Exploring Objects

Exploring objects enables you to open them as the root in a new Product Finder tab.

This task shows you how to:

Explore an Object

The Explore command enables you to open an object as root in a new tab. Multiple roots are supported.

To explore an object in Product Finder, from a search result, the tree or from the 3D, right-click an object and select Explore in Product Finder.
The following object types are supported:
  • Product reference
  • Product instance
  • Document
  • Simulation
  • Review

Important: If the object you are exploring is a product and has not yet been indexed, a message appears asking if you still want to load the data now. Doing so implies that data will be opened from the database and this could take time.
Tip: You can now use a drag-and-drop on an object to transition from a 3DDashboard to a native app for exploring.
Notes:
  • The Explore command opens objects in the last app used that is compatible with the object type you are trying to explore.
  • You can explore a representation only with its parents.
  • You can drag a search result to an existing tab to add an object root. Multiroot is supported.
  • From the search results, you can select one or more objects, and then select Product Finder from the Compass. Selected objects are explored in different tabs.
  • From an authoring tab, you can also explore objects by switching to Product Finder from the Compass. For more information, see Switching Apps.
  • The SHIFT + F3 shortcut, used to activate the specification tree, is not supported on the navigation window.
  • If you drag and drop too many objects from 3DDashboard to native app, a message appears saying "Too many objects to be dropped. Please reduce the number of selected objects for drag & drop.

Remove Root Objects

Product Finder enables multiroot support. This task describes how to remove root objects from a tab.

To remove a root object from a tab, right-click it and select Remove from Experience.
Checks are performed against selected Instances to determine if the operation is possible. If all checks are validated, then the root object is removed.

Unload Objects

You can now remove Products, 3DParts, 3DShapes, and Drawings from the session (and from memory).

To unload an object, right-click it and select Unload.
The object is unloaded accordingly from the session and from memory.
Important: Checks are performed first to determine if the operation is possible. Cases where the operation is impossible include:
  • Instances to be removed are strongly pointed by objects that will remain in session.
  • Instances to be removed are strongly pointed by the clipboard content.

Notes:
  • Unload also works on instances. It removes from session all occurrences of selected instances.
  • When the Unload command is launched on a 3DShape of a 3DPart, the 3DPart is unloaded.

Explore Parents

This task shows you how to explore the parent objects of a chosen object.

This command explores the parent objects in the structure of the selected object, and the parent objects of the following container types:

  • Folder/workspace vaults
  • Catalogs
  • Validation/review containers
  • PPR contexts

  1. Right-click an object and select Explore With > Explore Parents.
    The Explore Parents dialog box appears. The selected object represents the root of a tree under which is its parent object. The thumbnail represents a 3D image of the parent object. Note that the tree is displayed bottom to top.



  2. If the parent object can be expanded, double-click it.
    The parent object's parent object is displayed in the tree. (You can continue expanding the tree to display in turn the parent object of each respective object for as many levels as you wish.)
  3. Select any object in the displayed tree.
    The selected object's parent object is displayed in the thumbnail.
  4. Right-click any object in the tree and select Explore.
    The object is opened in a new Navigation app as root object.
  5. Select any object in the tree, right-click the associated parent thumbnail and select Explore..
    The parent object is opened in a new Navigation tab as root object.
  6. Click ( ) to toggle the Instance/Reference mode.
    The different instances are now displayed for the references previously displayed.
    Notes:
    • In the case where there is only one Instance for a Reference, for intermediary nodes the displayed Instance and Reference names will be different. However for terminal leaves, which are usually Representations, they could be the same.
    • For folders, in the Instance-Reference mode, the folder for which the command was launched will appear twice. (A folder is the instance of its reference.)
  7. Click to display a list of all roots containing the reference.
    All roots are indicated. Note that these results are displayed on a separate tab page .
  8. Click and select a reference from any tab (Search Results, Navigation or Examine) to display the complete parent hierarchy.
    The parent hierarchy is displayed. Only branches in which the selected reference is found are kept.
  9. Click the "x" in the upper-right corner of the dialog box to close it (or to close the current tab page if multiple tab pages are open).

Commands at the upper left of the dialog box enable you to:

  • toggle between Reference/Reference mode and Reference/Instance mode
  • get a list of roots
  • explore parents in the context of a selected reference (you can select the reference from any tab: Search Results, Explore, Examine)

Commands at the upper left of the dialog box enable you to change tab pages:

  • represents an "Explore Parents" page
  • represents a "Get root list" page

Commands at the upper right of the dialog box enable you to:

  • present the current parent in thumbnail format
  • present the current parent in tile format
Notes:
  • The entire set of commands that is available on a given object type in the Navigation tab is also available in the Explore Parents command.
  • You can multiselect objects before entering the Explore Parents command, in which case each selected object will appear in the dialog box when you launch the command and their parents can be explored in parallel.
  • When you launch the Explore Parents command from the Explore Parent dialog box, then the selected object becomes root in a new Explore Parents dialog box.

Explore an Object in Context of Its Parent Tree

This command enables you to take a specific part or assembly and explore it in the context of its parent in a new Navigation app.

  1. Select a part or assembly in the tree or in the 3D.
  2. Right-click a part or assembly in the tree or in the 3D and select Explore with > Explore with Parent Tree.
    A new Navigation app is opened containing the selected object in the context of its parent. Note: only branches in which the selected reference is found are displayed.

Search Content in Context of its Root Product

This command enables you to search parts in context of an explored assembly, to have a minimal number of results, and to explore the selected search results directly in the selected assembly context. The searched content must be indexed before you use this command.

  1. Explore a root product and select the root.
  2. In the Navigation section of the action bar, click Search in Context or, in the context menu, select Search in Context.
  3. In the Search bar (which will now indicate "Search in context of root product name"), search an object.
  4. Select an object from the results and click Apply.
    All branches are expanded from the root leading to the object.

Notes:
  • You can refine the search using 6WTags.
  • Multiselection from the search results is supported.
  • The following actions terminate the Search in Context command:
    • If you double-click a search result instead of clicking OK, the selected element will be explored in the new tab (same behavior as general search result).
    • If after launching the command, you change the tab, open a new tab, or closes the tab from which the command was launched.
    • The Search in Context option is not supported On the Cloud platform. To use the Search in Context option, install the 3DSpace Index. For more information, see Installation and Setup | 3DEXPERIENCE Platform | 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Installation | Installing 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Services for the First Time | Installing Services One-by-One | 3DSpace | 3DSpace Index | Installing 3DSpace Index.
Important:
  • You must select a single root only from among the explored assemblies, then launch the command.
  • Only volume and configuration filters on the selected root are taken into consideration for search in context. Other filter types are not supported. However:
    • When a volume or configuration filter is combined with any of the non-supported filter types, then the filter is not considered at all and the search results will be in context of the entire assembly, not the filtered assembly.
    • For a volume filter, when you search in context a multi-instantiated part, if one or more instances of this object are in the volume-filtered structure, then all instances of the object are explored in context (even the ones which are not in the selected volume).

Explore an Object in Context of a Product

This command enables you to explore a specific part or product assembly in the context of a product. The explored content must be indexed before you use this command.

  1. Explore an assembly in a Product Finder tab.
  2. In the Search box, enter a string for the object you want to locate in the assembly.
  3. In the Search results, right-click the object you want to locate in the context of the assembly, and select Explore in Context.
    You can also drag a search result onto an assembly root. However, this will not work correctly if the context is a filtered product that has not been indexed.

You can explore an object in context in the following three preferences available in the Explore in Context section of the Product Finder Explore preferences page.

Option Description
Remove siblings of content explored in context

Select this option to remove the siblings of the content explored in context. When a branch is inserted, the visualization of the last element in the tree is deleted and only the inserted representation is displayed.

By default, This option is activated.

Keep siblings of content explored in context

Select this option to keep the siblings of the content explored in context. The session is not modified outside the inserted branches.
Expand siblings of content explored in context

Select this option to expand the siblings of the content explored in context. Using this command, you can expand the branches that contain the object sought in a given context until the finding elements.

For more information, see Installation and Setup | Administrate | 3DEXPERIENCE Platform | Native Apps Preferences | All Preferences | Social and Collaborative | Global Design Management | Product Finder | Explore.

Notes:
  • To retrieve all the elements under a node, you must collapse and re-expand the node.
  • Explore in Context is supported only for the type physical product and its derived types.
Important:
  • Only configuration filters on the selected root are taken into consideration for explore in context. Other filter types are not supported.
  • For a volume filter, when you explore in context a multi-instantiated part, if one or more instances of this object are in the volume-filtered structure, then all instances of the object are explored in context (even the ones which are not in the selected volume).
  • The Explore in Context option is not supported On the Cloud platform. To use the Explore in Context option, install the 3DSpace Index. For more information, see Installation and Setup | 3DEXPERIENCE Platform | 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Installation | Installing 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Services for the First Time | Installing Services One-by-One | 3DSpace | 3DSpace Index | Installing 3DSpace Index.

Explore in Central

The Explore in Central command enables you to open a BPS object in a web client or in a web browser.

Before you begin: For an object to be opened in a web app, your administrator must have selected the option Immersive Experience whenever possible during the deployment process.
In a Search Results, in the tree or in the 3D, right-click an object and select Explore in Central.
The object is opened in a web client or in a web browser accordingly.

Check the 3D Indexation of an Object

The 3D Index Checker enables you to validate the indexation status of a selected object.

  1. Select an object in the 3D (multiselection is possible).
  2. From the Tools section of the action bar, click Check 3D Index .
    A 3D Index Checker table appears with the following information:
    • Name: name of the object in the session
    • Type: type of the object
    • Status: 3D Index query result (OK or KO)
    • Comments: diagnostic as a function of the status

Note: The names could be indicated as "N/A" if the content has been loaded in Light mode (3D only) instead of Navigation mode (data in the tree, name is loaded). Use the Expand, Center Tree, or Select Level commands, then restart the Check 3D Index command.

Explore a Part Having Multiple Associated Configurations

This task shows you how to explore a part in your object structure that has multiple associated product configurations.

When you try to explore a product having multiple associated configurations, you will be asked immediately to select a configuration before the product is opened in a Navigation app.

  1. Search for a product.
    A Results list is displayed.
  2. In the Results list, double-click an object or right-click an object and select Explore.
    If the selected product has associated configurations, then the Choose a Configuration dialog box appears.
  3. Select a configuration and click Apply Config.
    The selected configuration is applied to the part. A filter icon is displayed under the root node to indicate that a filter is applied.
    Note: If the selected product has only one associated configuration then that configuration will be automatically applied and the product will be explored accordingly.

Explore a Product Configuration Having Multiple Associated References

This task shows you how to explore a product configuration having multiple associate product references.

When you try to explore a product configuration, if more than one product reference is associated to it, then you will be asked immediately to select an associated product. That product will then be opened in a Navigation app with the configuration applied to it.

  1. Search for a configuration.
    A Search Results list is displayed.
  2. In the Search Results list, double-click an object or right-click an object and select Explore.
    The Choose a Reference for Explore dialog box appears.
  3. Select a product reference and click OK.
    The selected product is opened in a Navigation app with the associated configuration applied to it. A filter icon is displayed under the root node to indicate that a filter is applied.