29.4 Viewing the Application Window

In ANSYS FLUENT, the application window will house the menus and console, as well as multiple graphics windows, task pages, and a navigation pane. By default, all components are displayed and one graphics window is visible. You can toggle the visibility of the toolbars, navigation pane, task page, and graphics window. You can also detach or embed the graphics window. The menu bar and the console are never hidden. The graphics windows, when anchored within the application window, will be placed on the right side, immediately below the toolbar. You also have the option of viewing separate graphics windows as described in Section  29.2.2. A description of the View menu options which control the layout of the GUI is provided in the list that follows.

Figure 29.4.1: The View Menu

Toolbars   allows you to customize the appearance of ANSYS FLUENT by displaying or hiding the ANSYS FLUENT toolbars. There are two toolbars. A general toolbar for read case, save and help commands. Another toolbar with commands that apply to the active graphics window. When the graphics window is hidden, the toolbars are visible. By default, all toolbars are visible.

Navigation Pane   allows you to customize the appearance of ANSYS FLUENT by displaying or hiding the Navigation Pane which is a small pane on the left side of the GUI. One row is always highlighted and signifies the w task pageich is displayed to the right of the Navigation Page. Depending on user input, sometimes one or more items are not displayed in the Navigation Pane.

Figure 29.4.2: The Navigation Pane

Task Page   allows you to customize the appearance of ANSYS FLUENT by displaying or hiding the task page which is on the right side of the Navigation Pane. You can set the controls provided in the task page before running the calculation. The task page can also be opened using menu items. Each task page has a Help button which opens the help to the appropriate page in the reference guide.

Figure 29.4.3: The General Task Page

Graphics Window   allows you to customize the appearance of ANSYS FLUENT by displaying or hiding the Graphics Window which is on the right side of the GUI, below the toolbar.

Embed Graphics Window   allows you to anchor the graphics window within ANSYS FLUENT, or detach the windows such that they are free-floating. For more information, refer to Section  29.4.1.

Show All   allows you to customize the appearance of ANSYS FLUENT by showing all of the GUI components with one command.

Show Only Console   allows you to customize the appearance of ANSYS FLUENT by showing only the console window along with the menu bar in the application window. The console window is anchored to the lower right corner of the application window. If Show Only Console is selected, the menu items of the hidden item (toolbars, navigation pane, task page, and graphics window) are unchecked in the View menu. You can resize the console window as you wish with the minimum height being 2 lines. The console window will display messages to the user and provide access to the TUI.

Whenever a GUI component is hidden and you issue a command that requires a hidden GUI component, the view is changed automatically to complete the request.

Graphics Window Layout   allows you to customize the appearance of ANSYS FLUENT by displaying multiple views. This menu has a submenu with several options. By default, one graphics window is displayed and the window numbering will start at $1$. As you can see in Figure  29.4.5, you may display up to 4 windows. You can select any existing window to view through the drop-down menu above the window. You may click on any window to change it from inactive to active.

Figure 29.4.4: Graphics Window Layout Submenu

Figure 29.4.5: Graphics Window Layout Options

Save Layout   allows you to save the current layout of the GUI, including the visibility of the current GUI components and the configuration of the dialog boxes and graphics window. This saved layout is applied when you start ANSYS FLUENT, utilizing a .cxlayout file that is written in your home directory. The default position will be used for any dialog box that is not repositioned when you save the layout. The .cxlayout file in your home directory applies to all Cortex applications (i.e., ANSYS FLUENT, MixSim, and TGrid).