To Create a UDF (basic)
There are some elements you must define before you create a UDF. Other elements are optional and may be defined during UDF creation or later during modification.
1. Click
Tools >
UDF Library. The
UDF menu appears with the following commands:
◦ Create—Adds a new UDF to the UDF library.
◦ Modify—Modifies an existing UDF. If there is a reference part, the system displays the UDF in a separate part window. This command is not available in Assembly mode.
◦ List—Lists all the UDF files in the current directory.
◦ Dbms—Performs database management functions for the current UDF.
◦ Integrate—Resolves the differences between the source and the target UDFs.
2. Click Create.
3. In the Graphics window message area, type a name for the new UDF and click
. The
UDF OPTIONS menu appears.
4. Click one of the following commands in the UDF OPTIONS menu:
◦ Stand Alone—Copies all the required information to the UDF.
◦ Subordinate—Copies most of the information from the original part at run time.
| • A standalone UDF cannot have an assembly as a reference model, but a subordinate UDF can. • Punch and Notch UDFs (Sheetmetal) cannot be subordinate. |
5. Click Done. The UDF <udf name> Standalone or UDF <udf name> Subordinate dialog box opens listing the following elements. Note that Features is selected by default.
◦ Features—Selects features to include in the UDF.
◦ Ref Prompts—Enters prompts for specifying placement references. The system will print these prompts to guide you when you place the UDF.
◦ Var Elements—Specifies feature elements that you want to be able to redefine when you place the UDF in a part.
◦ Var Dims—(Optional) Selects dimensions that you want to modify when you place the UDF in a part and enter prompts for them.
◦ Var Parameters—(Optional) Selects parameters that you want to modify when you place the UDF in a part.
◦ Dim Prompts—(Appears if Var Dims is defined) Selects dimensions whose prompts you want to modify and enter new prompts for them.
◦ Dim Values—(Optional) Selects a dimension that belongs to the UDF and enter its new value.
◦ Family Table—(Optional) Creates family table instances for the UDF.
◦ Units—(Optional) Changes the current units.
◦ Ext Symbols—(Optional) Includes external dimensions and parameters in the UDF.
|  The UDF FEATS and SELECT FEAT menus also appear. The Add and Select commands are selected by default. |
6. Select one or more features to add to the UDF.
7. Click DONE on the SELECT FEAT menu and Done/Return on the UDF FEATS menu
8. Type or select the default prompts for the references used by the selected features. Each reference is highlighted as you are prompted to enter or accept the default prompt. For example, if you type bottom surface for the highlighted surface, then when you place the UDF, the prompt Select the bottom surface appears.
When you specify a prompt for a placement reference that is used by more than one feature in the UDF, specify either single or multiple prompts for this reference.
◦ Single—Specifies a single prompt for the reference used in several features. When the UDF is placed, the prompt appears only once, but the reference you select for this prompt applies to all features in the group that use the same reference.
◦ Multiple—Specifies an individual prompt for each feature that uses this reference. If you select Multiple, each feature using this reference is highlighted, so you can enter a different prompt for each of them.
The MOD PROMPT and SET PROMPT menus appear.
9. To accept the prompts you set, click Done/Return on the SET PROMPT menu.
To make changes before setting the prompts, use Next and Previous from the MOD PRMPT menu to select the prompt or prompts you want to change.
| To change a single prompt (specified for the placement reference used in several features) into multiple prompts, find a prompt that you want to change, click Multiple, and type an individual prompt for each feature. |
10. When all required UDF elements are defined, you can click OK in the UDF dialog box to create the UDF, or continue to define the optional elements and then click OK.