Even if the settings for Place and Import in the dialog boxes are the same, there are still considerable differences in arriving at an optimum technical illustration and the way in which you use this.

Structured import with assemblies and object information can be used to influence and change the data at both the import stage and in 3D mode. For example, data can be prepared in 3D mode in the form of a spare parts diagram or additional views can be generated from a selection of assemblies. All these manipulations to the original data are adopted in the 2D illustration.

A new projection of the converted 3D data is created every time OK is clicked in the 3D Projection-Set dialog box. The projection appears as a 2D illustration in an untitled Arbortext IsoDraw window. This means that the link to the 3D data has been broken. All the elements in the illustration can be selected individually and edited with the Arbortext IsoDraw CADprocess tools.

As is the case when importing, a file can also be loaded in structured form when it is being placed. As a result, the same 3D-mode data editing options that are available when importing are also available when placing. In the case of a placed drawing/illustration however, clicking OK in the 3D Projection-Set dialog box displays the projection again, in its entirety, in the Arbortext IsoDraw window. Given the same projection and the same setting in 3D mode, the result looks the same. The difference from the import process lies in the fact that the link to the converted 3D data is still intact. The representation is therefore based solely on this data. As a result, only a few functions are available for editing in the Arbortext IsoDraw window.

These are: Delete, move, the three transformations (scale, rotate and reflect) and changes to existing attributes such as Pens.

Unlike during the import process, you can edit a placed CAD drawing repeatedly in 3D mode.

You can place several 3D or 2D files on one drawing sheet. You can also add further 3D files to a placed file in 3D mode. You can learn more about this in this section, in the part entitled Several Placed Files in One Arbortext IsoDraw File. 3D-mode editing for each placed file is carried out individually in one 3D set.

To sum up:

If a CAD file is to be extensively edited both in 3D mode and then in the Arbortext IsoDraw 2D window, the file should be imported. This is particularly important when an update is unlikely.

If, for example, you are using CAD data to create a spare parts catalog, where the data does not require much further editing apart from being exploded, then you should Place the data. The fact that files can be continuously updated saves a great deal of time without the quality of the illustrations suffering in relation to the import option.