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Line type wizard |
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Line type wizard |
The line type wizard is a tool to help you set up a line type representing one of the following commonly used structures:
What the wizard does is ask you for the basic data of the structure – the bar diameter for a chain, for example – and then calculate for you the line type data (as far as it reasonably can) to represent that structure. The wizard leaves you to set the values for other data – e.g. friction coefficients – where there is no formula on which to base the values.
| Warning: | The values generated by the wizard are approximate, and are intended as first estimates for preliminary use. They are offered in good faith, but due to variations in properties between products they cannot be guaranteed. We recommend that you use suppliers' data where this is available. |
The wizard works on the currently selected line type on the line types form, so you should first create, name and select the line type that you want to set up. You can then open the wizard using the wizard button on the line types data form.
When you use the wizard for the first time on a given line type, the model must be in reset state since you will be editing data. You then tell the wizard the category of structure that you wish to model (chain, rope etc.) and supply it with the corresponding data for that structure (e.g. chain bar diameter), collectively known as the wizard data, and from it the wizard automatically derives line type data to correspond to those wizard data. If necessary you can then manually adjust the derived line type data.
Once you have used the wizard to set up data for a given line type, the wizard remembers the data you gave it. If you re-open the wizard when in reset state then you can edit these wizard data and have the wizard calculate corresponding new derived line type data. Any post-wizard manual adjustments to line type data may be overwritten; if so, they may need to be done again.
You can also re-open the wizard in a model state subsequent to reset state, but only in order to view the wizard data. You cannot edit wizard data or re-derive line type data unless the model is in reset state.
| Note: | Remember that the current line type data might not correspond to the current wizard data if you have manually edited the line type data after they were derived by the wizard. |
The wizard has three stages, with next and back buttons so that you can move between stages to set up the data you want.
Stage 1, the initial page when you open the wizard, displays the name of the selected line type and allows you to choose the category to apply. Click next to proceed to the second stage.
Stage 2 presents 3 frames of information. The top left frame asks you for the basic data of the special category you have selected. The bottom left frame displays the resulting derived line type data – you should check that the values here are reasonable.
The right-hand frame displays a number of other properties of the resulting line type, based on the derived data, which may be useful as an additional check. In some cases these depend on contents density, in which case you can specify the contents density to be used for the calculation of properties. When you are satisfied that everything is correct, you can click next to proceed to the last stage.
Stage 3 displays all of the line type data. Bold text denotes data that have been derived by the wizard, based on the category data you supplied. Non-bold text represents data that have not been set by the wizard – these values will be as you last set them. You can adjust any of the data at this stage, overriding the values derived by the wizard if you wish. You can also still go back to previous stages of the wizard if further modifications are required. When you are satisfied, you can click the finish button: the new data will be applied, overwriting the previous data for that line type. Alternatively, you can cancel to leave the line type unchanged, but then any newly entered special category data will also be lost.