Attribute Driven Graphic Replacement

This task explains how to add graphic replacement to 2-D drawings that you generate.

The graphic replacement settings in your GVS file enable you to view boundary attributes. These boundary attributes display in your 2-D drawings as offset curves and patterns. (The appearance of these 2-D drawings is controlled by drawing production settings you add to a GVS file stored in XML format.)

 

Before you can use this process, you need to set Options as follows:

From the menu bar, select Tools - Options - Mechanical Design - Drafting.

Select the Administration tab and under Generative View Style, uncheck the option Prevent Generative View Style Usage.
 

   The default file provided with this application is called CompartmentAndAccessSample.xml.

This file is located in the directory ...intel_a\resources\standard\generativeparameters\SAMPLES.

Copy the default XML file from the SAMPLES directory, and place the copy in the generativeparameters directory. You need to customize this file to view your specific boundary types with the desired graphic properties. Do not make changes to the original file.

Settings are located in a section of the file under the heading Attribute Driven Graphic Replacement of Boundary. Use a text editor to add or change the settings in the XML file.
    In the sample file, three boundary types are supported:
Wall (BoundaryType_1)
Deck (BoundaryType_2)
Overhead (BoundaryType_3)

Settings for each boundary type are listed in separate sections: Wall Boundary Data, Deck Boundary Data, Overhead Boundary Data.

The internal names of the user-defined boundary types (for example, CATCptWallBoundary, CATCptDeckBoundary, CATCptOverheadBndry) are defined in the Compartment and Access CATfct file (CATCompAccessSample.CATfct). The default boundary type (CATCptBoundary) is defined in the CATCompAccess.feat file.
 

There are two types of attribute driven graphic replacement settings: edge generation and pattern generation.

They appear in the GVS files as:

BoundaryEdgeData and BoundaryPatternData
    BoundaryEdgeData: You can have a boundary edge if there is only one curve, such as a line, representing the boundary in the drawing. This creates an offset curve towards the center of the compartment. The offset curve is re-limited at the ends by the same offset value as specified for the offset curve itself. The graphic properties (color, line type, and thickness) for the offset curve are based on the boundary attributes specified in the GVS file.
    BoundaryPatternData: You can have a boundary pattern if the curves representing the boundary in the drawing form a closed contour. This creates an area fill with the profile consisting of the curves representing the boundary. The type of the area fill is based on the boundary attribute specified in the GVS file. If the attribute is not found in the boundary object, or the attribute value does not match any of those specified in the GVS file, or the pattern specified in the GVS file does not exist, the area fill is not created.
    In the GVS file, the Attribute Driven Graphic Replacement of Boundary section lists the graphic replacement settings under the node name:
AttrDrivenBndyReplacement

Enable indicates whether or not to apply graphic replacement. Values are Yes or No.

The following applies to each boundary type:

  • ToProcess indicates whether to apply graphic replacement. Values are Yes or No.
  • Under BoundaryEdgeData, you indicate the edge properties to display by listing the following:
Offset
 Unit
 Value

Attribute
 Attr_x
 
Unit and Value defines the value of the offset, and the unit used with this value.
Attr_x is the attribute node name defined in the attribute mapping section of the GVS file under AttrMapping. You can define up to 20 attributes(Attr_1 through Attr_20), but only one attribute for each boundary edge type.
  • Under BoundaryPatternData, you indicate the patterns to display by listing the following:
Attribute_1
 Attr_x
Attribute_2
 Attr_y
 
Attr_x  and Attr_y are the attribute node names defined in the attribute mapping section of the GVS file under AttrMapping. You can define up to 20 attributes (Attr_1 through Attr_20), but you only can define five attributes for each boundary pattern type.
   

Attribute Mapping

Attribute mapping is how you define the actual boundary properties that display in your 2-D drawing.

The following is an example of attribute mapping settings in the GVS file: 

Attr_1
 Value_x
  Edge
    Color
    Linetype
    Thickness
  Pattern
    Pattern Name

Value_x is a possible value for an attribute node name (such as Attr_1) corresponding to graphical properties used for edge generation, and pattern generation.  Each attribute node name can have as many as 20 possible values (shown as Value_1 through Value_20). Each value represents a different graphical appearance.

As an example, Insulated is an attribute name for a particular boundary type, and is contained in Attr_1. Insulated is used to set line graphical properties under BoundaryEdgeData, and pattern properties under BoundaryPatternData.

Its value (Value_1) could be defined as Yes. The GVS file lists the properties for edge generation and pattern generation that correspond to Value_1.

Certain properties are set for Color, Linetype, Thickness.
A certain pattern is set for Pattern Name.

NOTE: Attribute names in the GVS file (such as Insulated) must be internal names that match the attributes on the Compartment Access tab of the Properties dialog box. Values set in the GVS file (such as Yes and No) must correspond to the attribute values that display in the Properties dialog box. Pattern names are those used in drafting.

Insulated also could have a Value_2 defined as No. The GVS file lists the properties for edge generation and patterns generation that correspond to Value_2.

Color, Linetype, Thickness typically are given certain properties that are different than Value_1.
Pattern Name typically is given a certain pattern that is different than Value_1.
   

Viewing the Boundary Attributes in your 2-D Drawing

As explained above, to apply graphic replacement to 2-D drawings and view boundary attributes, you need to define the actual boundary settings in your GVS file.

The following are examples of attribute settings in the GVS file, and their corresponding graphical appearance in the 2-D drawing.

Under a wall boundary (such as BoundaryType_1):

Attr_1  is set for both edge generation and pattern generation.

Under AttrMapping:

Attr_1 specifies Insulated as the boundary attribute.
When the value is Yes, Color, Linetype, and Thickness are as follows:
Color  0 255 0
Linetype  5
Thickness  3
Pattern Name is dot3.

When you drop the wall boundary on edge, it displays in the 2-D drawing as follows:

When you drop the wall boundary, using its surface as a dropoff plane, it displays in the 2-D drawing as follows:

When the value is No, Color, Linetype, and Thickness are as follows:
Color  0 255 255
Linetype  2
Thickness 3
Pattern Name is dot6 green.

When you drop the wall boundary on edge, it displays in the 2-D drawing as follows:

When you drop the wall boundary, using its surface as a dropoff plane, it displays in the 2-D drawing as follows: