Toolbar Customization

For many years Cubit has provided users with the ability to create custom tool buttons. These custom buttons launch pre-defined journal or Python scripts. With the release of Cubit 15.4 this capability has been expanded.

Menu

• Importing an Existing Toolbar
• Exporting a Toolbar
• Creating a new Toolbar
• Creating a Command Panel Button
• Creating a Journal File Button
• Creating a Python Script Button
• Creating a Basic Tool Button
• Modifying an Existing Toolbar

Importing an Existing Toolbar

• Locate and press the Custom Toolbar Editor button located on the File Tools button bar. This will launch the Custom Toolbar Editor.

• Select Import from the context menu

From this dialog a user may import an entire package containing multiple toolbars or a single toolbar. In this example we will import an entire package containing multiple toolbars.

• After selecting import, an import summary is shown.

• Select Finish

• Select OK to finish the import

The new toolbar and buttons will be displayed as the last toolbar on the GUI. It is a docking window so it can be moved and placed anywhere on the GUI.

Creating a New Toolbar

• Locate and press the Custom Toolbar Editor button on the File Tools button bar. This will launch the Custom Toolbar Editor.

• Press the Add button
• Name the new toolbar and press OK

• Press the Add button in the Buttons area

A user may define 4 different types of toolbar buttons

• Command Panel
• Journal File
• Python Script
• Tool Button

Creating a Command Panel Button

A Command Panel Button enables users to launch a command panel with the push of a button. A command panel button can be defined one of three ways:

Use the definition dialog

• Select Command Panel from the New Button type pulldown menu
• Press OK
• Complete the dialog indicating
  • the name of the button
  • the icon to use
  • the panel ID of the command panel to show -- see instructions for find the panel ID (below)
  • an optional description of the command panel
• Press OK to save the definition and exit the dialog
• Or, press Apply to save the definition

To find the Command Panel ID:

• Press the browse button next to the Panel ID edit field to launch the Command Panel Browser
• Navigate the browser to locate the desired command panel
• Select the desired command panel
• Press OK to make the selection
• The Panel ID will be shown in the Panel ID edit field

Use the context menu on a command panel

• Show the context menu on a command panel
• Select Add to Toolbar
• Select the toolbar to which this command panel will be added
• an icon representing the command panel will be added to the selected toolbar

Drag a command panel onto the toolbar

• Using the mouse, "drag" the command panel onto the desired toolbar
• an icon representing the command panel will be added to the selected toolbar
• In the image below, the Surface Collapse command panel is being dragged onto a toolbar

• The resulting toolbar looks like the following

All command panels include a context menu which can be accessed by clicking on an empty place in the command panel and using the mouse to show the menu.

Creating a Journal File Button

A Journal File Button will launch a journal file when pressed. The journal file may reside anywhere on the file system. A journal file button is defined by:

• Select Journal File from the New Button type pulldown menu
• Press OK
• Complete the dialog indicating
  • the name of the button
  • the icon to use
  • the name of the journal file to play
  • an optional working directory
  • an optional description of the journal file
• Press OK to save the definition and exit the dialog
• Or, press Apply to save the definition

Creating a Python Script Button

• Select Python Script from the New Button type pulldown menu
• Press OK
• Complete the dialog indicating
  • the name of the button
  • the icon to use
  • the name of the Python script to execute
  • an optional working directory
  • an optional description of the Python script
• Press OK to save the definition and exit the dialog
• Or, press Apply to save the definition

Creating a Basic Tool Button

The "Basic" too button has been available to users for many years. It contains a set of commands that execute when the user presses the button.

• Select Tool Button from the New Button type pulldown menu
• Press OK
• Complete the dialog indicating
  • the name of the button
  • the icon to use
  • an optional working directory
  • the commands to execute (these are the same commands used in any journal file)
  • an optional description of the commands
• Press OK to save the definition and exit the dialog
• Or, press Apply to save the definition

Modifying an Existing Toolbar

• In the Custom Toolbar Editor select the toolbar to modify
  • Press the Add (green plus-sign) button to add a new button
  • Press the Delete (red minus-sign) to remove a button
  • Select the check box to hide or show the button
  • Change the button order by selecting a button in the Buttons dialog and dragging to a new position
  • Any other parameter may be modified using the Edit Tool Button dialog
  • Press OK to save the definition and exit the dialog
  • Or, press Apply to save the definition

Exporting a Toolbar

A user may want to share a toolbar, or a set of toolbars, with another user. This is easily accomplished.

• Launch the Custom Toolbar Editor dialog by selecting the  icon.
• Or, select the Edit item from the toolbar's context menu
• Select Export from the context menu

• Provide a file name to the Export Toolbars dialog. The file extension will be appended automatically
• The file type will be .tar.gz
• Click Next on the dialog

• In the next dialog select the toolbars to be included in the export
• Click Next on the dialog

• Optionally add files or folders that contain journal files or Python scripts referenced by tool buttons
• Click Finish in the dialog
• Look for the .tar.gz file in the designated folder