Setting Up Template Drawings

To use an element installation variant with the Template drawing function, templates for the drawings must first be created and entered in the catalogue. The following steps must be carried out:

Alternatively, an Example is also available in which the individual steps are explained.

Creating the drawing templates

Drawing templates are model drawings that contain one single element. Here you can define several views, attach dimensions to the part or place drawing frames. When using the Template drawing function, the part used is then exchanged for a part from the element installation.

Several different templates can be defined for the different sub-types of a variant. For example, one template for the simplest version of an element, which only shows the element in top view, and another template, which also shows side and axonometric view, for the more complex variations of the elements. These are then stored in separate constructions.

Assigning the templates to the different sub-types of the variant

In order to assign the different drawing templates to the different sub-types of the variant, a text file is required that specifies which template file is to be used for which part variables. This file must also be created in the catalogue directory somewhere below the Werksnormen folder. The general syntax of this file is:

Template file_1
Condition_1
Condition_2
...
Condition_n

Template file_2
Condition_1

...

Template file_n
Condition_x

The file is divided into blocks. The first line of a block always specifies the file name and path to a template construction. This path is relative to the Werksnormen folder in the catalogue directory. The following lines then indicate the conditions that must be met in order for this template to be used. If there are several conditions, all of them must be fulfilled in order to use this template.

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP_LEFT.SZA
flange_top = 1
flange_left = 1
flange_bottom = 0
flange_right = 0

In this case, the template Kataloge\Werksnormen\Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\VORLAGENZEICHNUNG_LASCHE_OBEN_LINKS.SZA is used if the variables flange_top and flange_left each have the value 1, and flange_bottom and flange_right have the value 0 for the element in question.

Variables that are not specified here are ignored. The previous example is slightly modified:

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP_LEFT.SZA
flange_top = 1
flange_left = 1

In this case the template would be applied if flange_top and flange_left have the value 1, regardless of the value of flange_bottom and flange_right (and any other variables that may be present).

If you use several templates, please note the order. The first template file where all conditions fit is used. Blocks that follow later are ignored:

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP.SZA
flange_top = 1

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP_LEFT.SZA
flange_top = 1
flange_left = 1

An element that has both flange_top and flange_left set to the value 1 fulfils all conditions (namely, that flange_top = 1 must apply) of the first block. The second block is therefore ignored here. To achieve the desired behaviour, the order of the entries must be swapped:

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP_LEFT.SZA
flange_top = 1
flange_left = 1

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP.SZA
flange_top = 1

Now TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP_LEFT.SZA is used for all elements that have flange_top and flange_left set to 1. All other parts where flange_top has the value 1 are output in the template TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP.SZA.

If several different values are to be used, conditions can also be linked with an OR condition. For example, if the template from above is to be used not only for tabs at the top but also at the bottom:

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP_LEFT.SZA
flange_top = 1 | flange_bottom = 1
flange_left = 1

Read: If the variable flange_top has the value 1 or the variable flange_bottom has the value 1 and, regardless, the variable flange_left has the value 1, use this template. Alternatively, you can define two blocks for the same template:

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP_LEFT.SZA
flange_top = 1
flange_left = 1

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP_LEFT.SZA
flange_bottom = 1
flange_left = 1

A block without conditions is also permissible. An element then always meets all conditions and the template is always used. This allows you to define a general "catch-all template" which is always used if no more specific template fits:

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP_LEFT.SZA
flange_top = 1
flange_left = 1

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_FLANGE_TOP_LEFT.SZA
flange_bottom = 1
flange_left = 1

Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\TEMPLATE_DRW_GENERAL.SZA

As explained above, such a block is only useful at the end of a file, because subsequent blocks cannot be reached.

The simplest case where only one single template exists for an element relocation variant consists of a single block without conditions, i.e. in the end only the file name of the template file:

Entering the templates into the catalogue

Identify the desired element installation variant in the Catalogue Editor. Here you will find the column DRAWINGS. Here, enter the path to the text file created in Step 2 - relative to the Factory standards folder:

Example of a catalogue entry. The text file is located in the catalogue folder in the path Werksnormen\Elementverlegung\Example\ISD-17\ISD-17.txt.

Now you can use the Template drawing function to generate drawings for an element installation with these elements.

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