Reference Topics > Notes and restrictions about selective instances
  
Notes and restrictions about selective instances
Selective instances in the Structure Browser:
Selective instances are marked with an Xsymbol within the part and assembly icons in the Structure Browser. In addition, in the detailed list (Detail switched on in the View pull-down menu), the contexts of selective instances are displayed in the Sel Inst Context column. Note that this field indicates the "first-level" assembly of the selective instance.
To change the owner of a selective instance:
When you change the owning assembly of a selectively unshared part or subassembly, you remove the selective instance out of its context. It becomes a "normal" instance, but retains its selective instance information (such as positioning). In the case of an assembly, it also becomes the "first" context assembly for the selective instances below it in the assembly structure.
To create a share of a selective instance:
When you create a share of an assembly containing selective instances, you can choose to keep the selective instancing information or to take the source data of the original share. This is effected with the Keep Attributes option in the Share menu. This switch applies also to chains of selective instances from the context assembly down to the end components.
Selective instances in external data exchange: The following explains the behavior of selective instances in data exported to STEP, IGES, or VRML:
STEP
Assemblies are written as though shared as normal, that is, without selective instances. A workaround is to convert the assembly structure to a collection of parts (switch off the Assembly/Shared Parts option in the STEP menu).
IGES
Assemblies are written as though shared as normal, that is, without selective instances.
VRML 1
Assemblies are written as though shared as normal, that is, without selective instances. Note, however, that VRML 2 fully supports selective instancing.