Instantiating PowerCopy Features

This task shows how to instantiate PowerCopies once they have been created as described in Creating PowerCopy Features.
There are three ways to do this:
  1. using the contextual menu
  2. using the Insert  >  Instantiate From Document menu item
  3. using a catalog
The PowerCopyStart.CATPart document is still open from the previous task, otherwise, 0pen the PowerCopyStartResults1.CATPart document.

Using the Contextual Menu Item: 

  1. Select the PowerCopy feature from the specification tree.

  2. Right-click to display the contextual menu, and choose the PowerCopy.1 object  >  instantiate menu item. 

    The Insert Object dialog box is displayed.

  3. Complete the Inputs within the dialog box by clicking the use identical name button.

     
    You need to click the arrow to invert the First Edge orientation.
     
     
    Check the Repeat option to be able to repeat the instantiation.
    In this case, once you have clicked OK in  the Insert Object dialog box, the latter remains open, the PowerCopy's Inputs are listed and ready to be replaced by new inputs, as described above.
    Modified parameters using Parameters button are retained as well for the next instantiation.
    To exit the command, you then need to uncheck the Repeat button or click Cancel.

  4. You can also click on the Parameters button to display the Parameters dialog box and modify values, if needed.

     

  5. Use the Create formulas button to automatically create a formula on every parameters with the same name provided there are any.

  6. Click OK in the Parameters dialog box.

    The Documents button lets you access the list of documents (such as design tables) pointed by one of the elements making up the Power copy. 
    If there are documents, the Documents dialog box opens and you can click the Replace button to display the File Selection dialog box and navigate to a new design table to replace the initial one.
    When no document is referenced, the Documents button is grayed within the Insert Object dialog box.

  7. Click OK to create the PowerCopy instance.

    The PowerCopy is instantiated in context, meaning its limits are automatically re-defined taking into account the elements on which it is instantiated.
     

Using the Insert Menu: 

  1. Select the Insert  >  Instantiate From Document menu item.

    The Select PowerCopy dialog box is displayed allowing you to navigate to the document or catalog where the  power copy is stored.
     
     

  2. Select the document containing the Powercopy.

    The Insert Object dialog box is displayed.

    Use the Reference list to choose the correct PowerCopy when several have been defined in the document.

  3. Continue the instantiation as described in Using the Contextual Menu item, step 3.

Using the catalog: 
You need to have a catalog available, created either:
  • using the Catalog capability, see the Infrastructure User's Guide.
  • using the Insert  >  Knowledge templates  >  Save in Catalog... menu item.

  1. Click Catalog .

    If accessing a catalog for the first time, you need to navigate to the catalog location. This location is stored in the settings for faster access later on.

  2. Select the catalog containing the PowerCopy you wish to instantiate.
     

  3. Select the PowerCopy to be instantiated, then you can:

    • drag and drop it onto the reference element

    • double-click the PowerCopy 

    • or right-click on the PowerCopy in the dialog box and use the Instantiate contextual menu.

    From then on, you instantiate the PowerCopy as described Using the Contextual Menu item, step 3.
     
    • You can only instantiate a PowerCopy if the PowerCopy itself and the features making it up have been created in the current view mode: i.e. you will be able to instantiate a PowerCopy created in 3D mode, only on a feature in 3D mode, not on an unfolded feature.
    • The icon is always grayed when instantiating Power Copies. It is available with User Features and allows you to create and modify URLs.