Family/Part Editor
Used to view, create, and
manage families of parts, compound parts, and components in a Building dataset.
Note: Building datasets
include a set of directories that contain intelligent data in the form of
parts, compound parts, and components. These element definitions are stored in
*.xml files. The XML files should never be edited
directly. Family/Part Editor should be used to edit parts, compound parts and
components.
Use the Family/Part Editor to:
- View detailed information on all parts, compound parts, and components in the dataset.
- Edit the definitions of parts, compound parts, and components.
- Simultaneously edit multiple parts, compound parts, or components.
- Create new parts, compound parts, and components, and assign them to a family. New families can also be created. It is possible to create new files to further organize the dataset.
- Manage parts, compound parts, components, and families; and manage their organization. For example, move a part from one family to another.
| Setting | Description | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Commits changes made to the dataset. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Becomes active when the dataset differs from the disk dataset. If the dataset has changed and changes have not been committed, refresh the dataset. An Alert dialog prompts to commit changes to the disk dataset. Click No to discard changes and reload the disk dataset. If the disk dataset has changed, click Refresh, the Dataset Synchronization dialog appears. To load the updated disk dataset, click Refresh on that dialog. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Synchronizes the dataset with the disk dataset, which has been modified. This selection is available only if the disk dataset has changed from the current view of the data due to an external modification. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Creates a new item (file, family, part, compound part, or component). Opens the New File dialog , New Family dialog or a Definition dialog opens. The dialog that appears depends on which item is selected in the left pane of the Family/Part Editor. The New menu item can invoke a dialog for Files, Families, Parts, Compound Parts, and Components. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If there is an active part or compound part, this menu item is active. Displays the dialog for the selected view for the active part or compound part. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sets the highlighted part or compound part as the active part, which is ready for placement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cuts the data for the highlighted file, family, part, compound part, or component and places it in the clipboard. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copies the data for the highlighted file, family, part, compound part, or component and places it in the clipboard. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pastes the contents of the buffer into the active window. This command is active only if the paste operation is allowable (for example, if data for a part is in the clipboard, and the active window is for parts). Data cannot be "mixed", such as pasting a compound part into a part window. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shows the data that was copied and placed into the clipboard. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deletes the selected item from the family. If delete rather than cut, the data for the part, compound part, or component is not added to the clipboard and therefore is not available for a paste operation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Renames the selected file, family, part, compound part, or component. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selects all items in the active window. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clears all selected items in the active window. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inverts the selected items in the active window. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Displays the dialog for the selected item for the selected view. If have a part selected and the view is Drawing Notation, then the Drawing Notation dialog appears and can be edited. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Show Active (also ) — If there is an active part or compound part, this menu item is active. Displays the dialog for the selected view for the active part or compound part. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Set Active (also ) — Sets the highlighted part or compound part as the active part, which is ready for placement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Commit Changes (also ) — Commits the changes have made to the dataset. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Refresh Dataset (also ) — Becomes active if the dataset differs from the disk dataset. If the dataset has changed and changes have not been committed, refresh the dataset. An Alert dialog prompts to commit changes to the disk dataset. Clicking No to discard changes and reload the disk dataset. If the disk dataset has changed and click Refresh, then the Dataset Synchronization dialog appears. To load the updated disk dataset, click Refresh on that dialog. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Synchronize Dataset (also ) — Synchronizes the dataset with the disk dataset, which has been modified. This selection is available only if the disk dataset has changed from the current view of the data due to an external modification. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Parts; Compound Parts; Component) View |
Located just to the right of the Family/Part Editor toolbar, this menu enables when a family is selected in directory tree. If the family contains parts, the View option menu is labeled Parts View. If the family contains compound parts or components, the View option menu is labeled Compound Parts View and Components View respectively. Each option opens a dialog containing various settings that control option properties for the corresponding part, compound part, or component. To open a View option dialog:
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| Model preview | Displays the model symbology of the selected part. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Section preview | Displays the section symbology of the selected part. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| F/R View (Forward/Reflected) preview | Displays the forward/reflected view symbology of the selected part. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Material preview | Displays the material symbology of the selected part. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Directory Tree (left pane) | Displays Categories of dataset information in a
directory tree format. Currently, there are three categories of dataset
information: Parts; Compound Parts; and Components.
When All Parts (or All Compound Parts, or All Components) is selected in the directory, all parts for the dataset display in the property list (right pane) and the properties and symbology for all parts display as well. Select one or any number of the parts in the properties list box, and changes can be made to all of them at the same time. For example, to change the center line property for several parts, select All Parts in the directory (multiple parts can be chosen in the property list box by holding down <Ctrl>). Changes can then be made simultaneously at the same time. When selecting any category By Families, the category directory tree expands to show the text file (*.xml) where family data is stored. When a file is selected in the directory, the families within that file are displayed in the properties list box. |
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| Properties (right pane) | Displays the attributes and properties of individual
parts, compound parts, and components. When selecting a category in the
directory tree (left pane), all elements and properties for that category
display in the property list (right pane). Properties can be selected for
change. Simply right-click the field and choose
Properties from the option menu to complete
changes.
Another way to complete part changes is to select the part and select . This action opens the (Edit) Definition dialog for the selected part. Changes to all part properties can be made in this dialog. Regarding the mode-less
capability of the Family/Part Editor dialog – when browsing the dataset, it is
recommended to open the Properties dialog and leave it open until browsing is
completed. When the selection changes in the properties list, the display
updates to the current selection while the Properties dialog continues to
remain open.
Tip: This is very useful as some views contain so many properties that it can be difficult to assimilate all information by looking only at the properties list. The Properties dialogs organize properties so that they are easier to understand. Note: Individual
property field changes can be made in the Family/Part Editor dialog without
dismissing an open Definitions dialog.
Note: It is possible
to review properties for parts and components at the same time, however the
OK and
Apply buttons disable when this occurs to
prevent you from accidentally updating part data with component data.
Tip: You
can change the display of columns in the properties list box with a right-click
on any column header and choosing
List. Any set of columns can be used in a
view and columns do not necessarily have to be associated with any particular
view by default. Family/Part Editor remembers the columns chosen, for the next
design session.
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Key-ins
| To | Use |
|---|---|
| Open the Family/Part Editor dialog. |
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| Restore the property list columns to default configuration |
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| Separate Component | Part | Compound Part families into individual XML files and create a back-up of the original XML files. |
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| Refresh the active dataset and update part, compound part, and settings XML files. |
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| Validate existing levels for all parts in the active dataset. |
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