Creo Options Modeler > References > Fundamentals > User Interface Basics > Working with Creo Parametric Windows and Dialog Boxes > About the Dashboard
  
About the Dashboard
The dashboard is a context-sensitive area at the top of the Creo Parametric window that guides you through the modeling process. As you select geometry in the graphics window and set your preferences, the dashboard narrows your available options, so you make only targeted modeling decisions. The dashboard consists of the dialog bar, panels, message area, and the control area.
Dialog Bar
You perform most of your modeling tasks in the graphics window and the dialog bar. When you activate a tool, the dialog bar displays commonly used options and collectors.
Panels
To perform advanced modeling actions or retrieve comprehensive feature information, use the panels. Click one of the tabs above the dialog bar, and its panel opens. Because both the tabs and their corresponding panels are context sensitive, different tabs and panel elements are displayed, depending on the current modeling context. Default values are provided in some cases.
To open another panel, click its tab. To close a panel, click its tab and the panel slides back into the dashboard.
Message Area
As you work with your model, Creo Parametric confirms your actions and guides you through the modeling process with text messages in the message area below the dialog bar. The message area contains all messages for the current modeling session. To find an earlier message, scroll the message list or drag the sash to expand the message area.
Text messages address two conditions:
System functions
Modeling actions
Each message is preceded by an icon to indicate the category of the message:
—Prompt
—Informational
—Warning
—Error
—Critical
The message window continues to display messages even if you pause a tool and the dashboard is unavailable.
Control Area
The control area of the dashboard contains the following elements:
—Pauses the current tool, temporarily returning you to the default system state in which you can make selections. Any features that you create while the original tool is paused are placed in a Group in the Model Tree along with the original feature when completed.
—Resumes a paused tool.
—Activates Verify mode for the feature displayed in the graphics window. To stop Verify mode, click again or click . The check box, when selected, activates dynamic preview, which you can use to view your changes to the model as you perform them.
—Complete the tool with the current settings.
—Cancels the current tool.