Connector Entity Browser Context Menu

The Connector Entity browser context menu includes all of the functionality available in the Connector Entity browser, including connector creation and deletion, renumbering, updating, finding connectors, and much more.

Access the Connector Entity browser's context menu by right-clicking in the tree list.

Note:

If you right-click the Tolerance or Realize to fields of a specific connector, you will access those fields for edit rather than opening the context menu.

The tools available in the context menu vary depending on what you right-click on; for example, right-clicking on a connector (in the Entities column) accesses the full menu, but right-clicking a link (in the Link1 or Link2 columns) only presents the Remove Link option.

Depending on the column clicked, the following options may or may not be available as appropriate to the item clicked:

Option

Description

Create

This accesses a sub-menu of connector types; picking a type opens the related connector panel in the HyperMesh panel area, as well as the FE Absorb user interface.

Delete

This accesses a sub-menu with options to delete connectors or connectors and their related FE elements.

Convert

Opens a sub-context menu to convert connectors to a different style, for example a spot connector into a bolt connector.

For more information, see Convert Style.

Combine

Opens a sub-context menu to combine single point connectors into line connectors, for example several spot connectors into a spotline connector.

For more information, see Combine.

Split

Opens a sub-context menu to split line connectors into single point connectors, for example a spotline connector into several spots.

For more information, see Split.

Position

Opens a sub-context menu to position connectors to the center between the farthest links or back to their source position.

For more information, see Position.

Renumber

Renumbers a single connector; the change is permanently recorded in the database and in the browser.

Update layer

Opens a dialog to input the layer value that you wish to assign to the selected connectors (this function works for multiple selections).

Simply type the desired number of layers into the text box and press ENTER. The layer value defines the number of thicknesses (2T/3T/and so on) a connector connects at its location. The layer value defined in a connector can be greater than or equal to number of links connected by the connector. The connectors will be unrealized after this update, but the change is recorded permanently in the database and in the browser.

Alternatively, you can also update the layer directly by right-clicking on the field itself rather than using the context menu.

Update tolerance

Opens a dialog to input the tolerance value that you wish to assign to the selected connectors (this function works for multiple selections).

You can also do this directly by right-clicking on the field itself rather than using the context menu.

Update realize to

If the connector does not currently use a property script for realization, this opens a small pop-up menu that lets you choose between current comp and connector comp.

You can also do this directly by right-clicking on the field itself rather than using the context menu.

Update diafactor

Opens a dialog to input the diafactor (diameter factor) value that you wish to assign to the selected connectors. This function works for multiple selections.

You can also do this directly by right-clicking on the field itself rather than using the context menu.

Note:

The diafactor field is shown for any connector of any type. This value is mainly used for specific bolt realizations; all others get "NA" by default for this field. Although you can update "NA" to any value, the value is ignored during realization.

Update diameter

Opens a dialog to input the diameter value that you wish to assign to the selected connectors (this function works for multiple selections).

You can also do this directly by right-clicking on the field itself rather than using the context menu.

Note:

The diameter field is shown for any connector of any type. This value is not necessary for many realization types; they get per default NA for this field, though you can update NA to any value. This value is ignored then during realization.

Add Link

Opens a new set of controls in the bottom of the tab to add links to the selected connectors.

For more information, see Add Links.

connector_entity_browser_addlinkgui

Update Link

Opens a new set of controls in the bottom of the tab to perform a part replacement.

Note:

Editing a connector causes it to become unrealized.

connector_entity_browser_updatelinkgui

Remove Link

A sub-menu gives the option to remove the selected link(s) from the selected connectors or all connectors in the browser. The connectors will be unrealized and the change is recorded permanently in the database and in the browser.

This option is accessible only from the column(s) that display the link information.

Remove Links

Removes all of the links from the selected connectors. The connectors will be unrealized and the change is recorded permanently in the database and in the browser selected connectors or all connectors in the browser. The connectors will be unrealized and the change is recorded permanently in the database and in the browser.

Convert Links

Converts links to one of the following link types: Part, Comp, or Prop.

For more information, see Convert Links.

Rerealize

Calls the *CE_Realize command to realize connectors by accepting only a connector mark. The underlying assumption in the command is that each connector passed in the mark has the required information to be successfully realized.

The required information such as tolerance, weld configuration, diameter, and so on is not defined for connectors created using the FE Absorb utility; hence the Rerealize feature in the Connector browser works only for connectors that were realized through a HyperMesh connector panel.

Unrealize

Unrealizes the selected connectors.

Find Components / Find Components with FE

The entities that are linked in the selected connectors are isolated in the display with the connectors. If the realization view option is turned on then the realized FE of the connectors is also displayed. The isolated entities are highlighted in the table.

Show

Works exactly like the action button Show. All view option button settings are considered.

Hide

Works exactly like the action button Hide. All view option button settings are considered.

Isolate

Works exactly like the action button Isolate. All view option button settings are considered.

Isolate Only

Works exactly like the action button Isolate Only. All view option button settings are considered.

Collapse All

This option closes all the expanded folders in the browser.

Expand All

This option expands all the folders to display all the connectors. This operation may take some time for folders that contain thousands of connectors.

Column Visibility

Opens the Column Visibility dialog. Checkboxes are used to control, which columns should be shown in the browser.

Configure Browser

Opens the Connector Entity Browser configuration window which contains options to configure the Connector browser's list display and button behavior.