Managing a Variant

This task allows you to create variant materials.
Open the Tube.CATProduct document.
 
A variant allows you to switch quickly between the original materials and the rendering aspect of already applied materials. A variant material is defined by:
  • a list of original materials, which are applied only when you select the Link to file check box in the Library dialog box that is displayed when you click Apply Material  .
  • a variant materials list from material libraries.

  1. Double-click Tube Complete (Tube Complete.1) in the specification tree to activate it.

  2. Click Manage Variant in the Scene Editor toolbar. The Variant Management dialog box is displayed:

     

     
    • When you click Manage Variant , Variant 1 is created by default and added to the specification tree under the Aspect Variants node. You can then edit the variant name.
    • You can multi-select the materials in the Original Material list to define a variant for several different applied materials.

  3. Click to select a catalog of your choice. Here we use the Catalog.CATMaterial file.

  4. Select Metal from the Browse family drop-down list.

  5. Select the 3D Preview check box to see a preview of the applied material.

  6. Select a material from the list and click OK, or click to create a new variant. Here we select Copper. The material is applied to the geometry

     
    • Variants are added to the specification tree under the Applications  > Aspect Variants node.

    • You can change the name of the variant by double-clicking the variant in the specification tree and renaming it in the Variant Name field.
    • You can activate a variant by right-clicking the variant in the specification tree and selecting the Activate Variant option.
    • An active variant is recognized by the lager size of the icon before its variant name in the specification tree. In the figure below, Variant 2 is active.


    • Click to delete the variant displayed in the Variant Name field.
       

  7. Click OK to close the Variant Management dialog box.
You can add variants under the DMU Review node too. To do so:
  • Access the DMU Navigator workbench from Start > Digital Mockup.
  • Click Review in the DMU Review Creation toolbar. DMU Review.1 is added to the specification tree.
  • Again access the Real Time Rendering workbench, and double-click DMU Review.1 in the specification tree to activate it.
  • Click Manage Variant. Variant.1 is now added under the DMU Review node: