Reconnecting the Broken Links

This task shows you how to reconnect the broken geometrical links in annotations:
Open an existing 3D part.

Reconnecting a Single Broken Link

In the example below the circular hole geometry has been deleted.

 
Datum created on hole   Invalid annotation due to
deletion of hole geometry

You can reconnect a broken link using the automatic mode or manual mode.

Automatic Mode

  1. Right-click the invalid annotation (due to deletion of geometry) and select Associated Geometry > Geometry Connection Management. The Connection Management (Automatic Reconnection of Broken Links) dialog box is displayed with the Scope set to Global. The broken links are displayed as ? symbol in the Graph of Geometrical Links.

    Note: The (Automatic Reconnection of Broken Links) appears in the title bar of the Connection Management dialog box only if you have selected the Automatically propose reconnection of broken links check box in the Geometry Connection Management area available through Tools > Options > Mechanical Design > Functional Tolerancing & Annotation > Annotation tab.

    The previously linked lost geometry is displayed temporary in red color which helps you in choosing a new geometry.
    Previously linked lost
    geometry in red

  2. Select the new reference geometry, and depending on the options selected in Tools > Options > Mechanical Design > Functional Tolerancing & Annotation > Annotation tab, Geometry Connection Management area, one of the following actions takes place: 
    • The automatic mode ends.
    • The validity is automatically checked, then the automatic mode ends.
    • The command ends.
      The broken link is resolved.

Manual Mode

You can use this mode to reconnect a broken link in case the automatic mode is stopped or the Automatically propose reconnection of broken links check box is not selected in the Geometry Connection Management area available through Tools > Options > Mechanical Design > Functional Tolerancing & Annotation > Annotation tab.

Consider the above example and follow the step 1.

  1. Right-click the broken link symbol ? and select Stop automatic reconnection at any time throughout the duration of the automatic mode. It is also possible to change the Scope and the Geometry Highlight mode throughout the duration of the automatic mode.
    As a result, the links that were already reconnected are kept and the (Automatic Reconnection of Broken Links) is removed from the title bar.
  2. Right-click the broken link symbol ? and select Connect.
  3. Select a new reference geometry.
    The Graph of Geometrical Links shows newly selected geometry.
  4. Click Check Validity to check the new geometry component validity relative to the selected annotation.

     
  5. Click OK.
    The annotation is now connected to the new surface and the broken link is resolved.
To get a better visualization of the deleted face by displaying its hidden edges, you can set the view mode to Shading with Edges and Hidden Edges in the View toolbar (View mode sub-toolbar).

Reconnecting Multiple Broken Links

Like reconnecting a single broken link, you can reconnect several broken links in a single click.

In the example below the circular pattern hole geometry has been deleted.

 
Annotations created on pattern of holes   Invalid annotations due to deletion of pattern geometry

  1. Right-click the invalid annotation (due to deletion of geometry) and select Associated Geometry > Geometry Connection Management. The Connection Management (Automatic Reconnection of Broken Links) dialog box is displayed.

  2. Follow the step 2 as explained in Automatic Mode scenario.
    The broken links are resolved.
  3. Optionally, right-click the broken link symbol ? and select any one of the following actions at any time throughout the duration of the automatic mode:
    • Delete current broken link: Deletes the selected broken link.
    • Skip current link reconnection:  Skips the selected link reconnection. (Available only when several broken links are remaining).
    • Stop automatic reconnection:  Stops the automatic reconnection mode, which removes the (Automatic Reconnection of Broken Links) from the title bar.