#### The Feature Geometry Dialog Box

Depending on the feature that you have selected, the dialog box that appears will display the options needed for that feature.

Example Circle dialog box

The available options are:

- Feature Type: Select the feature type from the drop-down list.

- ID: Provides the name for the feature that will be created based on the selected feature type. You can type a new ID in this box if desired; however, the ID you choose must be unique. If you type an ID that already exists, the software will display a small Rename dialog box telling you that the ID you typed was not unique and asking you to type a new one.

- XYZ: These values define the Point, Center, Start or End positions for the Feature.

- IJK: These values define the Surface, Edge, Normal and Angle Vectors for the Feature.

- The Find Nearest CAD Element icon tells PC-DMIS Planner to find the nearest CAD element in the Graphics Display window based on the XYZ location. Only available for Point (Surface, Edge, Angle & Corner), Line and Plane features. If you select one of the XYZ axis buttons, only that value will be adjusted to the nearest CAD element.

- The Flip Vector icon allows you to reverse the direction of the surface vectors. Click on Flip Vector to reverse the displayed values.

- Diameter: Diameter for a Circle, Polygon, Cylinder or Sphere feature.

- Major Diam: Diameter for the length of an Ellipse feature.

- Minor Diam: Diameter for the width of an Ellipse feature.

- Width: Width for a Square, Round or Notch Slot feature.

- Length: Length for a Square, Round or Notch Slot feature. This also defines the length for a Cylinder or Cone feature.

- Gap: Defines the distance of the Gap between the two sides of a Flush and Gap feature.

- Num Sides: Determines the number of sides of a Polygon feature.

- Diameter 1: Specifies the diameter for a Cone feature at the XYZ location of the cone.

- Diameter 2: Specifies the diameter for a Cone feature at the end of the length of the cone.

- Angle: The apex angle of a cone feature.

- Relative to: This allows you to keep the relative position and orientation between a given feature (or features) and the auto feature being created. Clicking the ... button will display a Relative Feature dialog box where you can define the relative single feature or multiple features (one for each axis) and the type or mode of relative measure (or RMEAS). Choosing the mode is identical to adding an RMEAS/DEFAULT or RMEAS/LEGACY command into a PC-DMIS part program. Each individual feature may have a specific defined mode.

Relative Feature dialog box

Legacy (IJK XYZ) - This RMEAS mode takes into account the orientation of the reference feature.

To understand this, examine an Auto Circle with three sample hits that uses this mode. The inspection plan will tell PC-DMIS to first takes three hits on the surface around the circle and then measure the circle based on the plane's location and the surface normal vector's orientation. Therefore, if the plane is at a 45 degree angle, PC-DMIS will also measure the Auto Circle at a 45 degree angle.

Similarly, if the relative measure feature is rotated from its original orientation, then the associated feature will also be measured with the same rotational offset.

Legacy mode is also slightly smarter than Default mode, because when it looks at the reference feature it only offsets the main feature by valid axes for the reference feature type. For example, for a plane, it doesn't make much sense to shift in all directions but only by the plane's normal vector.

Default (IJK Z) - When an Auto Feature has a relative measure feature associated with it, the inspection plan will cause PC-DMIS to measure the Auto Feature in a location that is adjusted to be on the plane of the RMEAS feature.

When you click OK, the dialog box will display chosen relative feature (or features). RMEAS references are also displayed in the Plan window if you expand that feature.