Better dialogue box for load creation on multiple entities (surfaces etc.)

[rkov_no]

I find the dialogue box for creating loads on multiple entities confusing and unclear, particularly when the dialogue is not consistent. I have seen a few people asking the same question, and I see answers of varying clarity and correctness.

The problem is: I create a load of 100N, and select 2 faces. Do I then apply 50+50N, or do I apply 100+100N ? The rest is maybe best explained by the enclosed picture.

 

[John_Holtz]

Good catch that the label changes from "Magnitude" to "Total Force" to "Force per Entity" when the box is checked and unchecked. I think the solution is to have the label show "Force per Entity" from the beginning instead of "Magnitude", and then change to "Total Force" if the checkbox is ticked.

[rkov_no]

But why not have it like the bottom left picture, where the presence of the 2 distinct choices makes it very clear that you have to make a choice, and the 2 listed options makes the difference very clear. And yes, even if you have (yet) only selected 1 entity, both choices are logically equally valid. You may in fact actively make the choice of "force per entity" while still only having chosen one entity. Perhaps you are playing back and forth with how many entities you are selecting.
Or the "force per entity" box may be greyed out when only one entity is selected, if Autodesk strongly feels that this choice is "wrong" when only one entity is selected.

[John_Holtz]

In general, if there are only two options that are opposites (yes/no, open/close, total/not total), you do not need to show both options.

The proper design in my opinion is the combination of checkbox and labels as follows:

John

(edited Aug 15 2025. Can edits be made? Can images be added to edits? No, I cannot add images to a comment!)

(edited Aug 18 2025. Now images are added. Sorry if not a consistent size.)

[rkov_no]

If there are only two options that are opposite, it can still be useful to clarify what exactly those two "opposites" are.
Also, your last sentence makes me believe you may have forgotten to enclose a picture or further description.