Hierarchy

Design Templates User Guide

Design Templates : Hierarchy

Hierarchy

All database elements are owned by other elements, therefore elements must be created in a strict order.

The following database elements are specific to the Design Templates application:

•

Template World (TPWL element)

•

Template Area (TMAR element)

•

Template (TMPL element)

Design Template (TMPL) elements are stored in a separate part of the Design DB under an administrative Template World (TPWL), which is itself divided into administrative Template Areas (TMAR).

When the user is working in the Design Templates application, they need to be able to navigate concurrently in two different parts of the Design database: the area which holds the design data on which the templates are to be based, and the area which holds the templates themselves. Template creation involves, among other steps, copying data from the former area to the latter.

Navigation in the design area is carried out via the Model Explorer, while navigation in the template area is carried out via the Template Browser.

When the user enters the Design Templates application, the Template Browser displays by default indicating the design template hierarchy.

The Template Browser allows the user to navigate through the list of templates.


CE TEMPL	Sets the currently selected Template as the working Template.
Display	Displays the currently selected Template in the 3D view.
Navigate on selection	Select the check box to display the currently selected Template in the Model Explorer by default.

The Template Browser cannot be closed whilst the Design Templates application is in use. If the user attempts to close the Template Browser a Warning message is received.

If a particular element cannot be created at the current position in the database hierarchy the user receives an error message summarising the problem, for example in the following window an error explains that the element the user is attempting to create must be below a template element.

Create Template World

The Create - TMPL WORLD window allows the user to create and define the Template World (TPWL) element in the Template Browser. Refer to Hierarchy for further information.

To create a Template World, on the Design Templates tab, in the Create group, click Template World to display the Create - TMPL WORLD window.


Name	Input the name of the TPWL element in the field.
Purpose	Leave the selection as Unset from the drop-down list.
Description	The user can input a description into the optional Description field.
Function	The user can input a function into the optional Function field.

Click OK to create the Template World or Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Create - TMPL WORLD window. The Template Browser displays the Template World.

Create Template Area

The Create - TMPL AREA window allows the user to create and define the Template Area (TMAR) element in the Template Browser. Refer to Hierarchy for further information.

To create a Template Area, make sure the correct Template World is highlighted in the Template Browser, on the Design Templates tab, in the Create group, click Template Area to display the Create - TMPL AREA window.


Name	Input the name of the TMAR element in the field.
Purpose	Leave the selection as Unset from the drop-down list.
Description	The user can input a description into the optional Description field.
Function	The user can input a function into the optional Function field.

Click OK to create the Template Area or Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Create - TMPL AREA window. The Template Browser displays the Template Area.