Layer Rules in Wildfire 2....Help please.

I'm having trouble adding features with Axis to layers using the rules
feature in Wildfire 2, can anybody help?

In ProE 2001 I used to click on the little '+' sign in the layers
dialog box then choose 'Feature > All of type > Datum Axes.
This would put all the features that have Axes into my AXIS layer so I
could blank them off.

In Wildfire 2 I think the procedure is as follows:-
1) Bring up the Layer Properties Dialog box
2) Click the rules tab
3) Click the Edit Rules button (you may need to set options to
independant first)
4) Set Rule to 'Type', set Comparison to 'is equal to', set Category
to 'Miscellaneous' and set Value to 'Has Axis'.
5) Click the 'Add New button' then the 'Preview Results' button. The
features with Axes will be displayed
6) Highlight the displayed features and click OK

I think this should add the features to the selected layer however
they don't seem to stay selected. The method was very similar in
Wildfire 1 and it seemed to work. Am I doing something wrong?

 

: I'm having trouble adding features with Axis to layers using the rules
: feature in Wildfire 2, can anybody help?
:
: In ProE 2001 I used to click on the little '+' sign in the layers
: dialog box then choose 'Feature > All of type > Datum Axes.
: This would put all the features that have Axes into my AXIS layer so I
: could blank them off.
:
: In Wildfire 2 I think the procedure is as follows:-
: 1) Bring up the Layer Properties Dialog box
: 2) Click the rules tab
: 3) Click the Edit Rules button (you may need to set options to
: independant first)
: 4) Set Rule to 'Type', set Comparison to 'is equal to', set Category
: to 'Miscellaneous' and set Value to 'Has Axis'.
: 5) Click the 'Add New button' then the 'Preview Results' button. The
: features with Axes will be displayed
: 6) Highlight the displayed features and click OK
:
Somewhere in here you have to click the Find button, then maybe Add and OK Or,
maybe you go to another screen to do the Add. But there are some steps you are
missing in the procedure you outlined. The whole thing is somewhat less than
automatic, at least, until you get it set up.

David Janes

 

I can't find a find button. I've tried everything that's obvious -
but then this is Wildfire.

 

: I can't find a find button. I've tried everything that's obvious -
: but then this is Wildfire.

First, you'll probably want to do this work in your start parts, unless you want
to do it in every individual part/assembly you create. Second, with Layer
Properties, go through every layer that exists and make sure, on the Rules page,
that the Automatic update box is checked; if you don't check this, new stuff won't
be added automatically to layers.

When you click on Edit rules, it opens a box called Search Tool which has several
pages for setting up the search. The rules for picking features to add to layers
are essentially search rules. For anyone just getting used to how the rules are
set up, it might help to edit an existing layer. In the rule description for
01_PRT_ALL_DTM_PLN, you'll see Type == Datum Plane with the operator 'and' then a
second line Id > 38. If you click highlight each of these, it will jump to the
page where these criteria were set up, i.e. the Attributes page for Type and the
History page for Id. On mine, the boxes below the Rule description include Add New
and Remove, plus arrows to move the search criteria up and down. At the bottom, I
have Find Now (you apparently have Preview), New search and Options. At the very
bottom, for when the search criteria are all set up and you've done the find, you
click Apply and/or OK. Then you go back to the Contents page and it should have
added the found features to the list. Make sure the new one has a plus sign next
to it. If it doesn't have a green plus, click the name and it will add the plus.
Go through the list and click any that don't have the plus. To deactivate, click
Remove.

I haven't checked Help but there may be a description of this process there that
is more in keeping with your interface.

David Janes

 

Dear David,

Thanks for your help but I think you're using Wildfire 1 not Wildfire
2.
The rules method appeared to work OK in Wildfire 1 (and I seem to
remember it had an APPLY button) but there's no apply button in
Widfire 2. Unfortunately we've updated all our PC's and there's no
Widfire 1 seats for me to check.

There is a preview button but the selected features don't show up in
the contents page. I've found a workaround but I'm interested to know
whether there is a problem with the rules functionality or whether I'm
doing something wrong.

I think I may have to brush up on my foreign language skills and phone
PTC support.

Rich.

 

: Dear David,
:
: Thanks for your help but I think you're using Wildfire 1 not Wildfire
: 2.
Yes, I am. Haven't been able to get my hands on WF2 yet. Since I couldn't confirm
any change to layers functionality, I had to assume it worked about the same.
Apparently it doesn't. Sorry for the confusion.

: The rules method appeared to work OK in Wildfire 1 (and I seem to
: remember it had an APPLY button) but there's no apply button in
: Widfire 2. Unfortunately we've updated all our PC's and there's no
: Widfire 1 seats for me to check.
:
: There is a preview button but the selected features don't show up in
: the contents page. I've found a workaround but I'm interested to know
: whether there is a problem with the rules functionality or whether I'm
: doing something wrong.
:
BTW, axes have always been a funny thing, there being discimination based on
whether they were directly created as datam features or whether as the result of
creating a circular feature or revolved feature. IIRC, holes, for example, have
never would go on a layer for axes using the 2001 by picking 'Feature > All of
type > Datum Axes'. So, maybe there has to be another kind of rule to get this
type of feature onto an axis layer. Anyway, I guess I'd go over the 'Help' stuff
thoroughly before venturing into Support territory.

David Janes

 

any one know how do get rid of this stupid tree on the left, Every
time I open or activate a part the damn tree pops back up is this just
an other stupid wildfire bullshit, in 2001 I would edit my config or
customize screen but for some reason I can't get this stupid thing to
stay away, oh yeah whats the fuckin deal with the PTC webpage that
open up in the begining?

PS I wonder if any one at PTC reads these forums cause they really
shot them selves in the foot when they went to wildfire, so if anyone
at ptc is reading you guys are some real bright people. I was an
expert 2001 user now I feal like I am a beginer agian. thanks PTC made
my job alot easier. who the **** cares if it take three clicks or one
click your clicking a fucking mouse there must be some lazy people out
there. the reason everyone went over to solidworks is because the
price not the clicks!

 

So, you used to be an expert user of R2001 and you've never used the tree,
just shut it down via a config variable...
You also seem to think that using a mouse instead of hammering on your
keyboard keying in your gazillion custom-made mapkeys is a sign of a lazy
person...
One wonders if you also turn off the Intent Manager in sketcher and call it
'an other stupid wildfire bullshit', or some such thing...
An expert that has no idea how to use the model tree nor any desire to
learn, who can't find a config.pro option to make the Wildfire's browser
open on a blank page, who is annoyed by too much mouse use, and who has no
idea that in the real world there is no difference in price between the
basic Pro/E and basic SolidWorks (and hasn't been for a few years now)...
Some f...ing expert you are, to use your own language!
Do you also wipe your butt with a stone or your own hand, like every decent
caveman used to do? After all, from your point of view toilet paper must be
just another newfangled perversion for the sissies, right?

 

: any one know how do get rid of this stupid tree on the left, Every
: time I open or activate a part the damn tree pops back up is this just
: an other stupid wildfire bullshit, in 2001 I would edit my config or
: customize screen but for some reason I can't get this stupid thing to
: stay away, oh yeah whats the fuckin deal with the PTC webpage that
: open up in the begining?
:
I think the logon to the PTC website is amazing. It's a built in web browser that
takes you straight to the stuff you _obviously_ need: there's tutorials and 'how
tos' and even a quick reference card which tells you where to look to answer one
of your questions ~ how to collapse the browser with the arrows on the window sash
(frame border between the graphics area and navigator area). These handles
pointing to the left will collapse the Browser or Navigator window to the left.
There's other nice references, like 'how to' stuff on the new selection process.
And the most amazing thing about it is that it is free stuff from PTC, available
to anyone who has an account. Don't ignore this!! Get everything out of it that
you can. Just don't get too pissed and frustrated to take advantage of it.
[preaching done, on to the tech support]

* To keep the browser from opening with a new session of Pro/e, go to Customize
Screen, the Browser tab and uncheck the box that says 'Expand Browser by
default...'.
* To keep the model/layer tree from opening with a new window/session, set the
config.pro option model_tree_start to no. Use the 'Find' function to check for
options that control a particular activity.
* It happens, every new rev, that a lot of skilled users feel like newbies for a
period of a month or two until they get used to the new stuff. I recently had to
take a Pro/e skill test on 2001 after using Wildfire for a year. I felt as clumsy
as a newbie, so it goes both ways, forward and backward. But who wants to stop
progress because you finally get used to the 'new way'. Just remember not to get
too used to it because in a year or two, it'll be the 'old way'.

David Janes

 

I think you've hijacked my thread and gone a bit 'off-topic' but,
generally I agree with your sentiments. I don't claim to be an expert
but I was reasonably good on 2001 and I really didn't want to waste
hour upon hour trying to come back up to speed on Wildfire.

I'm surprised there's nobody out there who can shed any light on this
layers problem - perhaps there's lots of other dissatisfied users who
don't want to upgrade to Wildfire 2.

 

Obviously I am not talkin about the Model tree, r u kidding? I have
the model tree floating in its own window. Whats this a file tree?

 

Thanks Alex,
I have split it, and I can hide the layer, folder tree. which is
fine but evertime i switch to a different window the tree comes back.
Personally I get a "homie" feeling when the old menus come up. As for
the guy who posted about my skill level. Should check out my model and
tool paths. Me and Pro are joined at the hip. I use it to model my
part, my dies, machine code for dies, tooling and fixtures for
machining, I then import the original model in PCDIMS and run our CMM.
PROE is great I am just sick of people talking about how fewer clicks
solidworks work out on the shop floor for a little while, after that
clicking on your computer will be easy!

 

OK, thanks to the Dutch PTC Tech Support I've resolved this issue.
The solution is rather bizarre but, there you go, that's Wildfire!

Anyway, it goes like this:
(assuming your model has some solid geometry)

1) Make a layer.
2) Right click and bring up the Layer Properties Dialog box.
3) Hover over your solid geometry with the mouse pointer, right click
and choose pick from list. Select 'SolidGeom' from the 'Pick from
list' dialogue box.
4) Click OK, OK and hide the layer.

BEWARE, you can't right click and see 'Solidgeom' in the pick from
list box UNLESS you've got the Layer Properties dialogue box open.

That's the one big thing I've learnt about converting from 2001 to
Wildfire, "it's there somewhere... but can you find it?".

 

: OK, thanks to the Dutch PTC Tech Support I've resolved this issue.
: The solution is rather bizarre but, there you go, that's Wildfire!
:
: Anyway, it goes like this:
: (assuming your model has some solid geometry)
:
: 1) Make a layer.
: 2) Right click and bring up the Layer Properties Dialog box.
: 3) Hover over your solid geometry with the mouse pointer, right click
: and choose pick from list. Select 'SolidGeom' from the 'Pick from
: list' dialogue box.
: 4) Click OK, OK and hide the layer.
:
I see that this would accomplish adding some geometry to a layer. The business of
rules, which was the original question, is to define the layer so that stuff will
go on the layer automatically, basically, as soon as you create it. It's supposed
to eliminate this hand selection process, much as DEF_LAYER did but with much more
control. So, I guess what I'm saying is that I don't see what rules we get out of
this. Is this, in fact, a way to set up a rule?

David Janes

 

I see that this would accomplish adding some geometry to a layer. The
business of

Well spotted David! I'd gotten ahead of myself because I had two
support issues raised with PTC and for a while it seemed that the
rules method may have been the helpful to add solid geometry to a
layer. This fix will only add solid geom to a layer, the original
question is still unanswered.

 

: I see that this would accomplish adding some geometry to a layer. The
: business of
: > rules, which was the original question, is to define the layer so that stuff
will
: > go on the layer automatically, basically, as soon as you create it. It's
supposed
: > to eliminate this hand selection process, much as DEF_LAYER did but with much
more
: > control. So, I guess what I'm saying is that I don't see what rules we get out
of
: > this. Is this, in fact, a way to set up a rule?
: >
: > David Janes
:
:
:
: Well spotted David! I'd gotten ahead of myself because I had two
: support issues raised with PTC and for a while it seemed that the
: rules method may have been the helpful to add solid geometry to a
: layer. This fix will only add solid geom to a layer, the original
: question is still unanswered.

I think the people who write this software play a lot of 'Dungeons 'n Dragons' and
it carries over into the program. Well, I can't wait to get hold of a copy of WF2,
see if I can figure out the puzzle, avoid the traps, get the goods and beat the
Dungeon Master.

DJ