ECAD > Working in ECAD-MCAD Collaboration Mode > About the ECAD-MCAD Collaboration Mode
  
About the ECAD-MCAD Collaboration Mode
The Creo ECAD-MCAD Collaboration mode provides a collaborative environment to ECAD and MCAD users. They can use Creo Parametric and Creo View ECAD Validate and Creo View ECAD Compare to dynamically investigate design issues and propose and share design changes.
 
* Consult the Creo View ECAD Installation Guide when there are problems launching Creo View ECAD or comparing designs.
To begin the collaboration in Creo Parametric, create or open an ECAD assembly containing a board part, set the default master representation, and click ECAD Collaboration (in a design assembly, Applications > ECAD Collaboration).
 
* Component IDs are automatically updated and the model changes when you enter ECAD Collaboration mode. For best results, save your model after Creo ECAD-MCAD Collaboration mode.
When you enter Creo ECAD-MCAD Collaboration the Affected/Suppressed Features area appears in the bottom section of the Model Tree. This area contains two tables:
• Redefined Objects—Lists features that were automatically redefined due to changes. For example redefined component placement after a board change.
• Suppressed Objects—Lists automatically suppressed failed features.
You can perform the following collaborative tasks in Creo ECAD-MCAD Collaboration:
• Compare two iterations of an ECAD assembly design to propose incremental changes.
• View the object data differences as a summary report in the Creo View ECAD Validate application that opens in a separate window.
• Save the differences in the ECAD assembly designs that constitute the incremental change to an external IDX file that is compliant with the EDMD schema.
• Analyze object data with cross-highlight, zoom, and a preview of the design states.
• Cross-select the changed object data from Creo View ECAD Validate to the Creo Parametric graphics window or and vice-versa.
• View and analyze ECAD proposals in Creo View ECAD Validate and set the proposed changes to the Accept or Reject transaction state.
• Commit the accepted object data to the assembly database in Creo Parametric.
• Update the IDX file and the ECAD assembly design with the incremental changes.
• Handle feature and component failures and downstream issues during the update of the assembly design.
• Set the preview levels for the updated assembly design to gauge the performance of the assembly.
 
* If the ECAD assembly is empty, a message warns you that you cannot enter the ECAD-MCAD collaboration mode.
When you create the board, create ECAD areas, and position components in an ECAD assembly IDs are created automatically. A unique ID is required for items, including components, to participate in ECAD_MCAD collaboration. In a design assembly, the following items have IDs in ECAD_MCAD collaboration:
• Board outline
• Component placement of ECAD and mechanical components. Components with the ECAD_PART_TYPE parameter value Other Outlines are not supported by IDX. You must change the parameter value to Mechanical, remove the Ref. Des., add a functional name (optional), and probably redefine the outline and add or change a CSYS to be similar to an ECAD component.
• Holes created as features, solid and lightweight holes, have IDs. IDX and IDF3.0 supports the hole attributes:
◦ Hole Type—MTG, Tool, User_Def, and Empty (the default). Pin holes can only come from the ECAD side of the collaboration. Via holes are mapped to and from Via objects in the ECAD side.
◦ Plating Style—PTH or NPTH
◦ Associated part
◦ Hole Owner
• ECAD Areas with or without cutouts.
When you enter Creo ECAD-MCAD Collaboration from an ECAD assembly, note the following features:
• There is no need to create or update IDs.
• Collaboration is allowed in the bended state. You can export the flexible outline. Therefore, only the MCAD side can make changes to the board outline.
• You cannot import a change to a flexible outline, therefore a change in the board outline from the ECAD side cannot be accepted. The ECAD side can however make changes in the board height.
• Bend areas and bend lines are output to IDX files.
• No communication is allowed over holes and components located on bended areas.
In the collaborative mode, you cannot perform feature operations, such as the redefinition or insertion of features. You cannot access Sketcher mode, edit dimensions and parameters, or perform Undo or Redo operations. However, you can use the button on the Graphics toolbar to change the view. You can also use the Analysis tab for various measurements. To check for interference when changed objects are accepted use Analysis > Global Interference or Analysis > Volume Interference.
The ECAD-MCAD Collaboration Workflows provides an overview of the MCAD to ECAD and ECAD to MCAD sequence of tasks.