Connector Entity Browser

The Connector Entity Browser contains a list of all the connections contained in the model, and has its own set of tools similar to the ones found in the Link Entity Browser.

All the connectors in the model are displayed in folders organized by tabs based on the respective type. The All Tab contains a list view of the connectors in the model. Each type of connector has its own tab with a flat list of connectors.

The connector information in the specific tabs can be used to find link entities connected by specific connectors, and also to modify certain connector attributes. The columns display a sub-set of connector information that is important for recognizing connection information easily.

Connectors are organized into three categories:

General – all of the links are within the same subsystem
Subsystem – one or all of the links are in multiple subsystems
Attachment – a new single lined connector entity

Parts of the model are separated into two different categories based on the connector selection:

1st connector entity: Selected connectors.
linked entities: Links which are referenced by one of the selected connectors.

Note: In this case connectors and their realizations are treated as being a separate category from their links, in order to prevent unpredictable cross-references.

This kind of categorical separation is only used for the actions show, hide, isolate and isolate only, and only when one of the view option toggle buttons is active, regardless of whether the actions are taken from the context menu. No other functionality uses this categorization at all.

You can also change the base features of the Connector Entity Browser in the Connector Entity Browser configuration window.

The following connector details are displayed as column data in the browser tree:


Option	Description
Entities	ID of the connector and an image that represents the respective connector’s style (spot, seam, bolt, and so on).
Status	Realization state of the connector entity: unrealized, realized, failed, or modified. Note: For those writing scripts instead of using the GUI, a more detailed report can be created by using the following lines in your script: set error_report [ hm_ce_errorreport CE_ID 1 ].
Tolerance	Realization tolerance of the connector. You can change this by right-clicking the field and typing in a new value, then pressing Enter.
Link	ID or name of the entity added as a link to a connector.
Layer	Total number of link entities to be joined by the connector. This is also marked as thickness layers (2T/3T/4T, and so on).
Subsystem	Displays connectors associated with a subsystem.
Connector Group	Name of the Connector Group to which the connector belongs.
Comment	Input comments for a connector.
Error Message	Error messages for a connector.

Functionality is accessed from the global display tool set, an action modes tool set and a right-click context menu.

View Option Toggle Buttons

These options determine the entities that display when you select and then show, hide, or isolate a supported entity.

Each button is modal, that is, you click it once to activate it, and click it again to deactivate it. Active buttons remain active until you specifically deactivate them, so you do not need to worry about them "resetting" after you perform an action such as isolate.

The following model illustrates the effects of these search options.

Note: The highlighted connector; this connector is the starting point for the following examples.

Figure 2. . Notice the small, white-highlighted connector entity on the grey-meshed part. (Model provided courtesy of Audi)

In each case below, the selected connector has been Isolated using only the relevant view option.


Option	Name	Effect
	Linked entity	Finds the link entities/supported entities to which the selected connector connects. If this linked entity view option button is active, all entities linked to the 1st connector entities will be taken into account for the action. It does not matter if the 1st connector entity view option button is active or inactive, its entities will still be located. This determination has nothing to do with any display states. This means that in case of isolation, only the entities which are referenced by the selected connectors (1st connector entity) are isolated. Figure 3. . The connector does not display because "1st linked entity" is not active.
	Realization	Finds and displays the realization for the selected connectors. Figure 4.

Cumulative Effect of Multiple View Options

These options work accumulatively, for example, when both the Linked entity and 2nd connector entity buttons are active, then selecting and isolating a connector displays the component that it links to, and all the other connectors that link to that component. If you had Realization, Linked entity, and 2nd connector entity active when you isolated the same connector, then the model would display the component to which the connector links, all other connectors linking to that component, and the realizations of each displayed connector.

Context Menu

The Connector Entity Browser context menu includes all of the functionality available in the Connector Entity Browser, including connector creation and deletion, renumbering, updating, finding connectors, and much more.

Access the Connector Entity Browser's context menu by right-clicking in the tree list.

Note: If you right-click the Tolerance or Realize to fields of a specific connector, you will access those fields for edit rather than opening the context menu.

The tools available in the context menu vary depending on what you right-click on; for example, right-clicking on a connector (in the Entities column) accesses the full menu, but right-clicking a link (in the Link 1 or Link 2 columns) only presents the Remove Link option.

Depending on the column clicked, the following options may or may not be available as appropriate to the item clicked:


Option	Description
Create	Choose the type of connector to create, then define connector settings in the related connector tool that opens.
Delete	Delete connectors or connectors and their related FE elements.
Convert	Convert connectors to a different type, for example a spot connector into a bolt connector. For more information, see Convert Style.
Combine	Combine single point connectors into line connectors, for example several spot connectors into a spotline connector. For more information, see Combine.
Split	Split line connectors into single point connectors, for example a spotline connector into several spots. For more information, see Split.
Position	Position connectors to the center between the farthest links or back to their source position. For more information, see Position.
Disassociate FE
Organize	Open the Organize Connectors dialog from which you can organize connectors into different Connector Groups.
Update layer	Update the Layer field, which becomes editable in Connector Entity browser, to input the layer value that you wish to assign to the selected connectors (this function works for multiple selections). Enter the desired number of layers into the text box and press Enter. The layer value defines the number of thicknesses (2T/3T/and so on) a connector connects at its location. The layer value defined in a connector can be greater than or equal to number of links connected by the connector. The connectors will be unrealized after this update, but the change is recorded permanently in the database and in the browser. Alternatively, you can also update the layer directly by right-clicking on the field itself rather than using the context menu.
Update tolerance	Update the Tolerance field, which becomes editable in Connector Entity browser, to input the tolerance value that you wish to assign to the selected connectors (this function works for multiple selections). You can also do this directly by right-clicking on the field itself rather than using the context menu.
Update diafactor	Update the diafactor field, which becomes editable in Connector Entity browser, to input the diafactor (diameter factor) value that you wish to assign to the selected connectors. This function works for multiple selections. You can also do this directly by right-clicking on the field itself rather than using the context menu. Note: The diafactor field is shown for any connector of any type. This value is mainly used for specific bolt realizations; all others get "NA" by default for this field. Although you can update "NA" to any value, the value is ignored during realization.
Update diameter	Opens a dialog to enter the diameter value that you wish to assign to the selected connectors. This function works for multiple selections. You can also do this directly by right-clicking on the field itself rather than using the context menu. Note: The diameter field is shown for any connector of any type. This value is not necessary for many realization types; they get per default NA for this field, though you can update NA to any value. This value is ignored then during realization.
Add Link	Opens a new set of controls in the bottom of the tab to add links to the selected connectors. For more information, see Add Link.
Update Link	Opens a new set of controls in the bottom of the tab to perform a part replacement. Note: Editing a connector causes it to become unrealized. Figure 5.
Remove Links	Remove all of the links from the selected connectors. The connectors will be unrealized and the change is recorded permanently in the database and in the browser selected connectors or all connectors in the browser. The connectors will be unrealized and the change is recorded permanently in the database and in the browser.
Combine Links	Combines individual links on a connector to Link Group. Combining links might be useful because, for each Link Group, a valid projection has to be considered for each connector point. This prevents choosing the wrong link in certain situations. Note: Combining links causes connectors to become unrealized.
Convert Links	Convert links to one of the following link types: Part, Comp, or Prop. For more information, see Convert Links.
Change Link Rule	The link rule defines how a connector treats an entity added as a link. Adding a link with the ID or name rule forces the connector to retain the link’s ID or name even if that link entity no longer exists in the database.
Change Link Structure	The link state defines if the weld created during connector realization connects to geometry or mesh on the link. This is applicable to only components and surfaces entities that can contain geometry and/or mesh information.
Copy Attributes	Copy all attributes of selected connectors.
Paste Attributes	Paste all attributes of selected connectors.
Realize	Calls the *CE_Realize command to realize connectors by accepting only a connector mark. The underlying assumption in the command is that each connector passed in the mark has the required information to be successfully realized. The required information such as tolerance, weld configuration, diameter, and so on is not defined for connectors created using the FE Absorb utility; hence the Rerealize feature in the Connector Browser works only for connectors that were realized through an HyperMesh Connector panel.
Unrealize	Unrealizes the selected connectors.
Realize Modified	Realizes the selected modified connector.
Connector Comparison Tool	Opens the Connector Comparison Tool panel.
Connector Quality Tool	Opens the Quality Panel (Connectors) panel.
Fine Components with FE Tool	The entities that are linked in the selected connectors are isolated in the display with the connectors. If the realization view option is turned on then the realized FE of the connectors is also displayed. The isolated entities are highlighted in the table.
Find Connectors from Elems Tool	Imports connectors from elements.
Import Connectors MCF Tool	Imports MCF connectors.
References	Opens the Reference Browser and displays the relationship of the selected entities to other entities in the model, in a hierarchical tree structure.
Review	Invokes review mode, which displays selected entities. If the connectors are realized, it displays realizations. If the connectors are unrealized, it shows connectors.
Show	Shows selected entities.
Hide	Hides selected entities.
Isolate	Displays only the selected entities, turning their display state to on and turning all other entities of the same type off. Isolate works locally within a specific entity type – for example, if component(s) are isolated, then all display states of other displayable entities, such as load collectors, remain untouched. Tip: Only show the isolated links in the browser by selecting (last_celink_review) from the query build drop-down menu.
Isolate Only	Works like Isolate, except that it also affects entity types different from the matching, selected entities. Thus, it turns off ALL displayable entities, regardless of type, except for the selected one(s).
Expand	This option expands all the folders to display all the connectors. This operation may take some time for folders that contain thousands of connectors.
Collapse	This option closes all the expanded folders in the browser.
Control Manager	Opens the Control Manager dialog.
Connector Appearance	Opens the Connector Appearance dialog.
Configure Browser	Opens the Configuration Window which contains options to configure the Connector Browser's list display and button behavior.

Configuration Window

In the Browser Configuration dialog you can select which columns to display in the browser, and change the way special tools, such as find twin connectors, operate.

Open the Browser Configuration dialog by right-clicking in the Connector Entity Browser and selecting Configure Browser from the context menu.

Local Options

Max Link Column Viewed

Regardless of how many links a connector might have, the browser will only display the specified number of columns.

Show Primary Links Only

By default, both primary and secondary links are displayed in the browser. To only display primary links, select the Show Primary link only checkbox.

By default, a node link is also displayed as a component link in the Component link view. For example, components are shown as a link when a node that belongs to an element belongs to a component, an element belongs to a component, or a surface belongs to a component.

When Show Primary Link Only is selected, the Part link view only displays real part links and the Component link view only displays real component links. Use the table below to determine which link types will be interpreted as a component or park link based on view you are using.


Link Type	Component Link View		Part Link View
	Show Primary Links Only: off	Show Primary Links Only: on	Show Primary Links Only: off	Show Primary Links Only: on
Nodes	yes	no	yes	no
Elements	yes	no	yes	no
Components	yes	yes	yes	no
Assemblies	yes	no	no	no
Parts	no	no	yes	yes
Properties	no	no	no	no
Surfaces (geom)	yes	no	yes	no
Tags	no	no	no	no

Show Node Attachment Label

Show the name of the node attachment in the graphics area.

Auto-Create Parts for Realization

Create parts in Part Browser to hold the realization component nested under a part configuration.

Consider Geometry

Consider geometry along with elements while using Show/Hide/Isolate operations.

Consider HAZ Elements

Consider HAZ elements while using Show/Hide/Isolate operations. When this option is on, and if connectors are isolated, HAZ elements are also isolated along with connectors and their links.

Available for Connector Configure browser options.

Figure 8. Consider HAZ Elements: Off. HAZ elements of hexa Nugget connectors are not isolated along with connectors and linked components.

Figure 9. Consider HAZ Elements: On. HAZ elements of hexa Nugget connectors are isolated along with connectors and linked components.

Find Connectors Between With

Select how connectors between selected links are found:

Minimum two selected links: Only connectors that link to at least two selected entities will be affected. Connectors with only one link to any of the selected entities will be ignored.
Exact selected links: Only connectors that link to the selected entities will be affected. This can vary from the Minimum two selected links option, because connectors with three or more links which link two selected entities with at least one unselected entity, would still be found by the Minimum two selected links option but not by this one.
All selected links: Any connector shared by the selected entities will be found.
Note: Connectors which link selected entities to any unselected ones will not be found, as they are not located between the selected entities.

Filter Links To

Choose which links to filter when performing search/isolation functions.

Projection Components: Isolate the entire link component.
Projection Elements: Isolate only the elements on which a projection falls.
Projection and Attached Elements: Isolate only the elements on which the projection falls and the elements which the connector FE connects.


Filter Links To	Projection Components	Projection Elements	Projection and Attached Elements
Spots	Figure 10.	Figure 11.	Figure 12.
Seams	Figure 13.	Figure 14.	Figure 15.
Bolts	Figure 16.	Figure 17.	Figure 18.

Global Options

Autocolor Visualization Mode: Automatically switch the element color mode when accessing different tabs in the Connector Link Entity Browser.; When enabled, switching to the Part Link view from the Component Link view automatically changes the element color to by part and vice versa.
Live-filtering: Filter items in real time.