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DriveWorks Pro 21
Generation Tasks

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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.

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.

The standard generation sequence comprises, for example:
  • Copying of files
  • Replacing of components
  • Driving of dimensions
  • Changing states of features
  • Applying values to Custom Properties

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:

  • Creating Configurations
  • Inserting components into an Assembly
  • Auto ballooning a Detail View

The Generation Tasks editor has three columns:

Status Bar

The Status Bar (bottom left of the main window) displays information on the current selection. This includes:

  • The number of tasks the selected component contains
  • The number of tasks that are currently selected

Task Context

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 SpecificType Specific
This view allows Tasks to be run on:
  • Individual Assemblies
  • Individual Parts
  • Individual Drawings
This view allows Tasks to be run on:
  • All Components
  • Assemblies
  • Parts
  • Drawings
A combination of Model Specific and Type Specific Tasks can be applied.
Type Specific Tasks will run before Model Specific Tasks.

Select the Task Context

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

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.

Generation Sequence

Tasks are added from the Toolbox by selecting a component (Model or Type Specific) from the Task Context Area and:

  • Left click and drag the Generation Task from the Toolbox Area onto the required Generation Sequence

    Or

  • Right click on the Generation Task from the Toolbox Area and selecting the required Generation Sequence from the context menu.

    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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Toolbox

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.

General
Change Unit System
Clear Selection
Create Image
Export Pack And Go
Force Rebuild
Run SOLIDWORKS Macro
SaveComponent
Set Custom Property
Set Shaded Image Quality
Set Summary
Set Wireframe Image Quality
Setting: Hide All Types
Zoom To Fit
Assembly
Create Angle Mate
Create Coincident Mate
Create Concentric Mate
Create Coordinate System Mate
Create Distance Mate
Create Profile Center Mate
Insert Component
Replace Component
Set Instance State
Assembly & Drawing
Replace Component reference
Drawing
Activate Sheet
Auto Arrange Dimensions
Auto BalloonView
Create General Table
Create Sheet Images
Delete Dangling Dimensions
Drive General Table
Re-jog Ordinate Dimensions
Replace View Component Reference
Rescale And Position View
Set Annotation Position by Percentage
Set Annotation Position by Distance
Set Annotation Positions by Percentage
Set Annotation Positions by Distance
Set Hide Dangling Dimensions
Set View Relative Position
File System
Copy File
Copy Folder
Delete File
Delete Folder
Move File
Move Folder
Part
Drive Sketch Text Properties
Insert Decal On A NamedFace
Insert Library Feature
Part & Assembly
Create Configuration
Delete Configuration
Delete Configurations
Delete Feature
Delete Features
Drive Dimension Tolerance Limits
Export 3MF
Export AMF
Export IFC
Export STEP
Export STL
Set Global Variable
Show Named View
Switch Configuration
Specification
Invoke Operation On Existing Specification
Invoke Transition On Existing Specification

Conditions

Conditions are used to control whether specific Tasks in a Task Sequence are executed.

With the applied Generation Task selected, either:

  • Click Edit Conditions on the Command Bar

    Or

  • Right click and select Edit Conditions from the menu

See Generation Tasks - Condition Editor for more information.

How To Add Generation Tasks

To add a Generation task:

  1. Select the Task context the Task is to be added to. This can be:
    • Model Specific - Used to select an individual Model or Drawing to run the Task(s) on.
    • Type Specific - Used to select all Models or Drawings to run the Task(s) on.
  2. Select the Part, Assembly or Drawing the Task is to be run on.
  3. Double Click or Drag the Task from the Toolbox to the required Generation Sequence.
  4. If the Task is to run more than once, set the number in the Loop Count property.
Tasks can be removed by selecting the Task and:
  • Clicking Delete on the Command Bar.
  • Right click, select Remove.
  • Pressing the Delete key on the keyboard.

If more than one Task has been applied all Tasks can be deleted by multi-selecting and using one of the above methods.

How To Move Tasks

Tasks can be moved from Pre Drive to Post Drive (and Post Drive to Pre Drive) by:

  1. Select (Ctrl or Shift select for multi selection) the Task(s) to be moved.
  2. Drag to the required generation sequence or right click and select Move to.

How To Reorder Tasks

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 :

  • Move Up - Moves selected Task upwards in the list by one place.
  • Move Down - Moves selected Task downwards in the list by one place.
  • Move To Top - Moves selected Task to the top of its current list.
  • Move To Bottom - Moves selected Task to the bottom of its current list.

How To Copy And Paste Tasks

Generation Tasks can be copied and pasted within the same Project or in another Project. To Copy a Task:

  1. Select the Task you wish to Copy.
  2. Copy the Task by either:
    • Right click and select Copy.
    • Click Copy found on the Command Bar.
    • Using the keyboard shortcut.
  3. Browse to the Location you wish to Paste the copied Task.
  4. Paste the Task by:
    • Right click in where you wish to Paste the copied Task and select Paste.
    • Click Paste on the Command Bar.
    • Use the keyboard shortcut.

How To Cut And Paste Tasks

Generation Tasks can be Cut and Pasted within the same Project or in another Project.To Cut a Task:

  1. Select the Task you wish to Cut.
  2. Copy the Task by either:
    • Right click and select Cut.
    • Click Cut on the Command Bar.
    • Using the keyboard shortcut.
  3. Browse to the Location you wish to Paste the cut Task.
  4. Paste the Task by:
    • Right click in where you wish to Paste the Cut Task and select Paste.
    • Click Paste found on the Command Bar.
    • Use the keyboard shortcut.

DriveWorks Tech Tips Portal

Drive Config Specific Dimensions

Use the Create Configuration or Switch Configuration generation tasks to control configuration specific dimensions.

View all Tech Tips

Create Image Generation Task

This Tech Tip demonstrates how to create images of generated assemblies, parts or drawings using generation tasks.

View all Tech Tips

Drawing Control Generation Tasks

Use the Auto Arrange Dimensions, Auto Balloon View and Rescale and Position View generation tasks to control a driven drawing.

View all Tech Tips

Insert Component Generation Task

This project demonstrates how to insert and define a component using Generation Tasks, and also how to use Looping to insert multiple components.

View all Tech Tips

Insert Decal on Named Face

This Project demonstrates how to insert a decal onto a part using Generation Tasks.

View all Tech Tips

Insert Library Feature Gen Task

This project demonstrates how Insert Library Feature can be applied to your models.

View all Tech Tips

DriveWorks Tech Tips Portal is available to DriveWorks Pro customers with an active subscription and support contract.

Tech Tips provide cut down projects that highlight specific functionality for faster and more effective learning.

To access the portal:

  1. Go to https://my.driveworks.co.uk/learn/tech-tips/
  2. Login with your DriveWorks Pro account credentials, if asked
  3. Click the Visit Tech Tips Portal button for access

The portal provides a search facility, start typing the name of the Tech Tip (as indicated above) to display the Tip you require.