Copy Component ( Modeling )

Tool summary :

  • Can be used to copy a custom component to one or more different members.
  • You cannot use Copy Component to copy a connection component. You can only use it to copy a custom component , and not all custom components are able to be copied.
  • Some custom components, such as the Safety Holes component featured in the following video, cannot be directly selected in the model, but need to be selected in the Model Tree .
  • See the general instructions on this page. The introduction to those instructions explains why they are called "general."

Also see :

VIDEO A Safety Holes custom component is copied from one beam to two other beams. Since the Safety Holes custom component does not generate material, the component needs to be selected in the Model Tree . (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2015.)

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   General instructions :

Since custom components can have distinctly different properties, they do not all behave the same when they are copied. For example, most custom components cannot be copied on the same member, but must be copied to different members. Some custom components cannot be copied at all. Some custom components require that they be preselected in the Model Tree before they can be copied. For this reason, these instructions are not written as generic, step-by-step instructions, but rather as guidelines.

Before invoking Copy Component :

  • The to-be-copied custom component must have been generated using Add Component .
  • Most custom components must be copied to another member. For this purpose, you need to Open ( Ctrl + o ) a view that shows both the member that you are copying the custom component from and the member you are copying the custom component to.
  • Set User and Site Options > Modeling > " Automatically process after modeling operation " to ' Process and create solids ' (or, possibly, to ' Use Site Default ') if you want the members affected by this operation to automatically undergo Process and Create Solids .

Preselection verses in-tool selection:

  • You can preselect one custom component before invoking Copy Component . If you do not preselect, you will be prompted to select one custom component after invoking Copy Component .
  • Custom components that add holes or cuts without adding any material require preselection. You need to preselect one of these components in the Model Tree . Such a component cannot be selected using in-tool selection since in-tool selection requires selection in the model and there is no way to select such components by clicking on them in the model. Examples of custom components that have no material are Safety Holes and Reduced Beam Section .
  • If you are preselecting components, be aware that the ' Default ' connection filter will allow you to select entire SDS2 system connections ( connection components ) as well as custom components. The ' Custom Components ' selection filter, on the other hand, limits your selection to custom components. You cannot use Copy Component to copy a system connection . Only the one custom component that is in your preselection will be copied. Other items that are in your preselection will not be copied.
  • Most custom components can be selected by clicking a material that was generated by the custom component. When you click one material, all of that custom component's materials, bolts, etc. become selected. However, for some custom components -- such as the Safety Holes custom component -- you need to select the custom component in the Model Tree .
  • To find a custom component in the Model Tree , set " View By " in the Model Tree to either ' Member Number ' or ' Member Piecemark '. The custom component will be listed under a member, after its connection components ( Left End and Right End ), before its submaterials, welds and bolts.

To invoke Copy Component :

Methods 1, 2 & 3 : Click the icon, or use a keyboard shortcut, or use the context menu. A Copy Component icon can be added to your toolbar (classic) or ribbon (lightning). The icon, keyboard shortcut or context menu command can be found in the group named ' Model -- Component '. For lightning, Customize Interface is used to configure ribbons, keyboards, the context menu and modes.

Method 4 : If " Modeling layout style " is ' Classic ', you can use the menu system to choose Model > Component > Copy .

To Copy Component to one or more different members:

  • When prompted (in the status line ) to select a member, left-click ( Select ) the member you want to copy the custom component to. What happens next depends on the custom component. Some custom components will simply copy to the other member. For other custom components, you will be prompted to locate a point on the member you want to copy to. You may select multiple members, one at a time, to add the component to. When you are done adding components to members, right-click ( Menu ) and choose " Cancel " or hit the Esc key.

To Copy Component on the same member:

  • When prompted (in the status line ) to select a member, left-click ( Select ) the same member that the custom component currently belongs to. You will then be prompted to locate a custom component reference point. Exceptions: Not all custom components can be copied in this way. Some custom components do not permit the relocation of their reference point. Other custom components do not gracefully handle such a relocation. It all depends on the custom component.

The effect of User and Site Options > Modeling > " Automatically process after modeling operation ":

  • If " Automatically process ... " is set to ' Process and create solids ', each of the members you select to copy the component to undergo Process and Create Solids when they are selected. The result is that the custom component materials and/or etc. are added to the member at that time. Remember when this happens that, if you want to end the Copy operation, you need to hit the Esc key (or right-click ( Menu ) and choose " Cancel ").
  • If " Automatically process ... " is set to ' Do nothing ' or ' Process ', the affected members will all be shown in stick form. You will have to Process > Process and Create Solids to have solids created.

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