Each tab represents a type of element that the product can make reference to. Some are external files, and some are other project elements. References to the elements can be created by dragging them from the list to the product in the Product View. Additionally, if the user has products visible in the Navigator, elements may be dragged to products there, as well. With the exception of the Preview Images tab, the list allows the user to select multiple elements by either holding the Ctrl or Shift keys while selecting elements.

Symbols used in the Product View and Navigator.

Symbols used in the Reference tabs.

Models

This tab lists models in the project’s Symbol Directory and it’s subdirectories. To view the contents of a subdirectory, double-click its entry in the list. To return to a parent directory, double-click the item with the image of a folder with an up-turning arrow. The current directory (relative to the Symbol Directory) is displayed above the list. Note that the creator currently cannot detect when the contents of a directory have changed. If the contents of a directory have changed while it is visible in the Models list, pressing the Refresh button will cause the list to re-examine the contents of the directory. When a model is referenced by a product or option, it is done via an element called an external reference. Placing a model, from the Models tab list, will create an external reference on the product or option. Once placed, the external reference can be edited to modify how the model appears on the symbol. To edit an external reference, double-click it in the product view. More information on editing external references can be found in the Edit External References section. Search through the Symbol Directory files by filtering with the “Filename Must Contain“, “Filename Must Not Contain” and “Model Contains Layer” AND or OR filter. The “Model Contains Layer” filter allows symbols to be found via a fully match layer name.

The icons appearing next to the models indicate whether or not the model has been referenced by the product. If a model has not been referenced, it will appear with a red cross. If a model has been referenced, it will appear with a green check.

Layers

This tab lists layers that are provided by the models currently referenced by the product. As models are added and removed, this list will change to reflect the altered set of provided layers. Layers are the means by which a symbol applies materials, and can be referenced in several ways. A layer can be referenced directly by a material application, or indirectly by an application area. The creation and manipulation of application areas is covered in the Application Areas and Edit Application Area sections.
Material applications can exist on products, features, or options. To create a material application from a layer, drag the layer(s) to the desired location. A new material application will be created from the layer selection. To append layers to an existing material application, drag the layer(s) to the desired material application and the layers will be added. Search through the linked symbol’ layers by filtering with the “Layer Must Contain” and “Layer Must Not Contain” AND or OR filter.
The icons next to layers indicate how the layers are referenced by the product. A red, broken link indicates that the layer is not referenced in any way.
A yellow link indicates that the layer is referenced indirectly by an application area. A green link indicates that the layer is referenced directly, either by a material application, or an application area referenced directly by a material application.

Materials

This tab lists the materials that currently exist on the project. It reflects the same list of materials as created via the Materials tab. These materials can be referenced in several ways. Material may be referenced directly by a material application, or indirectly by an application area. The creation and manipulation of application areas are covered in the Application Areas and Edit Application Area sections. Material applications can exist on products, features, or options. To create a material application from a material, drag the material(s) to the desired location. A new material application will be created from the material. To change the material reference on an existing material application, drag a material to that material application, and the reference will be changed. The icons next to the materials indicate whether or not they are referenced by the product. A red cross indicates that the material is not referenced. A green check indicates that the material is referenced. Currently, there is no special icon to indicate that a material is referenced via an application area. More information on materials may be found on the Materials page. Search through the material library defined in the Materials card by filtering with the “Material Code Must Contain”, “Material Code Must Not Contain“, “Material Description Must Contain” and “Material Description Must Not Contain” AND or OR filter.

Application Areas

This tab lists the application areas currently on the project. Existing application areas can be edited by double-clicking on them in this list. New application areas can be created by pressing the Create Application Area button in the toolbox. Editing application areas are covered in the Edit Application Area section, and general information about application areas can be found on the Application Areas page.
Typically, application areas are referenced implicitly by layers on the models that are referenced by the product. However, application areas can also be referenced explicitly by placing them on a material application. This also allows the product to alter a material that may be referenced by an application area. To create a material application from an application area, drag the application area(s) to the desired location. A new material application will be created from the material. To add an application area to an existing material application, drag the application area to the desired material application, and it will be added. Search through the Application Area library by filtering with the “Application Area Code Must Contain”, “Application Area Code Must Not Contain“, “Application Area Layer Must Contain“, “Application Area Layer Must Not Contain“, “Application Area Material Code Must Contain” and “Application Area Material Code Must Not Contain” AND or OR filter.

Features

This tab lists the features that currently exist on the project. It reflects the same list of features as created via the Features tab. Features can be referenced by either products or options. To add a feature reference, drag the feature from this list to the product or an option in the Product View. It is important to note a slight difference between feature references and other references, such as external references or material applications. In most cases, the element that appears in the Product View is a special reference type, so editing that element is actually editing the reference. In the case of features, however, the elements that appear in the Product View represent the actual features. This means that changes made to a feature in the Product View will be mirrored to all other products and options that make reference to that feature. More information about features may be found on the Features page. Search through the features library defined in the Features card by filtering with the “Feature Code Must Contain”, “Feature Code Must Not Contain“, “Feature Description Must Contain” and “Feature Description Must Not Contain” AND or OR filter.

Connectors

This tab lists all the connectors currently on the project. Existing connectors can be edited by double-clicking on them in this list. New connectors can be created by pressing the Create New Connector button in the toolbox. Editing connectors are covered in the Edit Connector section. New connector references can be created by dragging the connector(s) to the product. To update the reference on an existing connector reference, drag a connector to the reference. To edit a connector reference, double-click it in the Product View. Editing connector references are covered in the Edit Connector Reference section. More information on connectors may be found on the Connectors page. Search through the connector library by filtering with the “Connector Code Must Contain”, “Connector Code Must Not Contain“, “Connector Description Must Contain” and “Connector Description Must Not Contain” AND or OR filter.

Clicking on the Copy Connectors button allows users to copy multiple connectors of a selected product to multiple other products by using ctrl-A or shift+click select to select.

Preview Images

This tab lists preview images in the project’s Previews Directory and it’s subdirectories. To view the contents of a subdirectory, double-click its entry in the list. To return to a parent directory, double-click the item with the image of a folder with an up-turning arrow. The current directory (relative to the Previews Directory) is displayed above the list. Note that the creator currently cannot detect when the contents of a directory have changed. If the contents of a directory have changed while it is visible in the Preview Images list, pressing the Refresh button will cause the list to re-examine the contents of the directory.

When a preview image is referenced by a product or option, it is done via an element called an external reference. Placing a preview image, from the Preview Images tab list, will create an external reference on the product or option. Once placed, the external reference can be edited to modify the image being referenced. To edit an external reference, double-click it in the product view. More information on editing external references can be found in the Edit External References section. Search through the Previews Directory files by filtering with the “Filename Must Contain” and “Filename Must Not Contain” AND or OR filter.

The icons appearing next to the preview images indicates whether or not the preview image has been referenced by the product. If a preview image has not been referenced, it will appear with a red cross. If a preview image has been referenced, it will appear with a green check.