SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible - Matt Lombard [89]
Working in-context
When you are working in-context or using in-context data, visual cues offer information about the part that you are working on. The following topics will help you understand what is going on while you are working in-context.
Text color
When you are working in-context, the FeatureManager text of the part that you are working on turns blue. This should make it immediately obvious first, that you are working in-context, and second, which part is being edited.
Part color and transparency
You can control the color and transparency behavior of parts in the assembly where a part is being edited in-context by choosing Tools⇒Options⇒Colors page. Figure 10.10 shows a detail of this page. The option at the bottom of the dialog box determines whether the colors specified in the list at the top are used or ignored. If they are ignored, the parts are the same colors they would be if you were not using in-context techniques.
The Tools⇒Options⇒Display/Selection Assembly Transparency for In Context Edit setting controls the transparency of the parts not being edited. Figure 10.11 shows this setting. Forcing the non-edited parts to become transparent helps you keep focus on the part you are editing in the assembly.
FIGURE 10.10
Part-color settings for in-context control
FIGURE 10.11
Part transparency for in-context control
The options in the Assembly Transparency for In Context Edit drop-down list are
• Opaque Assembly. All parts that are not being edited when an assembly component is being edited in-context turn opaque, even if they are otherwise transparent.
• Maintain Assembly Transparency. This option leaves all assembly components in their default transparency state.
• Force Assembly Transparency. This option forces all the parts, except for the one being edited in the assembly, to become transparent.
These options reflect personal preference more than anything else does, but it is useful to have a reminder as to whether a part is being edited in the assembly or the assembly document is being edited in its own window.
Tip
The color selected in the box shown in Figure 10.2 controls both the text color and the color of the part shown in the graphics window.
Edit Component button
You can use the Edit Component button in three ways. First, after you have created a part in-context, seeing the Edit Component button depressed reminds you that you are editing the part rather than editing the assembly. Along with the part color and transparency displays, this is important feedback because assembly functions such as mates, exploded views, and others are not available when you are editing the part.
Second, you can use the Edit Component button to begin or finish editing a part that is already in an assembly. When you are editing a part in the context of an assembly, the title bar of the SolidWorks window reflects the fact that you are editing a part in an assembly, the toolbar changes to a part-editing toolbar, and the lower-right corner of the taskbar displays the words Editing Part, as shown in Figure 10.12.
Third, a Confirmation Corner image exists in the upper-right corner of the graphics window when you are editing a part in the context of the assembly. This makes it easier to leave Edit Component mode.
Editing a component can also mean editing a subassembly in the context of the top-level assembly. You can create in-context assembly features and mates if necessary; however, you will do this far less frequently than editing parts in-context.
Note
Creating in-context relations is not the only reason to edit a part or subassembly in the context of the top-level assembly. Sometimes it is simply more convenient to do normal editing when you are in the top-level assembly; this way, you can see how the part relates to other parts after making changes in the assembly without making relations between the parts.
Editing a subassembly