Easier way to make a vector outline?

[Chuck Keysor]

Hello Esteemed Aspire Experts:

I have a 3D model, with 14 levels and 131 components. I needed to make a vector outline of my model, and found the process to be very cumbersome and time consuming. I ended up saving my entire design with a new name (so I could trash it without regret ), then selecting and moving each part to one single level. After everything was on one level, I was able to use the "Create Vector Boundary Around Selected Components" tool, to create the outline. Hmmm, this sound simple, but with so many parts and so many levels, it seemed like a lot of work and took a while.....

As I have found out all too often, if something seems harder to do then seems reasonable, I am probably doing it the wrong way....... Is there a faster way to make a boundary vector for such high component count models?

Thanks, Chuck

[Adrian]

I'm not understanding why you moved everything to one level to create the vectors? The tool works on what is selected regardless of the level.

[mtylerfl]

One simple and quick way is to use "Create component from visible model" then select it (the new composite model/component) and click the "Create vector boundary around selected components"

No need to alter your levels or layers or anything. Takes less than 10 seconds.

[Chuck Keysor]

Thanks for your replies which I just got done reading....

When I tried highlighting all of the components and then creating an outline vector, I got an error message, saying to the effect that my command could not be executed because I had components on multiple levels. So, when faced with that, I launched into condensing everything onto one level................

Now, I'll go back to my file and see if I can recreate what happened before,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but I have to finish something else first........ Thanks, later, Chuck

[mtylerfl]

Chuck,

Don't select or highlight anything.

Just be sure all individual components that make up your final model are visible. That's all.

Then follow what I mentioned above. It's easy...you're just overthinking this...only two steps to do.

[mtylerfl]

I made a short video of the procedure. Here is the link:

https://www.screencast.com/t/FqP343P2cN

[Chuck Keysor]

Hello Michael and Adrian:

1) Well, I confirmed that if something seems too hard, I am doing something wrong.

2) Michael, your suggestion of making a component from all visible components, and then making an outline vector, was very simple and worked without a hitch.

3) Adrian,,,,, I went and tried to re-create my previous problem, by manually selecting all the components in the modeling/components tree and every time, I created the outline without any problem............... So I must have done something else wrong that at this time, I can't figure.....

4) The scary thing is that I just finished figuring up my income taxes,,,,,,,,,,,, and based on this fumble, I must have messed up something on my 1040!

Thanks again for your help, which I always appreciate! Chuck

[Chuck Keysor]

Thanks Michael for the video! I just got done watching it, it is great that you have mastered such cool tools as that............ Thanks again, Chuck

[mtylerfl]

Thank you, Chuck! Very glad to help, of course.

I should mention after I create the composite model like shown in the video, I'll put it on its own Level and uncheck visibility of all other level headings. (I'll leave component checkboxes within each level, as-is, in case I want to return to the same visibility configuration in the future and won't have to remember which components I had on or off.)

I'll usually name the new Level "Final Model" or something like that.

[Dale1944]

Michael, thank you so much for the video explaining and demonstrating the steps to perform the procedure. It is incredibly helpful to me because I am in the initial stages of the learning curve of Aspire. Thanks again.

[mtylerfl]

Thank you, Dale! I'm glad you found it helpful too!