Tools > Alignment > Datum/Feature Alignment aligns one object with another with respect to the datums or features that exist on both.
The controls are:
Datum/Feature Inputs group -
Datums radio button - specifies that the Fixed and Float lists contain the names of datums found in those objects.
Features radio button - specifies that the Fixed and Float lists contain the names of features found in those objects.
Fixed list - a list of the datums or features found in the object that is designated as Fixed.
Float list - a list of the datums or features found in the object that is designated as Float.
Auto button - automatically associates datums or features on the Float object to similar constructs on the Fixed object.
Create Pair button - is the method of designating that a datum or feature on one object is “the same” as a datum or feature on the other object. This button associates one highlighted datum or feature from the Fixed list with one highlighted datum or feature from the Float list, then performs alignment with respect to that pair. The Viewing Area has three panels: a panel to show datums and features on the Fixed object, a panel to show datums and features on the Float object, and an Aligned panel that indicates their current relative positions in space.
Datum/Feature Pairs group -
List of Pairs - is a list of the associations (whether the result of the Auto button or the Create Pair button). Pairs appear in the list in the order they were created, which is the alignment priority (except that pairs of target datums always appear at the bottom of the list). The higher the priority, the more perfect the alignment of a given pair.
Up and Down arrows - moves the highlighted pair higher or lower in the list. (Target datums always stay at the bottom of the list).
Flip Plane button - reverses the normal direction of the datum or feature on the Float object.
Flip Axis button - (if the datum or feature has an axis) reverses the normal direction of the axis on the Float object.
Delete button - deletes the highlighted pair from the List of Pairs.
Use Feature Plane checkbox (applicable to features, not datums) - specifies whether alignment will be with respect to the planes on which features lie.
Use Feature Axis checkbox (applicable to features, not datums) - specifies whether alignment will be with respect to the axes of features.
Statistics group -
Status indicator - indicates whether the two objects are fully or partially constrained (based on the number of position of datums or features used in the alignment).
Rotation indicator - indicates the degree of rotational constraint.
Translation indicator - indicates the degree of translational constraint.
Datum Deviations indicator - indicates the distances between each pair of datums after the alignment is complete.
Best Fit indicator -
Best Fit button (applicable when constraint is not full) - aligns the Float to the Fixed in the non-constrained direction by performing a best-fit of the object bodies, ignoring any target datums at the bottom of the List of Pairs.
Align Targets button (applicable when at least one of the pairs is a pair of target datums and when constraint is not full) - further aligns the Float to the Fixed by considering the target datums at the bottom of the List of Pairs.
OK button - saves the re-aligned Float object to the Model Manager and closes the dialog.
Cancel button - terminates the dialog without saving a re-aligned Float object.