Creating a Design Context from a CAD Structure

Integration with Other Applications > Managing CAD and Part Structures in Windchill > Design-in-Context > Design Context Overview > Creating a Design Context from a CAD Structure

A design context can be created from a CAD document structure that is derived from an initial CAD structure by application of filters and rules. In Windchill, a design context can also be derived from a configuration context, which is derived from a part structure. For more information, see Creating a New Design Context from a Part Structure.

• External Simplified Representations (ESRs) created in Windchill 9.1 and Creo Elements/Pro 5.0 or lower, won’t be editable in Windchill.

• If the ESR was created from an internal simplified rep with substitution rules, then the display of the structure in the Edit Definition and Structure tabs of the ESR’s information page may be inaccurate.

• If the ESR contains a dynamic envelope, you are not allowed to edit the substitution rules design context.

• If the ESR contains a substitution by the name of an internal simplified representation, then Windchill will not be able include/exclude objects based on that definition and the structure will be inaccurate.

To create a design context from a CAD structure:

1. Navigate to the Structure tab on the workspace information page of a CAD document structure or of an existing configuration context from which you want to derive the new design context.

2. Select New/Add To > New Design Context from the CAD document Structure tab menu bar

– or–

Select Design Context > New from a configuration context Structure tab menu. TheNew Design Context window opens.

3. In the fields that are available, you can accept the pre-populated values (derived from the initial CAD structure) or specify other values by selection from the drop-down menu for each field, as follows:

◦ The WindchillContext is always the same as the initial structure.

◦ Organization ID (if enabled at your site) — You can search for a different organization.

For more information, see Finding Organizations.

◦ Authoring Application — Select from available options.

◦ Type — CAD Document or subtype

◦ Template Name—Select from available options, or click Default.

In order to create a new design context on an assembly whose structure was created or modified in Windchill, users of Creo 1.0 must create an assembly CAD document template in Creo 1.0+ and should assign it as the value of the preference, Windchill Workgroup Manager > Design In Context > Assembly Template Used In New Image Design Context Action.

Upon selection of a template name, an Attributes panel opens beneath the other fields mentioned, displaying the pre-defined attributes for the new design context.

4. Specify the values for the template you have selected.

5. Select OK.

The new design context is created in the workspace and the information page for the design context opens. By default, the information page displays the Edit Definition tab.

At creation, the new design context is essentially a copy of the initial CAD structure. Typically, the next step is to edit the definition of the design context. For more information, see Using the Edit Definition Tab.