Bug: Combine tool - invisible bodies, blue stripes, and component color

[martinhansdk]

When using the combine tool to combine multiple bodies into one:

1. Some bodies sometimes turn invisible but stay selectable

2. The selected bodies are sometimes displayed with stripes instead of a solid blue color.

3. The coloring of different components in the section analysis does not work correctly afterwards - see at the very end of the screencast where the hatch at the top was not included in the combine operation but is colored the same shade of blue as the combined body. Even though they are in different components.

[martinhansdk]

Attaching the screencast did not work. Here it is.

[Phil.E]

Looks like a graphics problem. Please post your graphics diagnostic information. This is found on the ?Help menu. There is a copy/paste tool on the dialog.

The section color "blue" might just be a random application of blue in the section that happens to be close or match the highlight color.

Thanks,

[Phil.E]

I spoke too soon. There are actually a few things going on here. If you can post the model I can give a deeper analysis.

[martinhansdk]

Hi Phil,

thanks for looking into this. The model is attached. I have removed the combine at the end so you should have the same state that I started with with my screencast.

The bug report was done on the January 26 update, but today on the February 1st update I still see the same.

Graphics diagnostic:

[GPU Information]
GPU Device: NVIDIA Quadro K2100M
GPU RAM: 2048 MB
GPU Driver API: DirectX 11.0
GPU Driver Version: 1.5.445
GPU Driver Date: 12/22/2015

[Graphics Effects Settings]
Anti Aliasing: On
Ambient Occlusion: On
Object Shadow: Off
Ground Shadow: On
Ground Reflection: Off
Selection Display Style: Normal
Transparency Effect: Better Performance

[Limit effects to optimize performance]
Off

Best regards,

Martin

[hanvota]

I think that your issue is due to duplication of the bodies during combine sine you have the new component option checked.  Try uncheck it that option to see if that would help.

[Phil.E · Accepted solution]

There are three problems noted here, however only one is a bug.

The bug is the disappearing bodies. This is logged now, so thanks very much for the example. (internal reference FUS-29023)

There is a workaround. Just select the Tool Bodies first, prior to picking the Target Body. There should be no visibility issues with that workflow.

The other two items you mention are expected. As @hanvota points out. (thanks!)

The stripes are the preview of the new component you are making. Because the Hull is the target body, it's body is being copied into the new component, and the preview of the overlapping bodies has stripes. One could argue it's a bug because it's unexpected, but to me it's a helpful guide to ensure I'm getting two Hulls as I work. IMO it's valuable feedback. If it is more than that for you, please let us know how, we value your opinion.

The section analysis showing two shades of blue on separate parts might be a fluke, if the same color was used twice. There are only so many shades used by the section analysis tool. The other possibility is that it's related to the new component preview of the new component with the existing Hull component edges superimposed on it. It's hard to tell from your video. If you close the file and re-open it does it still show blue on both components? If you turn off the original Hull does it look better?

In my testing I reliably got different colors on either side of that line between the flanges, so I'm not sure here. 

If you have more questions, feel free to ask.  

Thanks,

[martinhansdk]

Hi @Phil.E,

Thank you for explaining all this.

I can not reproduce the coloring issue today. I'll try and pay attention to the stripes in the future and see if I find them generally helpful or not.

Martin

[neljoshua]

@Phil.E & @martinhansdk,

This bug is still present.  Any idea on the timeframe for a fix?

Also, thanks for posting the work-around.

[Phil.E]

It is not fixed, that's why you still see it.

Is the workaround not usable?

"There is a workaround. Just select the Tool Bodies first, prior to picking the Target Body. There should be no visibility issues with that workflow."

[neljoshua]

@Phil.E,

No--I was able to use the workaround (thanks for posting it, by the way).  I was just curious if you had an idea on the progress of the fix.