Group features

Can I group features like holes, extrudes etc. under a "parent" in the
Feature Manger Tree?

I have several configurations of the same part. The difference between
configs are holes, extra cuts etc. If I could group these features it was
easier and more understandable to suppress and unsuppress the relevant
features in each configuration.

 

hmm,... lets see,.. clues, clues,...

...it opens and closes and you can put features into it (like paper or
files),.. or it's very similar,... no, it is "exactly" like a folder!
Well, actually, it has the same exact spelling as folder.

... ;^)

 

....just what I was looking for... and yes I am to lazy to search the
help.... it's so much easier just to have somebody else do the work...

And how about this one: How do I show both the configuration tree and the
feature manager at the same time? I have now and then accidently managed to
split the feature manager window... but cant recall how.

 

Just put Your cursor at the top border of the manager and You'll see the
icon with two horisontal lines and two arrows.... drag it downwards and
it'll split

Krister L

 

There are some drawbacks and limitations to folders. You should check out
the help file to learn about them.

JJ

 

He uses the word parent. This is an interesting thought. It is possible to
have features with a common parent spread throughout the feature tree. I
got the impression he was also asking how to get just those into the
"Folder" in an automatic sort of way.

 

Looked at folders in the help. I can see limitations (like - cant add
sub-folders (I dont need that though..) but drawbacks? Can you name some ??
(if I should watch out - I better know what to look for)
?

 

The big one for me is that the features have to be sequential in the Feature
Manger. It is not always possible to chronologically create all the features
which you might want to group.

BTW, has anyone else had a problem using automatic design table creation
with parts that use feature folders. It is a problem that I encountered in
SW2003 and, unfortunately, I don't really remember the specifics. I've not
tinkered with this in 2004 so it might even be fixed. Just curious.

JJ

 

The big one for me is that the features have to be sequential in the
Feature

That's only a restriction to adding them all at once - you can add any of
them after the folder is created.

WT

 

Perhaps I am not explaining myself clearly. For example, you have a part
with four features and you want to group features 2 and 4 together in a
folder. You cannot do this unless feature 4 can be reordered before feature
3 (or feature 2 can be reordered after feature 3). Correct?

I like the folders a lot and I fully understand why it cannot be done, but
I wanted to point this rule out to the original poster.

JJ

 

You may be able to move your folder down and then add stuff. It appears
that you can sometimes add features even if you get the "no can do" symbol -
just do it. It also appears that you may need to have some parents &
children in there to maintain proper order. So, just try it.

WT