About the Surface User Interface
The
Surface tab consists of commands, tabs, and shortcut menus. Click
Style >
Surface to open the
Surface tab.
Commands
• 
collector—Displays the primary curves that define a surface.
• 
collector—Displays internal curves for boundary surfaces, and displays cross curves for sweep surfaces.
• 
—Displays a translucent or opaque preview of the modified surface.
• 
—Activates/deactivates reparameterization mode.
• 
—Displays reparameterization curves.
• 
—Displays surface connection icons for a draft.
• Update check box—Updates the surface automatically as you modify it.
Tabs
• References
◦ Primary collector—Displays the primary curves that define a surface. Displays the trajectory curves in a sweep surface.
▪ 
—Moves chains up in the list.
▪ 
—Moves chains down in the list.
▪ Details—Opens the Chain dialog box.
◦ Internal collector—Displays the internal curves for boundary surfaces.
▪ —Moves chains up in the list.
▪ —Moves chains down in the list.
▪ Details—Opens the Chain dialog box.
◦ Cross collector—Displays the cross-sectional sweep profiles for sweep surfaces.
▪ —Moves chains up in the list.
▪ —Moves chains down in the list.
▪ Details—Opens the Chain dialog box.
• Parameterization
The items on this tab are available only when you enter Reparameterization mode.
◦ Reparam Curves List—Displays the reparameterization curves you have created.
◦ Reparam Soft Point—Places the reparameterization curve soft points. The options are context sensitive according to the Type of constraint you select.
▪ Type—Sets a soft point type.
▪ Length Ratio—Places a soft point at a ratio of the distance between the curve end points.
▪ Length—Places a soft point on the curve at a specified distance from the curve end point.
▪ Offset from Plane—Places a soft point at a specified distance offset from a selected plane.
▪ Lock to Datum Point—Places a soft point on a datum point.
▪ Value—Sets the soft point placement value based on the soft point type.
▪ Reference—Displays a soft point placement reference.
• Options
◦ Radial check box—Rotates cross sections radially along the guide curves.
◦ Uniform check box—Scales cross sections uniformly along the guide curves to preserve proportions.
◦ Show Trimmed Neighbors check box—Displays neighbors as trimmed surfaces.
◦ Use for 3 and 4 boundaries check box—Makes a 3-sided or a 4-sided boundary surface into a trimmed rectangle surface.
Shortcut Menus
Right-click the graphics window when the Surface tab is open to access shortcut menu commands:
• Primary Collector—Activates the Primary collector.
• Internal Collector—Activates the Internal collector for boundary surfaces.
• Cross Collector—Activates the Cross collector for sweep surfaces.
• Deactivate Collector—Deactivates the currently active collector.
• Clear—Clears the active collector.
• Reparameterization—Activates the Reparameterization mode.
• 
Curve—Opens the
Curve tab.
• 
Surface—Opens the
Surface tab.
• 
Edit Definition—Opens the appropriate
Curve Edit or
Surface Edit tab.
• 
Standard Orientation—Sets the views to their standard position.
• 
Active Plane Orientation—Displays the model with the active datum plane parallel to the screen.
• 
Set Active Plane—Sets the current datum plane as the active plane for geometry creation.
• 
Show All Views—Displays all four views for the model.
• Show Only—Hides the display of all the Style entities except the selected entities.
• 
Show All—Displays all the previously hidden features or Style entities.
When Reparameterization mode is active, right-click a surface to access shortcut menu commands:
• Add U reparam curve—Adds a reparameterization curve in the u-direction at the selected point.
• Add V reparam curve—Adds a reparameterization curve in the v-direction at the selected point.