Symbol fixtures, general smart symbol

Tool(s): Modify Display Parameters + Define Symbol Fixture

A smart symbol consists of one or more foils, which can contain any kind of drafting elements such as lines, curves or text and which represent the geometric display of the fixture.

These smart symbols are administered internally, together with a large amount of information. This information includes element parameters, link structures as well as predefined and user-definable variables.

• The system computes the values for the preset variables from the smart symbols and their instances, and you have no direct means of altering them.
• The user-definable variables, on the other hand, can be set when you define a smart symbol. The user-definable variables are as follows:
  Smart symbol name = VT,
  and variables V6 to V9; these may have a variety of uses in connection with the individual lists and schedules.
  

Foils

Each smart symbol consists of one or more foils. Each foil contains a view type, which determines how the symbol is displayed in orthogonal 2-D viewing directions (main viewing directions in positive and negative x, y, and z directions) or in perspective (any 3-D view), as appropriate. In addition, a foil can be assigned a limited validity range based on the reference scale.
If a smart symbol consists of a series of foils, the foil defined for the current scale and view is displayed. Since a reference point is defined for each foil and the reference points of the foils in a smart symbol are mapped to one another, a smart symbol may take a different appearance, depending on the selected reference scale or view.

A symbol fixture is usually composed of seven display foils (six foils for the representation in 2D and one foil for the representation in 3D).
It must consist of at least one foil with a 3D object. In this case, this 3D object is displayed in all the views. Any additional 2D foil overrides the 3D object in the relevant view.
You can only do without the 3D object if a 2D drawing represents the extents for each view. Otherwise, this can produce undesirable effects when you copy and move data. You can use the Modify Display Parameters tool to complete symbol fixtures later. You can also use this tool to delete foils that are no longer required.

Reference point

You need to define a global starting point for each element. Enter this point when you define the first foil. As all the other foils are based on this global reference point, the position of these foils relative to the global reference point is the decisive factor if the foils are to be analyzed and displayed correctly in the various views.

The position of the reference points in the views (except for the 3D view) is obtained by mirroring the points about the y axis.

Note: For 3D objects you need to define the smart symbol’s reference point in isometric view. Otherwise, the z coordinate is undefined and the fixture cannot be inserted correctly.