### CadReportObject

The CadReportObject lets you view your CAD drawing inside a finished report. When you initially drop the CadReportObject into a report template, PC-DMIS automatically launches the Label Layout Wizard. After using this wizard to position the labels you want PC-DMIS to use, you will see a dummy graphic of the Hexagon test block, and if no rules are defined, dummy labels as well. It will look something like this:

A sample CadReportObject inserted into a report template

Remember, these dummy items are simply representations of what you want on your report. In the actual report window, it will show the actual CAD model. The labels display a picture of the label template defined by the first rule in the CadReportObject's rule tree. If the label is not associated, and no rules apply, it draws the dummy label image.

How it Works in the Report Window:

In the Report window, your CAD display will initially appear exactly as shown in your Graphics Display window when it finishes executing your program or at the time you redraw your report, except that it will not zoom in any closer. If you make modifications to a CadReportObject in the Report window, PC-DMIS will retain those changes to the CAD image on the report—even after subsequent part program executions—until you right-click on the CAD view(s) inserted into your report and select Remove Object Modifications or until you select File | Reporting | Clear Template Associated Data.

While your Report window often shows your entire CAD drawing, it only shows labels and leader lines for those features you have specified in the Rule Tree Editor. For example, if your part program has four measured circles and two measured lines, yet in the Rule Tree Editor your CadReportObject displays labels only for the measured circles, then report will only show label information for those circles, even though you may have measured the lines as well in your last execution.

Also, if a CadReportObject is configured to display—using the Label Count list on the Label Layout Wizard—a fewer number of labels than the number of features it is specified to report on in the Rule Tree Editor, then the Report window will display additional instances of your CAD drawing on additional pages in the Report window. These additional images will show leader lines and labels to any remaining features. This is especially helpful if your labels have a lot of information that may make your report look cluttered if you have more than one or two labels around a part drawing.

Viewsets Note: If you're using viewsets, your CAD display will appear exactly as shown in your viewsets. PC-DMIS will insert a new CAD display on a new page of the report for each viewset encountered during execution.

Rotating, Moving, and Zooming the CADReportObject's CAD Image

You can easily change the CAD image's orientation and zoom level in the Report window, or move it to a new location.

- To rotate the image, double-click on the object to "activate" it. Once activated, press and hold the mousewheel button and keeping the mouse pressed, drag the mouse, or press down CTRL and right-click while dragging the mouse.

- To zoom in or out of the image, double-click on the object to "active" it. Once activated, click above or below an imaginary horizontal line the cuts across the middle of the CAD model. You can also use a mouse's scroll wheel button to zoom in and out.

- To move the CADReportObject, right-click on the object to select it. Once selected, click on the object and drag the mouse.

To cancel zoom or rotation changes, press the ESC key. The CadReportObject will be “deactivated” without applying your changes.

To save zoom or rotation changes, double-click outside of the CadReportObject. The CadReportObject will be “deactivated” and the CAD image will use the new orientation and zoom level. If you are using the Feature-based label layout on the CadReportObject, the entire report will be reloaded with the new orientation and zoom level applied to the CAD image.

To save movement changes, click outside of the selected object.

Switching Between Solid and Wire Frame Modes

- In the Report window, you can do this by right-clicking on the CadReportObject and selecting the Wireframe menu item from the shortcut menu.

- In the Report Template Editor, you can do this by right-clicking on the CadReportObject, accessing the Properties dialog box and setting the Wireframe property to either YES or NO.

Additional Functionality in the Custom Report Editor

In the Custom Report Editor, if you activate a CadReportObject, the View Setup icon on the Graphics Modes toolbar becomes available for selection. The Edit | CAD Operation | View Setup menu item also becomes available. Clicking this icon or selecting the menu item displays the View Setup dialog box. In this context, you can use this dialog box to only modify the display of the CadReportObject just as you would manipulate the view of the Graphics Display window normally. See "Setting Up the Screen View" for information on using the View Setup dialog box to define views.

- Choosing Wireframe or Solid:
  You can easily display your CadReportObject in Custom Report Editor as either a solid or wire frame by using the View Setup dialog box and marking or clearing the Solid check box. Alternately, with the object only selected but not activated, you can right-click on the CadReportObject, select Properties from the shortcut menu and then set the Wireframe property to either YES or NO. PC-DMIS will toggle between a solid or wire frame in your custom report.

- Viewing Levels:
  You can use the View Setup dialog box to select specific level(s) of CAD elements to be applied to the object in the Custom Report Editor. The Levels area lists any predefined CAD levels.

Levels area showing three levels

Simply select the level(s) and click OK, PC-DMIS displays the selected level(s) on the selected CadReportObject in your custom report. For information on creating your own levels, see the "Working with CAD Levels" topic in the "Editing the CAD Display" section.

- Mirroring the CAD:
  PC-DMIS lets you mirror the CAD image contained in that object in the Custom Report Editor, . To do this, select the CadReportObject, select Edit | CAD Operation | Mirror. The Mirror CAD dialog box appears:

Mirror CAD dialog box

This dialog box lets you create a mirror image of the part. Select the plane (axis) in which you want to mirror the part, and click OK. PC-DMIS displays the mirrored CAD model on the selected CadReportObject. See "Transforming a CAD Model" for additional information on Mirroring CAD in the Graphics Display window.

See "Creating Custom Reports" for information on custom reports.

Using Image Caching

PC-DMIS lets you cache your part's image once and use the image cache later in reporting contexts instead of always using your part program's associated .CAD file. You may find this useful in situations where you have a very large .CAD file that takes a long time to load into the Graphics Display window. Once you cache your images for a particular report you won't need your .CAD file to view that report.

To cache your image:

1. Close PC-DMIS and open the PC-DMIS Settings Editor.

2. Under the Reporting section, set the UseImageCachingScheme registry entry to 1.

3. Close the PC-DMIS Settings editor and restart PC-DMIS.

4. Load the part program and .CAD file as usual.

5. Open the report window and select a report template that uses the CADReportObject.

6. Generate the report.

7. Make any desired modifications to the CADReportObject items used in the report.

8. Print your report.

This process caches the images used in this particular report. Now if you delete (or rename) your .CAD file to speed up the part program opening process, this same report will use your cached images. Note that other reports that use the CADReportObject will not have been cached however and you will need to load the .CAD file as usual.

Properties:

Property | Description
(Settings Dialog) | This opens the Label Layout Wizard. This lets you quickly layout multiple labels around your CAD drawing. See "The Label Layout Wizard" for more information.
Rules Tree | This opens the Rules Tree Editor dialog box. This dialog box lets you define conditions and actions for this object. See "About the Rule Tree Editor" for more information.
Show Border | This draws or hides a border around the CADReportObject.`
Leader Line Termination | This draws the leader line from the label to either the Measured feature on the CAD or the Nominal feature on the CAD.
Wireframe | This YES/NO property lets you show the CADReportObject in your report in either a wire frame (if set to YES) or solid surface view (if set to NO).

More:

The Label Layout Wizard