Specifying and Editing Inputs for Instantiation

Specifying inputs and editing parameters of the object type in the Content Specification of the Capture Component Specifications dialog box allows you to prepare the instantiation using the Process button. Use this procedure to define all the necessary inputs for the instantiation of user features and to create the product-based design model with Change level of Development available with Building and Civil Assemblies.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin:
  • Launch Capture Component Specifications.
  • Select an object type.
  • Select either specification inputs or pattern inputs.
See Also
About Specifications Features and Objects Types

Understand the Content Specification Box

If the selected object type contains a feature-based model or a product-based model or both, you can access the Content Specification section.

Status icons (red, orange, green) help you complete the component specification. For example, If the selected object type contains meta-inputs, the information is given in the instantiation mode.

Optional: To complete the component specification, simply hover over the status icon to access the message, and take the appropriate action.

Choose the User Feature Destination

You can select a user feature destination if not already selected or invalid. The user feature destination is related to a feature-based design model that must be contained in the selected object type.

  1. If the status icon is red, click the User Feature Destination box.
  2. Select a valid set in the tree or create a body or a geometric set from the context menu.
    The red icon icon turns green. The selected set is compatible with the user feature. By default, the current set that is compatible with the user feature contained in the object type is proposed as destination.
    Note: The Enable hybrid design inside part bodies and bodies must be checked to insert a body.

Choose the Instantiation Mode

Two instantiation modes are available: Meta inputs and Standard.

For more information, see Engineering Templates and 3D Templates Capture User's Guides: Working with Meta Inputs.

  1. Select the instantiation mode in the list.
    • Standard: Lets you select each input manually.
    • Meta Inputs: Lets you associate the various inputs to a single relevant object.
    By default, if the Meta inputs instantiation is available (previously defined at the user feature or engineering template level) it is proposed.
  2. Change the mode if relevant.

Edit Inputs

You can edit inputs when some inputs are not defined. Undefined inputs are identified by a red status icon.

  1. Click Edit Inputs.
    All inputs appear in the list view, specifications in the first column, all other inputs of the object type in other columns. The available inputs depend on the object type instantiation method (Standard or Meta inputs).
  2. Select an input to edit.
    • By set:
      1. For individual specification features (No Selection)

        In this case, no input pattern is available. You can only select an element for each input. The input is applied to all listed specification features.

      2. For patterned specification features (Select Input), select either an element or a pattern from the list of available input patterns.
    • Individually: For both cases, you can select a single element only.

    The type of element you can select must be one of the following depending on the instantiation method:

    • A geometrical element for a geometrical input (standard)
    • A user feature, a geometrical set or a body for meta inputs

  3. To specify an input of a specification pattern, click Edit by Set check box, and either
    • Select a geometrical input, for example a curve for Alignment Curve. This input is applied to all specification features of the pattern, even those which will be created later during pattern update.
    • Create an input pattern on the fly. The list of available patterns for each geometrical type of input varies. As an example, the Projection Pattern option is available only if the selected input is a point.

    For more information, see Defining Input Patterns.

    For a list of the available patterns by input types, see About Specification Features and Object Types.

    The inputs are edited accordingly.
  4. Optional: To edit an input pattern you created in the previous step, click Edit.
  5. To delete an input pattern you created in step 3, click Delete.
  6. Click Back to switch back to the main panel.

Edit Inputs by Projecting Individual Specification Features

You can project a given specification feature on a surface or a mesh if the input is a point.

  1. Click Edit Inputs.
    All inputs appear in the list view, specifications in the first column, all other inputs of the object type in other columns. The available inputs depend on the object type instantiation method (Standard or Meta inputs).
  2. Click Select by Specification.
  3. Select a cell in a column corresponding to an input point.
  4. From the context menu, select Project Specification.
  5. Select a surface or a mesh.
    The origin of the specification feature projected on the surface is used as input point.

Edit and Display Parameters

You can edit input parameters and display them.

  1. Filter the parameters to display.
  2. Select a parameter to edit:
    • By set:
      1. For individual specification features (No Selection).

        In this case, no input pattern is available. You can only edit the parameter value for each input.

      2. For patterned specification features, edit either parameter value of all specification features for each input, or select Selection Pattern.
    • Individually: For both cases, you can edit the parameter value only.
  3. Click Display Parameters to display all constraints in the 3D area as defined in the feature-based model.
    This option is available only if
    • An input is selected in the input list.
    • The selected specification feature has its user feature instantiated.

Display Help

You can display feature-based model and engineering template information and figures of the corresponding object type.

  1. Click Display Help.
    The Helper that appears provides information about the feature-based model and product based-model contained in the object type.
  2. Click Show Status to display the object type status.
    The status icon along with the object type name and its instantiation method information are provided.

Process the Instantiation

If the object type contains a feature-based design whose required inputs are complete, you can click Process to instantiate user features.

Click Process .