Question: Name features automatically

[lichtzeichenanlage]

I try to name features in my designs like "Extrude new body from Sketch Main Profile". This documents it enough that I can understand it a year later but it's a bit time intensive. So I've created a little PoC to test if I can automate it. Interesting? Please like the following posts and / or comment your opinion. 

[lichtzeichenanlage]

@TrippyLighting : BTW: What is your interpretation of rule # 2

[TrippyLighting]

Anything that is more explanatory than Sketch 1 - Sketch 2 ... etc.

If you want to but name features based on sketches that are used to create them then that can potentially get tricky. 

[lichtzeichenanlage]

Ups.. I accidentally pressed "accept solution"  I hate it if Fusion steals the focus on startup and I'm stupidly clicking around...

So you're more focused on the browser tree. I see the point. And I also see the problem, that naming features based on sources might be tricky. Especially if it comes to regenerating the names or if the add-in isn't executed after changes. At the moment I'm a little undecided whether or not to invest time in the add-in.

[laughingcreek]

as long as we're throwing stuff out there that we want, you know that color bar on top of the feature that lets you know what component it's in?  would like to see those stacked to show sub-component relationships.

[davebYYPCU]

My thoughts - processes 

@chrisplyler has hit my nail on the head, 

your animation shows the advantages well, and very useful with newby forum files

I don’t rename timeline icons, I name components on creation,

but name bodies, construction and sketches as last step of my files, due to my workflows, there is no need to name stuff under construction, that will be removed or consumed.

would be most useful with Joints, but I rarely rename these, don’t know why not.

[lichtzeichenanlage]

Thanks for the feedback. A trend is developing more and more.

• Objects in the browser should be properly named.
• Experienced users have little problem reading their own designs.
• For beginners or "foreign" designs possibly more useful.

BTW: I tend to have only one body per component and because of this I rarely rename them.

[davebYYPCU]

Yeah, my workflows are out there, models are mostly static, 

only 3 or 4 native grounded components, up to 20 bodies per component.

[Phil.E]

Thanks for the heads up @TrippyLighting . I may have missed it, but if naming in the timeline is helpful, would also being able to search the timeline for named items be helpful? 

[TrippyLighting]

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@Phil.E wrote:

Thanks for the heads up @TrippyLighting . I may have missed it, but if naming in the timeline is helpful, would also being able to search the timeline for named items be helpful? 

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Yes, searching for anything is helpful. How useful it depends on how fast it is. E.g. using almost any search on macOS uses indexes and relevant stuff is found as you type. Another CAD applications in their history highlight all entries as you type. HTat makes finding things extremely fast and efficient.

Anyone that has ever used Spotlight on macOS knows what I mean. 

[lichtzeichenanlage]

@Phil.E : So there is the idea to implement this function in the product? Because then I wouldn't put any energy into an add-in. Search is a nice function. Especially if it's fast and easily accessible (e.g. earch box, shortcut...)

[chrisplyler]

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@davebYYPCU wrote:

Yeah, my workflows are out there, models are mostly static, 

only 3 or 4 native grounded components, up to 20 bodies per component.

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Anything that works for you and makes sense to your brain is what you should do...but that sure seems weird to ME.

I'm a one-solid-body-per-component kind of guy. This mimics the real world as far as MY sense of logic is concerned. The exception is: I may have used surface bodies to develop that final solid, and I want to leave them in there for future reference.

Now, I'll often nest components into other components. "Sub-components," if you like. Organizing an entire assembly into "sub-assemblies," so to speak.

[HughesTooling]

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@chrisplyler wrote:

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I'm a one-solid-body-per-component kind of guy. This mimics the real world as far as MY sense of logic is concerned. The exception is: I may have used surface bodies to develop that final solid, and I want to leave them in there for future reference.

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I pretty must do the same but perhaps have a bit of OCD about Rule#1 and create components as a continuous block in the timeline. I feel this helps performance and stability, can't be sure but quite often helping on the forum, designs with a chaotic timeline seem to have the biggest problems with stability and performance. It's not always possible as one continuous block if you need references from a later created component but I still try and keep features together as much as possible.

Done like this finding stuff is pretty easy. I do work on my own though, if I needed to work in an office with others naming stuff would be far more important.

Pic shows subassembly Electrodes then all subcomponents.

Mark

[chrisplyler]

@HughesTooling 

Yes, I try to keep my work on any one component as contiguous as possible along the timeline. It isn't always possible as an absolute rule, but as a goal to strive for it's a good one.

[Phil.E]

@lichtzeichenanlage  Not that I know of. I wanted to ask before I log an improvement ticket. I'm not implying they are going to work on the timeline, sorry if I gave that impression.

Thanks everyone for a nice conversation!

[lichtzeichenanlage]

That's fine. Unless I'm unsure if I want to spend time on it or not, I was wandering if this is an "easy exit" 😉

[TrippyLighting]

That same info present in the Joint UI should be used to name at least those joint types which can only include 2 components.

 

[Theoforus]

I am also looking for a way to name the feature as I have the edit feature window open. It would be very useful for me as I always forget what of the many tex. extrudes beside each other to edit when needed. I hope this can be implemented.

[TrippyLighting]

You can already rename features in the timeline. It just isn't an automatic process.

The most common reason people have trouble finding features is that their designs are not organized into components.

Also, you can select features/faces of geometry in the 3D viewport, right-click, and select "Edit feature". That also helps minimize timeline navigation.

 

 

 

 

[Theoforus]

Thanks. I use these features, but it would be convenient to have the possibility to name it in the same window as you´re editing the feature instead of having to open a new window/menu.
Great advice about organizing in components. If you have any tips or links for good practice I´ll be thankful. Always something to learn.

[HughesTooling]

There's an add in here that prompts you to name features as you create them.

https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=7497198800232664541&os=Win64&appLang=en

Mark