Assigning Types, Groups, and Components to a Specification

After you create a specification and enter general parameters, you can proceed with adding components, groups, and types to the specification.

You can add or remove components from a specification at any time; however, if the specification is already in use with any 3DSMART projects, modifying the specification is not recommended.

When you add components, groups, and types to a new specification, we recommend that you do it in the following order:

§         types

§         groups

§         individual components

To assign component types to a specification...

1.   In the Explorer, right-click on the specification to which you want to add component types.

The right-click menu appears.

2.   From the right-click menu, select Add types and select one of the following from the submenu:

•  Select for add - to open the Component type tree for spec dialog box where you can view the component library structure and select component types and sub-types to include in the specification.

•  All from library - to automatically add all component types in the component library.

•  All from spec - to select a specification and automatically add all component types in the selected specification to the current one.

3.   If you choose Select for add, review the component tree carefully and select all applicable types and sub-types.

Ø Note: When applicable, use the Include all dependent types and Include all dependent group check boxes.

4.   Click Apply to add the types to your specification and close the Component type tree for spec dialog box.

5.   Continue by assigning component groups.

To assign component groups to a specification...

1.   In the Explorer, right-click on the component type to which you want to add component groups.

2.   From the right-click menu, select Add groups and select one of the following from the submenu:

• Select for add - to open the Add component groups into spec dialog box where you can view the list of available component groups and select groups to include in the specification. Note: This option is only available if you open a lowest level sub-type.

• All from library - to automatically add all component groups for selected type (and any associated sub-types)

• All from spec - to select a specification and add component groups from this specification to selected type (and any associated sub-types)

3.   If you choose Select for add, review the component groups carefully and select all applicable groups. Note: You can select a range of groups using Shift + click, or selected items using Ctrl + click.

4.   Click OK to add the groups to your specification and close the Add component groups into spec dialog box.

5.   Continue by assigning individual components.

To assign components to a specification...

1.   In the Explorer, right-click the component group to which you want to add components.

2.   From the right-click menu, select Add components and select one of the following from the submenu:

• Select for add - to open the Components in spec dialog box where you can view the list of available components and select components to include in the specification

• Add all (merge) - to automatically add all components in the component library for selected group

• Copy all from spec - to select a specification and copy components (for the selected group) into the current specification; this replaces settings for existing components

•  Merge all from spec - to select a specification and merge components (for the selected group) into the current specification; this preserves settings for existing components

3.   If you choose Select for add, review the component list and select all applicable components. Note: You can select a range of groups using Shift + click, or selected items using Ctrl + click.

4.   Click Apply to add the groups to your specification and close the Components in spec dialog box.

Ø   Note: If you add items in the reverse order (groups before types, for example) the groups will not be visible in the Explorer until you add the associated types.