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.
Please see Model Generation for more information on the different model generation types.
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.
Generation Tasks are run before (Pre Drive) or after (Post Drive) the standard generation sequence.
This is essentially the driving of existing Files, Geometry and Meta-Data.
Generation Tasks perform Generative Modeling. This is the ability to add to Models or Drawings.
This could be, for example:
The Generation Tasks editor has three columns:
Choose if Tasks are performed on specific Models or Drawings OR all Models or Drawings
Add Tasks to the required sequence.
Select the Tasks required from the Toolbox and set the Properties of each Task.
The Status Bar (bottom left of the main window) displays information on the current selection. This includes:
The Task Context column allows Generation Tasks to be run on individual Models and Drawings or every Model and Drawing.
By default the column displays the components in Model Specific view.
| Model Specific | Type Specific |
|---|---|
 |  |
This view allows Tasks to be run on:
| This view allows Tasks to be run on:
|
| A combination of Model Specific and Type Specific Tasks can be applied. Type Specific Tasks will run before Model Specific Tasks. | |
Switch to Type Specific view by clicking the column heading and selecting Type Specific.
Or
Click the Type Specific button on the Command Bar.
Looping is available for Model Specific Tasks.
When Models are released with Looped Generation Tasks, a count is created for each loop.
Your Project can keep track of the loop count by applying the Special Variable Current Release Loop Index to your rules.
Looping allows a Task Sequence to be run a set amount of times, with differing property values applied for each loop, without adding the Task over and over again.
For example:
The Insert Component can be looped 10 times, within a sequence, to insert 10 components into an assembly.
Looping will not create multiple components from a single model.
Please see How To: Create Multiple Component Sets From A Single Specification if this is required.
A loop is enabled by setting the Loop Count property to be greater than 1 in the Model Specific properties window.
Once a loop is enabled the loop icon next to the model turns green.
Also the Pre Drive Tasks and Post Drive Tasks, in the generation sequence, are enclosed within a box. This indicates that any Tasks in these areas are contained within each loop.
Looping an Assembly where a captured Instance is replaced with a file.
Replace rules on an Instance, in an Assembly, are only performed on the first loop. All other loops will ignore the replace rule.
Test Mode will display the result of the Replace rule on the first loop.
Looping an Assembly where a captured Instance is deleted.
When using standard model rules to delete instances in Assemblies that are being looped, ensure the deletion occurs on the last loop.
See Model Rules - Deleting an instance in an Assembly that is also looped for more information.
Tasks are added from the Toolbox by selecting a component (Model or Type Specific) from the Task Context Area and:
Or
See How To Add Generation Tasks below for more detailed instructions.
Once added to a Generation Sequence, Tasks can be reordered by using the Move icons on the Command Bar.
Tasks can be removed or moved to another sequence by right clicking on the Task and selecting the appropriate option from the menu.
There are six areas where Generation Tasks can be added:
Not all Generation Tasks are appropriate for every sequence.
Tasks cannot be added to a sequence that is not suitable.
Once a Task is selected each sequence will indicate if it can be added (if no other Tasks have previously been added), for example the following message will be displayed on the Generation Sequence:
Selected task cannot be placed into the SEQUENCE NAME section
Pre Copy Tasks run before the Copying Sequence (cloning of the required master model).
Tasks added here are typically taken from the File System or Specifications categories of the Toolbox.
Post Copy Tasks run after Copying but before the Preparation Sequence (retrieving component references and opening the cloned model in SOLIDWORKS)
Tasks added here are typically taken from the File System or Specifications categories of the Toolbox.
Pre Drive Tasks run after the Preparation sequence.
This is after the cloned Model or Drawing has been opened in SOLIDWORKS, but before any driving of captured parameters has taken place.
Most Tasks are available for adding to this Sequence.
Post Drive Tasks run after the Main Drive Sequence (driving of all captured parameters).
This is after the cloned Model or Drawing has had its captured parameters driven, but before the Finish up... sequence takes place.
Most Tasks are available for adding to this Sequence.
Pre Close Tasks run after the Finish Up sequence (execution of Post Drive Tasks, driving additional file formats, file saving and driving any required Drawings).
This allows further Tasks to be run while the file is still open, prior to it being closed.
Post Close Tasks run after the Finish Up Sequence (creation of additional file formats, saving, driving of Drawings).
Most Tasks are available for adding to this Sequence, apart from Tasks that require the file to be open in SOLIDWORKS.
All Generation Tasks are categorized into the component type they apply to.
General, File System and Specification categories have tasks that can run on any component type.
The Toolbox can be filtered to quickly locate the required Task.
Once a Task is added to a Generation Sequence its properties can be set from the window directly under the Toolbox.
Conditions are used to control whether specific Tasks in a Task Sequence are executed.
With the applied Generation Task selected, either:
Or
See Generation Tasks - Condition Editor for more information.
To add a Generation task:
If more than one Task has been applied all Tasks can be deleted by multi-selecting and using one of the above methods.
Tasks can be moved from Pre Drive to Post Drive (and Post Drive to Pre Drive) by:
The order that Tasks are listed in the Generation Sequence can be reorganized by first selecting the Task you want to move. Once selected, use the options below in the Command Bar :
Generation Tasks can be copied and pasted within the same Project or in another Project. To Copy a Task:
Generation Tasks can be Cut and Pasted within the same Project or in another Project.To Cut a Task:
Use the 'Create Configuration' or 'Switch Configuration' Generation Tasks to control Configuration specific dimensions.
This Project demonstrates how to create images of generated Assemblies, Parts or Drawings using Generation Tasks.
Find out how to add dimensions to Drawings that show Assemblies generated using the Insert Component Generation Task.
Use the 'Auto Arrange Dimensions', 'Auto Balloon View' and 'Rescale And Position View' Generation Tasks to control a driven Drawing.
Add more detail to your Drawings through the creation and population of General Tables with these Generation Tasks.
Hole Wizard Features can be driven in many ways, this Project shows three of these methods: Sketch Dimensions, Advanced Feature Parameters and Generation Tasks.
This Project demonstrates how to insert and mate a component using Generation Tasks and how to use looping to insert multiple components.
This Project demonstrates how to Insert a Decal onto a part using Generation Tasks.
This Project demonstrates how the 'Insert Library Feature' Generation Task can be applied to your models.
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