Topic: Table driven parts and browser  Message: 1 of 10  
  
From: A J Anthony 
Date: Apr/07/03 - 16:00 (GMT) 
Hi All:
I am creating an assembly with 28 slightly different parts which will be
table driven. This consequently will put 28 "table" icons in each part that
I create. I know I can turn off all the table icons in the browser usng the
filter, but,... can I turn off all the icons in each part except the one
relating that specifc part. (Hope this is clearer to you than it is to me :)
TIA
Andre


Message: 2 of 10  
From: John Mayfair 
Date: Apr/08/03 - 06:58 (GMT) 
If they are slightly different why dont you use the same table for all with
versions? So far as I know, the versions are used for that purpose. But I
dont know table driven thing in detail.
Regards,
J. Mayfair

  
Message: 3 of 10  
From: A J Anthony 
Date: Apr/08/03 - 14:55 (GMT) 
Hi John:
Sorry, let me elaborate a bit.
I have 28 hexagonal segments (cells) which are all curved to slightly
different radii of curvature based on slightly different face slopes blah
blah... all using parameters calculated in Excel. I am actually using one
table, but it has for example 28 columns of data (I guess this is what you
mean by "versions"?). Unfortunately I have to now create each segment or
cell in one assembly - so I have 28 different parts (cells). When I expand
each part in the browser, I see the icons for all 28 versions for each part.
What I was hoping to do was filter the browser somehow such that I would
only see the icon for the version for that specific part - ie cell 12 would only 
show the icon for the version called cell 12. I suspect this is not possible.
Thanks
A


Message: 4 of 10  
From: Graeme Van Dongen 
Date: Apr/09/03 - 14:06 (GMT)
Hi A
Funny... ?? That's how I thought table driven parts were supposed to behave,
except the versions are in rows, not columns. You activate the part, select
the version you want, and the part name updates to the selected version.
Puzzled,
Graeme


Message: 5 of 10  
From: Keith 
Date: Apr/09/03 - 14:30 (GMT) 
When you create the table-driven link, you can select the versions to be
down or across.
ie
   amvars
   setup
   Version Names (at the left)
  click Down or Across

  
Message: 6 of 10  
From: Keith 
Date: Apr/09/03 - 14:48 (GMT) 
In the browser, my table list is collapsed by default and the part name
changes to reflect the version which is active. At least, this is the case
when the part is local to the assembly file. When the part is externalized,
the part name does not reflect the version AND the table cannot be expanded.
I can edit the part, then select the version. Then the part name changes to
reflect the version but the part is locked.

At any rate, it sounds like you're creating multiple instances of the same
part but want different versions of each instance. When I create another
instance of the part and modify the version, ALL instances change to that
version. When I localize the part, the same thing occurs.

Once the part is localized, though, I can copy the DEFINITION (amcatalog |
rmb on part name | Copy Definition) and create an instance of the new part.
Then changing the version in that table does not affect the original part
and the name changes to reflect which version is selected.

Is that more what you're after?


Message: 7 of 10  
From: A J Anthony 
Date: Apr/10/03 - 15:25 (GMT) 
Hi Keith:

Yes, my parts are all local, and I am doing it as you say near the end of
your document in that I am copying the definition, renaming it (Cell 1,
Cell 2, Cell 3..) and then assigining each cell a different version.

I suspect that I am doing an extra step (?). When I update data in my excel
table, I go to each cell in the browser, update the table (for each of the
28 cells) and then expand the table icon and then RMB and "Activiate" the
specific version associated with that part. As an example, I would go to
Cell 23, update the table, then expand the list of versions below the table
icon and "Activate" the version for cell 23. I now suspect this last step is
not necessary. For 28 different cells, this would save a bit of time.

I notice when you do this to a number of cells, and then hit the "update
part" button the command line states "Active part updated", whic seems
obvious because that is essentially what the commant is supposed to do. Is
there a way to force a "group update". As this model grows, I can see 28
different updates each time I change a number in the excel table being quite
time consuming.

Thanks for all

">
> At any rate, it sounds like you're creating multiple instances of the same
> part but want different versions of each instance. When I create another
> instance of the part and modify the version, ALL instances change to that
> version. When I localize the part, the same thing occurs.
>
> Once the part is localized, though, I can copy the DEFINITION (amcatalog |
> rmb on part name | Copy Definition) and create an instance of the new
part.
> Then changing the version in that table does not affect the original part
> and the name changes to reflect which version is selected.
>
> Is that more what you're after?
>


Message: 8 of 10  
From: Keith 
Date: Apr/10/03 - 21:41 (GMT) 
When I click on the Update button, I can right-click in the graphics area
and choose Update Part or Update All Parts.

"A J Anthony" wrote in message
news:5E41DE1D7A3861009A4689923C78804E@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Hi Keith:
>
> Yes, my parts are all local, and I am doing it as you say near the end of
> your document in that I am copying the definition, renaming it (Cell 1,
> Cell 2, Cell 3..) and then assigining each cell a different version.
>
> I suspect that I am doing an extra step (?). When I update data in my
excel
> table, I go to each cell in the browser, update the table (for each of the
> 28 cells) and then expand the table icon and then RMB and "Activiate" the
> specific version associated with that part. As an example, I would go to
> Cell 23, update the table, then expand the list of versions below the
table
> icon and "Activate" the version for cell 23. I now suspect this last step
is
> not necessary. For 28 different cells, this would save a bit of time.
>
> I notice when you do this to a number of cells, and then hit the "update
> part" button the command line states "Active part updated", whic seems
> obvious because that is essentially what the commant is supposed to do. Is
> there a way to force a "group update". As this model grows, I can see 28
> different updates each time I change a number in the excel table being
quite
> time consuming.
>
> Thanks for all
>
>
>
> ">
> > At any rate, it sounds like you're creating multiple instances of the
same
> > part but want different versions of each instance. When I create
another
> > instance of the part and modify the version, ALL instances change to
that
> > version. When I localize the part, the same thing occurs.
> >
> > Once the part is localized, though, I can copy the DEFINITION (amcatalog
|
> > rmb on part name | Copy Definition) and create an instance of the new
> part.
> > Then changing the version in that table does not affect the original
part
> > and the name changes to reflect which version is selected.
> >
> > Is that more what you're after?
> >
>
>

   
Message: 9 of 10  
From: Craig Sink 
Date: Apr/18/03 - 15:55 (GMT) 
> > I notice when you do this to a number of cells, and then hit the "update
> > part" button the command line states "Active part updated", which seems
> > obvious because that is essentially what the commend is supposed to do.
Is
> > there a way to force a "group update". As this model grows, I can see 28
> > different updates each time I change a number in the excel table being
> part
> > > and the name changes to reflect which version is selected.
> > >
> > > Is that more what you're after?

A few tips for quicker updating. If you type "AMUPDATE" there will be
several options. You can enter "K" to update all of the parts that reference
the excel sheet. Then "AMUPDATE" again and enter "L" for 'all parts' and the
all the parts will update. This way you won't have to 'ACTIVATE' each part
after updating.
    On further note, I created a button that has 2 commands on it: "
^C^C_audit;y;amupdate;l; " I then use this fairly often during design. It
goes through a process that finds errors, then updates all parts as
discussed above. It will save lots of headache if this is done regularly,
especially on large assemblies.

Just a few tips,
Craig
FDI



Message: 10 of 10  
From: cascadtx 
Date: May/15/03 - 01:26 (GMT) 
Glad I found this thread because I had some similar
questions. Looks like the moved the command that used
to update the spreadsheet links into the AMUPDATE command.
Guess I should look at those commmand line
options occasionally as I change versions!

Re the original question, a little spreadsheet magic
might be in order. Rename the Generic column as "Active"
(not necessary but it will help explain
as I go along here). In a spreadsheet cell off to the
side or bottom - possibly a dummy variable in the list -
put a 'switch' variable that will cause the copy of
values from your 'active' row to the row MDT considers
'active'. Not clear?! Do this:
In cell A1 put 'B' (without the single quotes)
In cell A2 put '=LOOKUP(A1,B1:E1,B2:E2)'
In cell B1 put 'B', C1 put 'C', etc. until you're tired
In cell B2 put '1', C2 put '2', etc.
Now change cell A1 to 'C' and hit enter. Get it, the
value of A2 is now the value of C2 and MDT doesn't need
a browser double-click to switch versions. Note that I
set up for versions across columns and variables/features
down the rows.