Chempute Software (Pty) Ltd

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How to Create a Drawing Process FAQ

Question:

How are Drawing Processes created allowing Users to run multiple Drawing Styles
simultaneously?

Answer :

The Drawing Process Manager can be used to set up Drawing Processes Allowing the User
to run multiple Drawing Styles at the same time. Model Roles can be used ensure the
correct Drawing Style is used for the correct Model Object. A Drawing Process can also be
used to control Scales, Multiple or Single Drawings per Sheet, Title Blocks Used, etc.

Drawing Processes can be created by firstly opening the “Drawing Process Manager” on the
“Output” ribbon as seen below.
In this example we will be creating a Drawing Process for all Single Parts to be placed on a
User defined A3 Title Block (Prototype) and the Title Block will be populated with multiple
details and start a new sheet once it is full. Default Advance Steel Drawing Processes
cannot be edited to ensure that there will always be a usable template to work off. As a
result of this, the User needs to locate a Drawing Process that closely matches his/her
requirements and make a copy. Right Click on this Drawing Process and click on the “Deep
Copy” option as seen below.

We are now going to be assigning our own Drawing Styles to Model Objects for this
Drawing Process. As a result it is not necessary to copy all the used Drawing Styles as well.
Check the “Deep Copy Current Drawing Processes” and click on the “OK” button as seen
below.
A copy of the original Drawing Process will be placed in the “User” directory. To allow for
easy identification this Drawing Process can be renamed by locating the copied Drawing
Process in the “User” directory, Right Clicking on the Process and clicking on the
“Properties” option as seen below.

Assign a name to this Drawing Style and also place it under a User defined Category to
allow all User Drawing Processes to be located easily. A description can also be assigned to
this Drawing Process. This will appear in the Quick Documents menu giving the User a
clear indication of what to expect when using the Drawing Process. Click on the “OK”
Button once completed, as seen below.
In the Drawing Process Manager, most Steps are seperated into their own configuration
files allowing them to be reused and saving the User’s from having to do repeat work. In
this example we are creating an entirely new Drawing Process, therefore we need to
rename the original steps to ensure that our changes do not effect other Drawing
Processes. In the “Main Definition” tab, click on the “New Step” button to create a new
“Main Step” as seen below.

Assign this Main Step a name that will allow the User to identify the important settings
included with this step. This will allow the User to know what it does should this Main Step
need to be reused. This can also be placed in a “Category” allowing it to be located easily.
Click “OK” once completed.

Next, define what “Model Objects” need to be selected when this Drawing Process is run.
In this case we want this Drawing Process to run through and create details for all our
model Single Parts (All SP) as seen below.
The order that details are generated can be customized according to Part Numbers. In this
case we want our details to be generated starting from our smallest Part Number and
ascending by position as seen below.

The “Filename Selector” menu can then be used to configure a User Defined Title Block
(Prototype), whether this is a Multi or Single component sheet and also the automated
naming of [Link] on the “Properties” to access this menu as seen below.

Keep in mind that the “Filename Selector” configuration is one that can be reused,
therefore as we are creating a new Drawing Process, we need to create a new “Filename
Selector” configuration by clicking on the “Copy” button as seen below. This will ensure,
changes made do not ripple through other Drawing Processes and make unwanted
changes to these processes.
Assign a name to this “Filename Selector” configuration to allow Users to identify it and
reuse it in other Drawing Processes if required. The “Start With” setting is used to define
from what configuration the intial settings will be used from. Click “Next” as seen below.

In the “Prototype” field, ensure that the name matches that of the User Defined Prototype,
already created in the Prototype folder as seen below. This Prototype will be used for all
Details created with this Drawing Process.

A “Close Page” rule can now be selected for this Drawing Process. Advance Steel will use
this rule to decide when to create a new sheet and populate it with another component or
multiple components. In this example we want Advance Steel to populate the sheet with
components until it is full and then start a new sheet if required. The “On Full Page” rule
will need to be set to accomplish this as seen below.
“Drawing Names” can be automated and built up of Attributes that are extracted from the
Model or Model Components. In this example the Drawing Names will start with “MS” for
“Multiple Singlepart” detail, followed by the name of the Model and then the “Sequence
Number” as seen below. Click “OK” once completed.

“Alternative Scales” can be set by clicking ont eh Alternative Scales “Properties” button as
seen below. When this Drawing Process is run, Advance Steel will attempt to use the
largest scale first for each component. If this Scale is too large and the component does
not fit on the page, Advance Steel will attempt to use the next “Alternative Scale” setting.

In this example, we require our Single Part Details to be at a Scale of “1:10 or if to large,
as scale of “1:5”. Should a User ever require a completely new Scale Configuration, this
can be done by clicking the “Copy” button as seen below. For this example however, a
Scale configuration has already been created. This can be reused by selecting the
configuration and clicking “OK” as seen below.
Some Drawing Styles are set to allow Users to select which views they would like to include
in the Details from the model. Special Scales can be set for these Selection Views by
clicking on the “Properties” button as seen below

In this Drawing Process, we are not going to use any Drawing Styles with the “Selection
Views” setting turned on. We require our Special Scales setting to be turned off. Should a
User ever require a completely new “Special Scale” Configuration, this can be done by
clicking the “Copy” button as seen below. For this example however, a Special Scale
configuration has already been created to turn off all Special Scales. Click on the “None”
option and click “OK” as seen below.
The “Detail Style Map” configurations can be used to map various Drawing Styles to
various Model Objects. Click on the Detail Style Map “Properties” button as seen below.

A “Detail Style Map” configuration is also one that can be reused, therefore, as we are
creating a new Drawing Process, we need to create a new “Detail Style Map” configuration
by clicking on the “New Step” button as seen below. This will ensure, changes made do not
ripple through other Drawing Processes and make unwanted changes to these processes.

Assign a name to this “Detail Style Map” configuration to allow Users to identify it and
reuse it in other Drawing Processes if required. The “Start With” setting is used to define
from what configuration the intial settings will be used from. Click “Next” as seen below.
The “Detail Style Map” configuration can now be used to match Model Objects to Drawing
Styles. In our case we will clear the the each entry and start from the very beginning.
Select each row and click on the “Remove” button as seen below. Repeat this until you
have one “Entry” left.

The Model Object now needs to be matched to the correct Drawing Style. Model Objects
are groups of Model Roles that can be created or customized in the “Drawing Style
Manager” under the “Model Objects” tab as seen below.

In this case we are going to start by matching our Single Part “Plates Folded” Model Object
Group, to a relevant Drawing Style. A “Model Object” for “Plates Folded” has already been
created in the “General” Model Objects section. Select this Model Object as seen below.
Only Drawing Styles that are in the “User” Drawing Style directory can be used in Drawing
Processes. As a result should a User wish to use a Drawing Style that is in the default
“Advance” Drawing Style directory, this Drawing Style would need to be “Deep Copied” to
the “User” directory in the “Drawing Style Manager” as seen below.

Back in the Drawing Process Manager match the select “Plate Folded” Model Object with
the relevant Drawing Style as seen below.

Additional “Model Objects” can be matched to Drawing Styles by clicking on the “Add”
button as seen below.
Add and match Model Objects to Single Part Drawing Styles until all Single Part Model
Objects that will be in a general model have been matched. Click “OK” once completed.

The Drawing Process is complete and ready to be used. Click “OK” to save all changes as
seen below.

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