About Groups

You can manage a large number of items more easily by creating groups. Capabilities such as collapse/expand and hide/show facilitate the handling of group objects in the item editor.

This page discusses:

See Also
Managing Groups

Introduction

Groups are used in the item editor to create and manage groups and subgroups of items.

Advantages of grouping items include:

  • Collapse or expand a group to simplify the user experience when there are a large number of items.
  • Organize groups and subgroups.
  • Manipulate a group as a single unit, for example, to drag it on a system.

Grid Layout

Items and groups are placed on the grid in a logical way, based on levels.

The item structure comprises one or more levels. In the example below, these levels appear as green boxes.



The Root item is located at the first level, Level 0. For an item on level n, its successors are on level n-1 and its predecessors are on level n+1.

In addition, groups have their own internal level.

In the example above, the item P3 and group G1 are at the same level, Level 2. P3 is positioned on the grid so that it is centered with respect to G1.

Group Behavior and Rules

Group behavior is determined by a number of rules.

All Item Types Can Be Included in a Group

The Insert Group command can be used on Manufacturing Assemblies, Manufactured Materials, Manufactured Parts, Manufacturing Kits, and on other groups to create groups. However, all item types can be included in groups.

Item Structure Is Not Modified When a Group Is Created or Deleted

When a group is deleted, the original item structure is not modified and no item is deleted.

Groups and items Can Be Included in a Group

A group that is included in another group becomes a subgroup of that group.

Group Comprises of Items Owned by the Same Parent

The parent is also the owner of the group.

Group Is Made Up of Connected Groups That Have the Same Successor

Connected groups are from the data requirement graph. The successor of a connected group is the successor of the only item that does not have a successor in the connected group.



G1 and T3 cannot be joined by the data requirement graph. T3-A3 and G1 do not have the same successor.

Item Included in a Group and All Child Items Are Implicitly Included in Group

Sometimes an item that has several child items is dragged and dropped on a group tile. In this case, the item and child items are included in the group.

Group Can Be Made Up of Other Groups

A group can be created as a subgroup under another group using the Insert Group command. In addition, you can create a group structure with empty groups and fill it later.

Item Can Be Put Outside Group Only If Parent Is Not Included in the Group

If an item or group is dragged and dropped on the area of a different group, the item or group is added to that group.

If an item or group is dragged and dropped on the area of a different group, the item or group is added to that group.

For example, if item A.1 is rerouted under A.2, then A.1 is added to Group 2, because A.2 is in a group.



If A.2 is rerouted under A.1, then A.2 is removed from Group 2.

If A.3 is rerouted under A.2, then A.3 is removed from Group 3 and added to Group 2, Group 3 is empty but it is not removed.

Group Deletion

When a group is deleted using the contextual Delete command:

  • Included items and groups are not removed but the layout is updated
  • If the deleted group is a subgroup, all included objects are moved to the upper group.

Item Configuration Split and Replace

If an item is split or replaced, a new item instance is added automatically to the group, if the instance is included in a group.

Multi-Instantiated Items

You can create a group on each item instance, which is multi-instantiated items.

Precedence Constraints

Precedence constraints can be created between:

  • Items that are in a group
  • Items that are not in the same group
  • An item that is not included in a group and an item that is included in a group.

Drag

Dragging is possible when working with groups.

When a product is dragged to a group, an item is created under the parent item of the group and added to it. The parent item is the item below which the group is created.

When a group is dragged to a system or operation in the System Editor, the group can be manipulated as a whole. This means that the group is a multiselection of items included in the group and any subgroups. Therefore all items are assigned to the target operation or under the target system. Items that are already assigned to the operation target or under the system target are not implemented a second time.

Visualization Modes

Standard visualization mode behavior applies for groups.

In the example below, the Show Only Concerned Parts mode is selected. All the items are created under the root and the group is empty.



When items are dropped to the group, the 3D representation on the group is updated.



Sometimes the Show Unconcerned Parts as Transparent mode is selected. In this case, all items that are included in the group appear transparent above the tile of the item under which the group is created.



Editability

Editability can be managed on a group. You can select the tile of the group to switch to read-only or editing.

When a group is read-only:

  • A warning symbol appears at the upper right corner of the tile
  • No item or group can be added to the group
  • No item or group can be removed from the group
  • The group cannot be removed
  • Properties of the group cannot be modified
  • Editability of items and groups included in the group cannot be modified

Libraries

A group cannot be saved in a library.

However, you can reuse a group by inserting a parent item from a library.

Note: You can explore a group by making a query in the Search. In the navigation, the parent item and all items included in the group are displayed.