Merge file. How to change attributes???

[Pilot Plant Supervisor]

There has to be a way to change attributes when merging files but I just can't figure it out. Sometimes I need to bring a second model into my file but it always puts whatever is on a given level on the same number level in the file I am working with, and I have to spend time seperating it out. What am I missing?

[Brando]

this icon i think is what your looking for, matches up the imported to the current attributes, including the level

[Pilot Plant Supervisor]

Actually, I want to be able to put imported stuff on different levels. I tried creating a new level and making it active before importing, but it still puts everything on whatever level it is on in the original file.

[Jrygus]

After you import you can go into the Group manager and select the imported geometry and move it to another level.

 

You click on the ALL button then Group Manager and it should show a list of the files you imported.

[Brando]

i think you may have found a bug of sorts, i just tried it on a few files of my own with some mixed results,

1st i tried to do it on a new file, i merged another into it and after i selected the file to merge i clicked that icon and it put everything on my active level along with my current color, line width, and type , basically worked as it should

 

2nd i tried on an existing file, that also worked kind of, it put everything on the active level along with all the other attributes, but since the imported file had some stuff on the same level numbers as the existing file it renamed them to what the imported file said, and it also created named levels from the imported file with zero geometry, so it created a mess with the level names on that one

 

3rd i tried to import on an existing file twice, then i got the same result you are having on the 2nd import, i clicked the current attributes icon a couple times and it would not do anything just as you stated, but if you click the current attributes icon and then click on the "select" icon (its all the way to the left of the ribbon bar looks like a mouse pointer) then pick a new geo location origin it will work, but it still renames any levels in your current file that are in the imported file

 

im gonna call my reseller monday and see if were doing something wrong here or if its a bug

[Pilot Plant Supervisor]

I keep messing with it and can't make any sense of it. I'm glad it's not just me.

[Brando]

i didnt get a chance to call em today, had to play detective then repair man on a machine tool crash that happened on friday night

[Tim Johnson]

Are your models stored as.mc* files or with the standard model extensions?

[CJep]

Actually, I want to be able to put imported stuff on different levels. I tried creating a new level and making it active before importing, but it still puts everything on whatever level it is on in the original file.

 

The best way to merge information into an existing file is make certain the the geom you are planing to merge is stored on an unused level relative to file you are merging it into. So if I were setting up some kind of template file I would keep that geom on a level that I wouldn't typically use in a part file,... say level 1000. Then when I merge the template file into my existing part file it will come in on that level.

 

If I'm going to merge geom from an existing part file I will open that file, do a file save some, select only the geom I want to merge, rename it, open the file, change the level number using the renumber utility in the levels manager, save it then run the file merge process.

 

If you are merging solid parts into a Mcam part file they will typically come in on level 1, I don't use level 1 in my Mcam part files (it's an Mcam ocd)

[Pilot Plant Supervisor]

That seems like a workaround pain in the butt. It would be nice if they gave us a button to change the level when bringing something in.

[Newbeeee™]

^^^+ 1billtrillion!

[CJep]

Not a work around,... Been doing it that way since V9 (except for being able to change levels by renumbering)

 

Being able to send the merge to a different level during the merge utility would be cool though.

[Tim Johnson]

If you are merging solid parts into a Mcam part file they will typically come in on level 1, I don't use level 1 in my Mcam part files (it's an Mcam ocd)

[/Quote]

 

If I'm bringing in models (as model files) they always go to the chosen level. If I bring in models from a .MC* file they always go to the level that they came from. Because of that I have all of my fixture/components stored as parasolids and my tooling stored as .mc* with unique levels for each tool.

[Pete Rimkus from CNC Software Inc.]

"...Being able to send the merge to a different level during the merge utility would be cool though...."

 

Just before you merge in the file, set your Construction Level to the level that you want all the geometry to go to.

Then while doing the merge, after selecting the file click on the button that Brandon is referring to.

That will put all the incoming geometry on to current Construction Level.

 

Or...

 

After merging, right click on the Level button (to begin the ChangeLevels functionality).

When prompted for the entities to change, go to All and select Group Manager...when it appears select the Group that was just created by the Merge.

Green check out ... choose a level in the ChangeLevel dialog ...and everything you merged will be on the desired level

 

Hope this helps.

[Pilot Plant Supervisor]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

[Pilot Plant Supervisor]

Ok, both work, but I found that when using the first option, it doesn't work unless the "current attributes" button is already pushed in. If the button is not pushed in and I click it and then green check it, it doesn't work unless I also use the "select" button. Confusing no???

[Pete Rimkus from CNC Software Inc.]

"...Confusing no???..."

 

Confusing...yes...

 

We'll check it out here.

[Pete Rimkus from CNC Software Inc.]

I can't reproduce that in X6 Mu3

To test, I did the following:

• made a part using only level 1
  
• saved it.
  
• opened a new part and made different geometry on level 1
  
• set my construction level to 2
  
• made some more geometry.
  
• set my construction level to 3
  
• used File/Merge-Pattern, selected the file I had just saved, and saw the saved geometry show up again.
  
• while still in the Merge function, I clicked on the "Current Attributes" button and then green checked to exit the Merge.
  

I now have the merged geometry on level 3, and the geometry I had created on 1 and 2 stayed where it was.

[Pilot Plant Supervisor]

I'm running MU2. I'll have to get IT to load up MU3 and see if anything changes.

[Pete Rimkus from CNC Software Inc.]

I wouldn't expect MU3 to be different - that was principally an update to the CAD file importers.

[Bwank1124]

Does anyone know how to import another file but maintain all the levels and color from that file being merged?

[Del.]

On the Merge/Pattern ribbon bar look at the " current Attributes" icon. If you click it. it applies the current level and color. if you leave it off which is the default setting it maintains the original color and level.

[Bwank1124]

I did that. I should specify that I am trying to import solids from another mastercam file. Is there a difference there?

[Bwank1124]

I got it. I had to turn off the EA manager and all my levels came in right.

[Del.]

I did that. I should specify that I am trying to import solids from another mastercam file. Is there a difference there?

 

 

 

I've never done it but it says you can. I believe you have to have solids though or you have to bring it in as surfaces or curves.