### To Save an Alignment

Note that you only need to save the alignment using the following procedure if the alignment is going to be recalled into a different part program. All alignments are automatically saved when used within a part program.

To save an alignment,

1. Select Insert | Alignment | Save from the menu bar. The Save Alignment As dialog appears.

2. Type an alignment name (maximum ten characters) in the File Name box.

3. Select either the Inches or Millimeters option to save the alignment as either inches or millimeters. The default unit of measurement for any alignment will be the same unit of measurement used by the part program for which the alignment was created. To use an alignment in a different part program, it is not necessary that the alignment's units of measurement be saved in the units type of the new part program. The alignment will automatically convert to the same units as the new part program (see "Recall").

4. Select either the Machine to Parts or Both option. Select Both to store both the machine-to-parts and the CAD-to-parts transformation matrices. Select Machine to Parts to store only the machine-to-parts transformation.

5. Click the Save button.

You must provide a filename in order to save. The only filename extension permitted is ".aln". If you don't type a valid name for the alignment file, clicking Save will not close the dialog box.

The alignment can be saved to any directory. However, to use the saved alignment file in a part program, it must be saved the same directory as the part program or in the user-specified Recall Directory.

The Edit window command line for this option reads:
SAVE /ALIGNMENT,align_name,filename, TOG1

TOG1
This toggle field switches between BOTH and MACHINETOPARTS. Select BOTH to store both the machine to parts and the CAD to parts transformation matrices. Select MACHINETOPARTS to store only the machine to parts transformation.