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

  • 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
  • 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