Updating Reference Element

You can update reference elements from the Assembly Structure window of an assembly, or from a subassembly, and only the reference elements that are included in that subassembly will be updated. You can update the reference elements of all the fragments in the assembly (subassembly).

You can also update the reference elements of a specific fragment. To do this, select the fragment and select the command shown in the figure.

You can update one specific reference element only in the 3D Model window of the fragment file that contains the reference element by calling the Update Geometry command in the context menu of the reference element.

You can update reference elements through the Assembly Structure window only if the reference element does not have an option: Do not update geometry when recalculating. If the option is active for the reference element, the reference element need to be updated independently. You should use the Update the Geometry command in the context menu of the reference element in the 3D Model of the fragment file containing the reference element.

When creating a reference element, you may or may not specify the Do not update geometry when recalculating option. By default this option is not active. When automatically creating reference elements using the Detail > Create command, the option is not active.

By default, all reference elements (except internal references) are created with the ability to update when recalculating.

The Do not update geometry when recalculating option is available in the parameters of the reference element when it is created.

If you activate the option, the reference element will be fixed and can only be updated manually via the context menu of the reference element in the 3D Model window.

In the 3D Model window of the fragment file, you can find out whether its reference element is fixed or not. The fixed elements have a different icon (with a picture of a pushbutton), and the Do not update geometry when recalculating option is active in the context menu.  

The reference element is fixed:

•the icon has a pushbutton;

•the Do not update geometry when recalculating option is active.

This reference element can only be updated manually.

Reference element is not fixed:

•the icon is normal, without pushbutton;

•the Do not update geometry when recalculating option is not active.

This reference element can be updated through the Assembly Structure window.