NOTE: If the semantic searches return error codes the State attribute will need to be removed for the class returning the error. The file containing the offending attribute is located in C:Program FilesDassault SystemesB208intel_a
esourcesplmsearchplmtoolbarSMT folder and the file is called PQ_PRODUCT.CATRsc. Look for the classes, like Document and make the following change:// Definition of class DocumentSMT96.Definition = "SMT96.PRODUCT.PLMCoreReference";SMT96.Accessibility = "plmtoolbar";//SMT96.Attributes = "TDMX_ID REVISION TDM_DESCRIPTION STATE ";SMT96.Attributes = "TDMX_ID REVISION TDM_DESCRIPTION";SMT96.CATNls = "PQ_PRODUCT_SMT";
3DLive becomes the Visual Presentation layer of the PLM data“Translates” design data to decision ready information through a visual mediumProvides uncomplicated navigation and collaboration tools for the use of various end users
Applications is the software people use, while connectors are the pieces that give the data access to the applications.Client customizations are not necessary, but available.Of course 3DLive needs a server to reside upon.
Since this presentation is centered around Tweaking 3DLive on SmarTeam, let’s talk a little bit about the SmarTeam connector.This connector understands your SmarTeam data model and can access your SmarTeam vault data. The connector supports CATIA’s FT&A and Collaboration Review for collaboration.In addition to CATIA data, SolidWorks, Inventor, Solid Edge and Wildfire (Pro/E) are supported.
The major components of the setup are: SmarTeam Foundation Server V5R19 or higher for 3DLive V5R2010x Database Server, SQL Server or Oracle 3DLive ServerInstallation of SmarTeam Support for Live Applications is required on the Foundation server and you must use SmarTeam Vault services or 3DLive will NOT be able to reach the vault files. You cannot use virtual vaults (folders) for 3DLive support. Although I do not know of a single production environment using virtual vaults.
Semantic Search enables users to quickly search for items in a Google-like fashion.Using the mouse to navigate 3D is pretty simple and intuitive. The middle mouse button will pan the view, while middle mouse + first mouse button will rotate the view and CONTROL + middle mouse button will zoom the display. When viewing a single item, like a single CATProduct or CATPart you can use the Robot to manipulate the view. See the tutorial.Exploring and Examining items allows you to manipulate the view, explore parents, find root components, ghost, explode, all sorts of stuff. See tutorial and presentation by the presenter.Of course the Advanced Search enables you to search in a more traditional way by using drop down menus and and/or selections.
3DLive Semantic Search is essentially a full text search across one or more attribute fields. At the time of this presentation there is a small issue with the STATE attribute of some classes that causes a search failure (too many results) and so at this time it is advised not to include STATE (Checked In/Out, Released, etc.) in semantic searches. Through client customizations semantic searches can be limited to a configured number of fields.By default ALL the attributes of the class (or predefined search) being searched are returned, which is not normally desired so again, through a tweak using the CATOptionsMgt tool, a discreet set of attributes can be returned to make search results more meaningful to the user or group performing the search.PLM Search Types Visibility enables 3DLive to limit what classes are searched. This is really appropriate when you want specific users to perform general searches but only have specific classes of objects returned.The Bar Search Types is what we covered in Semantic Searches.Tree Color and Icon masks can also be customized.Finally, the Compass can be customized to place specific attributes in context to the compass categories.
The PLM Compass is the visual representation of five topics, divided into four quadrants, and a center.The Compass enables the user to get PLM information about the objects in a session and is accessible from all document windows.
Some customizations can be further enhanced by using scripting to determine things like tree colors and compass ranges.3DLive includes a documented methodology that enables the administrator to create an installation package AFTER the customizations are completed. Essentially an unlimited number of purposed installations could be developed and the MSI simply pushed out through IT. Simply as can be, I think.The Collaboration tools are very cool and if your environment needs real-time collaboration, 3DLive can handle it using standard collaboration tools from Lotus or Microsoft.The power of 3DLive really shines through when the 3D Indexing service is turned on and users can search for shapes rather than through meta-data.There are a number of licenses that can be used with 3DLive, but the main point is that Review, Similarity and Right Manager require the 3DLive (LIV) license as a prerequisite.
So, who uses 3DLive? Well, everyone.The diagram above illustrates that, from a PLM perspective, there are data contributors and data browsers or consumers.Browsers only need 3DLive, nothing elseContributors will use 3DLive to explore data, but will use other software tools to “contribute” to the data.Some Browsers may need special functionality related to Search/View/Print (SVP).