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DriveWorks Pro 21
Glossary

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Glossary

3

3D Preview Box

A user form control that displays a box in which an interactive 3D Model can be displayed during specification in DriveWorks Live.

The 3D Preview Box can run in 3 different modes:

  1. File Mode - Requires the location of existing 3D content to be applied to the File Name property of the control.
  2. Document Mode - Requires the name of an Output Document that uses a DriveWorks 3D file to be applied in the Preview Document Name property of the control.
  3. Autopilot Mode - Requires the name of an engine that DriveWorks Autopilot will use to render 3D content back to the control, this is set in the Preview Engine property of the control.

A

Advanced Feature

Additional parameters available for capture as a result of capturing a feature.

See Advanced Feature Parameters and Model Rules Advanced Feature Rules - Overview

API

DriveWorks Pro has been built with a fully documented Application Programming Interface (API) allowing you to create your own plugin to DriveWorks using Visual Studio or Visual Studio Express.

To get you started programming with the DriveWorks API we have created a Software Development Kit (SDK) that includes the reference assemblies that you will need, the complete documentation as well as some Visual Studio Project Templates.

Application Theme

Gives your DriveWorks Implementation the look and feel of a desktop application in a browser.

Automatic State

An automatic state is similar to a "Paused" state, except that if DriveWorks Autopilot is running, it will automatically find the first transition to a "Paused" state and run it. This is useful if you want certain tasks to take place on a server.

Autopilot Mode

A mode of operation for the 3D Preview Box control to display 3D content.


This mode will create and render SolidWorks files using the specified engine.

B

Browser

Any of the tabs on the right-hand side of the Rule Builder which enable quick access to project items such as variables and controls.

C

Capture

Capturing is the process of telling DriveWorks what documents, models and drawings you want to automate, and what features in those models and drawings are going to change.

Capture Assistant

The capture assistant is an add-in to SolidWorks which is installed with DriveWorks. It enables you to quickly and easily tell DriveWorks which models, features, dimensions and more you want to automate.

Captured

Capturing is the process of telling DriveWorks what documents, models and drawings you want to automate, and what features in those models and drawings are going to change.

Check Box

A user form control which displays a check mark when selected. The check box reports TRUE when selected and FALSE when not selected.

Child Project

A project that is specified by clicking Add from the child specification list control in the parent project.

Child Specification

A project that is specified by clicking Add from the child specification list control in the parent project.

Child Specification List

A user form control that allows projects to be specified as children of a parent project. Common information can be passed down from the main project into the child projects. And variable information can be passed up from the child project into the main project.

Clone

A model, drawing or document created as a result of a specification being made

Combo Box

A user form control that allows a single item to be selected from a drop down list.

Command Bar

A bar which shows buttons for commands at the top of the Capture Explorer, the Project Designer, or the Rule Builder.

Common Fields

Used in ODBC Data Export. Allow the same rule to be built for fields where multiple rows exported. See ODBC Data Export for more information.

Component

An assembly, part, or drawing.

Component Set

A part or assembly which has been added to the Model Rules screen and is not contained in a parent assembly.

Condition

A term used with Specification Flow. Conditions are used to control when specific tasks in a task sequence are executed, or if an operation or transition is hidden or disabled.

Constant

A static value (text or numeric) that never changes.

Control

A text box, check box, or some other control added to the form designer.

Control Fields

Used in Data Export. Control Fields control whether a row is inserted, updated, or ignored. See ODBC Data Export or   SQL Server Data Export for more information.

Copied File

A static document that is copied after specifying so it can be stored with the specification.

Copy Code

Copies the contents of the box to the clipboard.

Custom Properties

Provide the ability to store meta-data within the model or drawing.

D

Data Grid

A user form control that will display filtered data from a database back into the user form.

Data Table

The Data Table control allows selectable data, from a table or database, to be presented on a user form.

Decision

The ability of form navigation to choose if a user form is to be displayed during specification.

Default Specification Folder

This is a setting available in General Settings.

This is the root location from where all new Models, Drawings and additional File Formats created by DriveWorks will be stored.

Deploy

The installation of software and organization of the DriveWorks implementation so others have access to be able to specify.

Dialog Button

A user form control that will launch a user form that has no navigation as a dialog.

Dialog Form

A user form without any connections that link it to the start and finish form navigation flags.

A dialog form can be displayed during specification in one or more of the following ways:

  • Using the Dialog Button
  • Using the Item List control
  • Using the Frame Control

The Dialog Button and Item List controls will launch the dialog form as a modal window (requires user interaction before returning to the main navigation). With DriveWorks Administrator and DriveWorks User this will be in the form of a pop up window that sits in front of the main specification window. With DriveWorks Live this will launch within the same specification window, that will return to the main specification when closed.

A dialog form launched from the Dialog Button or Item List controls can navigate to other dialog forms.

A dialog form launched within the Frame Control cannot navigate to any other dialog forms within the same frame control.

Document Editor

The editor which is shown when a document is edited in the Documents task in the Project Designer.

Document Mode

Document Mode describes the 3D Preview Box when it is pointed at a DriveWorks 3D document in your DriveWorks Project. Using the 3D Preview Box in this way, enables changes on your form to alter the displayed 3D file; based on rules.

Drivedot

Document templates are installed with DriveWorks Administrator to %PROGRAMDATA%\DriveWorks\[version number]\Templates\Documents.

Drivefort

Form templates are installed with DriveWorks Administrator to %PROGRAMDATA%\DriveWorks\[version number]\Templates\Forms.

Drivegt

Group templates are installed with DriveWorks Administrator to %PROGRAMDATA%\DriveWorks\[version number]\Templates\Groups.

Drivepkg

DriveWorks Package Files (.drivepkg) are created by the Pack And Go task in DriveWorks Data Management.

Driveprot

Project templates are installed with DriveWorks Administrator to %PROGRAMDATA%\DriveWorks\[version number]\Templates\Projects.

Drivesft

Specification Flow templates are installed with DriveWorks Administrator to %PROGRAMDATA%\DriveWorks\[version number]\Templates\SpecificationFlows

DriveWorks 3D File

A file format that allows 3D models to be viewed on the web without client side plugins being installed. Multi browser compatible.

A DriveWorks 3D File has the file extension .drive3d

You can save SolidWorks models as .drive3D files by selecting File> Save As from the SolidWorks file menu and changing the Save as type field to (*.drive3d)

DTI

DriveWorks Task Identification - A bug or accepted enhancement request is assigned a DriveWorks Task Identification to enable tracking of the item.

Dynamic

Value can be controlled by a rule.

Dynamic Rule

A Dynamic Rule is a rule whose result can change.

Referencing any form control value, variable or function within a rule makes it dynamic and will automatically be re-calculated, whenever a control is changed, during specification.

E

Excel Project

Excel projects are no longer supported.

F

File Formats

Other file types that can be created from the source file.

File Mode

File Mode describes the 3D Preview Box when it is pointed at a static file on your computer or the network.

Filter Box

A box with a filter icon to the right which allows a tree or list to be filtered.

Finish

A default transition to pass a specification into a pending state.

Fixed

Form Design

A type of control property where the value can only be set in the Form Designer (not by a rule).

Fixed License

A type of license (for DriveWorks Live) that controls the number of allowable concurrent sessions served from the license manager.

Fixed License

A type of license that restricts the use of the software to a single computer.

Fixed License

A type of license (for DriveWorks Live) that allows an overrun on top of the available DriveWorks Live Centralized licenses.

Fixed Property

Form Design

A type of control property where the value can only be set in the Form Designer (not by a rule).

Floating License

A type of software license that gives the ability to share a limited number of licenses among a large number of machines.

Form Message

A custom message that can be displayed as specification tasks during specification.

Form Messages

Form Messages are accessed from DriveWorks Administrator.

These allow common messages to be allocated an incremental number that can be referenced in the Error Result property of form controls.

The Error Result property determines if the message is to be displayed during specification.

Form messages are displayed in the task list.

Form Navigation

The process of passing from one user form to another during specification.

Frame Control

A user form control that displays a box in which a dialog form can be displayed.

Function Wizard

A wizard shown in the Help and Diagnostics area of the Rule Builder when a function is selected from the Functions Dialog.

Functions Dialog

Launched from the Command Bar on the Rule Builder. Allows for quick selection of a function to add to the Rule Builder.

G

Generation Tasks

Generation Tasks allow additional automation Tasks to be run on Parts, Assemblies and Drawings.

Only Queued model generation is supported. Generation Tasks will not work with OnDemand model generation.

Enabling a loop allows the sequence of Tasks to iterate through the Component or Drawing with each iteration producing unique results. This allows DriveWorks to perform Generative Modeling.

Group

A database that holds DriveWorks data.

The data held in a Group ranges from information captured from the CAD models being automated to details of users and teams.

A Group also holds data about the Projects that have been created.

DriveWorks supports two types of groups - Individual and Shared.

I

Implementation

The application of SolidWorks models and drawings combined with the documents, user forms, rules and data required to produce the required outputs automatically.

Individual Group

A database that holds DriveWorks information and allows a single connection for access to administer DriveWorks projects

Initial State

The first state a specification enters when a new specification has been started.

Inline Frame

An inline frame is used to display a web page within a web page.

DriveWorks Live sites can be displayed within an inline frame on a website by using the <iframe> tag.

See HTML Iframes for more information.

Instances

Two or more identical occurrences of the same component within an assembly.

Integration Theme

Hosts the DriveWorks Live Web API enabling you to embed your DriveWorks Implementation in an existing web site or application.

Intelligent File Name

A naming convention applied to the file name parameter of an output document.

An intelligent file name is a name that will enable DriveWorks to determine if an output has been generated previously.

Typically an intelligent file name is made up from key input values on the user form, or the results from captured parameters.

Item List

A user form control that allows items to be added to the specification.

L

Label

A user form control that displays text.

List Box

A user form control that allows a single item to be selected from a scrollable list.

M

Macro Button

A user form control that, when selected, will run a VBA macro.

Major Version

The term Major Version refers to the product number of DriveWorks. The major version numbers that are currently supported can be found in the article Info: Supported Versions.

Master Files

The files used by DriveWorks to produce all clones from.

Measurement Text Box

A user form control that accepts numeric values and gives a choice of units for the value entered. Automatic conversion between units is supported and mathematical expressions can be used in the control.

Migration

The process of moving data from earlier versions of DriveWorks to the latest version or upsizing from DriveWorksXpress and DriveWorks Solo to DriveWorks Pro.

Model Generation

The process of DriveWorks automatically generating the new models and drawings from a specification

N

Network License

A type of software license that gives the ability to share a limited number of licenses among a large number of machines.

Numeric Text Box

A user form control that accepts numeric values only.

O

On Demand

Function of DriveWorks that allows a temporary model to be built while specifying in the SolidWorks task pane.

Operation

A term used with Specification Flow. Operations are actions that can be performed on a specification that has entered a state. Operations trigger task sequences that apply the required action.

Option Group

A user form control where one selection can be made from a group of options.

P

Parent Project

A project where the child specification list control has been added to one of the user forms and from which the child project or projects can be specified.

Paused State

If a state is a "Paused" state then it is one which is shown in the Specification Explorer, e.g. "Pending", "Completed" are paused states.

Personal Web Edition

Available as a task in the task explorer of DriveWorks Administrator. Allows previewing and editing of a DriveWorks Live theme locally.

Picture Box

A user form control that will display an image.

Project

A collection of user forms, data and rules from which a specification can be made that will automatically generate the required outputs.

A Project is stored in a Group.

Project Designer

Also referred to as DriveWorks Administrator. Provides form design, model rule administration, and other capabilities.

Properties List

A list which shows the properties for one or more selected Controls in the Form Design task in the Project Designer

Proxy Server

A Proxy Server is a server that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers (such as the internet).

A Proxy Server can be used to restrict traffic to the internet from client computers.

R

Release

A default transition to pass a specification into a queue to have models generated.

Replacement Models

Available for a captured part or assembly. A part or assembly which can replace the part or assembly against which it is captured.

Rule

A formula which controls the value of the item to which it is attached, e.g. a dimension of a feature, or the name of a drawing.

Rule Builder

The dialog shown when building a rule, e.g. for a variable, model rule, or form control property.

Running State

Indicates the user forms will be loaded into the specification window or browser for the users to enter data onto.

S

Section

A single section on the Capture Explorer, e.g. Custom Properties, or Dimensions and Features

Section Header

The header icon and text shown at the bottom of the Capture Explorer for a specific Capture Explorer Section.

Service Pack

Each major version of DriveWorks has periodic service pack releases. This is to ensure the software stays current with all updates applied to operating systems and other applications that DriveWorks integrates with. Service packs can also include new functionality, enhancements and bug fixes.

Shared Group

A database that holds DriveWorks information and allows multiple connections for access to administer and specify DriveWorks projects.

When more than one connection to the DriveWorks group exists (for example when DriveWorks Autopilot, DriveWorks User or DriveWorks Live is connected) the group MUST be a Shared Group.

Skins

The images and layout surrounding the DriveWorks user forms when displayed in a web browser.

Slider

The slider displays a slide bar which represents a numeric value.

Specification

Each time you run your project to automate a new set of models, you are creating a specification. The specification keeps a history of the outputs that are created throughout the lifetime of the specification.

Specification Explorer

The Specification Explorer shows the history of all specifications made through DriveWorks.

Once a group is open it is available from the following DriveWorks modules:

  • DriveWorks Administrator - From the Task Explorer under Stage 2 (or Stage 6 with a project open): Specification > Specification Explorer.
  • DriveWorks User - From the Task Explorer under Stage 2: Specification > Specification Explorer.
  • DriveWorks Autopilot - From the Task Explorer under Stage 2: Specification > Specification Explorer.
  • DriveWorks Live (Web Theme) - From the History link (via the Specification History module)
  • DriveWorks Live (App Theme) - From the Task Explorer by clicking the Specification Explorer link.

New specifications can be created from the Specification Explorer of DriveWorks Administrator, DriveWorks User and DriveWorks Autopilot.

Control over which users can view the history of their own and other users is granted from Stage 1: Group Setup > Security Settings of DriveWorks Administrator.

The Actions that can be performed on a selected specification are applied through the Specification Flow (Stage 5: Specification Control) of DriveWorks Administrator.

Specification Flow

Specification Flow is a powerful feature that gives you full control over the specification process. Specification flow can be tailored to give specific users and teams permissions to initiate certain characteristics during the life cycle of the specification.

Spin Button

A user form control where the displayed value is incremented by the selection of up and down arrows.

State

A term used with Specification Flow. States are used to control what actions should be taken if an operation or transition is started, or in the event of entering or leaving a state.

Static

Value set in Form Designer. Static properties can be made Dynamic by double clicking the gray radio button.

System DSN

System Data Source Name. Data Provides connectivity to a database through an ODBC driver.

See How To: Setup a DSN-Access and How To: Setup a DSN-SQL Server

T

Table

A method for storing tabular data.

Table Editor

The editor which is shown when a table is edited in the Define Tables task in the Project Designer.

Task

1. A single task shown in the Task Explorer in the DriveWorks application to provide access to functionality in that application, e.g. Form Design, or Specification Explorer.

2. A term used with Specification Flow. Tasks are sequences of actions that are performed when a specification enters or leaves a state, has an operation applied or during transition to a state.

Task Explorer

The list on the left hand side of the DriveWorks application which are used to perform specific functions.

Task Pane

The area in SolidWorks where the DriveWorks capture assistant is loaded, and which can be hidden or shown by right clicking on SolidWorks' command bar or menu bar.

Teams

Teams are groups of users. Each team has a configurable set of permissions which govern whether the users in that team can capture models, and edit and/or specify certain projects in the group.

Text Box

A user form control that will accept alpha and numeric entries.

Theme

Themes let you run your DriveWorks Implementation in a browser. Each Theme gives a different user experience.

If DriveWorks Live is running inside Internet Information Services (IIS) more than one Theme can be used at any one time.

Transition

A term used with Specification Flow. A specification transitions from state to state when the user clicks the corresponding navigation button on the user form.

U

Unique File Name

A naming convention applied to the file name parameter of an output document.

A unique file name is a name that will result in a new document regardless of content.

A unique file name should use an input or variable that is unique to the specification from which the output is to be created. For example an Order Number entered into the user form or by use of the special variable Specification ID.

Upload Control

A user form control that, when selected, will allow a file to be uploaded to the specification.

User Form

The forms used to enter or select data for the specification.

Users

Users are added to teams to control their access to projects. Each user has a name and a password which they use to log on to a group.

V

Variable

A dynamic value (text or numeric) determined by a rule.

W

Web Frame

A user form control that allows external web content to be rendered onto a user form.

Web Theme

Use the Web Theme to create a web site for your DriveWorks Implementation.

Choose from a number of customizable skins to select your preferred user experience.