#### Theoretical Path Area

The Theoretical Path area contains some or all of these items depending on the type of scan selected:

Item | Description
Theoretical Path list | This list displays the theoretical pathway your scan will take when executed. It displays the XYZ and IJK data for each point. You can import points from a text file by clicking the Read File button (if using a Freeform scan) or PC-DMIS can automatically generate the theoretical points by clicking Generate. In the case of a Freeform scan, you can create these points by clicking them on the CAD model.

These theoretical points are user editable. To edit the value of the points:

1. Double-click the appropriate point number in the ‘#’ column. The Edit Theo Data dialog box will appear.

2. Change the values in the desired X, Y, Z and I, J, K boxes.

3. Click OK. The change will be updated in the Theoretical Path list.

Clicking the Next button in the Edit Theo Data dialog box will cycle through the points listed in the Theoretical Path list, allowing you to edit them one by one.

Generate button | This button takes information from the CAD model and automatically generates the theoretical pathway within the scan's boundary for these supported scans: Linear Open, Linear Closed, Patch, and Section. This often generates several points. After you define the scan's boundary and click Generate PC-DMIS hides the dialog box, allowing you to view the scan as the software generates it on screen. After the scan is completed, PC-DMIS will re-display the dialog box. If the Create button is then pressed, a scan with the nominal hit data will be inserted into the part program.

PC-DMIS always uses the Find Nominal Tolerance value indicated in the Setup Options dialog box, General tab when generating nominal data for the scans and when finding the nominals for the learned scan.

Undo button | This button lets you remove the last action taken when importing, generating, or modifying the points in the Theoretical Path list.
Read File button | This button appears when using a Freeform scan. It lets you import points from a text file with a .txt filename extension. The text file should be in a comma delimited format with one point on each line, like this: X,Y,Z,I,J,K
Jump Holes check box | This check box determines whether or not the theoretical path should jump over holes and other hole-like features in the surface. If selected, point data that does not lie within the selected surface (for example, hole features) will not appear in the Theoretical Path list and will be skipped during scan execution. If deselected, the scan will scan into hole-like features.

This appears on all scans but Perimeter and Freeform. It is not supported in these scans.

Offset box | The Offset box lets you define the minimum distance away from a boundary/edge where scan points are considered valid. Scan points that are closer to the boundary that the specified offset distance will not be allowed. For example, if you set your offset distance to .5 mm, any scan point located within .5 mm of the boundary/edge will not be allowed.
Tol. box | The Tol. box lets you set the tolerance value. PC-DMIS uses this to determine the hole locations in order to detect holes from CAD data.

- If the distance between any two surface boundary points is less than the tolerance distance, PC-DMIS will consider this a continuous surface and scan into the hole.

- If the distance is greater than the tolerance, PC-DMIS will assume that there is a hole between the surfaces, and during the learning process it will skip the hole.

This appears on all scans but Perimeter and Freeform. It is not supported in these scans.

Get Nominals button | The Get Nominals button lets you find the nominal after a scan has been learned or executed. PC-DMIS will find the nominals for the scan from the CAD data that is available.
To Points button | The To Points button runs a process whereby the individual points that make up an existing scan can be converted into single points after execution. The scanned set is then deleted. For example:

1. Place your cursor on a scan using hit data in the Edit window.

2. Press the F9 key to display the Scan dialog box.

3. Select the To Points button.

PC-DMIS will convert all hit data into single points and delete the scan from the Edit window.

Note: This process can also be done by selecting the Single Point check box, clicking the OK button, and executing the scan from the Edit window. PC-DMIS will execute the scan and then convert the hit data into single points.

Flip and Flip All buttons | The Flip button will flip the approach vectors of the theoretical scan point selected from the Theoretical Path list. PC-DMIS will ask if all of the vectors following that point should be flipped.

- If you select Yes, then the direction of all the vectors, including and following the indicated point, will be reversed.

- If you select No, then only the indicated vector will be reversed.

Flip All reverses all the vectors for all points in the list.

These only appear when you work with UV or Grid scans.

Delete button | This button will delete any selected points from the Theoretical Path list. It only appears when you work with UV or Grid scans. This only appears when you work with UV or Grid scans.
Label Hits check box | This check box determines whether or not PC-DMIS should label each hit in the scan. Labeled hits looks something like this: A UV scan with labeled hits This only appears when you work with UV or Grid scans.