Replace Options Window

Use

You can access the Replace Options window by first selecting a folder or part in the scene that you wish to update, and then right-click and dragging a file from the File list either directly into the viewport, or into the Scene tree window. This window asks you to indicate the way in which you wish to make the replacement. Only the folder and all parts under it will be updated. This is known as the “scope”.

There are four areas that can be defined:

Matching: The way in which to match the parts between the two scenes
Successful Match: The action to take when a part is successfully matched between the scenes
Unsuccessful Match: The action to take when a part cannot be matched
Reporting: The type of results reporting to produce

Features

The following options are available from the menu:

Menu Options	Functional Description
Matching Method	Determines the method used to identify which parts are the same in each file Identical Hierarchies: Indicates that the scenes have the same hierarchy. This enables the adding of new parts, and the removal of missing parts, and is the most accurate way to do a part replace. In order to work correctly, the top folder in the scope and the revision scene must be identical. If this field is unchecked, SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Author compares the scene as flat lists of objects without hierarchy taken into account. This can be useful if there is a possibility that the scene hierarchy is different between the revision file and the open authored scene. Selecting this setting prevents adding new or removing missing parts. Match Parts By: Selects the way in which the replacements are identified in the Scene tree SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Generator Asset ID: Parts are matched based on their asset ID in SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Generator Note This matching process is based upon asset IDs created in SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Generator. Model Name Only: Parts are matched based on their name in the scene tree Replace Parts with any Arbitrary Other: Replaces parts based upon their order in the scene hierarchy, regardless of name or ID
Name Matching	Configures the settings for name comparison Use File: Uses a text file for comparing names based upon a patterned naming convention Browse: Browses to a text file containing regular expressions for advanced matching Clear: Clears your selection Compare Full Names: Compares the full name of each part. The name must be identical in order to make a successful match. Compare First: Compares only the first x number of characters to make a successful match Compare Except Last: Compares only the last x number of characters to make a successful match Match Pattern: Sets a comparison pattern to make a successful match
Match	Configures settings for each authored part that is matched with a part in the revision. When a successful match is made for a part, you can choose which aspects of the part are updated. All successfully matched parts have their geometry updated to match the geometry in the revision file. The Part name will also update to match that in the revision file. Replace all the Instances: Updates all instances in the scene, including those that are outside the scope of the part replace. This updates any instances of selected part, even if they are not selected in the authored scene scope. The geometry of instances is updated, but the part names and other attributes are not. Note If this option is not selected, any updated part that has instances outside of the scope is separated from them, and is no longer be considered an instance. The geometry of the instances outside scope does not update. Update Part With New: Configures the update settings Attributes: Updates the visibility of the part in the authored scene to match the visibility in the revision file Position: Moves any parts in the authored scene to match their location in the revision file Materials: Replaces the material on matched parts in the authored scene with the materials used in the revision file CAD Metadata: Replaces the metadata on matched parts in the authored scene with the metadata used in the revision file
No Match	Configures the action that takes place for each part that cannot be matched Add New Parts: If a part is found in the revision file that is not found in the authored scope, those new parts are added to the authored scene. Remove Missing Parts: If a part is not found in the revision file that is selected in the authored scope, the part and all its children are deleted from the authored scene. Note These functions can only be performed if Identical Hierarchies is checked.
Reporting	Configures settings for results reporting Create Results Text File: Saves a text file with the results of the replacement to the same location as the open authored scene. The log file is opened automatically in your default application for .txt files. Compare Scene Hierarchies: Provides a text file of the authored scene tree both before and after the part replace process. These text files are saved to the same location as the open authored scene. Application: Used to specify a text comparison tool to compare the scene hierarchy text files. If a tool is selected, this will open automatically and compare the two files.
Replace Parts	Applies the settings, replaces the parts, and then closes the window