In complex and dense structural models, it becomes difficult for fabricators to understand the position and placement of members in the assembly or group. ProSteel has now come up with a new feature which allows the creation of assemblies, groups and sub-groups as separate 3D models to facilitate the ease of review.
This document will guide you on how to create these separate files of 3D models for each assembly, group and sub-group from the original structural model.
1) Navigate to the backstage by clicking on File and then Export > ProStructures File Types > Export. 2) After this, select a part of the model or whole (of which you need to have separate files of assemblies, groups or sub-groups) and in the Export dialog box, choose the option of 3D Group as Separate Files and click on OK. 3) The Export Groups dialog box will then open up. Here you can set up the main folder path where the sub-folders containing Assemblies, Groups & Sub-Groups (as per your selection) will be created. You have an option to set up the name of the individual model files by using the File Name Builder tool in the same command using the button as highlighted in the above picture. 4) From the available options, you can choose the most appropriated title / expression that suits your nomenclature requirement OR you also have an alternative to use a custom variable by entering a name in the User-defined text. 5) After setting up these, you can choose to open the output folder and log file immediately on successful creation of separate files for the assemblies, groups and sub-groups. Then click OK.
6) On successful generation of these files, you will see the output folder open up automatically containing separate sub-folders for assemblies, groups and sub-groups named in the order as set in step # 04. 7) Also, this folder will contain a log file of the export process including data of processed and unprocessed assemblies, groups and sub-groups. 8) On opening one of the sub-folders, (in this case that of groups) you will see individual DGN models of each group that was contained in the selected part of the model. The names of each of these models is in accordance to the expression variable set up in step # 04. 9) Finally, you can review each assembly, group or sub-group independently to check for attached parts, modelling information and any other attached data. In this manner, one can create separate files for assemblies, groups and sub-groups; set up the output folder location and also generate the names of these files as per custom requirement using the File Name Builder tool and control the generation process up to the last detail.