The list on the left contains the root objects in the active VX file. Select an object from the list and then select an option or double-left-click an object to activate of editing. You will then move to the VX level appropriate for that object type (part, drawing packet, drawing sheet, CAM Level, etc.).  If one of the Preview modes are active (see below), selecting an object will display additional information.

 

 

 

New...

Displays the New File/Object Form to create a new root object in the active file. When you complete this form and pick OK, the new object will be activated for editing.

 

You can also do this by right-clicking in the graphics window and then selecting the root object type to create from the Object Editor Menu or by selecting Insert from the pull down menu bar.

 

Instance...

Displays the Object Browser. This button is only active at the Drawing Packet Level (i.e., when a drawing packet is active). It allows you to instance an existing drawing sheet into the active drawing packet. An instance is a reference to a drawing sheet from another drawing packet or root drawing sheet from another VX file. Use the Object Browser to locate and select the drawing sheet to instance.

 

Part Table...

Use this option to create a new part from a table-based family-of-parts interface. You will need to set up a part table for this option.  Select the Table button and then select the part table file. You can then select a part to create from the table.  Refer to the link below for more detailed information. You can also create a table-based part from the New File/Object Form during the New File command.  See VX Part Tables for more information.

 

Part Library...

Use this option to create a new part from a VX Part Library (*.vxl) file.  Select the Part Library button and then select the library file. You can then select a part to create from the library.  You can also create a library-based part from the New File/Object Form during the New File command.  See VX Part Libraries for more information.

 

 

 

Edit

Activates the select root object for editing.

 

Rename

Renames the selected root object. Enter a new name in the text input field. You can also do this by right-clicking on the root object in the list and selecting Rename from the Object Editor Menu. You will be asked if you want to update all reference to the root object in the active file.  The current name is displayed for quick editing.

 

Delete

Select the root objects to delete from the list and middle-click to delete them. You can also do this by right-clicking on the root object in the list and then selecting Delete from the Object Editor Menu or by selecting Edit>Delete from the pull down menu bar.

 

Each deletion is recorded as separate undo/redo step. You can use undo from the Utility Tool Bar to get them back. The VX Configuration Form to sets the maximum allowable undo/redo steps.  You can also use the Delete Root Object command (Edit > Delete)

 

 

 

 

Cut (to 3D Clipboard)

Select the root objects to cut and then middle-click to move them to the 3D clipboard.  You can then use the Paste from Clipboard (3D) command (see below) to paste them into any active VX file.  You can also do this by right-clicking on a root object in the list and then selecting Cut from the Object Editor Menu.

 

Copy (to 3D Clipboard)

Select the root objects to copy and then middle-click to copy them to the 3D clipboard.  You can then use the Paste from Clipboard (3D) command (see below) to paste them into any active VX file.  You can also do this by right-clicking on the root object in the list and then selecting Copy from the Object Editor Menu.  You can also use the Copy Root Object command (Edit > Copy)

 

Paste (from 3D Clipboard)

You must first use the Cut or Copy to 3D Clipboard command (see above) before using this command. This command pastes the contents of the 3D Clipboard into any active VX file.  You can also do this by right-clicking in the list area of the browser and then selecting Paste from the Object Editor Menu.

 

Regen

This option forces the regeneration of selected root objects (i.e. parts, CAM plans, sheets).

 

Rederive

If the selected root object is a part that was derived from another part, this option will force it to be derived again (i.e., it will be recalculated from the part it was derived from).  Changes to the parent part will be incorporated into the derived part.

 

Inquire

Select this option to display information about the selected root object including Created Date, Last Modified and File size.

 

 

 

To File

Use this option to select a file other than the active file to copy or move to. If you want to copy/move to a file that is currently opened in the active session but is not currently active, you need to go to the .Vx Session folder located in your User directory and select the file.

 

• Select a file from the File Browser. If you enter the name of a new file, it will be created.

 

 

 

If you select Edit, the first root object on the active list is activated for editing -- the other objects are ignored -- because Edit only accepts one input. The object editor doesn't know what command will ultimately be executed, so it just keeps collecting objects. Left-click for multiple picks, right-click for a single pick, and middle-click to accept the active list.

 

With Preview set to Off and when the object edit prompt is displayed ("Select new command"), left-click adds entities to an active list. They are left highlighted to show that they are all on the active pick list. If you press the middle button, you get a number of options. One of them is Delete. If you pick it, all of the selected root objects will be deleted -- because the Delete command accepts a list of entities.

 

Pick All

Selects all root objects in the list.

 

Unpick All

Unselect all root objects in the list.

 

Unpick Last

Unselect the last selected object.

 

Show

Use this option to filter the root object list to show only the root object of the selected type (e.g., Part/Assembly, Sheet, CAM Plan, Packet, Sketch or Equation Set)

 

 

 

Off

Check this box to disable preview mode

 

Graphics

Check this box to preview the graphics associated with a selected root object. The root object will be displayed in the preview window with the current viewing mode. Use the View Menu to set the viewing mode. Objects can still be activated for editing using the normal methods described above.

 

Previewing Graphics at the Object Level

 

Attributes

Check this box to preview the part attributes of a selected root object. You can use the displayed Part Attributes Form to derive a new root object or filter the Root Object Browser list. Each procedure is explained under Previewing Part Attributes below.

 

Assembly

Check this box to display the Assembly Manager for the selected part/assembly as shown in the figure below.

 

Previewing an Assembly at the Object Level

 

 

 

With Preview set to Attributes the Part Attributes Form is displayed when a root object selected. It displays the part attributes for that root object.  Note that the Derive new part and the Filter list by checked items buttons are now active.

 

You can create a family of parts based on key driving dimensions or variables or filter the Root Object Browser based on checked attributes. Refer to the Part Attributes Form for assigning part attributes, driving dimensions or variables.

 

 

Modified Part Attributes Previewed from the Root Object Browser

 

 

Derive new part

Creates a new part based on the driving parameters. The new part will contain all of the attributes previewed in the Part Attributes Form. It will also contain all of the geometry of the part it was derived from as well as any modifications to the driving parameters.

 

The derived part will be linked to its parent part. You can also derive a new part from the Part Attributes Form while the part is active. You can use the Rederive option to recalculate the derived part as desired. See also Applying VX-Deriving a Family of Parts.

 

• Modify the attributes as desired and then pick the Derive new part button. Enter a name for the new part and then pick OK to create it. It will be added to the Root Object Browser list.

 

Create new file

When you enter a name for the new part, you can choose to create a new VX file at the same time. Otherwise the part will be added to the active file.

 

Previewed Part with Driving Dimensions

 

Derived Part with Modified Dimensions

 

Filter list by checked items

Filters the Root Object Browser (see above) based on the attributes, driving dimensions or variables checked. Filtering by part attributes (e.g., by Designer) is practical for all part. Filtering by driving dimensions or variables is practical for families of parts.

 

• Place a check in the box next to the attribute you want to filter by and then enter a value in the input field that you want to search for. Pressing the Filter button will then filter the Root Object Browser list.

 

 

 

• Using the (Ctrl) and (Shift) Keys for Selection - When you select an item from the scrolling list, the text font will change indicating that it has been selected. As multiple items are selected, they are added to a "pick list." The pick list can be processed by the various options on this form. You can use the (Shift) key to select blocks of items. (Shift)+(Left-click) will select all items between the picked item and the first item on the active pick list -- all other items are unpicked. You can use (Ctrl)+(Left-click) to unpick an item from the active pick list.