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How To: Diagnose Project Issues Using Specification Test Mode (KB13103009)

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Introduction

Specification Test Mode combines the individual diagnostic capabilities from the Rules Builder, Form Designer and SOLIDWORKS into a single interface.

Using specification test mode complete testing scenarios can be carried out on:

  • New specifications
  • Existing specifications - when the specification flow allows this.

Unlike form design test mode, specification test mode will allow testing of the following:

  • Form Navigation
  • Macro button
  • Dialog button
  • Item List
  • Child Specification list
  • Form Warnings

During Specification Test any element that can have a rule applied can be analyzed using the Analyze Rule tool.

Analyze Rule

The Analyze Rule tool gives feedback on the item being analyzed in the header. The tool consists of three sections:

  • Rule Window - Displays the rule applied to the selected item.
  • Values and Steps - Displays the current values of the named ranges used in the rule and the steps taken to calculate the result.
  • Rule Drill Down - Allows the rule and all of the named ranges used in the calculation of the rule to be drilled into to see exactly where the rule obtains it's values.

Rule Window

The rule window displays the rule applied to the selected item.

If the rule is not calculating as expected it can be manually changed directly in the window to try out new scenarios. The modified rule will be reflected in the Values and Steps and the Rule Drill Down tabs.

Any changes made to the rule in the rule window will not be applied into the project.
If you are satisfied with the changes made to the rule copy the rule to the clipboard (ctrl+ ), close the analyser, locate the item from appropriate stage in the task list and paste (ctrl+v) the modified rule into the item.

Values and Steps

The Values and Steps tab displays the current values of the named ranges used in the rule and the steps taken to calculate the result.

Rule Drill Down

The Rule Drill Down tab allows the rule and all of the named ranges used in the calculation of the rule to be drilled into to see exactly where the rule obtains it's values.

To Drill Down into a rule, expand the item by clicking the + box next to the expandable item.

To Start Specification Test Mode on a new specification

Specification test mode is started on a new specification by:

  1. From Stage 6. Specification of DriveWorks Administrator select Specification Explorer
  2. Click New and select the project to test from the Create a New Specification list, click OK
  3. Enter the required values or make the required selections from the user forms, navigate through the user forms by using the Next and Previous buttons.
  4. When you are satisfied the selections/entries made give the required scenario to test; Click the Test Mode button from the specification window command bar.

To change the current user form or make further form control selections/entries:

  1. Exit Test Mode by clicking the test mode button
  2. Navigate to the required user form/form control using the Next and Previous buttons
  3. Click Test Mode.

To Start Specification Test Mode on an existing specification

Specification test mode is started on an existing specification by:

  1. From Stage 6. Specification of DriveWorks Administrator select Specification Explorer
  2. Select the specification to test from the specification list
  3. From the Actions list in the specification explorer window select Edit (for a specification that is currently at the Pending state) or Copy (for a specification that is currently at the Released state)
  4. The specification will load with the same entries in the user form controls as it was originally specified.
  5. Once the specification loads, click the Test Mode button.

The properties, values and rules of the various stages from the task explorer in DriveWorks Administrator can now be selected from the tab strip that runs across the top of the specification window:

Specification Test Mode - Form

Once the Test Mode button has been clicked the specification window changes to display various tasks that can be diagnosed as tabs along the top of the user form.

Any control can now be selected from the current user form. Once a control has been selected the properties for that control will be displayed to the right of the user form.

Controls which have had the Enabled or Visible properties set to False will be displayed on the user form during test mode. The Enabled and Visible properties will show the correct value during test mode.

Any property that has a rule applied can be diagnosed using the Analyze Rule tool.

To Analyze the rule for the property

  1. Select a control from the displayed user form in Test Mode
  2. Double click the property from the property window on the right
  3. The Analyze Rule dialog will be shown.

Specification Test Mode - Navigation

Selecting the Navigation tab in specification test mode will display the current navigation path to progress through the user forms.

If a user form does not appear in the navigation it will not be shown to the user. Dialog forms or Child Specification forms will not appear in the navigation.

Diagnose Form Navigation

Follow the steps in the links below to start specification test mode:

To view the current Form Navigation:

  1. Select Navigation from the specification test mode tab strip across the top of the specification window.

When the Form Navigation contains a decision the inclusion/exclusion of the decision form can be shown by:

  1. Exit Test Mode
  2. Change the form control values that instigate the decision
  3. Return to Test Mode
  4. Click the Navigation tab
  • If the navigation is incorrect return to the Form Navigation in the task explorer and check the rule for the decision form.
  • If the navigation is correct in specification test but not during actual specification see How To: Diagnose Project Issues for other steps to take.

Specification Test Mode - Constants

The values of constants used in the project can be modified here to test results of rules where they are used. Any changes made to the constants here will not update in the project. Once a satisfactory value for the constant has been achieved return to the Define Constants stage in the task explorer and apply the new value to the affected constant.

When a constant is changed in specification test mode the change will not be seen in any rule until it is analyzed.

Specification Test Mode - Variables

Any variable can be analyzed and modified in the rule window of the analyze tool. Any changes will not be applied into the project.

To apply changes into the project return to the Define Variables stage in the task explorer and apply the new value to the affected variable.

Specification Test Mode - Documents

Any document created by the project can be viewed in specification test mode. To view a document:

  1. Select the Documents tab in specification test mode
  2. Select the document to preview from the documents list
  3. Click the preview button

All parameters being driven into a document can be analyzed:

  1. Select the Documents tab in specification test mode
  2. Select the document to analyze from the documents list
  3. Click the Analyze button

Diagnose Documents

Follow the steps in the links below to start specification test mode:

To view the rule and current result of a parameter associated to a document:

  1. Select Documents from the specification test mode tab strip across the top of the specification window
  2. Select the document from the documents list
  3. Select the parameter from the properties window on the right.

The rule and current result are displayed in corresponding columns in the properties window. To further analyze the rule:

  1. Click the Analyze button, with the required parameter selected in the properties window.
  • If the rule is incorrect it can be adjusted directly in the rule window of the analyze tool. Any changes made to the rule will need to be updated in the project after verification in the analyze tool.
  • If the rule is correct, but document generation produces inaccuracies further analysis of other areas may be required, see How To: Diagnose Project Issues for other steps to take.

Specification Test Mode - Model Rules

The model rules tab of specification test mode displays a tree view of the assembly structure and models that will be generated. The tree view is structured in the order the models are listed in the model rules section. Driven alternative models should be placed higher up in the tree than the assembly they will be replaced into.

The tree view shows the master file name of each model and then the new file name of the generated file after the - symbol.

  • Models not generated are shown with a gray icon
  • Models to be generated are shown with an assembly or part icon
  • Drawings to be generated are shown with a drawing icon
  • Static replacement models are shown with their corresponding model type icon with the letter A

When a Driven Alternative model requires generating it will be listed as (New) against the actual model name in the tree view. The master model it is to replace will be shown with that master name and the new driven alternative name. At this stage it will be classed as (Existing) because the driven alternative is generated prior to the assembly.

For instance the image below shows a Driven Alternative named Forked Clevis Assy 1.63 IN (New) being generated ahead of the Hydraulic Cylinder. In the structure of the Hydraulic Cylinder you will see the sub assembly named Dummy Clevis Assy followed by the name of the driven alternative it will be replaced with - Forked Clevis Assy 1.63 IN (Existing).

All results being driven into the driven parameters are listed in the properties section. To view the results of the parameters being driven into a model:

Diagnose Model Rules

Follow the steps in the links below to start specification test mode:

To view the rule and current result of a parameter associated to a captured model:

  1. Select Model Rules from the specification test mode tab strip across the top of the specification window
  2. Select the model from the tree view in the Models list
  3. Select the parameter from the properties window on the right.

The rule and current result are displayed in corresponding columns in the properties window. To further analyze the rule:

  1. Click the Analyze button, with the required parameter selected in the properties window.
  • If the rule is incorrect it can be adjusted directly in the rule window of the analyze tool. Any changes made to the rule will need to be updated in the project after verification in the analyze tool.
  • If the rule is correct, but model generation produces inaccuracies further analysis of other areas may be required, see How To: Diagnose Project Issues for other steps to take.

Knowledge Base Article Ref:KB13103009
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