Centering Selected Component in Tree 1

[ChaseWichert]

NX 7.5

Is there a way that when you select a component in modeling space that it will automatically highlight and center the assembly navigator on that component?

 

[nithink]

Find in navigator will locate a part in assembly navigator when you clicked a part [Not sure whether this is what you wanted]

Nx 7.5.5.4

Teamcenter 8

 

[nithink]

You will find the command in Customize-selection bar - find navigator.

Nx 7.5.5.4

Teamcenter 8

 

[JohnRBaker]

While this will not actually 'center' the list of components in the Assembly Navigator, if the component of interest is NOT currently displayed, it will force the Assembly Navigator to move sufficiently so that it will be visible and highlighted. And if the component of interest is actually part of a sub-assembly, it will cause the tree structure to expand to whatever level is necessary so that the Component can be seen and highlighted.

So to get this to happen, go to...

Tools -> Assembly Navigator -> Find Selected Component...

...and select the component of interest. Note that the dialog will remain open and active so that all you have to do to 'find' another component is to select another one without any additional action(s).

A quicker way to do this is to place your cursor over some 'white' space in the Assembly Navigator, press MB3, select the 'Find Selected Components' option and this will open the same dialog and then you can go from there.

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[cowski]

An alternate way to get to the command nithink mentioned is to right click in the assembly navigator, choose "find selected components", and select a component. This will highlight the component in the navigator, expanding levels as necessary.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[JohnRBaker]

Yes, I forgot about the 'Find In Navigator' icon on the Selection Bar, although this behaves a bit differently then does the Find Selected Component since selecting a second Component will NOT un-highlight the first Component, but it most cases that probably won't make much difference. Other than that, it gives the same results.

For those people moving to NX 8.5, with the introduction of the 'Shortcut Toolbar', items like these are some of the candidates that people may wish to add to the standard 'Shortcut Toolbar' using Customize. I just did this, first with the 'Find in Navigator' icon from the Selection Bar and then the 'Find Selected Component...' from the Tools -> Assembly Navigator menu. In either case, all I have to do now is select my component of interest and when the 'Shortcut Toolbar' comes up (which it will do automatically in NX 8.5 without having to take any additional action) I just select the 'Find' icon from the toolbar and I immediately see it highlighted in the Assembly Navigator.

Also note that in all of the methods described above, even if the Assembly Navigator is closed, it will automatically pop-open so that you can see the highlighted Component.

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[ChaseWichert]

So, there is no way to have it automatically find in navigator when a component is selected?

 

[JohnRBaker]

What exactly do you mean by "automatically"?

We've given you three different schemes which does what you want except that of course you have to initiate the action either by launching a dialog or at least selecting an icon after selecting a Component. I can't see how we can make it any easier than that.

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[ChaseWichert]

I definitely appreciate the suggested ways, and they do work, however, an easier way would be to have an option that you can toggle on and off to "Find In Navigator" So you don't have to do another operation. My original question did specify for a way to "automatically highlight and center the assembly navigator on that component". Either way thanks for help.

 

[cowski]

I'm currently running NX8, but I think this works the same way in NX7.5: hover your crosshair over a component and a label will display showing the name of the component and the assembly it is in. Also, if the component is visible in the navigator, it will have a lightly highlight the name. Note, this option does not expand levels if it is in a subassembly that is collapsed.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[ChaseWichert]

Yeah that does work, the main thing is if we have like 100 components we don't want to have to select it then search for it, we just want it to scroll to where it is on it's own.

 

[JohnRBaker]

Yes, but that temporary highlighting will not cause the Assembly Navigator to move the listing sufficiently for the Component to even be 'lightly highlighted' if it's not already visible.

In the end, once you have NX 8.5 installed, adding one of the 'Find' options to the 'Shortcut Toolbar' for Components will give you the absolute closest to what you're looking for, albeit without ACTUALLY 'centering' the Assembly Navigator list to the highlighted Component.

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[JohnRBaker]

...we don't want to have to select it then search for it, we just want it to scroll to where it is on it's own.

And how then does the solutions suggested by nithink and myself NOT provide that behavior? And as I said, once you get NX 8.5 installed, this can be streamlined even more.

I hope that you're not expecting us to be open to adding an ADDITIONAL scheme which would provide EXACTLY what you're asking for when we've ALREADY given you 95% of what you've asked for.

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[ChaseWichert]

I was simply ASKING if there was a way to do it automatically. However, it seems like you should be able to get rid of of the manual methods and switch to an automatic method that will get it to 100 percent, and be more user friendly. I don't think 95 percent is a fair evaluation. Or maybe have one manual and one automatic way. Just because it is the way it is, doesn't mean there isn't a better way to do it.

 

[lee30bmw]

For those people moving to NX 8.5, with the introduction of the 'Shortcut Toolbar', items like these are some of the candidates that people may wish to add to the standard 'Shortcut Toolbar' using Customize....

I don't mean to go off on a tangent, but does using NX8.5 still have the feel of a computer program written for Windows 3.1 like NX7.5? I just want to make sure that NX8.5 will not force me to load a DOS prompt screen to use certain features.

 

[JohnRBaker]

And exactly what 'features' would that be?

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[JohnRBaker]

Yes, you can "ASK" all you want, you can even open an official ER by calling GTAC. However, if you do I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for us to add one more scheme to do that which, as I've stated twice, can be reduced to a SINGLE extra action starting with NX 8.5 (and is almost that easy today by using the 'Find in Navigator' icon on the Selection Bar).

But getting back to the exact behavior that you're ASKING for, do you really think it would be a good idea that EVERYTIME you selected a Component on the screen that the Assembly Navigator should suddenly pop-open, update the display so that the selected Component was precisely centered in the listing, and if needed, expand the listing to whatever level was necessary so that the selected Component was visible? How long do you think it will be before other users, and perhaps even yourself, will be demanding that we make this behavior something that can easily be turned ON/OFF since after awhile having the Assembly Navigator constantly popping-open and flashing as the list is updating is going to get really old? I would hardly call this behavior "user friendly" yet that's exactly what it would be like IF we enhanced NX to do exactly as you're ASKING us to do.

There's an old adage when designing user interfaces: "It can be very difficult to make something easier to user by simply adding to it."{/b]

John R. Baker, P.E.
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[ChaseWichert]

I think you are assuming too many things. I did say that it should be an option with a toggle. And I ASKED if there was a way to do it, not for you to make it happen. I didn't say that these options were dumb and you should please me by adding a new feature. Also, I think you forget the fact that everyone uses NX differently. IE I have my assembly and part navigators undocked and on a separate screen. They are always open. Therefore for me that wouldn't be a big deal to me to have it move so the component or body is visible. And I DON'T care if it is precisely centered at the quantum particle level. I just want it to show up on the navigator instead of having to scroll to see it. And I see the word "CAN" in your saying, meaning that it can also be easy to make something easier to the user by simply adding to it. So Yes I do think that it would be a good idea that EVERY time I click on a component it would AUTOMATICALLY find the component in the tree and scroll to that component.

 

[JohnRBaker]

Then you must have missed what I suggested in my 12:00noon posting. This basically turns on a 'mode' where all that you to do is select a Component and everything, except the 'centering' bit, will occur. Why don't you give it a shot. And as I've stated, once you get NX 8.5 installed, activating this option will only require a single pick after selecting a Component, and once you're in this mode, even now, it will continue to do what you want until you dismiss the dialog.

John R. Baker, P.E.
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[ChaseWichert]

So what you are saying is that you select a component, then open the dialog and it will find the component in the navigator? And while that dialog is open it will find other components that you click on as well. I assume individually and won't find multiple components at the same time. So if that is correct, my question is, why even have the dialog? Why not just an on/off button?