Links. Managing composite documents

A T-FLEX CAD document can refer to other files: T-FLEX CAD documents (fragments), graphic files (pictures), database files, etc. Working with such a composite document can cause a number of difficulties, for example, if it is necessary to transfer it to another computer.

To facilitate the work with composite documents, a mechanism for working with links has been developed in T-FLEX CAD. A link is a T-FLEX CAD object containing the path to an external file (the link object).

The link is used when creating fragments, images and other T-FLEX CAD elements to specify the source of external data. The same link can be used by several elements, for example, several fragments based on the same file will access the same link.

The mechanism of working with links allows you to control the way link objects are stored. T-FLEX CAD allows you to store the reference object both outside the T-FLEX CAD document as a regular external file ("external link"), and directly inside the composite document file ("internal link"). Internal link storage increases the size of a composite T-FLEX CAD document, but allows you to work with it as a single file. Working with links is carried out using the commands located in the Assembly Structure window.

The mechanism of working with links allows you to solve the problem of transferring large assembly documents. When using it, there is no need to search for all fragment files that may be in different folders, on different disks, in libraries, etc. It is enough to "pack" the assembly model into one file with the possibility of subsequent unpacking and transfer it to another location in the file system or in the document management system storage (for example, T-FLEX DOCs).

Update Links

To manage links in a assembly document, a group of commands is used in the Assembly > Component Links ribbon tab.

The Update Links command allows you to reload the data of all external files included in a assembly document:

After calling the command, the model is recalculated (all data of fragments and images used in the model are updated). After recalculation, the image of the current drawing is automatically updated.

Automatic link updates

When opening a document, the system automatically checks the relevance of links to files used in the current document (fragments, pictures, etc.). If files with a modified modification time are detected, a dialog box is displayed on the screen:

The appearance of this dialog is affected by the update modes of current links assigned in the Set System Options, Fragments tab command.

If a positive answer is selected, then all modified documents are updated. The list of documents that require updating can be viewed using the Details button. If the No button is selected, then the links contained in the list are considered relevant and no updates occur. In further work, to update links, you can use the Update Links command (see above) or a Full Regeneration.

Unlike the Update Links command, which updates all links in the current document, this dialog allows you to update only modified files and, if necessary, monitor the appearance of outdated links in the process.

Don't show this message again on document activation - if the flag is set, then when you go to the window of the current document from another application or from the window of another T-FLEX CAD document, the links will not be checked for relevance. When setting the flag, the Fragment Actuality Check > On document activation parameter takes the value Don't Update (see section Set System Options, Fragments tab).

From the drop-down list, you can select the mode in which the failure to check the relevance of links will be performed:

•for this Document

•for this Session

•for this and future Sessions

Don't show this message again on document opening - setting this flag sets the refusal to check the relevance of links when opening documents. When setting the flag, the Fragment Actuality Check > On document opening parameter takes the value Don't Update (see section Set System Options, Fragments tab).

Update Linked Details

The command allows you to apply changes of selected bodies or fragments made in the assembly to the associated part files.

You can update the geometry of the saved parts according to changes in the assembly if the parts were created by unloading a body or fragment from the assembly if the parts were created by unloading a body or fragment from the assembly to a separate file with the ability to update.

Update Assembly

The Update Assembly command starts the converter, which recalculates and saves all files of fragments included in the assembly.

Move Assembly

The command serves for moving a composite document to another location in the filesystem or for zipping the assembly into one file.

After calling the command, the Move Assembly dialog box will be displayed. In it, you need to specify the new location and name of the moved document and the moving method:

Embedding. In the embedded moving, all linked files are stored within the assembly file. This method is convenient when you need to move a composite file to another computer, since it resolves in one common file.

Substitution. When moving by substitution, all linked files are gathered into one folder named after the file of the main document and located in the same folder.

In the lower pane of the Include Library Elements dialog, specify the list of libraries whose elements are used in the current document. The flags before the names of each library allowed specifying whether to move the library elements, to which there are links in the current document.

If necessary, you can include elements located in system folders by using the appropriate option.