KOMPAS-3D v25

Instead of a property value, you can insert a link to an object located in the current document and containing text or numeric information, or to Property of a document or its object, including the current one. Further, the inserted link can be edited, exploded (converted to plain text) or deleted.

You can work with links:

•in the Parameter Panel when setting property values of a document or an object. More about working with properties on Parameters panel...

•on the Product BOM panel (to learn about setting values on the Product BOM panel, see section Setting the properties of the product and its constituent parts).

To create a reference, use the Insert link command.

After running the command, the dialog in which you need to configure link parameters appears.

After insertion, the property value is replaced with the value obtained from the link source. A property value with a link is displayed in blue. If the connection between a property obtained via a link and the link source is lost, the link in the Product BOM Panel is displayed in red; in the Parameters Panel, the link does not change color.

Values by reference can obtain all properties except for properties with a Boolean data type, as well as some system properties (for example, Material, Mass, BOM section, Item name). If a cell is selected where inserting a link is not possible, the Insert Link command is unavailable.

To edit a link, select the cell with this link and run the Edit Link command in the context menu. The same dialog box as when creating a link appears on the screen. Make the required changes and close the dialog box.

To delete a connection between the link and its source, select the cell with this link and run the Explode Reference command in the context menu. As a result of explosion, the content of the link becomes the property value which can be edited manually.

Features of Links in Properties Notation and Name

Links can be inserted into the values of the Designation and Name properties using special commands. On the Parameter Panel, these commands are located in a menu that appears when you click the iconto the right of the Designation and Name field labels. On the Product Composition Panel, the commands are accessed from the context menu of the corresponding property’s cell.

The following commands are used to insert and edit links.

•Insert Link and Edit link. These commands open the dialog box for creating and editing links.

•Additional Information (only for the Name property). The command opens a text entry dialog box.
In the dialog, you can create a part name that includes a reference and plain text, or multiple references—for example, when entering information about a part without a drawing. A part name without a drawing is usually supplemented with the material designation and the dimensions required for its manufacture. This data can be included in the part name as references to the corresponding properties of that same part. In addition, the text input dialog allows you to include elements such as fractions, superscripts, special characters, and more in the name.

The text of the inserted link is displayed:

•On the Parameters panel:

•in the Designation field—in black. Editing or adding text to this field using the Label Task Pane breaks the link.

•in the Name field—in blue. If the field contains multiple links or a link and plain text, the field’s contents are displayed in black, and the field name is displayed in blue and underlined. In this case, clicking the field name or its contents opens a text input dialog.

•On the Product BOM Panel:

•in the Designation and Name property cells—in blue and underlined. Clicking the text opens a dialog box for creating and editing the reference. If the name consists of multiple references or a combination of a reference and plain text, clicking on it opens a text input dialog, and the references are edited there.

You can remove a link from a property value by selecting the corresponding command from the context menu of the property cell on the Product Composition Panel or in the Properties List on the Parameters Panel. The link’s content becomes text that can be edited manually.

See also

Working with properties on the Parameters panel

Setting properties for the product and Its consistuent parts