Instantiating Power Copies Using Step by Step Instantiation

You can instantiate power copies and nested power copies using the step by step instantiation once they have been created.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin:

  • Ensure you have the Generative Shape Design 2 app as well as the 3D Templates Capture license.

  • Open reference and destination documents.

See Also
About the Instantiation of Power Copies

Instantiate Power Copies

You can instantiate power copies using the step-by-step instantiation once they have been created.

  1. From the destination document, click Instantiate from Selection .
  2. Select the power copy from the reference document.

    The Insert Object dialog box appears.

    Note: Warning or error messages can be issued if the chosen destination is ambiguous or forbidden, for example if you select an ordered geometrical set as the After destination.
    • In case of an error message, the destination box is emptied and OK is unavailable.
    • In case of a warning message, the power copy can still be instantiated but some elements may not be inserted in the chosen destination.
  3. Select the Step by step instantiation mode.
    The Inputs box is unavailable.
  4. In the Destination box, select the destination of the instantiation.
    Note: The destination depends on the current feature as it is automatically filled with the latter. If there is no current feature, the box is empty.
    • When possible, you can modify the default destination, either by modifying the relative position or by selecting another destination feature.
    • The destination is filled with After when the destination is a geometric feature. In this case, the After box is unavailable.
    • The destination is filled with Inside when the destination is a geometrical feature set.
  5. Click OK.
    A PowerCopy Instances node is automatically created in the tree. The Comparison Window opens and the Comparison Window section is displayed.

    The Power Copy instance feature stores several information:

    • A link to the referenced power copy. This link will be later used to retrieve the referenced 3D shape and the inputs' geometry.
    • The list of inputs to valuate in the current 3D shape as well as their role.
    • The list of parameters published by the power copy during its creation.
    • The mapping between referenced objects and instantiated objects.

    You cannot delete the power copy instance feature as long as instantiated features inputs are not valuated. An error message appears if you do so. Deletion is possible only when instantiated features have all their inputs valuated, i.e. when the instantiation is completed, or when all instantiated features are deleted.

    When editing a feature in the Comparison Window, the edited feature is highlighted simultaneously on both left and right sides of the screen, in the tree and work area.

  6. Click First or First to update in the action bar to update the features instantiated by the power copy.
    Important: Only the Structure mode is available here.

    Each time the scan finds a feature that needs inputs, a dialog box is launched to valuate them. Only the necessary inputs are requested.

    Note that:

    • Indicators are displayed in the right viewer to identify the previous inputs and each input is highlighted.
    • After the inputs are selected, the scan command is still active.

    You must select inputs in the order they appear in the dialog box.

  7. Select the value for each input.
    After each selection, an indicator appears in the left viewer, with orientation when necessary. Click on the green arrow to reverse orientation if needed.
  8. Click OK.
  9. Click Next or Play update to continue the inputs valuation.

    Once the update is finished, close the Scan command as well as the Comparison Window.

    Important:
    • The Scan command can be interrupted at any step if you need to create or modify a feature to valuate an input. You can do so while the Comparison window is still active: simply re-launch the Scan command once the creation or modification is done.
    • The power copy instance feature that contains all the information is persistent. Therefore you can save the 3D shape before (or during) the Scan update, close your session, launch a new session and launch the Scan command again to valuate the inputs. Step by step instantiation is completed when all inputs are correctly selected.
    • If you skip some steps (by direct selection in the tree during the Scan command or using Last button for instance, you will still need to valuate the inputs of all intermediate steps and a warning message is issued. Indeed the Scan command stops as soon as a feature needs inputs valuation and this feature is then defined as the in work object, to prevent the selection of inputs which are below it.
    • If the reference 3D shape is not found, the scan and the input valuation can be performed but the Comparison Window is unavailable and the old inputs (with reference orientation) cannot be displayed.

Instantiate Nested Power Copies

The nested power copies instantiation mode is available provided the power copy to be created is ordered and the chosen destination (that is the current feature) respects ordering rules.

In this scenario, we are not going to select the point as input for the circle: indeed the center of the circle is to be created using another power copy.

  1. From the reference document, click Instantiate from Selection .
  2. Select the power copy from the destination document.

    The Insert Object dialog box appears.

  3. Select the Step by step instantiation mode.
  4. Select the Destination of the instantiation.
  5. Click OK.

    A PowerCopy Instances node is automatically created in the tree of the current document. The Comparison Window opens on the right side of the screen and the Comparison Window section is displayed.

  6. Click First or First to update in the Review section of the action bar to update the features instantiated by the power copy.
  7. Click Cancel in the Definition dialog box.
  8. Click Instantiate from Selection .
  9. Select the power copy from the destination document.
  10. Select the Step by step instantiation mode.
  11. Click OK.
    A new Comparison window is created with the destination 3D shape on the left and the reference on the right. You can either work from this window or switch to the initial window containing the destination 3D shape.

    A new power copy instance is added under the PowerCopy Instances node.

  12. Click First or First to update in the Review section of the action bar to update the features instantiated by the power copy.
    Important: Only the Structure mode is available here.

    Each time the scan finds a feature that needs inputs, a dialog box is launched to valuate the inputs. Here a point is the first instantiated feature that needs an input.

  13. Select the value for the Reference surface and click OK.

    After each selection, an indicator appears in the left viewer, with orientation when necessary. Click on the green arrow to reverse orientation if needed.

    The point is updated.

    The instantiation of the power copy is now completed. All instantiated features are updated and you may delete the power copy instance feature if desired. The corresponding Comparison Window can be closed.

  14. Click Next or Play update . The next feature that needs inputs is the circle.
    • As this feature belongs to the first instantiated power copy, the Comparison Window automatically changes to display the 3D shape containing the right power copy reference.
    • Even if the previous Comparison Windowhas not been closed, the Comparison Window corresponding to the right power copy instance appears in the right viewer.
    • Indicators are displayed in the right viewer to identify the previous inputs and each input is highlighted.

    Select the value for each input and click OK.

    The first input can now be valuated with one of the two previously created features.

    After each selection, an indicator appears in the left viewer, with orientation when necessary. Click on the green arrow to reverse orientation if needed.

  15. Click Next or Play update .
  16. Close the Comparison Window when done.
    Tips:
    • If you launch the Quick Select command , either in the left or in the right window, the visualization is updated in both windows: pre-highlighting is synchronous and a color code indicates the current selection (green labels) in the Quick Select dialog box and the parents/children (red labels).
    • Once all power copies have been instantiated, you can close the comparison windows that are still open and delete the power copy instance features.