Entity and System Information

Information about the current system or entity can be displayed using the Entity Note button, . The note pad button is located on the left side of the panel.

mv_notepad_example

Entity note button

When you click the Entity Note button, , an information dialog is displayed.

mv_point_info_dialog

Point Info dialog

The information dialog displays the following data about the current system or entity:

Parent	Lists the system parent for the model.
Label	The label field contains the name of an object as it appears throughout MotionView. A label can contain letters, numbers, and spaces and can be edited at any time, either on the editing panel or in the Info dialog.
Variable	A variable name is used to refer to an object when writing mathematical expressions. The variable name is unique to an object within a system and can contain letters and numbers but it cannot contain blank spaces. Variable names are assigned when objects are created and cannot be changed.
Type	Allows you to enter additional information on the type of entity, such as single or pair, or the type of joint, such as ball or translational joint.
Comment	Comments are used to record information that you want to associate with objects. A comment can be stored with any object.
Evaluate IDs and numbers on apply	When activated, the algorithm to compute IDs and numbers will be invoked after an edit is made to the entity and the Apply button is clicked.
Number	An integer number can be assigned to every entity or system and is used whenever numbers are required as identifiers. If you do not assign numbers to entities, they are automatically assigned wherever a number field is left blank when writing out the solver-input deck. Left and right numbers are listed for an entity pair so a number can be assigned to each entity in the pair.
ID	An integer ID can be assigned to any entity and is used to identify an entity when it is written to a solver-input deck. MotionView automatically assigns an ID to every entity whose ID field is left blank when writing out the solver-input deck. Entity pairs have left and right ID’s so that an ID can be assigned to each entity in the pair.

1.	Activate the Number check box.

The numbers are displayed.

2.	Activate the ID check box.

The IDs are displayed.

3.	Click inside the Number or ID text box and edit.

4.	Click OK to apply the setting and close the dialog.

5.	Deactivate the Number or ID check box.

The numbers and IDs are concealed, and the button changes back to its original state.