About Contextual Links

Contextual links are created between structure objects to manage relations between them.

In Structure Design, structure objects are created with reference to other structure objects. Contextual links are created between them to manage relations between them. When any changes are made to the reference object, all the objects referring to it are impacted.

You can create contextual links through publications of the reference objects to avoid unnecessary impacts when the reference objects are modified. To create publications for the structure objects, you must have selected the Create publications for structure objects check box available at Me > Preferences > App Preferences > 3D Modeling > Multi Discipline Engineering > Structure Design.

Notes:
  • Publications are created only during the creation of objects. Therefore, the publications are not created through operations such as breaking profiles, advanced copy, copy-paste, and so on.
  • A publication is not created for the output profile of a parametric panel. You can manually create it.

When the links are created through publications, only those objects are impacted that have a direct relation with the modified attributes of the reference object. For example, if you delete or modify an opening on a panel, a stiffener attached to the panel is not impacted.

The following are some exceptions:

  • When non-planar objects are used as reference for other objects, any modification on them impacts all the dependant objects.
  • Stiffeners on free edges created on openings are impacted on any modifications in panel limits.
  • When stiffeners and stiffeners on free edges are created with the Border limit mode, any modifications in panel limits impact them. If the stiffener is considering the thickness of a split plate of the support panel, modifications in the panel limits impact the stiffener, irrespective of the limit mode.
  • If a panel, stiffener, stiffener on free edge, or bracket is limited using a panel, and it is considering the thickness of the split plates of the limiting panel, modifications in the panel limits impact it.
  • If functional objects were modified after synchronization, if the physical objects are resynchronized with them, all objects referring to the physical objects are impacted.
  • When a result geometry of an object, for example a particular face of a stiffener selected using the Alt key, is selected as a reference, any modification in the reference object impacts the dependant object.
  • In a composite slot, any modification in the web element impacts the penetrated panel.