Copying Design Geometry into a Template

We are now going to create a design template whose geometry will be based on a copy of the equipment element which we have already created, namely a positive box with a negative box inside it. Later, we will modify this design within the template by adding another negative box; this will not affect the original equipment in any way.

Exercise continues:

1. When you create a design template (TMPL), it will copy its geometry from the current design element, so first navigate to the Equipment (indicated by the symbol) Kickplate in the Design Explorer and then select Create > Template from the Design Templates Application menu.

   You will now see a Create Template form and a Positioning Control.

   The Copy Model data at the bottom of the Create Template form shows the name of the current design item (in this case, the equipment /Kickplate).

2. Set the following Template Information:

   Name	Kickplate-1
   Purpose	Leave as Unset
   Description	Protected floor penetration
   Function	Rectangular
   Generic Type	PENH (Penetration Hole)

   (This data is optional, but is helpful when the template is to be selected for use in a design. In some cases the generic type will be deduced automatically from the original design item, but this is not possible in our current example.) Do not OK the form yet.

   Note: If Maintain world orientation is unchecked then the system behaves as it does now, where the orientation of elements in a Design Template is determined from the orientation of these elements in the reference system of the selection item (for example, EQUI or VOLM). If Maintain world orientation is checked the orientation of elements in a Design Template is determined from the orientation of these elements in the world reference system. In this case the design template origin position is still the origin of element selected to import as a template.

   Note: If Ignore elements that cannot be in Templates is unchecked then the system works as it does now where Templates cannot be made from equipment that owns SUBE elements. If it is checked the hierarchy will be flattened under the equipment and all primitive elements from the equipment and its sub-equipments will be copied to the template in their correct position and orientation with respect to the equipment. It is still illegal to try to copy an element containing TMPL elements into a new design template.

   Note: Maintain world orientation and Ignore elements that cannot be in Templates are ignored if the element selected to import is a Design Template. In this case a simple copy function is used to copy the original template to a new template.

   We will set the position of the template’s Origin by picking it in the 3D View. To do this, you need to understand the concept of event-driven graphics. This is explained next.