Graphic Systems

A graphic system entity acts similar to that of a general system entity - it is intended to be used as a container for graphic entities, and it can be used repetitively. Like general systems, graphic systems can use attachments that refer to entities that are external to the system - this allows you to use them repetitively by parameterizing the body, point, etc. that are typically needed to define the graphics within the graphic system.

  1. If the Graphics panel is not currently displayed, select the desired graphic by clicking on it in the Project Browser or in the modeling window.
    The Graphics panel is automatically displayed.
  2. From the Attachments tab, click Add and add graphic entities to the graphic system.
    Review the data required for each graphic (for example bodies, points, etc.) to understand what attachments may be needed. You will need to enter the data for the graphics after completing the steps below.
  3. Using the Attachments tab, create attachments of the entity types that are required by the graphics created in the previous step.
  4. Resolve the attachments by selecting the entities for the attachments external to the graphic system (the points, body, etc. from the previous step).
  5. Modify the graphic entities to use the attachments (use the attachment attributes from the Model Tree in the Body/Point collectors.)
  6. Click the Export tab.
  7. Click the Select file icon to browse and select a file to export.
  8. Click Quick Export to export the graphic system as a separate MDL file, which can be reused in the same model or a different model.
    The graphic system entity is saved in the MDL format using the *Graphic statement that refers to a definition defined using the *DefineGraphic block.
Tip: To reuse the graphic system definition, use the Import tab in the Systems panel into which the new graphic system needs to be created.