2.3.6.8.1. Procedure when using NX without PDM

Make sure that the correct macro template is active in ifugnx.cfg and perform a placing with a test part. Ideally, all settings in the template are already designed as actually required. In this case any adjustments are unnecessary.

Otherwise perform the steps of the following instruction.

  1. Open an empty NX session.

  2. Select "Model" or "Assembly".

  3. Make sure that "Solid-Layer (by default 27)" is activated.

    Menu -> Format -> Layer Settings

    Menu -> Format -> Layer Settings

    Layer 27 activated

    Layer 27 activated

  4. Perform a placing as a test. Then for the macro recording you should not make a mistake.

  5. Open a new model.

  6. Start macro recording.

    Menu -> Tools -> Macro -> Start Record...

    Menu -> Tools -> Macro -> Start Record...

    Determine the macro's storage location and file name and confirm with OK. Save the macro, best in the directory intended for this purpose under ...\iface\unigraphics\shared\macro\cns_place_....macro.

    Dialog "Macro Record"

    Dialog "Macro Record"

    -> The record is immediately started.

    [Note]Note

    Each keystroke is decisive! If an error should happen, stop the record and start anew!

    1. Click on Add Component.

      -> The Add Component dialog is opened.

    2. Click on Reset.

    3. Click on the Open button.

      -> The Part Name dialog is opened.

      Select any part (not assembly).

      Select part

      Select part

    4. Open the list field under Assembly Location and select the option Absolute - Work Part.

    5. Optional: Change the setting under Placement from "Move" to "Constrain".

    6. Optional: Under Settings -> Interaction Options, disable the option Preview and enable Preview Window.

      "Preview Window" enabled

      "Preview Window" enabled

    7. Finally DO NOT click on OK.

  7. Finish the macro recording.

  8. Check the macro:

    1. Under Menu -> Tools -> Macro, click on Playback....

      Menu -> Tools -> Macro -> Playback...

      Menu -> Tools -> Macro -> Playback...

    2. In the Macro Playback dialog, select the macro created before.

      Menu -> Tools -> Macro -> Playback...

      Menu -> Tools -> Macro -> Playback...

    Only proceed, if everything is fine up to now.

  9. Edit macro.

    For the macro recording a concrete sample part had been used. Places containing references to this part have to be replaced by common place holders now.

    1. Open the recorded macro.

    2. If you like replace your username by "administrator", for example. (Doesn't matter for functionality.)

    3. Search the place with FILE_BOX and MULTI_SELECT (at the end of macro)

      FILE_BOX -2,@@@D:\cadenas\partsolutions\data\pool\ugnx\16212479780_3211281_
       Supplier dependence.prt@@@
      D:\cadenas\partsolutions\data\pool\ugnx\*.prt@@@ 0 ! Part Name
         MULTI_SELECT: D:\cadenas\partsolutions\data\pool\ugnx\16212479780_3211281_
       Supplier dependence.prt

      and replace these two lines by the following:

      FILE_BOX -2,@@@<<CNS_FILENAME>>@@@<<CNS_DIRNAME>>*.PRT@@@ 0 ! Part Name
         MULTI_SELECT: <<CNS_FILENAME>> 

    4. Shortly below the just edited line you can find the file name of the part used for the macro recording.

      Example:

      ASK_ITEM 71172097 (1 STRN 0) = "16212479780_3211281_SUPPLIER DEPENDENCE"  ! 
       Component Name

      Delete the file name, meaning the entry between the quotation marks and leave the quotation marks themselves.

      ASK_ITEM 71172097 (1 STRN 0) = ""  ! Component Name

    5. Optionally, you can delete the following lines at the file end.

      WINDOW RESIZE 1.000000 10.822917 7.906250 -1.000000 -0.730510 1.000000 0.730510
      WINDOW RESIZE 1.000000 10.822917 7.906250 -1.000000 -0.730510 1.000000 0.730510
      WINDOW RESIZE 1.000000 10.822917 7.906250 -1.000000 -0.730510 1.000000 0.730510
      WINDOW RESIZE 1.000000 10.822917 7.906250 -1.000000 -0.730510 1.000000 0.730510
      WINDOW RESIZE 1.000000 10.822917 7.906250 -1.000000 -0.730510 1.000000 0.730510

  10. Set placement macro in ifugnx.cfg

    [Note]Note

    This step has to be performed manually up to NX version 1926 inclusively, for later versions it will happen automatically, so that manual intervention can be omitted, except the macro is recorded for a special NX subversion.

    For later versions no adjustment of name has to be performed. Simply store the recorded macro file under ...\iface\unigraphics\shared\macro according to the schema cns_place_nxXXXX.macro or cns_place_nxXXXX_teamcenter.macro. Then the matching file is automatically detected.

    If the reference is explicitly stated in ifugnx.cfg under "placementmacro=" the name doesn't matter.

    1. Make sure that the correct key for your installation is enabled.

    2. Replace the corresponding default template by the recorded macro file.

    Excerpt from ifugnx.cfg with "placementmacro" keys

    Excerpt from ifugnx.cfg with "placementmacro" keys

  11. Test the macro by using PARTdataManager once with a part and once with an assembly, possibly once again with an inch part.

    After the part is transferred, click on the green arrow (native placement dialog).

    -> Now the NX placement dialog should show exactly those settings which had been applied when recording the macro.

  12. Optional checking: Have a look into the macro file cns_place.macro, in the user directory.

    After each export it should show exactly the currently used replacements.