Model Objects and Attributes
Model Object and Attribute
To define a task for any model object, you must specify attributes specific to that model object. When you create a process guide template using a text editor you need to understand this topic before you start. When you use the Process Guide Template dialog box to define a template, you can refer to this topic if you want to know the details about a certain task type. The “Object” column in the tables below corresponds to Task Type in the Process Guide Template dialog box.
The model objects and their attributes used in various modeling and analysis activities are categorized as follows:
Idealizations
Properties
Meshes
Analyses and Results
General Modeling
You can define tasks associated with the following modeling objects in the process template:
ModelType
Info
The following table lists the object and its attributes for defining general modeling tasks:
Object
Attributes
# of values
Valid Values
Description
ModelType
id
1
integer
Specifies the model as a native mode model or FEM mode model. If you use this object, Creo Simulate restricts the template to the specified mode only, and you cannot use the template in the other mode. Considerations:
Add this task at the top of the task list.
A template can have only one task with a ModelType object.
This task does not invoke a specific UI action but specifies that the configuration file is for a specific mode.
If this task is defined and the model type is specified in a template, error checking controls the import of the configuration file.
This task also allows validation of tasks and their attributes in a template.
type
1
PStructural, HStructural,
visibility
1
Off
Process Guide completes the task without displaying it in the Navigation panel of the Process Guide dialog box.
Info
id
1
integer
Specifies the details about the current process template.
Considerations:
The task is complete when Process Guide displays the information specific to this template.
Info tasks are useful in separating and organizing the tasks in a structured manner. Info tasks act as summary tasks. You can place other tasks under info tasks.
label
1
text
description
1
text, executable descriptor
The task cannot contain any action link to display in the Information panel of the Process Guide dialog box.
Mapkey
Id
1
Integer
The action for this object is to run an existing mapkey with the given name. Refer to the Fundamentals Help for more information on mapkeys.
Label
1
text
name
1
text
Key-sequence of the mapkey
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Simulation Features
You can define tasks associated with the following simulation features in the process template:
DatumPoint
DatumCurve
DatumPlane
CoordSystem
DatumAxis
SurfaceRegion
Volume regions using the following different creation methods:
Consider the following points when you define the task associated with any simulation feature object:
The task sets menus ready for creating the corresponding simulation feature.
The task is complete when a user creates one or more simulation features. Process Guide associates these newly created simulation features with the task.
When the user deletes all the simulation features associated with the task, Process Guide automatically marks the task as not valid.
The following table lists the object and its attributes for defining simulation feature tasks:
Object
Attribute
# of values
Valid Values
Description
DatumPoint
id
1
integer
Create datum points on your model.
label
1
text
description
1
text,
executable descriptor
DatumCurve
id
1
integer
Create datum curves on your model.
label
1
text
description
1
text,
executable descriptor
DatumPlane
id
1
integer
Creates datum planes on your model.
label
1
text
description
1
text,
executable descriptor
CoordSystem
id
1
integer
Create coordinate systems on your model.
label
1
text
description
1
text,
executable descriptor
DatumAxis
id
1
integer
Creates datum axis on your model.
label
1
text
description
1
text,
executable descriptor
SurfaceRegion
id
1
integer
label
1
text
description
1
text,
executable descriptor
VolumeRegionExtrude
VolumeRegionRevolve
VolumeRegionSweep
VolumeRegionHelicalSweep
VolumeRegionBlend
VolumeRegionSweptBlend
VolumeRegionRotationalBlend
VolumeRegionUseQuilt
id
1
integer
Create volume regions based on the different volume creation methods. You can create a volume region task using these objects.
label
1
text
description
1
text,
executable descriptor
Modeling Entities
You can define tasks associated with the following modeling entity objects in the process template:
Constraint
ConstraintSet
Load
LoadSet
Measure
Consider the following points when you specify the modeling entity object tasks:
The task enables creation of the corresponding modeling entity object. The task is complete when a user creates one or more modeling entity objects. Process Guide automatically creates the ConstraintSet or LoadSet if it is not available in the model.
If the task is to edit a specific modeling entity, the task is complete when a user invokes the corresponding dialog box and closes it after making changes.
Process Guide associates this created or edited entities with the task. When a user deletes all the entities associated with the task, Process Guide marks the task as not valid.
Consider the following points when you specify the name attribute for the modeling entity object tasks:
If a user specifies a new name, Creo Simulate creates a new modeling entity with the specified name.
If a user creates a modeling entity without specifying any name, Creo Simulate creates a new modeling entity with the default name.
If a user specifies the name of an existing modeling entity, Process Guide edits the existing modeling entity with the specified name.
Consider the following points when you specify the type attribute for the modeling entity object tasks:
If you do not specify the type attribute while defining the tasks associated with the Constraint and Load objects, Process Guide invokes the Constraints Manager dialog box or Loads Manager dialog box for a user to create one or more constraints or loads
If the task specifies the type for constraint or load, Process Guide invokes the dialog box to create the specified type of constraint or load.
The following table lists the object and its attributes to define tasks for creating modeling entities:
Object
Attributes
# of values
Valid Values
Description
Constraint
id
1
integer
Define constraints for your model.
label
1
text
type
0,1
Displacement,
Symmetry,
AlongSurface
constraintset
0,1
TaskID
name
0,1
ConstraintName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
ConstraintSet
id
1
integer
Group various constraints in a constraint set that act together, and at the same time, on your model.
label
0|1
text
Specify this attribute, if the value of the visibility attribute is set to ON.
visibility
0, 1
On, Off
Process Guide displays the ConstraintSet by default. If the task specifies the value of this attribute to Off, Process Guide completes the task without displaying it in the Navigation panel of the Process Guide dialog box.
name
0, 1
ConstraintSetName
description
0|1
text, executable descriptor
Specify this attribute, if the visibility attribute is set to ON.
Load
id
1
integer
Define loads on your model.
label
1
text
type
0, 1
Force, Pressure, Bearing, Gravity, Centrifugal, MEC/TTemperature, ExternalTemperature, StructuralTemperature,Preload
loadset
0, 1
TaskID
name
0, 1
LoadName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
LoadSet
id
1
integer
Group various loads in a load set that act together on your model.
label
0|1
text
Specify this attribute, if the value of the visibility attribute is set to ON.
visibility
0,1
On, Off
The LoadSet is displayed by default in the Process Guide dialog box. If the task sets the value of this attribute to Off, Process Guide completes the task without displaying it in the Navigation panel of the Process Guide dialog box.
name
0,1
LoadSetname
description
0|1
text, executable descriptor
Specify this attribute, if the visibility attribute is set to ON.
Measure
id
1
integer
Create measures.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
MeasureName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Idealizations
You can define tasks associated with the following idealization objects in the process template:
Shell
Midsurface
Beam
Mass
Spring
Crack
Consider the following points when you specify the idealization object tasks:
Process Guide associates the created or edited idealization with the task.
The task is complete when creation or editing of idealization is complete.
When a user deletes the idealization associated with the task, Process Guide marks the task as not valid.
Consider the following points when you specify the name attribute for the idealization object tasks:
If a user specifies a new name for idealization, Creo Simulate creates a new idealization with the specified name.
If a user creates an idealization without specifying any name, Creo Simulate creates a new idealization with the default name.
If a user specifies the name of an existing idealization, Process Guide edits the existing idealization with the specified name.
The following table lists the object and its attributes to define tasks for creating modeling entities and idealizations:
Object
Attributes
# of values
Valid Values
Description
Shell
id
1
integer
Create shells for your model.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
ShellName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Midsurface
id
1
integer
Creates a midsurface by pairing two surfaces.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
ShellPairName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Beam
id
1
integer
Create beams as model idealization.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
BeamName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Mass
id
1
integer
Creates mass as an idealization that you can use to represent a concentrated mass without a specified shape.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
MassName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Spring
id
1
integer
Create springs in your model.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
SpringName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Crack
id
1
integer
Create a crack idealization in your model.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
CrackName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Properties
You can define tasks associated with the following properties in the process template:
ShellProperty
BeamSection
BeamOrientation
BeamRelease
MassProperty
SpringProperty
Material
MaterialOrientation
Consider the following points when you specify the property object tasks:
Process Guide associates the newly created or edited property with the task.
The task is complete when creation or editing of property is complete.
When a user deletes the property associated with the task, Process Guide marks the task as not valid.
Consider the following points when you specify the name attribute for the property object tasks:
If a user specifies a new name for property, Creo Simulate creates a new property with the specified name.
If a user creates a property without specifying any name, Creo Simulate creates a new property with the default name.
If a user specifies the name of an existing property, Process Guide edits the existing property with the specified name.
The following table lists the object and its attributes for defining tasks to create model properties:
Object
Attributes
# of values
Valid Values
Description
ShellProperty
id
1
integer
Defines a shell property to a face, region, or datum surface.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
ShellPropertyName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
BeamSection
id
1
integer
Defines a beam section.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
BeamSectionName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
BeamOrientation
id
1
integer
Specifies the beam orientation.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
BeamOrientationName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
BeamRelease
id
1
integer
Specifies the degrees of freedom you want to release for a beam end or ends.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
BeamReleaseName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
MassProperty
id
1
integer
Defines mass property for your model.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
MassPropertyName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
SpringProperty
id
1
integer
Defines properties for spring elements.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
SpringPropertyName
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Material
id
1
integer
Assigns material to your model.
Considerations:
This task enables a user to create or change the material for a model by specifying type and name.
If you define this task without specifying the type attribute, the task is complete when a user assigns the material to the model.
label
1
text
type
0,1
Isotropic, TransIsotropic, Orthotropic
If you specify a material type, Process Guide opens the corresponding Material Definition dialog box.
If you do not specify this attribute, Process Guide invokes the Materials dialog box.
name
0,1
MaterialName
If the type is specified and a user creates a new material by specifying a name, Creo Simulate creates a new material with specified name.
If the type is specified and a user creates a material without specifying a name, Creo Simulate creates a new material with the default name.
If a user specifies the name of an existing material, Process Guide allows you to edit the material ignoring the type of material specified.
description
1
text, executable descriptor
MaterialOrientation
id
1
integer
Defines surface or Part type material orientation.
label
1
text
type
0, 1
Surface, Part
If you define this task without specifying the type attribute, the task is complete when at least the material orientation is defined.
If you specify a type, Process Guide invokes the dialog box to create a new or to edit the existing type of material orientation.
If you do not specify the type attribute, Process Guide invokes the Material Orientations dialog box.
name
0, 1
MaterialOrientationName
If the type is specified and a user creates a new material orientation by specifying a name, Creo Simulate creates a new material orientation with the specified name.
If the type is specified and a user creates a material orientation without specifying a name, Creo Simulate creates a new material orientation with the default name.
If a user specifies the name of an existing material orientation, Process Guide allows you to edit the material orientation ignoring the type of material orientation specified.
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Meshes
You can define tasks to create or control meshing of your model using the following objects in the process template:
AutoGEM
AutoGEMControl
AutoGEMSettings
Mesh
MeshControl
Consider the following points when you specify the AutoGEMControl and MeshControl object tasks:
Process Guide associates the created or edited control with the task.
The task is complete when creation or editing of control is complete.
When a user deletes the control associated with the task, Process Guide marks the task as not valid.
Consider the following points when you specify the name attribute for the AutoGEMControl and MeshControl object tasks:
If a user specifies a new name for the control, Creo Simulate creates a new control with the specified name.
If a user creates a control without specifying a name, Creo Simulate creates a new control with the default name.
If a user specifies the name of an existing control, Process Guide edits the existing control with the specified name.
The following table lists the object and its attributes for defining tasks to create model meshes:
Object
Attributes
# of values
Valid Values
Description
AutoGEM
id
info
integer
Meshes your model through AutoGEM in Native mode. This object is available only in Native mode.
Considerations:
The task is complete when a user creates a p-mesh and saves the mesh file.
Process Guide marks the task as incomplete if the p-mesh file is missing.
label
1
text
description
1
text, executable descriptor
AutoGEMControl
id
1
integer
Specifies mesh distribution in your model through AutoGEM control in Native mode.
label
1
text
name
0, 1
AutoGEMControlName
type
0,1
MaxElemSize
EdgeDistribution
MinEdgeLength
EdgeLenByCurv
HardPoint
HardCurve
IsolateForExclusion
MappedMesh
PrismaticElem
ThinSolid
IgnoredAutoGEMControl
This attribute is optional. When this attribute is not specified, MaxElemSize is used (as the default).
description
1
text, executable descriptor
AutoGEMSettings
id
1
integer
Control various characteristics of element creation during mesh generation by specifying AutoGEM settings in Native mode.
Considerations:
The task is complete when Process Guide invokes the dialog box and user closes the dialog box after making the changes.
label
1
text
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Mesh
id
1
integer
Enables you to mesh your model in FEM mode.
Considerations:
The task is complete when a user creates a H-mesh.
Process Guide marks the task as not valid when the H-mesh becomes invalid because of a change in the model.
label
1
text
description
1
text, executable descriptor
MeshControl
id
1
integer
Specifies mesh distribution in your model through Mesh control in FEM mode.
label
1
text
name
0,1
MeshControlName
type
0,1
MaxElemSize
MinElemSize
EdgeDistribution
HardPoint
HardCurve
DispCoordSys
MappedMesh
ShellElemDirection
MeshNumbering
MeshIDOffset
IgnoredMeshControl
This attribute is optional. When this attribute is not specified, MaxElemSize is considered (as default).
description
1
text, executable descriptor
Analyses and Results
You can define tasks associated with the analysis and results phases using the following objects in the process template:
Analysis
Run
RunSettings
ResultTemplate
The following table lists the object and its attributes for defining tasks to analyze the model to evaluate the analysis results:
Object
Attributes/ Reference Object
# of values
Valid Values
Description
Analysis
id
1
integer
Defines analyses for the model for various structural aspects.
Considerations:
The created or edited analyses are associated with the task.
The task is complete when creation or editing of analysis is complete.
label
0|1
text
Specify this attribute, if the value of the visibility attribute is set to ON.
type
0, 1
Static
Modal
Buckling
Fatigue
PrestressStatic
PrestressModal
DynamicTime
DynamicFrequenecy
DynamicShock
DynamicRandom
This attribute is mandatory when creating a new analysis.
name
0,1
AnalysisName
If a user specifies a new name for analysis, Creo Simulate creates a new analysis with the specified name.
If a user creates an analysis without specifying a name, Process Guide creates a new analysis with the default name.
If a user specifies the name of an existing analysis, Process Guide allows you to edit the analysis ignoring the type of analysis already specified.
reference object="LoadSet"
0+
LoadSet id
This attribute is optional for creating a new Structural analysis.
Refers to the corresponding LoadSet through its task ID.
For example, <reference Object="LoadSet"> <id>2</id> </reference>
reference object="ConstraintSet"
1+
ConstraintSet id
This attribute is mandatory for creating a new Structural analysis.
Refers to the corresponding ConstraintSet through the its task ID.
For example, <reference Object="ConstraintSet "> <id>3</id> </reference>
description
text, executable descriptor
Specify this attribute if the value of the visibility attribute is set to ON.
Run
id
1
integer
Specify to run the specified type of analysis.
label
0|1
text
Specify this attribute if the value of the visibility attribute is set to ON.
analysis
1
TaskID
description
0|1
text, executable descriptor
Specify this attribute if the value of the visibility attribute is set to ON.
RunSettings
id
1
integer
Specify various settings for analysis run.
Considerations:
The task is complete when the Run Settings dialog box is displayed once.
label
1
text
description
1
text, executable descriptor
ResultTemplate
id
1
integer
Displays analysis results using the specified template. If the visibility attribute is set to Off, the task automatically shows the result window using the specified result template when the analysis results are available.
label
0,1
text
Specify this attribute if the value of the visibility attribute is set to ON.
visibility
0,1
On, Off
template
1
path with file name
analysis
1
TaskID
mode
1
Repeat, Combine
description
0|1
text, executable descriptor
Specify this attribute if the value of the visibility attribute is set to ON.
* 
If you use the Process Guide to run a FEM analysis in the background you will not get any feedback when the analysis starts. You will also have no notification when the analysis completes.
Return to Process Template.