Ten Tips in Using ANSYS HELP

I am sure not so many like the HELP at the first glance. I took an instant dislike to it because it takes a little bit longer time to start, because it does not look like a usual HELP in Window, because it takes away the dynamic indexing function, etc. But in real life, if I could not change something, I have to change myself to fit it. After forcing myself to use it in several days, I found it has many advantages compared with the old one and began enjoying in using it. Here are ten tips which help us to us it in a more efficient and more personal way.

1. Font size

For someone like me who has no prefect eyes, the possibility to enlarge font size is the absolutely first reason to love the new HELP. Just press Ctrl and rotate the mouse wheel, like in most of web browsers, we will see difference directly:

OK, it is not perfect, such as font size in the left column and font size for those parameters in the command are not enlarged. I am satisfied for the present.

2. Tabs

The new HELP is more and more like a web browser, such as we can open many tabs to view different pages without losing control:

Three ways (maybe more) to open a new tab:

a) File à New Tab

b) Click on the “+” symbol

c) Right click anywhere in the window

3. Path

ANSYS presents a very convenient way to share what you find in HELP with your colleagues, that is Path. We can get the full path for the current page by clicking Path under Help. Copy the path which is in text form and now we can send it to others.

If we get a path, just click “Go To Path” under Help and paste it into filling field and we will go to where we intent to.

4. Sorting

It happens almost every time that we get too many results and feel strenuous to locate what we want. It will be a little bit easier by sorting results:

5. Favorite

Shall I talk more about it?

6. Search highlighted text

If we are not sure about something when reading the help text and want to learn more about it, the easiest way is to highlight the interested text, right-click and Search highlighted text. In the left column it gives all pages containing the highlighted text.

7. Find in Page

A very useful function which takes us quickly to interested points.

8. Contents

The ANSYS V12 HELP contains many manuals for most of ANSYS products. The obvious advantage is that we can get a deeper understanding for our question marks. But perhaps it explains why the HELP takes a little bit time to start.

9. History

As mentioned before, the HELP is more and more like a web browser. The History function is one of signs showing it. However, the History function in here is tab-depended. That means, we can only check the history of the current tab. If we close a tab, its history disappears also.

10. Index

After discovering so many advantages in the new HELP, I am still missing the dynamic indexing function in those elder versions. It is extremely usefully when I am not sure about what I am looking for. For example, I know there is a command to releases all associativity between the current solid model and finite element model but I don’t know the exact spell except it begins with MOD. With the dynamic indexing function, it will not take much time to find the command is MODMSH.

The new Index function works more or less like that of a textbook. It works anyway.

Here are ten tips I thought most interesting to present. Of course there are many points I missed: Tree View Navigation, keyboard shortcuts, search options, etc. Just use it and I am sure you will find more fun.

Do you want to learn more?

EDR provides a training course that covers basic Workbench operations, as well as other interesting topics.

Or contact our ANSYS Support to ask for hints!