Comparing Functionality
Even though the dialog box import settings for placing and importing a file are identical, there are still key differences in the way to achieve the best results in technical illustration.
Importing
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 CADprocess window. This means that the link to the 3D data has been broken. All the elements in the 2D illustration can be selected individually and edited with the Arbortext IsoDraw CADprocess tools.
Placing
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 of the opened file. 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 the import process, a placed CAD model can be edited repeatedly in 3D mode. Several 3D or 2D files can be placed in one Arbortext IsoDraw window simultaneously. For every placed file, 3D files are always edited individually in 3D mode.
Summary
• If a CAD file is to be extensively edited both in 3D mode and then in the Arbortext IsoDraw CADprocess 2D window, the file should be imported. This is particularly important when an update is unlikely.
• However, if the parts of the CAD drawing are only to be very lightly edited, the drawing should be placed. 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.