[Enterprise] Introduction to Model Property Bar and Structure Navigation

To help enterprise users configure complex modeling scenarios efficiently, the editor provides comprehensive property and structure management tools. This article explains the functions of each properties panel and navigation bar.

For Users

Enterprise users

Model Properties Panel

The model properties panel is used to configure properties for the entire model. It is located on the far right of the editor page and includes the following items:

1. Model name.

2. Product name.

3. Image settings.

4. Part attributes.

5. Design attribute.

Model Name

Model name is the name entered when the model is saved. It can only be changed on the product details page in Merchant Admin, under Edit details. For a new model that has not been saved, the model name appears as "Untitled".

Product Name

The product name appears in the model properties panel only when you open a saved model. It is not displayed for a new model. After you click View Product Details, the system automatically redirects you to the product details page in Merchant Admin, where you can view the product details and the model save path.

Image Settings

Use this section to set the Preview and Annotation. After a preview image is set, the configured preview image is displayed in Merchant Admin and in the tool after the model rendering is complete. In the tool, when you select the model and hover over the parameter area, the configured annotation image is displayed.

• Create a preview image

Click Create in the preview image box to open the generate preview image page. On the left, you can set the exploded view distance and view mode. In the center area, hold the left mouse button and drag to adjust the model orientation. Hold the right mouse button and drag to adjust the model position. After you finish the settings, click Done at the bottom.

• Create an annotation image

Click Create in the annotation image box to open the generate annotation view page. On the left, you can set the exploded view distance and view mode. In the center area, hold the left mouse button and drag to adjust the model orientation. Hold the right mouse button and drag to adjust the model position. After you finish the settings, click Next at the bottom. On the left, set the label type, text, color, and other options, then click Done at the bottom.

Part Attributes

Part attributes include Library, Model Category, and Component Position Method. Library category displays the name of the selected library category. Model category displays the name of the specific subcategory selected under the library category during creation. Component position method controls how the entire model invokes submodels (Origin or Lower Left Rear). By default, Left-back-bottom is used.

Design Attribute

Design Attribute control selected model functions in front-end tools. Details are as follows:

1. Generate Countertop, Generate Top Line, Generate Foot Line, Generate Light Rail: Controls whether the model can automatically generate countertops, top lines, foot lines, and light rail in the tool. This setting only controls automatic generation and does not affect manual selection or generation. Select "Yes" to allow the model to automatically generate lines in the tool. Select "No" to prevent automatic line generation. No option is selected by default. The tool determines whether lines can be automatically generated, and which lines to generate, based on the model category.
2. Component Removable: Controls whether all submodels in the tool, such as panels in a cabinet, can be deleted. Select "Yes" to allow deletion. Select "No" to prevent deletion. If no option is selected, deletion is allowed by default.
3. Component Replaceable: Controls whether replaceable submodels in the tool, such as cabinet doors and drawers, can have their styles replaced. Select "Yes" to allow replacement. Select "No" to prevent replacement. If no option is selected, replacement is allowed by default.
4. Insert Virtual Model: Controls whether virtual hardware can be inserted in the tool. Select "Yes" to allow insertion. Select "No" to prevent insertion. If no option is selected, insertion is allowed by default.
5. Component Aggregation: Determines whether the model is recognized as a whole in the tool. When this option is enabled, the tool recognizes only the entire model and does not recognize submodels as separate objects. Submodels also cannot be selected or edited individually in the tool. This option is mainly used when a model contains many referenced submodels and causes lag or display issues when dragged into the tool. It can improve performance for complex models in the tool's 3D scene. Select "Yes" to recognize the model as a whole. Select "No" to keep whole-model recognition disabled. If no option is selected, whole-model recognition is disabled by default.
6. Editable component parameters: Controls whether all submodels in the tool, such as panels in a cabinet, can have their parameters edited individually. Select "Yes" to allow individual editing. Select "No" to prevent individual editing. If no option is selected, individual editing is allowed by default.
7. Generate Sliding Door: Controls whether the model can automatically generate sliding doors in the tool. This setting only controls automatic generation and does not affect manual selection or generation. Select "Yes" to allow the model to automatically generate sliding doors in the tool. Select “No” to prevent automatic sliding door generation. If no option is selected, the default is "No".
8. Interference Detection Zone: Specifies the range of the model that participates in interference detection. Only parts within the detection area are checked for collision interference. Parts outside the area are excluded from detection, which can reduce false interference warnings caused by non-critical parts.
9. Ignore Internal Interference: Controls whether interference detection is performed between submodels inside the model. When set to "Yes", internal interference is ignored, and only collisions between the model and external models are detected. When set to "No", the internal structure also participates in interference detection.
10. System Variable Logic: Controls which logic the tool uses to evaluate and control system variables. "Design Tool Logic"means system variables are evaluated by the tool based on its predefined built-in logic. "Parametric Modeling Editor Logic" means that, when the tool is used, variable values are determined by the rules set in the editor. For example, when the mask value on a door panel is calculated by a formula under different conditions, the rules set in the editor must determine the value. In this case, select "Parametric Modeling Editor Logic". If no option is selected, "Design Tool Logic" is used by default.
11. Continuous Material: Controls whether the model supports unified texture. By default, you can choose whether to enable unified texture. This option is typically used for scenarios such as lofted door panels, where the texture must remain consistent across the entire door panel.
12. Allow Assigning Hide-state Parameter: When replacing a submodel in the model from the tool, controls whether hidden variables in the replaced submodel are passed in the JSON file. This is mainly used by businesses that need production integration.
13. Editable Parameter: Controls whether model parameters can be modified in the front-end tool. When selected, users can adjust parameters in the tool panel. When not selected, parameters cannot be edited.
14. Replaceable: Controls whether the entire model can be replaced by another model in the same category in the front-end scene. When set to "Yes", the model can be replaced as a whole. When set to "No", it cannot be replaced.
15. Component Space Fitting Logic: Component interior space fitting rules control how embedded components are positioned when they snap to the interior space of a cabinet. There are two modes:
    • Tool Settings: Uses the tool's default positioning logic.
    • Editor Settings: Specifies the component positioning reference separately in the editor, based on inner or outer fitting.

Submodel Properties Panel

After you select and click a submodel, the submodel properties panel appears on the far right of the page. It includes the following sections:

1. Submodel Name.
2. Submodel Product Name.
3. Dimensions.
4. Physical Properties.
5. System Attributes.
6. Part Attributes.
7. Design Attributes.

Submodel Name

The submodel name is the name saved for the referenced submodel. It also appears in the list. You can double-click the name in the structure navigation to edit it, or click the button to the right of the submodel name.

Submodel Product Name

Click the View Product Details button for the submodel to view product details and save the submodel path.

Dimensions

1. Dimensions define the dimensions of the submodel along the coordinate axes. When modeling, you can define the submodel size within the overall model by editing the submodel's size properties.

2. The inheritance setting controls whether the current property values are inherited when the submodel is replaced. "Inherit" means the replacement submodel inherits the dimensions of the original submodel. Otherwise, the dimensions are not inherited. The system uses Inherit by default.

Physical Properties

Physical Properties define the XYZ position and rotation angles of the submodel along the coordinate axes. When modeling, you can define the submodel's position and rotation within the overall model by editing its physical properties.

System Attributes

1. Submodel System Attributes: Submodel system properties vary depending on the category and system variables of the newly created submodel. For example, panels include properties such as material direction and offset, while drawers include properties such as overlay method, overlay value, and gap.

2. Inheritance Property controls whether the current property values are inherited when the submodel is replaced. "Inherit" means the replacement submodel inherits the system variable values of the original submodel. Otherwise, the values are not inherited. If no option is selected, the default is Inherit.

Part Attributes

Part Attributes include the submodel reference name, material, and advanced parameters. Details are as follows:

1. Reference Name:Mainly used when calling the submodel with @ syntax.
2. Material:Includes Select, Reference, and Condition. When you select "Select", you must choose a material from the material library, and the submodel will not change based on material changes in the model custom variables. When you select "Reference", enter "#CZ", and the submodel will change based on material changes in the model custom variables.
3. Advanced Parameters: Displays the custom variables (advanced parameters) added to this submodel.
4. Inherited properties are used to set whether the current property values are inherited when replacing a submodel. "Inherit" means the replacement submodel inherits the component property values of the submodel being replaced. Otherwise, the values are not inherited. By default, values are not inherited.

Style Properties

Style Properties control the style of a submodel. They are typically used to add style variables to the overall model and reference those style variables in Style Properties, so that parameters can control style changes in the submodel.

Design Attribute

Design Attribute control certain functions of the submodel in the front-end tool. Details are as follows:

1. Position Method: Indicates how the submodel is called. The options are Origin and Lower Left Rear, and this should be consistent with the modeling method of the overall model. Origin means the submodel is called based on the modeling origin used when the submodel was created: if the center point was used as the origin when the submodel was created, the model origin call uses the center point; if Lower Left Rear was used as the origin when the submodel was created, the model origin call uses Lower Left Rear. By default, the submodel is called by Lower Left Rear.
2. Hide Conditions: Used to hide the submodel under specific conditions. Select "Yes" to hide the submodel directly. Select "No" to keep the submodel visible. If you enter a condition in the condition field below, the submodel is hidden based on that condition. For example, if the condition is #W<300, the submodel is hidden when model W is less than 300. Otherwise (when W is greater than or equal to 300), it is not hidden. By default, the submodel is not hidden. A hidden submodel does not appear in the list and cannot be referenced.
3. Replaceable: Controls whether this submodel can be replaced in the tool. By default, it can be replaced.
4. Quotation Required: Controls whether this submodel must be referenced in the overall model. By default, it can be referenced. After this is changed to "No", the submodel will not be referenced in the current overall model, but this does not affect references made by the submodel itself when it calls other models.
5. Removable: Controls whether this submodel can be deleted in the tool. By default, it can be deleted.
6. Style Pack: Used to restrict which styles this submodel can be replaced with in the tool. If no style package is set, all styles that support replacement can be used by default.
7. Component Removable: Controls whether submodels called within this submodel can be deleted in the tool, such as a panel in a drawer. By default, they can be deleted.
8. BOM Output: Controls whether this submodel is output and displayed in the quotation list. If "Bom Output" is not set to "No"and only "Bom Output" is set to "No", this submodel will not appear in the list, but its quotation will still be output by default.
9. Parameter Editable: Controls whether the parameters of this submodel can be edited separately in the tool. By default, they can be edited.
10. Ignore Internal Interference: Controls whether the internal structure of the submodel participates in interference detection. When set to "Yes", internal interference is ignored. When set to "No", the internal structure participates in detection.
11. Reset the Part After the Suppression is Released: Controls whether the submodel restores its initial parameters after suppression is removed. When set to "Yes", the initial parameters are restored. When set to "No", the state before suppression is retained.
12. Suppress Condition: Enter an expression condition. When the condition is met, the submodel enters the suppressed state. Suppressed components do not participate in rendering, interference detection, or list output, but their model data is retained.

Top Properties Bar

Variables & Properties

1. Global Parameters: Used to quickly go to the page for creating and editing global variables in the back end.

2. Variable System: Used to group and manage variables. You can divide variable sets by business module, making variables easier to maintain in complex models.

3. Business Attributes:Used to bind the model to business tags, category properties, or production information, and pass that information to quotation and production data.

3. Output Settings: Quotation Settings are used to define quotation output parameters. Data Output Settings are used to define the output values and output reference names of system variables and custom variables in output files for data interfaces such as JSON and APIs.

Tool

1. External Value: Supports reading data from external data sources or variables in other models and assigning the data to variables in the current model, enabling cross-model parameter linkage.

2. Link Door Opening: Used to associate a door opening created or edited in the software library with a called door panel submodel, so the door panel can use the functions and properties of the door opening.

3. Part Node Report Settings: Configures the node information to output in model export or diagnostic reports, and customizes report output fields.

4. Design Condition: Sets the environment, category, or version conditions under which the model takes effect. Model rules and variable logic are enabled only when the conditions are met.

Operation

1. Hide and Suppress: Batch-converts hidden components that meet the conditions to the suppressed state. Hiding only affects display, while suppression excludes components from rendering, interference detection, and list calculations.

2. Component Custom Variable Reference: Used to batch-create same-name reference relationships between subcomponent variables and parent model variables. After execution, variables with matching names update based on the parent model values, reducing duplicate configuration.

Validate

1. Parametric Model Diagnostics: Automatically checks the model for parameter errors, formula exceptions, circular references, constraint conflicts, missing components, and other issues, then outputs diagnostic results.

2. View Citations: View the reference relationships between variables and components in the current model, making it easier to locate circular dependencies, duplicate references, and abnormal calls.

Plugins

Plugins extend the editor's capabilities and support loading, downloading, and closing plugins.

Model Structure Navigation Bar

Definition: Used to display the submodels and components required for model creation.

Purpose of the Structure Navigation Bar

1. Helps users quickly locate the required content.

2. Provides a clear view of the overall model structure and composition.

Location of the Structure Navigation Bar

Located in the upper-right corner of the editor page.

Structure Navigation Bar Properties

In the Structure Navigation Bar, you can view the Model Name, Part,Exterior Bound, Contour Boundary, Snap Line, Internal Zone, Door Opening, Collision Detect Area, Connector, Custom Structures, and Assembly Structure.

1. Model Name: The name entered when the model was saved. New models are displayed as “Untitled”.
2. Part: Parametric models added from the component library in the left sidebar, such as flat panels, lofts, and grilles, as well as parametric models from the component library, appear in the model list and can be edited.
3. Exterior Bound: The system default custom frame (rectangular frame) appears under the model frame and can be edited.
4. Contour Boundary: System default contour constraints and contour constraints you add appear in this list and can be edited.
5. Snap Line: Added snap lines appear in this list and can be edited.
6. Internal Zone: Added internal spaces appear in this list and can be edited.
7. Door Opening: Added door openings appear in this list and can be edited.
8. Collision Detect Area: Added interference areas appear in this list and can be edited.
9. Connector: Added pipe connectors appear in this list and can be edited.
10. Custom Structures: Custom grouped structures created by the user to manage related parts together.
11. Assembly Structure: Assembly units made up of multiple parts. They can be used or configured as a single unit.

Structure Navigation Bar Operations

1. Click the button in the upper-right corner of the Structure Navigation Bar to hide or show it. Click and drag the lower-left corner of the navigation bar to resize it.

2. Hover over a component or submodel in the list, then click the eye icon on the left to hide or show that object.

3. You can right-click components or submodels in the list, except custom frames, to duplicate or delete them. Submodels added from the component library can be replaced. Components added from the component library cannot be replaced.

4. Click a component or submodel in the list to view and edit its properties in the properties panel on the right. Components or submodels within a component can also be selected in the visual interface. Other list items can only be selected in the navigation bar. Double-click the left mouse button, or click the button to the right of the name in the properties panel, to rename the item. In the quotation list, the displayed submodel name is the component name.