Select a Selection Option

General

  • This function is associated with exporting 3D PDF files.
  • The function can be used to create a selection panel alongside the 3D PDF file, which can be used to hide or show parts and assemblies of the 3D PDF file.

  • To view 3D PDF, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which supports displaying 3D PDF.

  • Hiding and showing parts in the 3D PDF model is based on named groups and named options.
  • One group can contain several options.
  • Option selections cannot be mutually dependent. They cannot be used to force other options on, nor to exclude other options.

Select a Selection Option

  1. Select the item to which you want to add a selection option.
    • Select the main symbol in the assembly's feature tree if you want to assign it to the assembly.
    • Select a subassembly or subassemblies from the assembly if you want to assign it to the subassemblies.
    • Select a part or parts if you want to give selection option to parts.
    • Hold down the Cltr key if you select more than one part or subassembly.
  2. Select the context-sensitive function Other Functions> Selection Option.
    • The program opens the dialog box Definition of Options.

  3. Select an option.
    • Check box = You can select several of these options per one group.
      • This selection closes the field Group name.
    • Option button group = You can only select one option from the group at a time
    • Option button group (empty selection possible) = You can only select one option from the group at a time, but selecting an option is not mandatory (= empty selection).
    • If you selected the assembly's main symbol, none of these radio buttons are available.
  4. Enter the group name.
    • The group name is common to all the selections belonging to the same group.
    • You can use the preset button to select a group name that you previously entered.
  5. Enter the option name
    • It is recommended to use a name that describes the option as the option name.
    • You can use the preset button to select an option name that you previously entered.

Delete unnecessary selection option

  • To delete a selection option, clear its fields.
  • When all selection options for a group have been cleared, the group disappears.

Create several different 3D PDF files from the same model

  • Sometimes it is necessary to have several selection-optimized documents made from the same model.
  • In this case, you can make configurations on the main level of the assembly, which hide unnecessary parts and subassemblies belonging to the selection option.
  • Only visible parts of the assembly will be exported to PDF. That is, if necessary, make several 3D PDF files using different configurations of the model.

Use a base document if needed

  • A base document in PDF format can contain company logo and contact information, for example.
  • The base document is saved in the location specified in the settings (basepd).
  • The basic document can have a separately defined blank space for the 3D model (area3d), or the model with its selections can be added as its own page to the finished PDF document.

Control the creation of a 3D PDF with a setup file

3D PDF generation is controlled by the PDF3D setup file.
  • By default, the setup file PDF3D is located in the - folder.
  • You can copy it to the custom/setup folder and make the desired changes there, where they will be safe from the Vertex G4 main version update.
The keywords with their parameters are documented in the setup file system/setup/PDF3D.
  • sheet_size specifies the dimensions of the page to be created in PDF. The default is 297x210, or A4 landscape sheet.
  • area3d indicates the size of the area the model can reserve on the page if no selection options are used.
  • area3dwb indicates the size of the area the model can reserve on the page if selection options are used, i.e. how much space you want to leave for the selection buttons.
  • buttonarea indicates where and how much space the radio buttons are allowed to occupy. The last parameter of the keyword (line spacing) also determines the font size.
  • basepd the keyword is the absolute path to the PDF file used as the base.
    • The PDF file must not be protected. Protected base file cannot be accessed.
  • pagenumber indicates the page number to which the model page with selection options is exported to in the base document.
  • pagenumberuse keyword specifies the type of task.
    • If the value is zero (0), only one page with the model and selection options will be printed.
    • With the value 1, the base document is used and a new page in front of the page number defined by the previous keyword is created.
    • With the value 2, the model and selection options are placed on an existing page of the base document.