A variety of names are used to create a proper symbol definition; not all name types are required in each symbol type. Some name formats are hard-coded into the software and must be used exactly as specified; you can define the other name formats.
|
Name Type |
Used by: |
User-definable format? |
|---|---|---|
|
Edge Names |
Profiles, Slots, Collars, End Cuts, Measurement, Chamfers. |
No (Profiles, Flange Cuts, Web Cuts, Measurement) Yes (Slots, Collars, Chamfers) |
|
Graphic Inputs |
Profiles, Slots, Collars, Brackets, End Cuts, some Corner Features, Measurement, Chamfers. |
No |
|
Layers |
All symbols |
Sometimes - see Layers below |
|
Symbol Representation |
All symbols |
No |
|
Symbol Parameters |
All symbols |
No |
|
User Attributes |
All symbols |
Yes |
|
Key Points |
Profiles |
No |
|
Flange Cut Points |
Flange End Cuts |
No |
|
Web Cut Points |
Web End Cuts |
No |
Edge Names
Edge names are:
-
Hard-coded into the software for profiles, and bounded and bounding edges for end cuts.
-
Definable for slots and collars and end cut edges (for example, WebFace1, FlangeFace1).
For more information on profiles, slots, collars, measurement, and chamfers, see Edge Names. See Creating End Cuts for details on end cuts.
Graphic Inputs
Graphic inputs, as described for each symbol creation procedure, must be named as shown. The software looks for the input name as part of symbol placement.
|
Symbol |
Required Graphic Inputs |
Optional Graphic Inputs |
|---|---|---|
|
Profiles |
— |
— |
|
Members |
— |
— |
|
Slots |
Stiffener |
— |
|
Collars |
Stiffener |
— |
|
Openings |
— |
— |
|
Chamfers |
Part |
— |
|
Measurement Symbols |
Various. Depends on the purpose of the measurement symbol |
— |
|
Edge Features |
Curve |
— |
|
Sketched Features |
— |
— |
|
Corner Features |
Support1 |
— |
|
Corner Features |
— |
— |
|
Brackets |
Support1 |
Support3 |
|
Web End Cuts |
Bounded |
— |
|
Flange End Cuts |
Bounded |
— |
Layers
There are two types of layers:
-
Required layers for symbol output that you cannot define.
-
Optional layers for symbol organization.
|
Symbol |
Required Layers |
Recommended Optional Layers |
|---|---|---|
|
Brackets |
TrimBy (if one of the supports is used to bound the bracket) |
Constructions |
|
Collars |
BasePlane |
Constructions |
|
End Cuts |
CrossSectionPlane (only required when needed for proper symbol definition) |
Constructions |
|
Features |
AlongCorner (applies only to corner features and only required when needed for proper symbol definition) |
Constructions |
|
Openings |
— |
Constructions |
|
Profiles |
— |
Default Constructions |
|
Members |
— |
Detailed Physical Constructions |
|
Slots |
BasePlane |
Constructions |
|
Chamfers |
— |
Constructions |
|
Measurement Symbols |
— |
Constructions |
z_Comments: Geometry, text, labels, and balloons can be added to symbols to aid in symbol maintenance.
However, to avoid confusing the software, these non-essential elements must be placed
on a separate layer. The name of the layer must be alphabetically last in the layer
list. The layer name z_Comments is recommended for these elements.
Symbol Representation
You cannot define symbol representations.
|
Symbol |
Required Symbol Representations |
|
Profiles |
Default |
|
Members |
Detailed Physical |
|
Slots |
Slot |
|
Collars |
Clip |
|
Openings |
Default |
|
Chamfers |
Contour |
|
Measurement |
DrivenDimensions |
|
Sketched Features |
CutCurve |
|
Edge Features |
CutCurve |
|
Corner Features |
CutCurve |
|
Brackets |
Contour |
|
Web Cuts |
WebCut |
|
Flange Cuts |
FlangeCut |
Symbol Parameters and User Attributes
You can define symbol parameters and user attributes. The names will vary from company to company. The naming conventions delivered with the base catalog can be viewed on the CustomInterfaces worksheet of each symbol type's bulkload workbook.
Symbol parameters and user attributes are related in the following ways:
-
Symbol parameter names are mapped to user attribute names in the catalog.
-
Symbol parameter names are assigned within each symbol file.
-
User attribute names are assigned within each symbol type's bulkload file, although they can be added to the bulkload file by the symbol file by using the Add to Catalog command.
-
Symbol parameter names are unique within each symbol file, but can be duplicated between symbol files within the same symbol type (that is, symbols that are defined by the same bulkload file and within the same class node of the catalog).
-
User attribute names are unique within each symbol type.
-
Within each symbol type, a user attribute name can only have one symbol parameter name assigned to it.
-
Within each symbol type, a symbol parameter name can appear multiple times as long as each occurrence is assigned to a different user attribute name.
To avoid adding multiple names that define the same types of parameters to the catalog, you should develop naming conventions before you start creating your 2D symbols.
It is usually best to give symbol parameters and user attributes the same names for easy cross-reference.
Key Points
You cannot define key point numbers. For more information, see Key Points.
Flange Cut and Web Cut Points
Flange cut and web cut point names are not user-definable. For more information, see Creating End Cuts.