About Favorite Context

When a 3D shape contains a layout or an annotation set, it is possible to define a favorite context that can be opened along with the 3D shape. This favorite context can either be an entire product or a filtered product which contains directly or indirectly the layout/annotation set. Using this favorite context, you can then open the layout/annotation set with the required product structure.

This page discusses:

See Also
Creating a Favorite Context
In the Knowledge Base
2D Layout for 3D Design - How can you manage a favorite context?

What is a Favorite Context?

A favorite context is an assembly context saved in a layout and that should be reopened when working on layout to guarantee the correct understanding of the design.

The favorite context indicates the root product to be loaded and, optionally, the occurrence to be activated if the layout is multi-instantiated. It can also limit the loading of the root product to a subpart defined by filters, reducing the time necessary to access the data significantly.

This context is made of:

  • A link to the root product and, optionally, a link to the product path. This optional link is named as favorite occurrence.
  • A list of links to PLM filters (can be empty).

Favorite Context Creation

It is possible to create or define the favorite context only when editing a 3D shape. Depending on whether the position of the 3D shape in edition is specified or not, you can create limited or full favorite context.

Also, note that when the root product or a sub-part of the assembly is versioned, favorite context (full and limited) is still available for the new assembly version.

Limited Favorite Context (LFC)

It keeps a product path that is a path made of only the root product. In this case, you can select the root product from the current session or directly from the database, but no need to edit or load it.

Note: The favorite context becomes invalid if the root product is not the parent of the 3D shape representation. A message is displayed accordingly.

Full Favorite Context (FFC)

It keeps a product path that is a path made of the root product plus a list of product instance and an instance of the 3D shape representation containing the layout. In this case, you need to open the 3D shape in edition to capture this definition.

Note: The favorite context becomes invalid, if the product path is not valid (if the root product is removed, for example). A message is displayed accordingly.

Favorite Context Management

Once a favorite context is defined (limited or full), you can add PLM filters or remove existing filters or perform some operations to manage the favorite context. You can also define the context directly by adding a filter (in this case, the product associated to the filter is used as the root product).

Filters in Favorite Context

A filter limits the amount of objects loaded by an assembly. Therefore, they are used along with the favorite context to limit the loaded objects.

As a result, the root product is opened with the sub-parts filtered by the set of filters defined in the favorite context.

When a filter is selected while creating a favorite context, it gets embedded with the same name as the filter with _3dm suffix. In case such a name is already used, a .n suffix is added. Where n is an integer which is incremented each time a new copy with the same name is created.

Note: An embedded filter is a copy of a related filter which is aggregated under the product it is related to. It does not keep any link to the object filter it was copied from.

The Favorite Context Definition dialog box displays the list of filters embedded in the root product. You can select related filters, or already embedded filters or both. You can query the filters related to the defined product context several times to retrieve newly created filters. In this case, the search result is updated with the new query result.

Filter Selection in the Search Result

You can select the filters in the search results of the current product context. However, note that it is impossible to select more than one filters simultaneously. Once a filter is selected, the following criteria are checked:

  • If product context is not set, the product the filter is related to must contain the current representation. In that case, the filter is used; else, the selection is invalidated and accordingly an error message appears.
  • If a product context is set, the filter must be related to the same product. Otherwise, the selection is invalidated and an error message appears.
  • If this filter is already used, the selection is invalidated and an error message appears.
  • If the filter selection is valid, and if the selected filter is an embedded filter, it is immediately used.
  • If the filter has never been embedded under current product context, it is embedded, and this embedded filter is used.
  • If one or several embedded filters match this filter, a message appears prompting you to embed a new copy of the selected filter.

    In this case, it is possible to accept the creation of a new embedded filter, with incremented name.

Favorite Context and Visualization Filters

Visualization filters allow refining per view (only 2D layout view) what is relevant for the design. You can use these filters to filter all the PLM instances that are located below the favorite context root product. For more information about visualization filters, see About View Filters.

Change in Favorite Context

  • If the filter selection is valid, and if the selected filter is an embedded filter, it is immediately used.
  • Change of favorite context: change of root product for an assembly invalidates the filtering of objects while the filtering of features remains valid. A message is displayed informing the view filter impact.
  • Change of favorite occurrence: In this case, it does not invalidate the filtering of objects as long as the root product is kept unchanged.

Equivalent Filters and Favorite Context

The 2DL equivalent filters are created according to the favorite context of the 2D layout.

Only the valid and loaded favorite context are considered to summarize the cases for the computation of occurrences:

3D Shape Status Favorite Context (FC)
No FC Limited FC Full FC
Non-instantiated NO NO NO
Mono-instantiated YES NO YES
Multi-instantiated NO NO YES

2D Layout Insight Specific Aspects

When browsing 2D layout data with 2D Layout Insight product, instead of Define Favorite Context command the Browse Favorite Context command is available.

The user interface is the same but edition commands are not available.