When an assembly is created it is displayed in default representation. The default representation includes all assembly components in their master representation. When you create a simplified representation, you designate the way that individual components are represented in the assembly. The definition of a simplified representation consists only of components that have been selected for specific representation types. Simplified representations can be created on the fly or by using predefined rules that include zones, model names, geometric size, geometric distance, parent and child relationships, and parametric expressions. Simplified representations created by defined rules update parametrically upon retrieval and regeneration according to changes made to the model. These simplified representations reflect the rules as the design changes.

The inclusion, exclusion, or substitution of components affects only the current simplified representation. The appearance of the assembly changes, but there is no effect on other features or components. Components or subassemblies can be excluded from a particular simplified representation, and selected components can be excluded from an included subassembly.

To assemble a simplified representation of a part or subassembly into an assembly, the top-level assembly must also be a simplified representation (not a master representation). For an assembly in a simplified representation, the following functions are unavailable: