### Understanding the Default Edit Window Colors and Formatting

Edit window in Command Mode

PC-DMIS uses different background colors, command text colors, and text characters to offset information in Command and DMIS modes. This coloring and text formatting may seem somewhat confusing at first, especially if you are used to previous versions of PC-DMIS and are suddenly barraged with a myriad of colors. However, rest easy; if you don't like them, you can easily revert PC-DMIS to its coloring scheme used in previous versions (see the "Defining Edit Window Colors" in the "Setting Your Preferences" chapter).

However, the colors and formatting are valuable tools that can increase your productivity. The following topics describe these tools.

Background Colors

Different background colors help you know what commands are marked, unmarked, have errors, are active, or are being stepped through. These background colors are defined in the Color Editor dialog box for the Edit window.

Edit window Background Color Information in the Edit Window's Color Editor

Consider this example screen shot:

Edit window example showing version 4.2 coloring scheme

1. A light-green background means the command has been marked for execution.

2. The light-blue background means the command has not yet been marked for execution.

3. A slightly darker background color (either darker green for marked commands or darker blue for unmarked commands) shows the current active command.

Command Text Colors

Black text - Any non-editable command text. You cannot change this text.

Blue text - Any editable command text.

Red text - For non-dimension commands, this indicates an error in the command text. The command will be skipped during program execution. Errors come from unsupported commands, unsupported probe types, and syntax errors (usually while working with expression or scripting commands). For dimension commands, red text indicates that the dimension is out of tolerance.

Warning: If your part program contains unsupported commands (commands in red text), check it thoroughly before executing online. Since unsupported commands are skipped during program execution, in some cases this could cause a probe collision if you aren't careful.

Highlighted Text Shows the Active Command or Group

When you move your mouse over a command block, or command blocks that are grouped together, the entire command block, or the entire group, is highlighted with a slightly darker background color (see item C in example above). This helps you immediately see the extents of an entire command block. Doing this also makes the command "active". This means you don't need to click on the command to operate on it. For example, simply hover your mouse over a command and press F9. The associated dialog box, if one exists, will appear. To delete the command, you don't need to select the entire command, just hover your mouse over it until it becomes active, and press DELETE. You will find when editing large programs that shaving off a mouse click here and there increases your productivity.

"<" and ">" Characters Provide Enhanced Readability

If you have ever floundered in a sea of monochromatic text, fishing for a specific value, then you will be pleased with the addition of the "<" and ">" characters. These characters group like values together, thereby more easily delineating the different fields for various X, Y, Z and I, J, K values. These characters show where these pairs begin and end. This enhances readability and makes it much easier to locate needed values.

Popup Menu Provides Easier Toggle Field Selection

No longer do you have to cycle through a list of available commands on a toggle field...unless you really want to. Simply hover your mouse over the darker blue text for a moment, and the background color takes on a button-like quality. Click on the button. A drop-down list appears letting you select the desired value for that toggle field.

Easier Filename Fields

Certain fields take filename values. If the file moves to a new location, there's an easier way to update it than arduously retyping a long directory pathway. Instead, hover your mouse over the field; the filename turns into a button. Clicking it will display a File Open dialog box, allowing you to locate and update the file's location.