DriveWorks Pro 22

Generation Tasks

Generation Tasks

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

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 could be, for example:

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

The Generation Tasks editor has three columns:

• Task Context Area

  Choose if Tasks are performed on specific Models or Drawings OR all Models or Drawings

• Generation Sequence Area

  Add Tasks to the required sequence.

• Toolbox Area

  Select the Tasks required from the Toolbox and set the Properties of each Task.

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 Specific	Type 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.

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.

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:

• Pre Copy Tasks
• Post Copy Tasks
• Pre Drive Tasks
• Post Drive Tasks
• Pre Close Tasks
• Post Close Tasks

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.

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.

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.