Layout

The Layout view allows you to build layouts in the 3D world using components.

1. Cell Graph Panel
2. eCatalog Panel
3. Selected Component
4. Manipulator
5. Property Tabs
6. Properties Panel

 

Access

To access the Layout view:

  • Click the Home tab.

Panels

The Layout view shows, by default, the following panels:

  • eCatalog for browsing connected sources of files and adding them to a layout.
  • Cell Graph for listing, selecting and editing components in a layout.
  • Properties for reading and writing properties of selected components in a layout.

Context

The context of the Layout view is layout configuration.

You can:

  • Open, save and create new layouts.
  • Add, select, edit and manipulate components.
  • Run and record simulations as 3D PDFs.
  • Visualize and render components in different environment settings.
  • Export components and layouts as images and CAD files.

Commands

By default, the following commands are shown in the Ribbon when you click the Home tab.

Name Description
Align Aligns a selected component using two points. Additional options are displayed in a task pane.

Settings
Align position, orientation or both and in what axis.

Snap Type
Define the type of point to select in the 3D world.

Always Snap Turns on/off the automatic snapping of a selected component along an axis or plane at intervals when using the manipulator.
Attach Attaches a selected component to a node of another component, thereby forming a new parent-child hierarchy in the layout.
Automatic Size Turns on/off the automatic calculation of intervals for snapping a selected component along an axis or plane when using the manipulator.

Camera Animator

Defines camera movements for active layout in 3D world. Additional options are displayed in a task pane.

Simulation Time
Move camera to views at specific times.

Relative Time
Move camera to views using time relative to previous movement.

View
Define view for camera movement. You can use an existing view or create a new one.

Time
Define time for camera movement. If using Simulation Time, camera will be at view at the given time.

Arc
Turn on/off method of interpolating camera movement to view as arc.

+
Adds new camera movement.

Trashcan
Deletes camera movement.

Copy Copies the current selection to the clipboard.
Delete Deletes the current selection.
Detach Detaches a selected component from a node of another component, thereby removing a parent-child hierarchy from the layout.

Export Graph

Exports all charts in Statistics dashboard to either a CSV or Excel file.

Export to Excel
One file with each chart contained in a separate sheet.

Export to CSV
One file for each chart, so two charts means two CSV files.

(Import) Geometry Imports the geometry of a supported file. Additional options are displayed in a task pane, see Import Model Settings.
(Export) Geometry Exports the geometry of all or selected components to a new supported file.
Group Adds selected components to a new group.
Image Allows the 3D world view within a border to be captured, and then exported as a new file or copied to the clipboard. Additional options are displayed in a task pane.

Resolution
Define image resolution and size of border in 3D world.

File Format
Define image as a new file or copy to clipboard.

Render mode
Adjust the render mode of 3D world.

Export
Capture area of 3D world view within border.

Interact Allows the pointer to jog joints and other interactive properties of components in one or more degrees of freedom in the 3D world.

Interfaces

Allows components to be remotely connected in the 3D world using abstract interfaces. Additional options are displayed in a task pane.

Component
Select component that has the ability to remotely connect with other components. Only components with this capability are displayed as options.

Interface
Select interface in component used for remote connections.

Connections
Define connections to interface of component. An available connection is highlighted yellow in 3D world, whereas an active connection is highlighted green. Only compatible interfaces are displayed as options.

Display Network Map
Turn on/off the display of interface editors in the 3D world. If active, editor of selected component is visible as are the editors of connected components. Other components with compatible interfaces will display their editors, by default, as unfold buttons.

Show Connection Lines
Turn on/off the visibility of wires connecting interface editors in the 3D world. This option is also available on the editor of the selected component.

Show Non-abstract Interfaces
Turn on/off the option of using non-abstract interfaces. Generally, this is used to show and edit physical connections.

Note: By default, interface editors (nodes) for components are not displayed unless they have two matching interfaces with the selection. You can change this by editing "interfacesNodeVisibilityThreshold" in the app.config file.

Interval

Defines the global sampling rate for reporting Statistics behavior properties. This includes cumulative, interval and state-based statistics. The default is to report data every 60 seconds during simulation.

Measure Measures the distance and/or angle between two points in 3D world. Additional options are displayed in a task pane.

Mode
Measure distance, angle or both.

Settings
Define how to visualize a measurement and in which coordinate system to base measured values.

Snap Type
Define type of point to select in 3D world.

Tip: The results of a measurement are sent to Output panel.

(Manipulation) Move Allows a selected component to be moved along an axis or plane, rotated around an axis, and snapped and aligned to a point in 3D world.
(Origin) Move Allows the point of origin in active component to be moved in 3D world. Additional options are displayed in a task pane.

Apply
Save the new position and orientation of origin.

Paste Adds the contents of clipboard to active area or field of workspace depending on data type.
PDF Record simulation as a 3D PDF.
PnP Allows the pointer to plug selected components into other components to form physical connections.

Note: A selected component must have an interface, otherwise it cannot be plugged into any component. Other components must have compatible interfaces, otherwise selected components will not plug into them. Components that are plugged into one another may or may not be attached to one another.

Print Chart(s)

Prints all or selected charts in Statistics dashboard.

Restore Windows Restores the workspace of current view to its default setting.
Select Allows for direct and indirect selection of components in the 3D world using listed commands.

Rectangular selection
Select by drawing a selection box.

Free-form selection
Select by drawing a selection path to form a closed loop.

Select all
Selects all components.

Invert selection
Forms a new selection of every component not in current selection.

Show Displays a list of panels that can be shown/hidden from the current view of workspace.

Signals

Allows signals of components and I/O of robot to be connected to one another in 3D world. Additional options are displayed in a task pane.

Component
Select component that has Boolean signals. Only components with this capability are displayed as options.

Signal
Signal of component. If component is robot, inputs are labeled "In" and outputs are labeled "Out". You can sort signals by direction and name. You can filter signals that are inputs and outputs as well as those with an active connection.

Connections
Define connections to signal of component. If signal in other component, select other component and then the signal. If input or output in other robot, select other robot and then the input or output. If action in robot, select output of robot and then use the Actions Configuration section to define the action. You have the option to disconnect all signals in component. If component is robot, you have the option to clear all actions, but use caution to avoid removing predefined actions for outputs 1 through 81.

Tip: For inputs and outputs of robot, we recommend using signals 100 onward for new signal connections and actions. This helps avoid conflict with predefined actions for robots.

Display Network Map
Turn on/off the display of signal editors in the 3D world. If active, editor of selected component is visible as are the editors of connected components. Other components with compatible signals will display their editors, by default, as unfold buttons.

Show Connection Lines
Turn on/off the visibility of wires connecting signal editors in the 3D world. This option is also available on the editor of the selected component.

Enable Signal Toggling
Turn on/off the ability to set value of connected signals during simulation. Click the connector (circle) of signal in task pane or editor in 3D world to toggle the value. Connector is green when value is true.

Size Defines the interval for snapping a selected object along an axis or plane when using the manipulator.
(Origin) Snap Allows the point of origin in selected component to be snapped to a location in 3D world by using one to three points. Additional options are displayed in a task pane.

Mode
Snap to one point, the midpoint of two points, or the center of an arc made by three points.

Settings
Affect position, orientation or both and in what axis.

Snap Type
Define the type of point to select in the 3D world.

Apply
Save the new position and/or orientation of origin.

(Tools) Snap Allows a selected component to be snapped to a location in 3D world by using one to three points. Additional options are displayed in a task pane.

Mode
Snap to one point, the midpoint of two points, or the center of an arc made by three points.

Settings
Affect position, orientation or both and in what axis.

Snap Type
Define the type of point to select in the 3D world.

Statistics Launches a dashboard for configuring charts and reporting data collected during a simulation.
Ungroup Removes selected components from one or more groups, and then deletes those groups.
Video Records simulation as a video.