4.5.2. Attaching with reference (SuCri4AttachSupportWithRef)

Overview

With Attaching with reference you form an assembly (SU) from components that are distributed across several drawings. Typical case: the steel structure and supports are in the active drawing, and the pipe with its clamps or part of the steel structure is added as an external reference (xref). SuCri assigns an SU number to the parts of the active drawing and additionally remembers the selected individual parts from the reference.

The assembly formed in this way can then be derived like any other, including automatic dimensioning and annotation from Module 4.

Where can I find the function?

Command line: SuCri4AttachSupportWithRef.

If the Module 4 window is pinned to the tool palette, the function is located on the Module 4 tab of the SuCri tool palette in the collapsed Xrefs group, Attach Xref button. There is no separate button in the Module 4 window itself.

Plant 3D™ command

Video: Attaching with reference in practice

How it works in detail

1. Prerequisite: The drawing with the reference parts is attached as an external reference. In the video it is inserted as an attachment (not as an overlay). The command only works in a 3D model drawing.

2. Select parts of the active drawing: Select all supports and profiles of the assembly that are located in the active drawing and confirm with Enter. It does not matter whether the pipe is included in the selection.

3. Assign SU number: The Enter SU number window opens. If one of the selected parts already has an SU number, this number is suggested; otherwise the next free number according to the configured SU format. The window checks the entry and informs you if the number is already assigned in this drawing, in another drawing of the project or in the project. Via Free numbers you can display and take over free numbers. Confirm with OK.

4. Select individual parts from the reference: The command line prompts "Select nested object in a reference (0 selected):". Click the desired parts of the reference individually, not the reference as a whole. Selected parts are highlighted, and the counter in the command line keeps track. With Enter (option Done) you complete the selection, and the command line reports "n selected."

5. Result: SuCri stores on the parts of the active drawing which reference parts (per reference drawing) belong to the assembly.

6. Orthocube: If the affected assembly already has an orthocube, SuCri asks in the Recreate Ortho Cube window whether it should be recreated ("… already has an ortho cube. Do you want to recreate it?"). The default is No. With Yes, SuCri deletes the existing cube and recreates it to match the new scope of the assembly.

Application examples

Example 1: Support with pipe from two drawings

The steel structure is in the active drawing, and the pipe including clamps is added as a reference. You select the steel structure, assign the SU number and add the clamps from the reference. The derived drawing then shows the support completely.

Example 2: Taking over only certain parts of a large reference

From an extensive steel structure reference, only three profiles are to belong to the assembly. Since parts are selected individually, the rest is left out.

Tips and best practices

• Select individual parts: Clicking the reference as a whole does not work; nested individual objects are selected.
• Check the result: With SuCri4ShowOrthoCube you can see which area will be derived afterwards.
• Change only with the Xref commands: You remove reference parts again with SuCri4DetachXref (individually) or SuCri4DetachAllXref (all).

Troubleshooting

• Wrong drawing: The command only runs in a 3D model drawing. If an ortho drawing is active, SuCri reports this and aborts. Open the 3D model and start the command again.
• Reference parts cannot be selected: Check whether the reference is loaded. In the video it is attached as an attachment.
• Message in the Enter SU number window: The number is already assigned. Select a free number or jump to the existing SU with Go to ….

Related articles

• Attaching (SuCri4AttachSupport), the basic command, combines components of the active drawing into an assembly.
• Selection (SuCri4SelectSupport), shows what currently belongs to the assembly.
• Detach (SuCri4DetachSupport), removes components of the active drawing from the assembly again.
• SuNoFormat (Module 4), defines how the suggested SU number is structured.
• The profiles from the XREF do not appear on the drawing, help if profiles from the reference do not appear on the drawing.

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