Creating a Part

This task shows how to create a part.      

The process explained here requires you to first build the graphic using Part Design. You do not assign a type to the part first. The advantage of using this method is that you can use the un-typed part again to create other types of parts. For instance, you can use the same graphic for a coupling and a union. It is recommended that you maintain separate directories for typed and un-typed parts.

You should also create a graphic representations file and specify where it is located. (See Defining Directory Paths and Define Graphic Representations for a Part.)

Light parts do not have a graphic to begin with, so you have to use a modified process to create light parts. The initial steps are explained in Creating a Light Part.

1. Build a graphic using Part Design and save it.
2. Click the Build Part button to display the Create Part dialog box.

  3. Click the Set Object Type button to open the Set Object Type dialog box. Select the object type as explained in Defining the Part Type. Click  OK in the Set Object Type dialog box. The part is assigned a type and displays in the specifications tree and the viewer. After selecting OK the Create Part dialog box displays again. You can now perform the other functions contained in this box, if needed. They are explained below. Note: All functions may not be available for light parts.
  4. The File Open button is used to bring up a part, say, if you did not finish creating it and had to close the application. Clicking the File Open button opens a directory that is specified in the Project Resource Management file. You can also navigate to a different directory if you want to. You should only use this button to open a part that has already been typed.
  5. The Define Properties button brings up the Properties box, allowing you to change properties if needed.
  6. The Override Parameters button brings up a dialog box which allows you to override a parameter. When you click on a parameter on the left side of the box and then click on the arrow to bring it on the right side, that means the parameter can be overridden. (See Change the Parameters of a Part.) When you place this part the application will try to determine a value for that parameter. If it cannot, then you will be asked to enter one.

For a stretchable part, such as a piping stretchable, the "Length" attribute must be defined as an override parameter.

  7. Click the Design Table button to create a design table and associate it to the part you are creating. For more information on this see the Infrastructure document - Advanced Tasks - Using Knowledgeware Capabilities.
  8. Click the Formula button to create formulas and parameters. See the Knowledgeware document mentioned above for more information.
  9. The Define Connector button allows you to add connectors. (If you are building an assembly this command will open the Manage Logical Publications dialog box.)
  10. The Connector Specs button lets you associate attributes to connectors.
  11. The Manage Representations button lets you create and manage graphic representations.
  12. Click the Define ID Schema button next to the File Name field if you want the application to generate a name for the part.
  13. You must save the part after you have made all your changes. Click Close or OK in the Create Part dialog box to exit he command. Select the part in the specifications tree, click File - Save as in the menubar and select a location for the part.

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