Because content libraries can contain scores of items, locating one can be difficult and time-consuming. If you use only a few items regularly, you can mark them as favorites. They are then added to the Favorites panel in the Content Library dialog box. Because the Favorites panel contains only the items you mark as favorites, you can find the parts/features you frequently use, easily.
For example, if you frequently use various sizes of ISO 4762 bolts in your drawings, you can add ISO 4762 to your list of favorites. When you select it from the Favorites panel, AutoCAD Mechanical toolset prompts you for the size and view to insert.
If you predefine the view for a favorite, insertion becomes much simpler. At insertion time, you can select the view directly from the Details panel and insert it into the drawing. AutoCAD Mechanical toolset prompts you for the size.
If you use just one size of the bolt regularly (for example, M20 X 60), you can fix the size (to M20 X 60) as well. Once you fix the size, AutoCAD Mechanical toolset does not prompt you for the size when you insert the bolt.
You can organize your favorites in any way. You can rename favorites and move them into folders (different nodes of the tree), like you organize files in File Explorer.
You can control the size, location, and appearance of the Content Library dialog box. You can:
- Resize the dialog box by dragging an edge or by dragging the title bar (located on the left, but under certain conditions on the right).
- Roll up and roll down panels by clicking the
and
icons to make optimum use of available space. For example, once you set up favorites, you access the Content panel less frequently. You can roll up the Content panel and utilize that space for the Favorites panel. Alternatively, you can use the resize panes and keep only the Details panel visible. You pick up content using the Address bar and the graphical buttons.
- Dock the dialog box by dragging it over the right or left docking region of the drawing area until it snaps into the docked position. You can also dock the dialog box by double-clicking its title bar.
- Undock the dialog box by dragging the title bar away from the docking region. Pressing CTRL while dragging prevents docking.
- Anchor the dialog box by choosing Anchor Right or Anchor Left from the shortcut menu. An anchored Content Library dialog box rolls open and closed as the pointer moves across it. When an anchored Content Library dialog box is open, its content overlaps the drawing area. You cannot set it to stay open while it is anchored.
- When the Content Library dialog box is floating, use the Auto-hide right-click menu option to hide it. The Content Library dialog box rolls open and closed as you move the pointer across it.