Creating an Object Type

You can create three object types (reference, adaptive, or distribution) that are reusable parametric predefined objects to be used in civil engineering domain. An object type lets you optimize the conception, the implementation, and the lifecycle of a product.

Note: Object types are created along with a Knowledge representation that is instantiated under them.

To help you find the reference information you need to use the content delivered along with your app, you can consult the 3DEXPERIENCE Native Apps Content User's Guide.

Before you begin:
  • Start a Building and Civil Assemblies session, and specify preferences for creating content by selecting Set attributes at creation for all types in the context menu of the New Content panel.
    Note: For more information, see 3DEXPERIENCE Platform: Setting Preferences for Creating Content.
  • You must have the Leader role. Objects types are available only if the security context of the current session complies with the defined rules.
  • Prepare the design of your object type with respect to the mandatory and optional elements stored in the resource table created along with an object type.
  • The app optional content is not automatically installed along with the code. Contact your administrator if you must install the files you need. For more information, see Install Optional Content. You can also see Installation and Setup:Install: 3DEXPERIENCE Platform: Installing 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Services for the First Time: Installing Services One-by-One: Native Apps: Installing Native Apps: Installing a Native App.
  1. From the Compass, click Building and Civil Assemblies.
  2. In the top bar, select Add > Content in the list (or press CTRL+N).
    The New Content panel appears.
    Note: Only the building and civil types of interest are available.
  3. Select an object type in the category list.

    For example, select Footing type or Subgrade Type under Building & Civil Spatial Structure.

  4. In the Product instantiation method box, select one of the following:
    • Adaptive: The object is an instantiation of the engineering template.
    • Reference: The object is an instantiation of the template reference.
    • Distribution: The object geometry is a simple copy of its associated feature.
    In our example, select Adaptive.
  5. In the Feature instantiation method box, select a Road, Railway, or Platform discipline, or a legacy object type (Undefined or Reference).

    These options are available only if you selected the Subgrade Type category before.

    Note: You can create a subgrade type with a given discipline in the R2022xGA and later. When searching for these items in other commands, only the object types corresponding to the chosen discipline are listed in the results. The content provided in the SubgradeTypicalCrossSections.3dxml, stored in the ...\startup\Civil\Alignment directory, can be filtered in the same way.
  6. Give a name to the object type.
  7. Click OK.
    The new object type automatically opens in the Lifecycle Management app. The figure below illustrates a typical example of an object type:

    The three warning messages correspond to missing specifications you need to complete. Clicking the status icons displays a detailed report that helps you completing the object type's definition.

    • Errors : Indicates missing or erroneous mandatory element. This prevents the correct usage of this object type by downstream apps.
    • Warnings : Indicates missing elements preventing the correct usage of this object type by downstream apps.
    • Information : Dedicated to BIM manager and designers. It indicates missing optional elements.
    • Checked : Indicates the object type definition is complete.

  8. Double-click 3 Warning(s) to display a detailed report.
    The Messages Reporting panel appears.
  9. From the BIM section of the action bar, click BIM Attributes .
    The BIM Attributes panel appears. It lists the possible extensions that comply with the standards specified in Me > Preferences.The BIM Attributes panel groups attribute sets into individual expandable sections. Alternatively, you can double-click BIM attributes in the tree.
  10. Specify attributes for your object type. For more information, see
  11. Double-click Resource table in the tree to associate the required elements you previously created. The elements can include a user feature (optional), an engineering template (optional), a design table (optional), a documentation, and icons.
    Alternatively, click Resource table in the action bar.
  12. In the Resource Table Management dialog box, click each mandatory section and assign the required element.
    The object type is updated accordingly in the tree.
  13. Optional: Repeat the operation for optional elements.
    Although Documentation element is optional, it is recommended to add a specific documentation of the object type.
  14. Propagate your changes to save the object type.
    It is available in the New content panel.

The object type is created and can be used by all BIM technicians on the project.