth Dimming. Clear the check box to turn it off.

Visual style is wireframe and Depth Dimming set to Off.

Depth Dimming set to On.

Visual Style is Shaded and Depth Dimming set to Off.

Depth Dimming set to On.

Model Edges  
Use part colorModel edge color is derived from the component color.
One color

Model edges display using the same color. Clicking the Color button displays the color picker.

Display silhouettes

Select the check box to display silhouettes. Clear the check box to suppress the display.

When the selected visual style has model edges set to visible, silhouette display is based on this setting. Default is off.

Example

Silhouettes for active component set to Off.

Silhouettes for active component set to On.

Silhouettes for inactive component set to Off.

Silhouettes for inactive component set to On.

Initial Display AppearanceSets the model appearance for any new window or view.
 

Visual Style Select the preferred visual style used for component display.

Projection Sets the view mode to Orthographic or Perspective camera mode.

Ground ShadowsWhen checked, displays model ground shadows.

Object Shadows When checked, displays model object shadows.

Ambient Shadows When checked, displays model ambient shadows.

Ground Plane When checked, displays the model ground plane.

Ground Reflections When checked, displays model ground reflections.

Use Ray Tracing for Realistic Visual Style When checked, enables ray tracing when the Realistic visual style is selected.

In the dropdown list specify the default ray tracing mode:

  • Interactive
  • Good
  • Best

Document settings - Sketch tab

On the Document Settings dialog box, sets the default snap spacing, grid settings, and other sketch settings for the active part or drawing file.

Access:

Ribbon: Tools tab Options panel Document Settings, and then click the Sketch tab in the dialog box.

The active document type determines the available options.

Snap Spacing

Sets the spacing between snap points to help with precision when sketching in the active part or drawing. The settings for the two axes can be different.

X

Sets the snap distance for the X axis.

Y

Sets the snap distance for the Y axis.

Grid Display

Sets the spacing of lines in the grid display for the active part or drawing. The sketch grid is aligned according to the sketch coordinate system.

Snaps Per Minor

Sets the distance between minor grid lines relative to the specified snap distance. For example, if you set the X snap distance at 0.0625, and specify 2 snaps per minor, the minor lines are spaced 0.125 apart.

Major Every Minor Lines

Sets the number of minor lines to appear between major lines. Major lines appear heavier in the grid display.

NoteTo display or hide the grid, select Tools tab Options panel Application Options and change the settings on the Sketch tab.

Line Weight Display Options

Sets the options for line weight display.

Display Line Weights

Enables the display of unique line weights in model sketches. Clear the check box to show lines without weight differences. This setting does not affect line weights in printed model sketches. To set the actual line weights in print, use the Sketch Properties toolbar.

  • When selected, Display True Line Weights shows line weights on screen as they would appear on paper. For example, regardless of zoom magnification, a line 0.5 inch thick is the same as the height of 0.5-inch text.
  • When selected, Display Line Weights by Range (millimeter) shows line weights according to values you enter. Values range from smallest (left) to largest (right).

3D Sketch

Specifies default settings for 3D sketches in the active part.

Auto-Bend Radius

Sets the default radius for corner bends automatically placed on 3D lines as you sketch them.

NoteTo activate or suppress Auto-Bend Radius, select Tools tab Options panel Application Options and change the setting on the Sketch tab.

Document Settings - Modeling tab

Specifies adaptivity, inclusion or exclusion of document history, 3D snap spacing for the active part, and setting for tapped holes.

Access:

Ribbon: Tools tab Options panel Document Settings, and then click the Modeling tab in the dialog box.

The active document type determines the available options.

Compact Model History

Select to purge rollback document history when you save the file. Clear the check box to regenerate the document history to re-enable fast editing performance. Select Manage tab Update panel Rebuild All.

NoteSelect this option only when disk space is limited.

Advanced Feature Validation

Sets the algorithm for computing part features.

Select the option to use a comprehensive compute algorithm. It is slower but can produce more accurate feature results in rare cases. Cancel the option to use an optimized feature compute algorithm which significantly improves the performance of Shell, Draft, Thicken, and Offset features.

Note
  • To avoid unexpected topological changes, Autodesk Inventor LT does not allow a mixture of the two algorithms in one part.
  • The Advanced Feature Validation option is not available for legacy parts computed by the comprehensive algorithm.

Maintain Enhanced Graphics Detail

When enabled, graphics information is saved with the file on disk. This detail is used in the graphics display if the Application Options settings is set to Smoother in Application Options.

Tapped Hole Diameter

Controls the model feature size of tapped holes according to the Major, Minor, Pitch, or Tap Drill diameter of the specified thread.

NoteWe recommend that you use the default value for this option. Drawing Manager thread representations are generated correctly only when Tapped Hole Diameter is set to Minor.

Apply to legacy tapped holes

Updates the setting of existing legacy holes. When you select this option and click OK, all tapped hole features in the document assume the Tapped Hole Diameter setting. The option is available only if any legacy tapped holes exist in the drawing.

3D Snap Spacing

Sets the spacing between snap points to help with precision when 3D sketching in the active part. Controls snap precision when using Move Feature to drag a feature.

User Coordinate System

Click Settings... to open the UCS Settings dialog box where you can set the UCS naming prefix, define the default plane, and select the visibility of UCS and its features.

Initial View Extents

Sets the initial visible area when creating a model from a template. Configure this setting in your template files to affect new files. You can set the initial height and width of the graphics window.

The units for the Initial View Extents follow the setting on the Units tab for the template.

This setting will only affect the view on file creation, therefore this setting should be configured in your template files.

NoteWhen opening an existing part, the initial view is controlled by the size of the part.

Naming prefixing

Controls the default naming scheme prefix for new solid or surface bodies. Use to specify a meaningful name for each new body at the time of creation. The default prefixes are Solid for solid bodies and Srf for surface bodies.

Repair Environment

When selected, automatically checks the model for quality after a manual repair operation such as a boundary patch. Performance is degraded when the option is selected on complex models.

Document Settings - Bill of Materials tab

Specifies Bill of Materials (BOM) settings for the selected component.

Access:

Ribbon: Tools tab Options panel Document Settings, and then click the Bill of Materials tab in the dialog box.

The active document type determines the available options.

Default BOM Structure

Sets the default BOM structure for the component.

Unit Quantity

Displays the Unit Quantity. Unit Quantity is composed of two properties: Base Quantity and Base Unit.

Base Quantity

Sets the base quantity for the component. Select a parameter to be used as the Base Quantity, and click OK. To edit or add a parameter, click Edit Parameter next to the Base Quantity option.

NoteIf the parameter that the Base Quantity is assigned to is deleted, then the base quantity is reset to Each.

Base Unit

Select a Base Unit from the list, and click OK.

Document Settings - Default tolerances tab

Sets default linear and angular precision levels and tolerances for part dimensions.

Access:

Ribbon: Tools tab Options panel Document Settings, and then click the Default Tolerance tab in the dialog box.

Use Standard Tolerancing Values

Select check box to use the precision and tolerance values set on this tab when creating dimensions.

Export Standard Tolerance Values

Select check box to:

  • Copy the tolerances to the iProperties Custom tab.
  • Reuse the custom properties in drawings.

Linear and Angular dimensions

Click in a row to add a precision level and corresponding tolerance range for upper and lower values. Add a row for each unique combination of precision level and tolerance range.

Precision

Click the down arrow under Precision and select the number of decimal places.

Tolerance

Under Tolerance, enter the upper and lower range for the precision level.

Document settings - Drawing tab

Sets options in the active drawing file or template. To make the settings the defaults for all new drawings, set the options in the templates you use to create drawings.

Access:

Ribbon: Tools tab Options panel Document Settings, and then click the Drawing tab in the dialog box.

Defer Updates

Sets the update option for the active drawing. Select the check box to suppress automatic updates. Clear the check box to update the drawing automatically when the model changes.

Note
  • If Defer Updates is selected, many commands are disabled on the Place Views tab. Hole Note and Hole Table are not available on the Annotate tab.
  • If Defer Updates is set in a template, you cannot place views in the drawings created from it.

Cross Hatch Clipping

Select to have the hatch break about drawing annotations.

Notes:

  • To enable clipping around user-defined symbols, select the Symbol Clipping option for individual symbol instances.
  • The cross hatch clipping is not supported for datum targets and in isometric views.

Automated Centerlines

Opens the Centerline Settings dialog box so you can set the defaults for automated centerlines to a drawing view. For more information, see Automated Centerlines Settings.

Invalid Annotations

Annotations may become invalid if the component they are attached to is deleted or replaced.

Highlight marks invalid dimensions and other annotations that lose their attachment in the active drawing file. Clear the check box to turn off highlighting.

Preserve Orphaned Annotations retains annotations that have become detached from geometry. Clear the check box to remove orphaned annotations.

Feature-based Annotation Capture Color specifies a unique color for invalid feature- based annotations. Using the specified color, you can identify annotations that must be deleted and replaced.

The remaining invalid annotations can be selected. Right-click and select Reconnect Annotation to attempt reconnection to valid anchor points.

Shaded Views

Use Bitmap Sets frequency for using bitmaps on shaded views to Always or Offline Only. Enable Always to increase capacity and improve performance.

Bitmap Resolution Sets the image quality for shaded views. Effects file size, graphics appearance, and print quality. Click the arrow, and select from the list

NoteSelection of higher resolution can influence performance. If you work with large or complex models of shaded views, we recommend setting Always in the Use Bitmap drop-down menu with a low Bitmap Resolution. This setting reduces memory consumption.

Dimension Updates

Dimension Text Alignment controls text position for angular and linear dimensions when geometry is updated.

View Position maintains text position on the sheet.

Sheet Position and Maintain Centered retains centered dimension placement while all other dimensions maintain their positions on the sheet.

Percentage of Dimension Line attempts to maintain all dimension text positions relative to the dimension line.

Properties in Drawing

Additional Custom Model iProperty Source specifies a file that contains custom iProperties and adds names of custom properties to Custom Property - Model list. Properties can be then used in the drawing or template.

Click the arrow to select a file from the list, or click Browse to find and select a file.

Copy Model iProperty Settings opens the Copy Model iProperty Settings dialog box. Click the command to select model iProperties to copy into the drawing.

NoteCopied model iProperties can be used in parts lists, title blocks, and other annotations that access model or drawing iProperties.

Copy Model iProperty Settings

Specifies the iProperties to copy from the model into the active drawing or template when the first drawing view is placed. The copy sets the starting values for iProperties in the drawing. Once copied, the properties do not update automatically when they are changed in the model.

TipClick Manage tabUpdate panel Update Copied Properties to update the copied model iProperties in the drawing.

Access:

Ribbon: Tools tab Options panel Document Settings, and then click the Drawing tab in the dialog box. Click Copy Model iProperty Settings.

Model Property Source File

Shows the source model for copied iProperties.

NoteThe source model is always the top model from the first drawing view on the first drawing sheet. If no drawing view exists in the drawing, the source model is not defined.

Copy Model iProperties

Controls if model iProperties are copied to the drawing. Select the check box to copy the model iProperties.

Copied iProperties

Lists model iProperties. Select the iProperties to copy into the drawing. Clear the check box to keep the existing drawing iProperty.

All Properties

Selects or clears the selection for all listed iProperties.

Select the check box to select all iProperties. Clear the check box to clear the selection for all iProperties.

Document Settings - Sheet tab

Sets the default labels for sheets and sets the colors for elements on sheets in a drawing or template.

Access:

Ribbon: Tools tab Options panel Document Settings, and then click the Sheet tab in the dialog box.

Default Sheet Label

Sets the default label assigned to new sheets in the drawing browser. As a new sheet is added, the label is used with an incremental number (for example, Sheet1, Sheet 2, Sheet3). Click in the box and enter the label.

Colors

Sets the display colors for elements of the sheet. Click a color to open the Color dialog box and select the color for the associated element.

Sheet

Sets the background color for the sheet. The color of views, symbols, and other elements does not change, so set a background color that provides good contrast.

Sheet Outline

Sets the outline color for the sheet.

Highlight

Sets the color of highlighted elements (when the cursor passes over them).

Selection

Sets the color of selected elements.