Editing a Design Context Definition
The information page for a design context supports the same tabs as other assembly CAD documents, with the important addition of the Edit Definition tab, which is used to modify the definition of the design context using the various actions provided.
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If the Edit Definition tab is not visible on the design context information page, select Edit Design Context Definition from the Actions menu.
Below the action bar containing the actions, the Edit Definition tab displays the structure of the design context in a left-side pane. Checkboxes are available next to each subcomponent displayed in the structure, which can be used in conjunction with the other editing tools in the action bar to define the design context. The structure tree-table has the columns described in the following table:
Column
Description
File Name
Displays the structure of the design context in tree format. Selecting a checkbox includes its row in the definition; clearing a checkbox excludes its row.
Definition Rep
Displays the current include/exclude rule assigned to the object.
Resulting Rep
Displays the representation rule that results from the application of all definition rules.
A right-side pane contains the following sub-tabs:
Sub-tab
Description
Attributes
Displays the attributes of the selected component
Visualization
Displays a representation of the design context, as currently defined. For example, excluding a component in the structure pane removes that component from the visualized image.
Rules
Displays the current rules comprising the definition of the design context
The actions on the toolbar on the Edit Definition tab are described in the following table:
Action
Description
Editing actions set
Include Rep
Include selected rows at the shown representation; that is, one of the following representation types:
Assembly Only
Design Mode
Visualization Mode
Clear Rep
Remove all selected, explicit includes/excludes for the selected representation. The selected rows revert to being included.
Exclude
Exclude the selected rows from the design context.
Design Context actions set
Exit Edit Mode
Exit the editing mode. A Confirmation pop-up asks if you want to save changes before exiting.
Save Definition
Save changes to the design context definition.
Viewing actions set
Views
Select default or predefined view of the structure or select Manage Structure Views to customize your list of views.
Display
Access the following display options:
Expand all levels of structure
Collapse all levels of structure
Select 2-pane display
Select 3-pane display (places attribute and rules information in separate panes)
Refresh the display of the structure
Filter actions set
Current Filter
Open the Current Filter window, displaying the configuration specification details.
Edit Filter
Open the Edit Filter window to enable editing of the Configuration Specification, Spatial Filter, or Attribute Filter applied to the design context structure.
Attribute Rules actions set
Manage Rules
Open the Manage Rules window, allowing you to create and manage attribute rules. For more information, see Managing Attribute Rules.
The process of editing a design context involves the use of filters (configuration specification, spatial, or attribute–based) and rules to arrive at the intended structure for further design work. The following features of the Edit Definition tab assist in the editing:
When the Attributes tab is selected, the Attributes pane displays the attributes of the most recently selected object row in the structure tree.
When the Visualization tab is selected, the following actions are available:
Action
Description
Zoom all
Zoom in on the complete assembly.
Zoom selected
Zoom in on a selected part.
Set spin center
Allows you to assign a spin center to the assembly.
Toggle the automatic selection preference
Allows you to toggle the automatic selection preference to do one or both of the following:
Automatically Select from Structure to Visualization
Automatically Select from Visualization to Structure
When both options are selected, clicking on a structure member highlights the member in the visualization and clicking on a member in the visualization pane highlights its row in the structure, expanding the structure if necessary.
Spatial filter
Opens a menu to set or update box, sphere, or proximity type of spatial filter where a component is selected. For more information on using spatial filters, seeAbout Spatial Filters.
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Use of filters actually trims the structure tree (removes components). Use of rules can exclude components from membership in the design context, but the excluded components remain in the structure tree (in an unselected state).
Spatial rule
Opens a menu allowing you to set or update box, sphere, or proximity type of spatial rule when a component is selected. For more information about using spatial rules, see Setting a Box Spatial Rule , Setting a Sphere Spatial Rule, Setting a Proximity Rule, and Updating a Spatial Rule.
When the Rules tab is selected, the Rules pane displays the rules applicable to the current definition of the design context.
Deselecting the checkbox for a member of the structure, excludes that object from the design context. The exclusion is listed on the Rules tab described by listing the parent-child relationships down to the particular object. Subsequent modifications to the design context definition automatically update the rules. For example if a component has been excluded, an “Exclude” rule is created. Upon subsequent re-inclusion the Type field displays “Graphic,” indicating the re-inclusion of the object.
Excluding a parent also excludes all of its children in the structure. Re-inclusion of a child also re-includes the parent.
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