Allow setting of BOM structure from iProperties

[SharkDesign]

I want to be able to set phantom/reference/purchased from within the part file itself. 

When you set a part as any of these from the assembly BOM, it labels the part as phantom etc somewhere in the .ipt file so that it also appears as phantom in any future assemblies it is put in. I want to be able to set this from the part without having to put it in an assembly first. 

This is useful for parts that are going in a library.

[swalton]

The BOM setting for an .ipt or .iam is accessible through the Documents Setting icon under the Tools ribbon tab. 

Do you want to keep it there or move it to the iProperties window?

[SharkDesign]

Oh, that is very confusing. Definitely move it then. 

iProperties seems like a much better place for it as I'd never even thought to look in document settings. 

For some reason it is also labelled as 'default BOM structure' but actually this doesn't set the default as a new part will go back to being normal. 

[DRoam]

I agree. The "Bill of Materials" tab should be moved to the iProperties. Everything else in Document Settings is indeed a "setting" related to the document (i.e. related to working with the document). But the Bill of Materials settings are more related to iProperties -- things that appear in the Bill of Materials.

Also, the "Save" tab under iProperties should be in the Document Settings.

Someone got their wires crossed putting the "Bill of Materials" tab in Document Settings and the "Save" tab in the iProperties.

Also, the Document Settings need to be accessible from the File menu and when right-clicking a component, same as the iProperties are. You can vote for that here: Make the Document Settings more accessible.

[swalton]

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@SharkDesign wrote:
For some reason it is also labelled as 'default BOM structure' but actually this doesn't set the default as a new part will go back to being normal.

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The BOM setting is per document.  If you want it to affect new components, you will have to modify your .ipt or .iam template files.

[SharkDesign]

Yeah, but what I'm saying is it uses the word default, but it's not really a default at all, it's just for that document.

[DRoam]

What is meant by "default" is the fact that you can override the BOM structure for an occurrence of a component. The "default" is just that -- the "default" -- what the BOM structure will be for all occurrences of that component if you don't override it.

The word doesn't really need to be there... if it just said "BOM structure" you would understand that it's the BOM structure for that Part unless overridden. But at the same time it's not "wrong" to say default. It is indeed what the BOM structure will default to when you place that component in an Assembly. It's the default for that specific component, i.e. Document, hence "Document" Setting. It's a "Document" Setting, not a "Document Type" setting. That would belong in the Application Options under the "Part" or "Assembly" tab. But its not there because it's a document-specific setting.

Have I beaten that horse enough? 😉

[SharkDesign]

But you can't override the structure on an occurrence because as soon as you save the assembly it alters the original part to be the new structure you've chosen so now it has a new 'default.'

Therefore it's not the default of anything, it's just its current state.

[DRoam]

The override isn't performed in the Bill of Materials, it's performed when you right-click an occurrence and go to "iProperties" and then the "Occurrence" tab .... another great argument for putting the BOM structure in the iProperties dialog!

You're correct, if you change the BOM structure from the Assembly Bill of Materials, it changes it for the component itself, i.e. changes the "Default". If you want to override, you have to do so using the method I described above.

Which brings up another very important point, the only structure you can "override" to is "Reference", which is extremely limiting and a foolish limitation. And you can vote for that to be fixed here: Add 'Phantom' as a BOM Status option within the Assembly Environment.. The other statuses (Purchased and Inseparable) need to be available as well, but this is the most well-established Idea I could find for this.

[SharkDesign]

How the hell have I never seen that occurrence tab before?!?!?!?!?!

[DRoam]

Lol, because it's very obscure and hidden, that's how. Another thing that could probably be improved...

Maybe below "iProperties" should be an "Occurrence Properties" button. Much more discoverable and helps separate iProperties inherent to the document itself (i.e. "defaults") from settings which only affect the occurrence (i.e. overrides). Would help facilitate this idea as well: Assembly level iproperties (i.e. "Occurrence" iProperties).

Clearly BOM structure and occurrence-specific settings need some improvements....