We've looked at various graphical interface elements to interact with the user:

• message boxes
• input boxes
• folder picker

However, sometimes you need something customized to the task at hand; it's time to create our own input form.

Having a working coordinate system (WCS) that can easily be moved around makes life easier for the designer. Choosing a convenient coordinate system and entering values directly is much simpler than transforming all the desired coordinates into the absolute coordinate system (ACS). The benefits of having a WCS are not only for the designers using interactive NX, programmers can also use the WCS to make their lives easier too.

[Note: This journal is intended for NX 9 or older versions. A dimension break option was added in NX 10 that handles this operation better.]

It is good practice to place drawing dimensions so that the extension lines do not intersect other dimension lines. However, occasionally such placement is unavoidable. While I do not believe it is required by any major drafting standard, some people prefer the aesthetic of adding a break, or gap, to one of the lines at the point of intersection. NX provides a custom symbol, the gap symbol, to provide for the appearance of a gap in the desired extension line.

The expression system in NX is "'unit aware" and can correctly handle a wide variety of unit types. This can make life easier since the designer no longer has to worry about unit conversions when creating expressions. Create a new length expression using units of centimeters, add an existing expression defined in inches to another defined in millimeters and you get the correct length expressed in centimeters.

When creating an ID symbol in NX, the dialog box provides a drop down menu with a variety of choices for the shape of the symbol. You pick one that should work and go about finishing the drawing. Unfortunately, the checker returns your drawing with a note explaining that you picked the wrong symbol shape for that particular usage. "No problem", you think. "I'll simply edit the symbol and change the type." You double click the symbol, the edit dialog box appears but the symbol type option is missing.