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DriveWorks Pro 22
Model Generation

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Model Generation

There are 2 types of model generation available in DriveWorks Administrator.

  • Manual Queued - Models and drawings resulting from a specification are placed in a queue, to be generated at a convenient time.
  • OnDemand - Models can be generated any time when specifying within the SOLIDWORKS task pane.
DriveWorks Autopilot utilizes Automatic Queued generation. Please see Autopilot for more information.

Please see the topic Info: Model Generation Behavior (KB12121006) for more information.

Manual Queued

The DriveWorks Model Generation dialog lists all models that are currently in the queue to be generated.

To reach the model generation queue a specification must have been released to it.

This is achieved by transitioning the specification to a state that uses the Release Model(s) task.

When using the default Specification Flow, this is done by:
  • Clicking the Release button from a running specification.
  • Clicking the Release Operation on a specification that is in a Pending state, from Specification Explorer.

If you use DriveWorks Autopilot and the following apply:

  • It is connected to the same Group from which the specification has been made
  • It has the Enable SOLIDWORKS model generation setting applied
  • It has been Started

It will have control of the queue and will automatically start generating any models that are released to it.

If you want to manually Generate models DriveWorks Autopilot should be Stopped or have the Enable SOLIDWORKS model generation setting unchecked.

To Open The DriveWorks Model Generation Dialog

Ensure a specification is not active in the DriveWorks tab of the SOLIDWORKS task pane. If it is either save, cancel, finish or release the specification.

The Model Generation button becomes the Preview button when running a specification in SOLIDWORKS.
  1. Click the Model Generation button in the DriveWorks tab of the SOLIDWORKS task pane. 

     (the button on the left)

  2. Check the box next to the name of the model or models that require generating and select Generate.

To Search For A Specific Model In The Queue

To search for a specific model in the queue type the name of the model in the filter box.

To Generate Lower Level Parts Or Sub Assemblies Only

  1. Uncheck the Root Components only
  2. Select the model or models from the list
  3. Click Generate

If a sub-assembly is selected DriveWorks will automatically generate any children required in the sub-assembly.

Generate Deferred Drawings

This is only available when drawings have been deferred.

See Release Models - Deferred Drawings for more information.

  1. Select the option to Show Deferred Drawings
  2. Select the deferred drawings to generate
  3. Click Generate

Generate (Using Model Insight)

The Model Generation dialog also allows models to be generated using Model Insight.

  1. Click the Model Generation button in the DriveWorks tab of the SOLIDWORKS task pane. 

     (the button on the left)

  2. Right Click on the model to be generated.
  3. Select Generate (Using Model Insight)

OnDemand

When a specification is running in the SOLIDWORKS task pane the Model Generation button  (the button on the left) will become active when OnDemand is available.

Click the button to generate a preview of the models.

Models resulting from specifying a child specification can also utilize OnDemand generation.

If the models from a child specification are replacing instances in a model generated from a parent specification append the special variable DWRevisionNumber to the File Name rule of the child model.

This is needed to allow DriveWorks to recognize a new model is required if the child specification is edited.

To enable OnDemand the Enable OnDemand task must be applied in the Specification Flow.

For example the Default Specification Flow places this task in the Specify state on the Event: Leave State.


See Also

Info: Model Generation Behavior (KB12121006)

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