Creating compound components out of multiple single components

THE COMPOUND COMPONENT WORKFLOW

General Idea

Multiple compound components have a finite number of individual components. When we use a multiple compound component in a resizable structure, we use a parameter (N) to define the number of individual components that we want visible. The highest value of N is the total number of individual components attached in the multiple compound component.

When we set the maximum value for N — that is, the total number — all individual components are visible (Pic. 1):

When in the compound component we set a value for N that is smaller than the maximum value — that is, fewer individual components than the total number — the individual components that make up the difference to the total number are positioned over the first one (Pic. 2):

I. Creating an individual component

To create a multiple compound component, we use a single individual component. This component must have parameters for multiplying:

The parameters:

HSO	Offset of the first individual component
Gap	Distance between the components.
N	Total (highest) number of objects that must be attached in the compound component.
number	Current (attached) number of the attached individual component.
numb	Real calculated number of the attached individual component.

II. Calculating the actual number of the individual component

The formula that offsets each individual component is HSO+(number-1)*(HSW+GAP), but it applies for the individual components whose attached number (number) is lower than the total number (N):

What do we do with the individual components whose attached number (number) is greater than the total number (N)?

In our case, we have attached 13 individual components, but we need to view only 10 of them. That is, we want to position the last three components – the ones with attached numbers 11, 12 and 13 – onto the first component (see Pic. 2).

To do this, we use the numb parameter. Its value is calculated according to the formula:

numb= iif(N-number>=0; number-1; 0)

The parameter numb is the real calculated number of the attached individual component. This number takes part in the calculation of the actual offset of the individual component:

HSO+numb(HSW+Gap) (see Pic. 3)

In this case, when N=10, the actual number (numb) of objects with an attached number (number) = 11, 12, 13 will become zero, because of the function iif(N-number>=0; number-1; 0).

In fact, the last three individual components (those with numbers 11, 12, 13) will be positioned over the first one, because of the HSO+numb(HSW+Gap)=HSO+0*(HSW+Gap) = HSO formula.

NOTE: The numb parameter must be a Local parameter.

IMPORTANT: All objects in the individual component must have overlapping flags.

How the IIF function works

The IIF function has the following pattern

IIF (Expr, truepart, falsepart)

The function determines whether an expression is true or false. If the expression is true, the function returns the truepart value; if it is false, the function returns the falsepart value.

III. Creating a new compound component

TIP: The default distance between the two control points is 50.80 mm (2 inches). You can choose to make it bigger, for example 200 mm.

1. Attach the individual component for the first time:
   • (1) Uncheck the parameter number.
   • (2) In Expression, type 1.

2. Attach the individual component for the second time:
   • (1) Uncheck the parameter number.
   • (2) In Expression, type 2.

3. Attach the individual component for the third time:
   • (1) Uncheck the parameter number.
   • (2) In Expression, type 3.

4. Attach N individual components. It this case, we have to attach 13 (thirteen) individual components, because N=13.
5. In Max, set 13 as the highest value the parameter N can take. (This is because we have attached 13 individual components.)
6. Make all the parameters Global, and then save the compound component.

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ADVANCED-LEVEL TRAINING

I. Calculating the parameter HSO when N=1

1. In the compound component, create the Global parameter AX1, and then move it to the top of the list:

2. Rename the parameter HSO to HSOcalc, and then make it Local.

3. Create a new parameter HSO, and then make it Global:

4. In the expression of HSOcalc, type the formula:

iif(N=1; (AX1-HSW)/2; HSO)

Now when N=1, the hole segment will be in the middle — that is, EngView will not consider HSO and will compute (AX1-HSW)/2, which will position the hole segment in the middle:

To calculate the GAP automatically

1. Make the parameter Gap Local, and then move it below HSOcalc:

2. In the expression of the parameter Gap, type the formula:

iif(N=1; 0; (AX1-2*HSOcalc-N*HSW)/max(1; (N-1)))

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