A Maxsurf file has a .msd file extension and can be recognised by the  file icon. As in most Microsoft Windows applications, you can open files in different ways. For example, you can open files by double clicking on them or by using a File | Open menu. Let’s have a look at the different ways you can open a file in Maxsurf.

 Watch a short video that shows you how to open a design in Maxsurf using the File | Open method and the drag and drop method. [Web | Disk]

File | Open

Probably one of the most conventional ways to open a file is by:

Ø  Start the Maxsurf application

Ø  Click File | Open Design

Ø  Navigate to the Maxsurf program file directory.

This is C:\Program Files\Maxsurf, unless you have specified it differently.

Ø  Open the Sample Designs folder

Ø  Select the design called Maxsurf Sample_Trawler.msd and open it.

Done! The design will initially be displayed in each of the four view windows by the outline of its surface edges (in the case of the Sample Trawler, there is only one surface), represented as solid grey lines.

Note

All Maxsurf applications have the ability to open different sets of data. For example in Maxsurf you can load Markers or surface models. The type of data that can be opened is determined by the Window that you have currently got “active” or “frontmost”. You will learn about the different Maxsurf Windows later.

Double Clicking on a File

Ø  In Windows explorer, navigate to
c:\program files\Maxsurf\Sample Designs

Ø  Double click on the file called Maxsurf Sample_Trawler.msd

This will start up a new Maxsurf application and bring up the following dialog first:

Ø  You can select the Workshop Library.wsl or hit Escape to skip this step.

The Workshop Library is only used in case you wish to allocate material properties (eg. material and thickness) to a surface in Maxsurf and will not be needed during the LearningMaxsurf training.

Drag and Drop

One of the less known options is that you can actually drag a .msd file onto any of the View windows of the Maxsurf application.

Ø  Close all applications you may have open on your computer, so that you don’t get confused with the next few steps.

Ø  Start Maxsurf

Ø  In Windows explorer, navigate to
c:\program files\Maxsurf\Sample Designs

Ø  Hold down the left mouse button after clicking on the Maxsurf Sample_Trawler.msd once.

Ø  Now drag and drop the file into any of the View windows in Maxsurf:

Dragging and dropping the file from Windows explorer window into one of Maxsurf’s View windows.

Continue with the section on Closing a Maxsurf Design.