Geometry Tutorial - Step 1
Using the Application > Working with Application Tasks > Setup Tasks > Prepare Geometry > Prepare Geometry Task > Geometry Generator Tutorial > Geometry Tutorial - Step 1

The example that is described in this tutorial is also located in the folder Examples\Geometry Building Model\ and called Geometry Building Model.amp.

The final goal of this tutorial is to produce the geometry shown below:

The Prepare Geometry task is split into four primary windows which are:

The Geometry Organizer Window

The top tree view window to the left is called the Geometry Organizer:

Inside this window there is a tree structure that visualizes how the different geometrical objects are related. The active geometry object is the one highlighted and the name of it is also shown in the title of the Geometry Generator window. At startup there is already an object inserted. This object is called the ROOT object and cannot be deleted. It is out from this root you create the geometry.

In the Geometry Generator Window above, the grid plane of the ROOT object is shown. This serves as the "drawing table" where you can add points, lines and surfaces by clicking the mouse. The grid plane as well as other properties can be modified in the Properties window as shown below.

The Properties Window

If the Properties window is showing something else it is because another window or object has the focus. To initialize the window with the correct contents just click on the object name "ROOT" in the tree.

With the properties dialog you can modify the properties of the currently selected geometry object. The properties are

 

The Direct Edit Window

The window to the right is called the Direct Edit window and is the place where the raw values of point coordinates are shown along with information about what points are connected for the difference lines and surfaces.

Selecting the Object Name in Geometry Organizer

The above window is displayed when you have selected the object name in the Geometry Organizer. This list shows all the points of the selected object and all its children in coordinates based on the coordinate system of the selected object. The point numbers shown are the global unique numbers that always are presented in parentheses.

Selecting the Points in Geometry Organizer

If you select the "Points" item of an object in the Geometry Organizer the Direct Edit window changes to a list of the points, expressed in terms of the local node number and the x,y,z coordinates. See below:

You can insert new points in the object in this window or modify / delete existing points.

Selecting the Lines and Surfaces in Geometry Organizer

If you select the "Lines" item of the object in the Geometry Organizer the Direct Edit window changes to:

Now it presents the lines drawn between points of the object. To draw a line, two point numbers need to be specified, these are called Point #1 and Point #2. If a point is a local point of the object the number is specified as an ordinary number as e.g. 2. If the point is located outside the object it needs to be specified in the global (unique) number as e.g. (6).

Finally, if you select the "Surfaces" item of the object in the Geometry Organizer the list changes to:

Now it presents the two surfaces drawn between points in the object. To draw a surface three point numbers need to be specified, these are called Point #1, Point #2 and Point #3. If a point is a local point of the object the number is specified as an ordinary number as e.g. 2. If the point is located outside the object it needs to be specified in the global (unique) number as e.g. (6).

Continue to Tutorial Step 2.

 

See Also