Enhanced Selection Filtering

Description

The OR syntax can now be used when defining filters in the Selection Tool.

In the general Selection Tool different kind of filters are used to extract the model items both when defining the scope of plane panels and the groups within these panels. The filters can be used both for selecting blocks or panels with wildcards, and by using the scheme syntax to select panels or groups.

The wildcard characters % and * represents any single character and any number of characters, respectively. But certain selections could not be made, for example, a selection of both stiffeners and flanges was not possible because making a filter accepting stiffeners will exclude flanges and vice versa. Likewise selecting only the blocks AB123 and AB124 but not the other blocks with names starting with AB12 was not possible.

This can now be done using the vertical bar character | as the OR operator. The two alternative patterns must be surrounded by parentheses having the OR operator between them.

For example, in the example above with the two blocks the expression (AB123|AB124) will only accept panels belonging to these two blocks. Note that no blanks are added around operator and parenthesis. (AB1%%-FR*|AB2%%-FR*) will accept panels with a name containing the letters FR and starting in AB1 or AB2.

To select stiffeners and flanges with a material grade equal to A23 the expression can be (STI|FLA)*, QUA=A23*;

The parenthesis are necessary to define the two alternate patterns separating the OR clause from the common part of the filter. If the parentheses are left out they are added at the beginning and the end of the filter which may give unexpected results. For example. if the parentheses were left out in the example above only the flanges would match as the stiffener pattern will only be the three characters STI which doesn’t match any statement.

Benefits

By using the OR operator in defining the filters a greater variety of panels and groups can be collected in one selection.

Compatibility Constraints

None.

For More Information

Only noted here.

Affected Programs

AVEVA Marine Structural Design, AVEVA Marine Detail Design