UI Tech Preview... Rule Of Thumb

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  UI Tech Preview... Rule Of Thumb
  August 27, 2008, 12:07 PM Jay Tedeschi

  Not sure how many of you out there have been using the UI Tech Preview for Inventor 2009… it has been available up on ‘Labs now for a couple of months. In any case I just thought I would pass along a useful Rule of Thumb for living with the new Navigation Bar.

  

  For those of you who don’t already know this, that vertical toolbar to the left of my browser is called the Navigation Bar. It is end user customizable with regard to content, and is in my opinion one of the most useful changes to the Inventor environment introduced by the Tech Preview. However, there is a small behavioral anomaly I have observed that you might have as well, that if not recognized has the potential to send you into a browser induced rage… [grin]. 
  Take another look at the image above… my intent was to “Edit” the selected component via the right click menu. However, due to the fact that I have just finished using the Navigation Bar, and it is STILL HIGHLIGHTED, the menu that I get on a right click is NOT the one that will allow me to do much of anything at all. There have actually been times when I swear I was not even using the Nav Bar, I really just passed over it on my way into the browser, but it highlighted and BAM, I got the “slightly less useful” right click menu. [grin]

  In any case, a good rule of thumb if you have been using the Nav Bar is to click once on empty space in the edit window to clear the selection. If not, try and steer a path to the browser that does not involve crossing the Nav Bar. As long as it looks like the image below, and provided you have not made any changes to the default Nav Bar opacity settings, you should be good to go with regard to getting the “right” right click menu.

  

  Warning:  Pregnant women, the elderly, and children should avoid prolonged exposure to the Navigation Bar.
   
  Caution: Navigation Bar may suddenly accelerate to dangerous speeds. Navigation Bar contains a liquid core, which if exposed due to rupture should not be touched, inhaled, or looked at. Do not use Navigation Bar on concrete.  
   
  Discontinue use of Navigation Bar if any of the following occurs:
   * Itching
   * Vertigo
   * Dizziness
   * Tingling in extremities
   * Loss of balance or coordination
   * Slurred speech
   * Temporary blindness
   * Profuse Sweating
  or
   * Heart palpitations
   
  If Navigation bar begins to smoke, get away immediately. Seek shelter and cover head.  Navigation Bar may stick to certain types of skin. When not in use, Navigation bar should be returned to its special container and kept under refrigeration. Ingredients of Navigation Bar include an unknown glowing substance which fell to Earth, presumably from outer space.  
   
  Finally, do not taunt Navigation Bar.

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