Behavioral Modeling

®
Pro/ENGINEER
Wildfire™ 2.0
®
Behavioral Modeling
Help Topic Collection
Parametric Technology Corporation

Copyright © 2004 Parametric Technology Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
User and training documentation from Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC) is subject to the copyright laws of the
United States and other countries and is provided under a license agreement that restricts copying, disclosure, and use
of such documentation. PTC hereby grants to the licensed user the right to make copies in printed form of this
documentation if provided on software media, but only for internal/personal use and in accordance with the license
agreement under which the applicable software is licensed. Any copy made shall include the PTC copyright notice and
any other proprietary notice provided by PTC. This documentation may not be disclosed, transferred, modified, or
reduced to any form, including electronic media, or transmitted or made publicly available by any means without the
prior written consent of PTC and no authorization is granted to make copies for such purposes.
Information described herein is furnished for general information only, is subject to change without notice, and should
not be construed as a warranty or commitment by PTC. PTC assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or
inaccuracies that may appear in this document.
The software described in this document is provided under written license agreement, contains valuable trade secrets
and proprietary information, and is protected by the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. It may not
be copied or distributed in any form or medium, disclosed to third parties, or used in any manner not provided for in the
software licenses agreement except with written prior approval from PTC. UNAUTHORIZED USE OF SOFTWARE
OR ITS DOCUMENTATION CAN RESULT IN CIVIL DAMAGES AND CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
Registered Trademarks of Parametric Technology Corporation or a Subsidiary
Advanced Surface Design, Behavioral Modeling, CADDS, Computervision, CounterPart, EPD, EPD.Connect,
Expert Machinist, Flexible Engineering, HARNESSDESIGN, Info*Engine, InPart, MECHANICA, Optegra,
Parametric Technology, Parametric Technology Corporation, PartSpeak, PHOTORENDER, Pro/DESKTOP, Pro/E,
Pro/ENGINEER, Pro/HELP, Pro/INTRALINK, Pro/MECHANICA, Pro/TOOLKIT, Product First, PTC, PT/Products,
Shaping Innovation, and Windchill.
Trademarks of Parametric Technology Corporation or a Subsidiary
3DPAINT, Associative Topology Bus, AutobuildZ, CDRS, Create Collaborate Control, CV, CVact, CVaec,
CVdesign, CV-DORS, CVMAC, CVNC, CVToolmaker, DataDoctor, DesignSuite, DIMENSION III, DIVISION,
e/ENGINEER, eNC Explorer, Expert MoldBase, Expert Toolmaker, GRANITE, ISSM, KDiP,
Knowledge Discipline in Practice, Knowledge System Driver, ModelCHECK, MoldShop, NC Builder, Pro/ANIMATE,
Pro/ASSEMBLY, Pro/CABLING, Pro/CASTING, Pro/CDT, Pro/CMM, Pro/COLLABORATE, Pro/COMPOSITE,
Pro/CONCEPT, Pro/CONVERT, Pro/DATA for PDGS, Pro/DESIGNER, Pro/DETAIL, Pro/DIAGRAM,
Pro/DIEFACE, Pro/DRAW, Pro/ECAD, Pro/ENGINE, Pro/FEATURE, Pro/FEM-POST, Pro/FICIENCY,
Pro/FLY-THROUGH, Pro/HARNESS, Pro/INTERFACE, Pro/LANGUAGE, Pro/LEGACY, Pro/LIBRARYACCESS,
Pro/MESH, Pro/Model.View, Pro/MOLDESIGN, Pro/NC-ADVANCED, Pro/NC-CHECK, Pro/NC-MILL,
Pro/NCPOST, Pro/NC-SHEETMETAL, Pro/NC-TURN, Pro/NC-WEDM, Pro/NC-Wire EDM,
Pro/NETWORK ANIMATOR, Pro/NOTEBOOK, Pro/PDM, Pro/PHOTORENDER, Pro/PIPING,
Pro/PLASTIC ADVISOR, Pro/PLOT, Pro/POWER DESIGN, Pro/PROCESS, Pro/REPORT, Pro/REVIEW,
Pro/SCAN-TOOLS, Pro/SHEETMETAL, Pro/SURFACE, Pro/VERIFY, Pro/Web.Link, Pro/Web.Publish,
Pro/WELDING, Product Development Means Business, ProductView, PTC Precision, Shrinkwrap,
Simple Powerful Connected, The Product Development Company, The Way to Product First, Wildfire,
Windchill DynamicDesignLink, Windchill PartsLink, Windchill PDMLink, Windchill ProjectLink, and
Windchill SupplyLink.
Patents of Parametric Technology Corporation or a Subsidiary
Registration numbers and issue dates follow. Additionally, equivalent patents may be issued or pending outside of the
United States. Contact PTC for further information.
6,665,569 B1 16-December-2003 6,608,623 B1 19 August 2003 4,310,615 21-December-1998
6,625,607 B1 23-September-2003 6,473,673 B1 29-October-2002 4,310,614 30-April-1996
6,580,428 B1 17-June-2003 GB2354683B 04-June-2003 4,310,614 22-April-1999
GB2354684B 02-July-2003 6,447,223 B1 10-Sept-2002 5,297,053 22-March-1994
GB2384125 15-October-2003 6,308,144 23-October-2001 5,513,316 30-April-1996
GB2354096 12-November-2003 5,680,523 21-October-1997 5,689,711 18-November-1997
6,608,623 B1 19 August 2003 5,838,331 17-November-1998 5,506,950 09-April-1996
GB2353376 05-November-2003 4,956,771 11-September-1990 5,428,772 27-June-1995
GB2354686 15-October-2003 5,058,000 15-October-1991 5,850,535 15-December-1998
6,545,671 B1 08-April-2003 5,140,321 18-August-1992 5,557,176 09-November-1996
GB2354685B 18-June-2003 5,423,023 05-June-1990 5,561,747 01-October-1996
Third-Party Trademarks
Adobe is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems. Advanced ClusterProven, ClusterProven, and the ClusterProven
design are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States
and other countries and are used under license. IBM Corporation does not warrant and is not responsible for the
operation of this software product. AIX is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation. Allegro, Cadence, and Concept
are registered trademarks of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. Apple, Mac, Mac OS, and Panther are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor are registered trademarks of
Autodesk, Inc. Baan is a registered trademark of Baan Company. CADAM and CATIA are registered trademarks of
Dassault Systemes. COACH is a trademark of CADTRAIN, Inc. DOORS is a registered trademark of Telelogic AB.
FLEXlm is a trademark of Macrovision Corporation. Geomagic is a registered trademark of Raindrop Geomagic, Inc.
EVERSYNC, GROOVE, GROOVEFEST, GROOVE.NET, GROOVE NETWORKS, iGROOVE, PEERWARE, and
the interlocking circles logo are trademarks of Groove Networks, Inc. Helix is a trademark of Microcadam, Inc.
HOOPS is a trademark of Tech Soft America, Inc. HP-UX is a registered trademark and Tru64 is a trademark of the
Hewlett-Packard Company. I-DEAS, Metaphase, Parasolid, SHERPA, Solid Edge, and Unigraphics are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS). InstallShield is a registered trademark and
service mark of InstallShield Software Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Intel is a registered
trademark of Intel Corporation. IRIX is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc. LINUX is a registered
trademark of Linus Torvalds. MatrixOne is a trademark of MatrixOne, Inc. Mentor Graphics and Board Station are
registered trademarks and 3D Design, AMPLE, and Design Manager are trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation.
MEDUSA and STHENO are trademarks of CAD Schroer GmbH. Microsoft, Microsoft Project, Windows, the
Windows logo, Windows NT, Visual Basic, and the Visual Basic logo are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Netscape and the Netscape N and Ship's Wheel
logos are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Oracle is a
registered trademark of Oracle Corporation. OrbixWeb is a registered trademark of IONA Technologies PLC. PDGS is
a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. RAND is a trademark of RAND Worldwide. Rational Rose is a
registered trademark of Rational Software Corporation. RetrievalWare is a registered trademark of Convera
Corporation. RosettaNet is a trademark and Partner Interface Process and PIP are registered trademarks of
“RosettaNet,” a nonprofit organization. SAP and R/3 are registered trademarks of SAP AG Germany. SolidWorks is a
registered trademark of SolidWorks Corporation. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or
registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. Products bearing
SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the
Sun logo, Solaris, UltraSPARC, Java and all Java based marks, and “The Network is the Computer” are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. TIBCO, TIBCO Software,
TIBCO ActiveEnterprise, TIBCO Designer, TIBCO Enterprise for JMS, TIBCO Rendezvous, TIBCO Turbo XML,
TIBCO Business Works are the trademarks or registered trademarks of TIBCO Software Inc. in the United States and
other countries. WebEx is a trademark of WebEx Communications, Inc.
Third-Party Technology Information
Certain PTC software products contain licensed third-party technology: Rational Rose 2000E is copyrighted software
of Rational Software Corporation. RetrievalWare is copyrighted software of Convera Corporation. VisTools library is
copyrighted software of Visual Kinematics, Inc. (VKI) containing confidential trade secret information belonging to
VKI. HOOPS graphics system is a proprietary software product of, and is copyrighted by, Tech Soft America, Inc.
G-POST is copyrighted software and a registered trademark of Intercim. VERICUT is copyrighted software and a
registered trademark of CGTech. Pro/PLASTIC ADVISOR is powered by Moldflow technology. Moldflow is a
registered trademark of Moldflow Corporation. The JPEG image output in the Pro/Web.Publish module is based in part
on the work of the independent JPEG Group. DFORMD.DLL is copyrighted software from Compaq Computer
Corporation and may not be distributed. METIS, developed by George Karypis and Vipin Kumar at the University of
Minnesota, can be researched at http://www.cs.umn.edu/~karypis/metis. METIS is © 1997 Regents of the University of
Minnesota. LightWork Libraries are copyrighted by LightWork Design 1990–2001. Visual Basic for Applications and
Internet Explorer is copyrighted software of Microsoft Corporation. Parasolid © Electronic Data Systems (EDS).
Windchill Info*Engine Server contains IBM XML Parser for Java Edition and the IBM Lotus XSL Edition. Pop-up
calendar components Copyright © 1998 Netscape Communications Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
TECHNOMATIX is copyrighted software and contains proprietary information of Technomatix Technologies Ltd.
Technology "Powered by Groove" is provided by Groove Networks, Inc. Technology "Powered by WebEx" is provided
by WebEx Communications, Inc. Oracle 8i run-time and Oracle 9i run-time, Copyright © 2002–2003 Oracle
Corporation. Oracle programs provided herein are subject to a restricted use license and can only be used in
conjunction with the PTC software they are provided with. Apache Server, Tomcat, Xalan, and Xerces are technologies
developed by, and are copyrighted software of, the Apache Software Foundation (http://www.apache.org) – their use is
subject to the terms and limitations at: http://www.apache.org/LICENSE.txt. Acrobat Reader is copyrighted software of
Adobe Systems Inc. and is subject to the Adobe End-User License Agreement as provided by Adobe with those
products. UnZip (© 1990-2001 Info-ZIP, All Rights Reserved) is provided “AS IS” and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF
ANY KIND. For the complete Info-ZIP license see ftp://ftp.info-zip.org/pub/infozip/license.html. Gecko and Mozilla
components are subject to the Mozilla Public License Version 1.1 at http://www.mozilla.org/MPL. Software distributed
under the MPL is distributed on an "AS IS" basis, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either expressed or
implied. See the MPL for the specific language governing rights and limitations. The Java™ Telnet Applet
(StatusPeer.java, TelnetIO.java, TelnetWrapper.java, TimedOutException.java), Copyright © 1996, 97 Mattias L.
Jugel, Marcus Meißner, is redistributed under the GNU General Public License. This license is from the original
copyright holder and the Applet is provided WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. You may obtain a copy of the
source code for the Applet at http://www.mud.de/se/jta (for a charge of no more than the cost of physically performing
the source distribution), by sending e-mail to leo@mud.de or marcus@mud.de—you are allowed to choose either
distribution method. The source code is likewise provided under the GNU General Public License. GTK+The GIMP
Toolkit are licensed under the GNU LGPL. You may obtain a copy of the source code at http://www.gtk.org, which is
likewise provided under the GNU LGPL. zlib software Copyright © 1995-2002 Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler.
OmniORB is distributed under the terms and conditions of the GNU General Public License and GNU Library General
Public License. The Java Getopt.jar, copyright 1987-1997 Free Software Foundation, Inc.; Java Port copyright 1998 by
Aaron M. Renn (arenn@urbanophile.com), is redistributed under the GNU LGPL. You may obtain a copy of the
source code at http://www.urbanophile.com/arenn/hacking/download.html. The source code is likewise provided under
the GNU LGPL. Mozilla Japanese localization components are subject to the Netscape Public License Version 1.1 (at
http://www.mozilla.org/NPL). Software distributed under NPL is distributed on an "AS IS" basis, WITHOUT
WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either expressed or implied (see the NPL for the specific language governing rights and
limitations). The Original Code is Mozilla Communicator client code, released March 31, 1998 and the Initial
Developer of the Original Code is Netscape Communications Corporation. Portions created by Netscape are Copyright
© 1998 Netscape Communications Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Contributors: Kazu Yamamoto
(kazu@mozilla.gr.jp), Ryoichi Furukawa (furu@mozilla.gr.jp), Tsukasa Maruyama (mal@mozilla.gr.jp), Teiji Matsuba
(matsuba@dream.com).
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS LEGEND
This document and the software described herein are Commercial Computer Documentation and Software, pursuant to
FAR 12.212(a)-(b) (OCT’95) or DFARS 227.7202-1(a) and 227.7202-3(a) (JUN’95), is provided to the US
Government under a limited commercial license only. For procurements predating the above clauses, use, duplication,
or disclosure by the Government is subject to the restrictions set forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in
Technical Data and Computer Software Clause at DFARS 252.227-7013 (OCT’88) or Commercial Computer
Software-Restricted Rights at FAR 52.227-19(c)(1)-(2) (JUN’87), as applicable. 012304
Parametric Technology Corporation, 140 Kendrick Street, Needham, MA 02494 USA
Table Of Contents
Behavioral Modeling Extension ......................................................................... 1
Using Behavioral Modeling ............................................................................ 1
About Behavioral Modeling ......................................................................... 1
To Open the Saved Analysis ....................................................................... 1
Persistent Display...................................................................................... 2
Configuring Behavioral Modeling .................................................................... 2
About Configuring Behavioral Modeling ........................................................ 2
To Set Behavioral Modeling Configuration Options ......................................... 2
bm_graph_tool ......................................................................................... 2
bmgr_pref_file .......................................................................................... 3
excel_analysis_directory ............................................................................ 3
Behavioral Modeling Tools ............................................................................. 3
Analysis Feature ....................................................................................... 3
User-Defined Analysis ...............................................................................11
Design Studies.........................................................................................19
Analyses .................................................................................................37
Comparing Graphs ...................................................................................46
Graphing Tools ...........................................................................................47
About Graphing Tools ...............................................................................47
To Modify the Graphtool ............................................................................48
To Use the Print Dialog Box .......................................................................50
Customizing Graph Display Settings ...........................................................51
Index ...........................................................................................................53
v
Behavioral Modeling Extension
Using Behavioral Modeling
About Behavioral Modeling

Behavioral Modeling contains a set of tools for performing a wide variety of analyses
on a model and incorporating the analysis results into the model. Behavioral
Modeling lets you modify the model design to reflect the desired solution.
You use the Behavioral Modeling tools to:
• Create feature parameters based on measurements and analyses of the model.
• Create geometric entities based on measurements and analyses of the model.
• Create new types of measurements tailored to application-specific needs.
• Analyze the behavior of measured parameters as variable dimensions and

parameters change.
• Automatically find dimension and parameter values that achieve a desired

behavior of the model.
• Analyze the behavior of measured parameters within a specified design space.
The basic building blocks of Behavioral Modeling are:

• Field point
• Analysis feature
• Persistent analysis display
• User-Defined Analysis (UDA)
• Sensitivity, Feasibility, and Optimization Studies
• Optimization feature
• Multi-Objective Design studies
• External Analysis
• Motion Analysis
To Open the Saved Analysis

Click Analysis > Saved Analysis to open a saved analysis and use the Saved
Analysis dialog box to perform the following operations:
• Hide or unhide any saved analysis
• Redefine a selected analysis
• Use the filter to select the type of analysis that you want to view
1
Behavioral Modeling® - Help Topic Collection
• Delete a saved analysis
Persistent Display
Pro/ENGINEER supports the persistent display of any field type analysis (curve
analysis, surface analysis, or user-defined analysis based on a field point). If you
define and save an analysis, the display of this analysis remains on the screen. The
analysis display updates with all changes to model geometry.
You can turn the persistent display of any saved analysis off or on by clicking
Analysis > Saved Analysis.
Note: The persistence of display can be intermittent if the model is displayed in
shaded mode.
Configuring Behavioral Modeling
About Configuring Behavioral Modeling

You can customize certain aspects of Behavioral Modeling by setting configuration file
options. Help for Behavioral Modeling provides a list of configuration options
arranged in alphabetical order. Each option contains the following information:
• Configuration option name.
• Default and available variables or values. The default value is in italic.
• Brief description and notes describing the configuration option.
To Set Behavioral Modeling Configuration Options

1. Click Tools > Options. The Options dialog box opens.
2. Click the Show only options loaded from file check box to see currently
loaded configuration options or clear this check box to see all configuration
options.
3. Select the configuration option from the list or type the configuration option
name in the Option box.
4. In the Value box type or select a value.
Note: The default value is followed by an asterisk (*).
5. Click Add/Change. The configuration option and its value appear in the list. A
green status icon confirms the change.
6. Click Apply or OK. See Also
bm_graph_tool
default, excel_linked, excel_embedded, generic_graphtool
For UNIX machines:
2
• default—Opens a customizable Grapher window with several utilities available.
• generic_graphtool—Opens a generic graph window.
For Windows NT machines:

• default—Opens a customizable Grapher window with several utilities available.
• excel_embedded—Opens an Excel window that is part of the Pro/ENGINEER

window.
• excel_linked—Opens a stand alone Excel window.
• generic_graphtool—Opens a generic graph window.
When you work with Behavioral Modeling on an NT or a Windows 95 machine, you

can specify the format for displaying graphs.
bmgr_pref_file
<path>
Specifies the location of the graph preference file for the graph tool settings, such as
axis, line weights, label fonts, and so on. Pro/ENGINEER uses the settings in the text
file to render the graphs as per your specifications.
excel_analysis_directory
<directory path>
You can specify the directory for saving the Excel analysis results.
Behavioral Modeling Tools
Analysis Feature
About an Analysis Feature

An analysis feature is a regular Pro/ENGINEER datum feature that is used to capture
a measurement. The analysis feature may contain a regular Pro/ENGINEER analysis,
user-defined analysis, or feature relation.
An analysis feature is composed of:
• A name
• A type (measure, model analysis, surface analysis, curve analysis, relation, or

UDA)
• A definition (consisting of the measurement or analysis to be performed, the

relations to be evaluated, or a UDA)
• Results of the analysis to be included in the feature
3
The results of an analysis feature can be one or more real or integer parameters
containing the value of the measurements made within that feature. You can also
create datum points, coordinate systems, or graphs as a result of analysis features.
These parameters and datums can be used the same way as all Pro/ENGINEER
parameters and datums to drive subsequent features.
For example, you can create a parameter controlling a measurement of the mass of
a part at the instance where the analysis feature occurs in the regeneration cycle.
You can then place a coordinate system of the center of mass as measured at this
point in the regeneration cycle.
Note: You can use the configuration option clearance_triangulation to improve
the quality of the results of an Analysis feature. Setting this configuration option
affects the quality of the initial guess for Newton's method, used in distance,
clearance, and interference computations. Note that the improved quality of
computations increases the analysis time.
You can capture results of an analysis in an analysis feature while still working with
the Analysis dialog box. After you compute the analysis, click Add Feature in the
ANALYSIS dialog box and specify the name for the feature. The analysis feature
appears in the Model Tree and updates whenever you regenerate the model.
To Create an Analysis Feature

1. Click Insert > Model Datum > Analysis. The ANALYSIS dialog box opens.
2. Under Name, specify a name for the analysis or use the default name.
3. Under Type, select the analysis that you want to perform.
Note: If you have registered an external application with Pro/TOOLKIT and your
Pro/TOOLKIT application is running, External Analysis is available as an
additional analysis type.
4. Under RegenRequest, specify the regeneration option by selecting one of the

following:
o Always—Always regenerates the analysis feature during model

regeneration.
o Read Only—Excludes the analysis feature from the model regeneration.
o Only Design Study—Regenerates the analysis feature only when it is used

by a design study.
5. Click Next. Depending on the type of analysis that you have selected, the
appropriate analysis dialog box opens.
6. Specify the Type and Definition for the analyses that you want to perform.
7. Click Compute. The results of the analyses appear in the Results box.
8. Click Close. In the Result params section, the parameters associated with the
analyses appear in a table with their details under Create, Param name, and
Description.
4
9. To create a parameter, select the parameter in the Result params table and
click YES under Create. The selected parameter is created and NO changes to
YES for that parameter in the Result params table.
10. Under Param name, specify a name for the parameter or accept the default
name.
11. For analyses that allow creation of a datum point, coordinate system, or datum
feature, click Next to open the Result datums section and define the resulting
features.
12. Click . The analysis feature is created.
Note: To create a feature using curve and surface analysis, click Analysis >
Geometry and select the appropriate command.
Tip: Using the Graph as a Result of the Analysis Feature

When you create an analysis feature using a UDA made on curve or edge, you have
the ability to create a datum graph. The x-axis of the graph represents the curve
Length parameter that varies from 0 to 1 along the curve or edge. The y-axis
represents the computed UDA value as a function of the curve Length parameter.
You can create feature parameters using an analysis feature of relation type to
capture the values from this graph.
The following example illustrates this technique.
Suppose the analysis feature creates the graph (containing the UDA) called
analysis1. You can create a relation initial_value = evalgraph(analysis1,0)
that sets the value of the floating point real parameter initial_value to the y-axis
value which corresponds to the x-axis value of 0 in the graph of analysis1. You can
now use initial_value parameter just like any analysis feature parameter in a
sensitivity, optimization, or feasibility study. For example, you can study the effect of
some model dimensions on the initial value of the graph.
Example: Including Mass Properties in the Family Table

Summary: This example shows how to use the analysis feature in conjunction with
Family tables.
Problem: You want to select an instance from the Family table by its mass.
Solution: You can use the analysis feature to create a desired measurement (in this
example - mass properties) and include it in the Family table.
The following basic steps outline this example:
1. Open a part file and select the generic part to retrieve.
2. Create an analysis feature. In the ANALYSIS dialog box, do the following:
o Enter the name of the analysis, bolt_mass.
o Select Model Analysis as the type of the analysis.
5
o Click Next to go to the next page to specify a parameter that you want to
create.
o Select Model Mass Properties as the type of measure.
o Click Compute to compute the mass.
o Click Close.
o Under Result params, select the parameter Mass and click Yes to create
this parameter.
o Click Next to create a coordinate system as a result of the analysis feature.
o Under Result datums, select the coordinate system, click Yes to create,
and specify the name for the coordinate system.
o Click OK.
3. Include a new parameter of the type Feature in the Family table. Select the
analysis feature from the Model tree, and then select the parameter Mass.
4. To update the Family table, click Tools > Verify. Pro/ENGINEER regenerates the
table and includes the mass parameter in the Family table. Close the Family tree
window.
5. Open the Family table. Notice that the table contains a new column, mass (see
the next figure). Now you can select an instance by its mass.
Example: Using a Measurement in a Relation

Summary: This example shows you how to use an analysis feature to create a
dependency between the geometry of a rotor blade and the rounds added at the
edges where the blade is attached to the rotor.
Problem: In this model, the geometry of a blade is controlled by three graphs, one
for each direction. A round is created along the edges of the blade where it is
attached to the rotor. When you change a graph, the geometry of the blade is
6
updated. However, this change may cause rounds created at the edges to fail due to
a conflict in the radius values.
Solution: You can relate the geometry of the round to the angle between the blade
and the rotor. Do this by creating an analysis feature that measures the dihedral
angle at several points along the edge where the blade is attached to the rotor. Then
you can create a round and define the radius value at each point as a function of the
measured dihedral value. The resulting round is driven by the dihedral angle. Each
time you modify the geometry of the blade and the dihedral angle changes, the
geometry of the round is updated to reflect new radius values.
1. Open a part BLADE and create datum points at the locations where you want to
specify different radius values for the round.
2. Measure the dihedral angle between the rotor and the blade at the selected
datum points by creating an analysis feature at each point. In the Point dialog
box, specify the following:
a. Enter the name of the analysis, analysis1.

b. Under Type, select Feature and select a datum point.
c. Click Definition. The selected point appears in the Point box.
d. Click Feature. The Parameters table and the Datums table on the Point
dialog box display the associated parameters and datum points with their
details under Create, Name and Description.
e. Click NO against the name of the parameter in the Parameters table. The
selected parameter is created.
f. Click . The analysis feature is created.

3. Create an advanced round at the attachment edge with variable radius values.
When specifying the radius value for each datum point, enter a relation in the
following format:
K * measurement_name:fid_analysis_name
where:
K – Coefficient you specify.
measurement_name—Name of a measurement, for example, dihedral.
analysis_name—Name of the analysis feature for the selected datum point,

for example, analysis1.
For the first point selected, a relation may appear as follows:
0.1 * dihedral:fid_analysis1
4. Finish creating the round. This round is driven by the current value of the
dihedral angle. When you change the graph that controls the blade,
Pro/ENGINEER recomputes the values of the dihedral angles and rebuilds the
round accordingly.
7
The next figure shows an example part.
The next figure illustrates datum points at which the dihedral angle is measured.
The next figure shows how a round is created.
8
To Create a Motion Analysis Feature

2. Under Name, specify a name for the analysis or accept the default name.
3. Under Type, click Motion Analysis.
4. Under RegenRequest, specify the regeneration option by clicking one of the

following:
o Always—Always regenerate the analysis feature during the model

regeneration.
o Read Only—Exclude the analysis feature from the model regeneration.
o Only Design Study—Regenerate the analysis feature only when it is used

by a design study.
5. Click Next to create the Definition part of the analysis. The Motion Analysis
dialog box opens.
6. Under Parameters, select the parameters that you want to compute.
7. Under Options, select from the following:
o Use All Moving Parts—Create a motion envelope using all moving parts.
If you do not want to include all moving parts, clear this option and select
the parts individually.
o Create Motion Envelope—Show the motion envelope for all or selected

moving parts.
o Envelope quality—Enter the number for accuracy of the display of the

quilt that represents the motion envelope.
9
o Update Interval—Enter the number of frames between two update

events. The number of frames determines how often the system updates
the graphical results of the computation.
8. Click Run to begin the analysis. The system shows the moving parts in motion,
computes the values of the parameters that you have included in the analysis,
and shows the graphs. The number of computation points for the analysis
depends on the number of frames in the motion definition.
The results of the computation appear in the Results box. For each parameter,
the system computes the minimum and maximum values, and the time when
these values were reached.
9. To view the results in an Information Window, click Info.
10. To change the display settings for the motion envelope, click Display.
11. Click Close to return to the ANALYSIS dialog box. The Result params window
opens. The parameters associated with the measurement appear in a table under
the headers Create, Parameter name, and Description.
12. To create a parameter, select it from the Result params list, and click YES
under Create.
13. Under Parameter name, accept the default name or type a name for the
parameter.
14. If you selected the option Create Motion Envelope, click Next (otherwise go to
the last step). The Result datums window opens, listing the quilt.
15. Click YES under Create to create a quilt feature.
16. Under Datum name, accept the default name or type a name for the feature
name.
17. Click OK to finish.
Motion Analysis Feature

The Motion Analysis feature enables you to create:
• Top-level assembly feature parameters
• A multifaceted quilt representing the motion envelope
To Create an External Analysis Feature

2. Under Name, accept the default name or type the name for the analysis.
3. Under Type, select External Analysis.
4. Click Next to create the Definition part of the analysis. The External Analysis
dialog box opens.
10
5. Specify the name of the analysis under Type.

following options:

regeneration.

by a design study.
7. Click the Analysis UI button. This brings up the user interface defined by your
Pro/TOOLKIT application.
8. Follow system prompts to make selections as specified in your Pro/TOOLKIT

application.
9. Click Compute to perform the analysis.
10. To view the results of the analysis in an Information window, click Info.
11. To save the analysis, click Save and specify a name.
12. Click Close to close the External Analysis dialog box. The ANALYSIS dialog
box becomes active.
13. Continue to define the resulting datums and parameters as you do for a regular
analysis feature.
External Analysis Feature

You can create an analysis feature defined by an external application that is
registered with Pro/TOOLKIT. This type of analysis feature is referred to as an
external analysis feature.
If you have registered your analysis with Pro/TOOLKIT, and your Pro/TOOLKIT
application is running, the ANALYSIS dialog box has an additional option under
Type – External Analysis.
User-Defined Analysis
About a User-Defined Analysis

You use user-defined analyses (UDA) to create measurements and analyses beyond
those on the Analysis menu. A user-defined analysis consists of a group of features
that you create to make a desired measurement. This group of features is referred to
as a Construction group. You can think of a Construction group as a definition for
making measurement. You can save and reuse this definition as needed. To define a
Construction group, you create a local group whose last feature is an Analysis
feature.
11
If the Construction group has a field point as its first feature, the analysis can be
performed at any selected point on the domain or on the entire domain of the field
point. When the analysis is performed on the entire domain, the UDA behaves as a
curve or surface analysis. For this, the system temporarily forms the construction at
each point of the domain and then displays the results similar to the results of
standard curve and surface analyses. If the UDA is not based on a field point, it
represents a simple measurement that you can apply as any other standard
measurement.
Performing a user-defined analysis involves two main procedures:
• Create a Construction group—Create all necessary features that you will use for
the required measurement and then group these features using the Local Group.
The last item selected for creating a Construction group must be an Analysis
feature.
• Apply a Construction group to create a UDA—This is an actual computation. Click

Analysis > User-Defined Analysis and use the User-Defined Analysis dialog
box to perform the analysis.
Rules and Recommendations for Using the UDA Functionality

You use UDAs to create customized measurements to investigate characteristics of
the model. With these measurements, you can find modeling solution that satisfy
user-defined constraints.
Note the following rules and recommendations:
• Geometry that you create to define a UDA Construction group (a field point,
datum plane, and so on) is intended for this purpose only. Do not use these
features for regular modeling activities.
• After you create a Construction group, suppress it to make sure its features are
not used for modeling purposes. When suppressed, a Construction group is still
selectable for UDA purposes.
• To avoid using construction group features for modeling, you may need to create
some features twice—once for modeling purposes and once for UDA purposes.
To Create a Field Point

1. Click Insert > Model Datum > Point > Field. The Field Datum Point dialog
box opens.
2. Select a point on the model. A field point is added to the selected domain.
3. To change the name of the field point, click the Properties tab.
4. Click OK.
Field Point
A field point is a type of datum point intended for use only in conjunction with user-
defined analysis (UDA). A field point defines a domain from which it was selected—
12
curve, surface, or quilt. To create a field point, select a point on an entity. The field
point does not require dimensions because it belongs to the entire domain.
You use field points with other features to apply a particular measurement to the
selected domain.
Note: A field point must be used only as a reference for features that define a User-
Defined Analysis. Do not use a field point as a reference for regular modeling.
A field point is displayed at the location on the domain at which it was picked. Field
points have names in parts FPNT# and in assemblies AFPNT#. To change the domain
of the field point, you must redefine the feature.
To Define a Construction Group

1. In part or assembly, click Edit > Feature Operations > Group.
2. Click CREATE GROUP > Local Group.
3. Enter the name of the group.
4. Select features from the Model Tree. The last item in the group must be an
analysis feature that you previously created.
5. Click Done to create the group. Pro/ENGINEER informs you that the Construction
group is created successfully.
You can also create a Construction Group as follows:

1. Select the features from the Model Tree. The last item in the group must be an
analysis feature that you previously created.
2. Right-click on the features you selected. A shortcut menu appears.
3. Click Group. A local construction group is created.
Construction Group
A Construction group is a set of features that you create with the purpose of making
a particular measurement. A Construction group defines a UDA.
A Construction group can have features of any type. If a construction group includes
a field point, the analysis is defined over the domain of the field point.
Rules for creating a construction group:
• Only one field point is allowed in a Construction group, and it must be the first
feature in the group.
• The last feature in the group must be an Analysis feature.
To Create a User-Defined Analysis

Note: Before creating a UDA, you must create a Construction group.
1. Click Analysis > User Defined Analysis. The User-Defined Analysis dialog
box opens.
13
2. Under Type, select a Construction group.
3. Under References, accept the default references used by the feature or select
your own references. To select new references, clear Default and select all the
references for the UDA type.
4. Under Parameters, select the analysis feature parameter you want to compute.
5. Specify where to perform calculations by choosing an option from the Domain

list:
o Selected Point—Select one or more points on the domain where you want
to perform the calculation.
o Entire Field—(Default) Perform the calculation on the entire domain where

the field point is located (for example, the entire surface).
6. Under Computation Settings, define the resolution by clicking the appropriate

icon:
o Define the resolution by setting the density of points. The default

density is 1. To increase the quality, you can increase the number.
o Define the resolution by setting the exact number of points.
o Define the resolution by setting the distance between two adjacent

points in the model units.
7. Under Computation Settings, set any of these options:
o Max/Min Refinement—Obtain more accurate results for the minimum and

maximum values without increasing the density or accuracy. This option is
available only for the Entire Field domain.
o Create Graph—Show results in a graph window.
o Dynamic Update—Pro/ENGINEER updates the results automatically. You

need not choose Compute to update.
8. Under Results, click:
o Settings—Set the scale and density of the display and specify calculation
options. For UDAs with the field point on an edge or curve, you can set the
scale and density. If the field point references a surface or a quilt, you can
set increment (linear, logarithmic, or two-color), spectrum (upper and lower
limits, and sensitivity), and accuracy (low, medium, high, or very high).
Choose OK to close the dialog box.
o Compute—Generate the results of the analysis. The results appear in the

box under Results. The results of a UDA can be a porcupine display
accompanied by a graph (if the field is a curve or an edge) or a shaded
display (if the domain is a surface or a quilt).
14
o Clear—Erase the display of the results.
9. Click the Saved Analyses bar to expand the dialog box for the functions related
to saving analyses.
10. To save this analysis in an analysis feature, click Add Feature and enter the
name for the feature. A new analysis feature appears in the Model Tree.
11. Click Close.
Working with a User-Defined Analysis

A user-defined analysis (UDA) supplements the set of pre-defined analysis options
available from the Measure, Model Analysis, and Geometry commands.
You can save, retrieve, blank, or delete an analysis in the model. To perform these
functions, you use the Saved Analysis field in the UDA dialog box.
To use the Saved Analysis field functions:
1. Click the Saved Analyses bar to expand the dialog box for the functions related
to saving analyses.
2. The box under Saved Analyses lists previously saved analyses with the
following information:
o Display status of the analysis: unblanked or blanked
o Analysis type
o Name of the analysis
You can perform the following operations on the analysis:
o To save the analysis, type a name in the Name field and click .
o To show or hide a selected analysis in the model, click .
o To run a previously saved analysis, click Retrieve. The results appear in

the box under Results.
o To delete a selected analysis, click Delete.
Example: Analyzing the Cross Section of a Pipe

Summary: This example shows how to create a UDA analysis to investigate how a
model parameter changes along a trajectory.
Problem: Need to analyze how the cross section of a solid pipe changes along its
trajectory.
Solution: You can create an analysis feature to compute the cross section at a point
on the curve. Then you can create a UDA to analyze the cross section along the
entire curve.
15
Follow these basic steps to create the UDA:

1. Create a field point on the trajectory curve. Click Insert > Model Datum >
Point > Field.
2. Create a datum plane through the field point.
3. Create an analysis feature to measure the cross section of the pipe. Click Insert
> Model Datum > Analysis. In the ANALYSIS dialog box:
o Enter the name of the analysis, pipe_area.
o Select Model Analysis as the type of the analysis.
o Click Next to go to the next page to select a parameter that you want to
create.
o Select X-Section Mass Properties as the type of measure.
o Place a checkmark in front of Use Plane and choose the name of the
datum plane to create the cross section.
o Click Compute to the mass.
o Click Close.
o Under Result params, choose the parameter XSEC_AREA and select Yes
to create this parameter.
o Click Next to go to the next page to create a coordinate system as a result

of the analysis feature.
o Under Result datums, choose the coordinate system, choose Yes to

create, and enter the name for the coordinate system.
o Click OK.
4. Create a UDA Construction group by grouping all required features and

parameters. Click Edit > Feature Operations > Group > Local Group. Specify
a name for the group. From the Model tree, select the field point, the datum
plane through the field point, and, the analysis feature (the last item).
5. Create a user-defined analysis using the Construction group you have just
defined. Click Analysis > User-Defined Analysis.
Note: For a hollow pipe (with or without thickness), create a flat surface using the
datum through the field point as the sketching plane. Sketch the surface outline
using the Use Edge option.
Example: Analyzing the Reflectivity of a Lamp Shade

Summary: This example shows how to use a UDA to analyze some reflection
properties of a lamp shade.
Problem: Need to analyze the angle at which the light is reflected from of the
surfaces of a lamp shade.
16
Solution: Measure the reflection angle using the analysis features. Then you can
create a UDA to apply the value of the reflection angle to the entire surface.
The next figure shows the lamp shade part.
The next illustration shows the geometrical construction that is required to measure
the reflectivity angle.
17
In this diagram:
1 – The angle between incident light and the central axis.
2 – The angle between incident light and the surface normal at the field point.
3 – The reflection angle.
4 – The equal angle to angle 2.
Thick blue line – Contour of a lamp shade.
Red line – Incident light originating at the bulb point PNT0 and reflected off the
surface at the field point FPNT1.
Follow these basic steps to create the UDA:

1. Create all necessary geometry to make the measurement:
o Create a central axis A_1 through the bulb point PNT0 in a vertical
downward direction.
o Create a field point FPNT1 on the surface whose reflectivity you want to
analyze.
o Create an axis SURF_NORM through this field point normal to the surface.
o Create an axis from the bulb PNT0 to the field point.
2. Create an analysis feature to measure angle1 (the angle between incident light
and the central axis).
3. Create an analysis feature to measure angle2 (the angle between incident light
and the surface normal at the field point).
4. Create an analysis feature of the relation type to measure the reflectivity angle
using the following relation:
ref_angle = angle3 = 2 * angle2 - angle1
5. Create a UDA Construction group by grouping features starting from the field
point and concluding with the last analysis feature (reflection angle
measurement).
6. Create a UDA to measure the reflection angle on a selected surface. Select the
parameter to calculate ref_angle and click Compute. The next figure shows the
results of the computation: the portion of the surface highlighted in blue indicates
the smallest reflection angles.
7. To analyze another surface for reflectivity, clear the Default option in the UDA
dialog box. To specify new references, select a surface, select the bulb point
PNT0, and the central axis A_1.
The next figure shows the graphical results of the UDA.
18
Design Studies
Feasibility and Optimization Studies
About Feasibility and Optimization Studies

Feasibility and optimization studies allow you to have the system compute dimension
values that cause the model to satisfy certain user-specified constraints. To access a
feasibility or optimization study, click Analysis > Feasibility/Optimization and
select the type of study from the dialog box.
Optimization Study
With an optimization study, you can specify the goal function in addition to the
parameters for a feasibility study.
For an optimization study, you define the following attributes:
• A set of dimensions to vary
• A range within which each dimension can vary
• A set of constraints that you want the design to satisfy
• A goal function to be optimized (maximized or minimized)– a goal function is

created as the result of an analysis feature
For an optimization study, the system does the following actions:

• Looks for feasible solutions
• Out of feasible solutions, selects the solution that optimizes the goal function
19
Feasibility Study
For a feasibility study, you define the following attributes:
• A set of model dimensions to vary
• A range within which each dimension can vary
• A set of constraints that you want the design to satisfy
The analysis constraints are defined as equalities or inequalities that use parameters
(which are the result of an analysis feature) and constant values. A sample
constraint may appear as follows:
length < 6.3 or distance = 11
For a feasibility study, the system performs the following actions:
• Attempts to find a set of dimension values within the specified ranges that
satisfies all of the constraints.
• If a solution is found, changes the model display to show the dimensions

modified to the new values.
You can either accept these new dimensions or undo the changes and revert the
model to its state before the feasibility study. There can be many solutions in a
feasibility study that satisfy all constraints. The system converges to one of the
solutions.
Using Mechanica Parameters and Analyses

You can use previously created Mechanica measures and analyses in optimization
and feasibility studies. If you have a license for Mechanica, Mechanica parameters
and analyses that have been previously defined are included in the list under Goals
and Design Constraints.
After you select Mechanica parameters or analyses and click Compute, the system
runs multiple Mechanica analyses. After the analyses are finished, the study directory
remains in place.
Note: When a measure or an analysis referenced by BMX is removed in Mechanica,
the system displays a warning.
Example: Sensitivity, Feasibility, and Optimization Studies

Summary: This example shows how you can achieve a design goal by using a
sensitivity analysis, feasibility study, and an optimization study.
Problem: For optimal balance, the center of gravity of a crankshaft part must be
coincident with its axis of rotation. The axis of rotation of the crank cannot be
altered, but other design conditions, such as the width of the crank, can vary. In this
part, you want to minimize the distance between the axis and the center of mass
while achieving the minimum part mass.
Solution: You can find the center of gravity and create an analysis feature to
measure the distance between the axis of rotation and the center of gravity. Then
you can perform a sensitivity analysis to investigate which dimensions have the most
20
effect on the location of the center of gravity. Finally, you can perform a feasibility
study to investigate if it is feasible to set the distance between the center of gravity
and the axis of rotation to zero. If a solution exists, you can then perform an
optimization study to minimize the mass of the crank while maintaining the center of
gravity on the crank axis.
1. Create an analysis feature to perform a model analysis to determine the mass

properties. Compute the mass and create a coordinate system and a datum point
at the center of gravity as well as the MASS parameter.
2. Create an analysis feature to measure the distance from the datum point at the
center of gravity to the axis of rotation. As a result of the measurement, create a
parameter for this distance.
3. Perform a sensitivity analysis to determine how varying the width dimension

affects the location of the center of gravity.
21
4. Perform a sensitivity analysis to determine how varying the height dimension

affects the location of the center of gravity.
5. Create an analysis feature to measure the distance between the shaft and the
outer edge of the profile of the part. You can use this measurement to define the
constraints in a feasibility study. Create datum points at the beginning and end of
the distance line. In the next figure, this measurement is shown as E-E
distance.
6. Perform a feasibility study to determine if it is feasible to make the center of

gravity coincident with the axis of rotation. In the study, you vary the width,
22
height, and radius dimensions while maintaining some distance between the shaft
of the part and the outer edge of the profile of the part (E-E distance).
7. Perform an optimization study to minimize the mass (goal function) while

maintaining the same constraints as outlined in Step 6.
Creating an Optimization Feature as a Result of Design Studies

When you conduct an optimization or feasibility study, you can capture the study in
an Optimization feature. To create an Optimization feature, click File > Make
Feature in the Optimization/Feasibility dialog box.
Note: In addition to saving a design study as a feature, you can also save the study
with all its settings by selecting File > Save from the Optimization/Feasibility
dialog box. You can later retrieve a previously saved study with its settings and click
Compute to solve the study.
The Optimization feature is a very powerful feature. After you add an Optimization
feature, it appears in the Model Tree and solves the corresponding design study each
time you regenerate the model.
Consider the following aspects of the Optimization feature:
• Including an Optimization feature in your model may significantly add to the
regeneration time.
• Each time you regenerate, Pro/ENGINEER initiates the study and applies its
results. If you set the Optimization feature attribute, Regen Request, to Read
Only, the model does not get optimized, and the regeneration time does not
increase.
• As a result of optimization, only geometry created prior to the Optimization

feature can change.
• You can create several Optimization features in a model, but they cannot be
nested.
To Perform an Optimization Study

If you have a license for Mechanism Dynamics, the dynamics measures created in
Mechanism Dynamics are available under Goals and Design Constraints.
Note: You cannot specify an integer parameter to be used in the optimization or
feasibility study.
1. Click Analysis > Feasibility/Optimization. The Optimization/Feasibility
dialog box opens with Optimization selected.
2. Under Goal, select the objective of the optimization to be applied to a given

analysis feature parameter.
3. From the list of available analysis feature parameters on the right, select the
parameter to optimize.
4. To create a design constraint, click Add under Design Constraints. The Design
Constraints dialog box opens.
23
a. Select an analysis feature parameter and an operator.

b. Under Value, click Current to accept the current value, or click Set to type
the value for the constraint.
c. Click OK in the Design Constraints dialog box to return to the
Optimization/Feasibility dialog box.
The names and values for the selected constraints appear under Parameter,
Operator, and Value. You can edit these entries directly by clicking the cell.
5. To delete a design constraint, select a constraint and click Delete.
6. To set design variables, click one of these buttons under Design Variables:
o Add Dimension—Select a dimension to vary and enter its minimum and

maximum values. You can add several variable dimensions.
o Add Parameter—From the Parameter Selection dialog box, select an

existing independent model parameter and enter its minimum and
maximum values.
7. To edit an entry, click the cell and enter a new value.
8. To delete a design variable, select a variable and click Delete.
9. (Optional) Set display preferences for the study by clicking Options >
Preferences. In the Graphs tab, you can set the following options:
o Graph goal—Show in a graph the convergence between the selected goal

parameter and the chosen constraints after the computation is made.
o Graph constraints—Show in a graph the constraint parameter values

during the computation.
o Graph variables—Show in a graph the variable values during the

computation.
In the Run tab, you can set the following options:
o Convergence %—Use the default or type a value for the convergence

criterion. Computation stops when the difference between the parameter
values for the current and previous iteration is less than the Convergence
%. The lower the value, the longer the calculation takes and, if there is a
feasible solution, the more accurate the results.
o Max Iterations—Use the default or type in a value for the maximum

number of iterations for the computation. The higher the value, the longer
the calculation takes and the more specific the results.
o Animate model—Animate changes in the model for the computed results.
Under the Method tab, you can select the optimization method:
o GDP—Use the standard algorithm to optimize the model using the current
model conditions as the starting point.
24
o MDS—Use the multi-objective design studies algorithm to determine the

optimum starting point for the optimization. You can specify the number of
starting points to compute in the Max Iterations field. This method has a
higher chance of finding the overall optimum design within the design
parameters and dimensions.
Click Close to close the Preferences dialog box.
10. To create an Optimization feature, click File > Make Feature and enter the
name of the feature.
11. To save the study, click File > Save.
12. Click Compute. Pro/ENGINEER calculates and displays the results.
13. Click Close.
Optimization Study
An optimization study seeks a solution to an objective (minimization or maximization
of an analysis feature parameter) while being constrained by a set of rules specified
in the form of allowable ranges for model dimensions and other analysis feature
parameters. If a solution exists for the objective given the set of constraints, the
model is optimized and changed to the new configuration.
To Perform a Feasibility Study

Note: You cannot specify an integer parameter to be used in the optimization or
feasibility study.
1. Click Analysis > Feasibility/Optimization. The Optimization/Feasibility
dialog box opens.
2. Under Study Type/ Name, select Feasibility.
3. Accept the default name or type the name for the study.
4. To create a design constraint, click Add under Design Constraints. The Design
Constraint dialog box opens.
a. Select an analysis feature parameter and an operator operator (=, <, or

>=).
b. Under Value, click Current to accept the current value or click Set to type
the value for the constraint.
c. Click OK in the Design Constraints dialog box to return to the
Optimization/Feasibility dialog box.
The names and values for the selected constraints appear under the headings
Parameter, Operator, and Value. You can edit these entries directly by clicking on
the cell.
5. To delete a design constraint, select a constraint and click Delete.
6. To set a design variable, choose one of these buttons under Design Variables:
25
o Add Dimension—Select a dimension to vary. Enter its minimum and

maximum values. You can add several variable dimensions.
o Add Parameter—From the Parameter Selection dialog box, select an

existing independent model parameter and enter its minimum and
maximum values.
7. To edit an entry, click the cell and enter a new value.
8. To delete a design variable, select a variable and click Delete.
9. Optionally, you can set preferences for the study by choosing Options >
Preferences. In the Graphs tab, you can set the following options:
o Graph goal—Show in a graph convergence between the selected goal

parameter and the chosen constraints after the computation is made.
o Graph constraints—Show in a graph constraint parameter values during

the computation.
o Graph variables—Show in a graph variable values during the computation.
In the Run tab, you can set the following options:
o Convergence %—Use the default or type in a value for the convergence

criterion. Computation stops when the difference between the parameter
values for the current and previous iteration is less than the Convergence
%. The lower the value, the longer the calculation takes and, if there is a
feasible solution, the more accurate the results are.
o Max Iterations—Use the default or type in a value for the maximum

number of iterations for the computation. The higher the value, the longer
the calculation takes and the more specific the results are.
o Animate model—Animate changes in the model for the computed results.
10. Click Close to close the Preferences dialog box.
11. To create an Optimization feature, click File > Make Feature and enter the
name of the feature.
12. Click Compute. Pro/ENGINEER calculates and displays the results.
13. To save the study, click File > Save.
14. Click Close to close the dialog box.
Feasibility Study
A feasibility study searches for a solution within the range of chosen dimensions to
meet a set of constraints. If this search is successful, a message informs you that a
solution exists. The constraints are specified by means of one or more analysis
feature parameters.
26
Example: Feasibility Study

Summary: This example shows how you can use a feasibility study to investigate if
there is a solution that satisfies your design constraints.
Problem: Need to create a bottle with a desired volume within given dimension
constraints.
Solution: Create an analysis feature to measure the volume of the part. Then you
can perform a feasibility study to investigate if it is feasible to obtain a desired
volume (design constraint) while maintaining the key dimensions (design variables)
in a certain range.
The next figure shows the BOTTLE part.

1. Create an analysis feature to create the volume parameter. Click Insert > Model
Datum > Analysis. In the ANALYSIS dialog box, do the following:
o Enter the name of the analysis, analysis1.
o Click Model Analysis.
o Click Next.
o Select One-Sided Volume as the type of measure.
o Select the datum plane to define the side where volume is to be measured.
Click Compute.
o When the volume is computed, click Close.
o Click Yes to create a parameter ONE_SIDE_VOL.
o Click OK.
2. Create a feasibility study by clicking Analysis > Feasibility/Optimization. In

the Optimization/Feasibility dialog box, do the following:
o Click Feasibility.
27
o Under Design Constraints, click Add to add a parameter. In the Design

Constraints dialog box, choose ONE_SIDE_VOL:ANALYSIS1 as the
parameter constraint. Click Set and enter the desired volume. Click OK.
o Under Design Variables, click Add Dimension, select a dimension on the

model that you want to vary (the height dimension), and set its range. You
can add another dimension to vary by clicking Add Dimension.
o Click Compute.
3. The system makes computations and searches for the solution. If a solution is
possible, the system modifies dimensions to the values that give the desired
volume. You can keep the modified model or undo the changes by clicking Undo.
The next figure shows the modified bottle.
Multi-Objective Design Study
About the Multi-Objective Design Study

A multi-objective design study helps you find optimal solutions that satisfy several
design criteria (design goals). For example, you can investigate possible shapes of a
part that let you maintain the part mass and location of the center of gravity within a
desired range.
A multi-objective design study provides the following benefits:
• The study helps you find an optimal range of design variables that is most
suitable for searching for optimal solutions.
• You can select the Automatic method of sampling or the Manual method of
sampling to conduct the study.
• The study finds solutions for multiple design objectives that may be contradictory
in nature.
28
• If more than one optimal solution exist, the study presents you with the results
so you can choose the preferred solution.
• You can expand the range for sampling design goals, or you can narrow it down
by using different methods for analyzing the data obtained in the experiments.
Working with the Multi-Objective Design Study

A Multi-Objective Design study consists of a master table and derived tables in their
hierarchical order. Initially, the study lets you examine an entire range in which
design variables are allowed to change. There are two methods of conducting the
multi-objective design study:
• Automatic—Uses an algorithm that evenly distributes the selection of sample
points throughout the allowable design space. It combines the design variables in
a manner that covers the maximum design space to be included in the study.
This is the default.
• Manual—Allows you to manually specify sampling points for the design variable
or import the sampling points from an ASCII text file of the CSV format.
The result of the initial investigation is the master table that lists records of all
experiments. You can then narrow down the focus of the study by creating derived
tables so you can examine the behavior of the model with a subset of constrained
values for design goals or design variables.
You can access any of the tables through the Table Tree to examine its results or
edit a table by altering its conditions. After you have examined your findings, you
can expand the master table by specifying additional experiments to be conducted
within the range designated for the study.
You can save a study to disk with the Save command and then open it later when
you return to the model. Saving a study saves all table data.
Note: The system saves the Table Tree within the model. If you do not save the
model, the Table Tree is lost and only a text file with the master table is saved to
the hard disk.
About the Terminology Used in the Multi-Objective Design Study

A multi-objective design study uses the following terminology:
• Experiment—A sampling event whose purpose is to obtain design goals for a
particular combination of design variables.
• Master table—A table that contains records of all experiments conducted within
the specified range of design variables (dimensions).
• Sampling Method—Two methods of sampling are available:
o Automatic—A sampling method that allows the selection and deletion of

design variables (dimensions and parameters) and setting their minimum
and maximum values.
29
o Manual—A sampling method that allows the selection and deletion of

design variables manually. It also allows the All Combinations or One Per
Row method to determine the number of experiments to be conducted for
the design study.
• Derived table—A table that is derived from a parent table using a particular
method (Constraints or Pareto) for selecting experiments that satisfy certain
conditions.
• Constraints method—A method for creating a derived table by specifying a

minimum or maximum value for each selected design goal. The system examines
the parent table to find experiments that satisfy the conditions.
• Pareto method—A method for creating a derived table by selecting design goals
that you want to optimize (minimize or maximize). The system examines the
parent table to find experiments whose results fall within an optimal range. This
method can give you multiple optimal solutions: while one solution gives the best
result for one goal, the other solution yields a better result for another goal.
Because none of the Pareto solutions is better then the others, the system lets
you decide which one is more preferable to you.
Example: Using the Pareto Method

You can apply the Pareto method to optimize multiple variables with contracting
conditions. The graphic illustration of the solution results is a set of points in the n-
dimensional coordinate system (where n is the number of design variables
designated for the analysis).
This example illustrates how the Pareto method is used to optimize two design goals,
Goal 1 and Goal 2, and find experiments that yield maximum values for both design
goals. In the graph, the x-axis shows values for Goal 1, and the y-axis shows values
for Goal 2. Each point in the graph represents a record of an experiment.
Using the Pareto method, the system starts comparing records, trying to find
maximum values for both design goals. As a result of this analysis, all experiments
shown as gray points are filtered out because their results are worse than those
shown as black points. The three best experiments (shown as black points) represent
optimal solutions – they are all acceptable and none of them is better than the other
ones.
30
To Conduct a Multi-Objective Design Study

To conduct a multi-objective design study, you must define the design variables and
the design goals. You can select dimensions or top-level model parameters (except
integer parameters) as the design variables. For the design goals, you can select
parameters that were created through the Analysis feature.
1. Click Analysis > Multi-Objective Design Study. The Multi-Objective Design
Study dialog box opens. The dialog box consists of two sections:
o Table Tree—The first column displays the hierarchy of tables in the study,
including the master table and derived tables. The second column is a
feedback section, displaying the number of records for each table.
o Table Data—Displays the contents of the currently active table. Each

record in the table includes a record number, design goals, and design
variables.
2. To create a new study, click File > New and specify a name for the study. To
open an existing study, click File > Open and select the name of the study.
3. To set up a master table, click Setup > Variables/Goals. The Master Table
dialog box opens.
4. In the Sampling Method box, select Automatic or Manual as the method of

sampling.
5. If you select the Automatic method, specify the following in the Master Table
dialog box:
o Design Variables—For each design variable, click to add a dimension
or to add a parameter as a design variable in the study. The dimension

or parameter that you add is included as a design variable in the study.
Each design variable is assigned to a unique row of the Design Variables
table. Specify its minimum and maximum values or accept the default
values. To delete a variable from the list of design variables, select the
variable and click
o Design Goals—Click Select Goals. The Parameter Selection dialog box

opens. Select the parameters that you want to include in your study and
click OK.
6. To set up a master table using the Manual method of sampling, select Manual
from the Sampling Method box. The Master Table dialog box opens.
7. Under Run Experiments on, specify one of the following:
o All Combination—Calculates the number of experiments using all possible

combinations of the sampling points defined for the design variables.
o One Per Row—Sets the number of experiments as the number of rows

that are defining the sample points in the Design Variables section of the
Master Table.
31
Note: An error message is displayed if you do not specify the same number
of sampling points for all design variables.
8. Specify the design variables and design goals as described for the Automatic
method of sampling.
Note: Each design variable is assigned to a different column in the Design

Variables table.
9. The following are also available in the Design Variable section of the Master
Table:
o —Inserts an empty cell above the cell that you select.
o —Deletes the cell that you select.
o —Deletes all the cells in the table.
o —Opens a file browser that lets you select an ASCII text file of the CSV
format. The file you import must not contain alpha characters. The number
of columns in this file must be less than or equal to the number of design
variables included in your study.
10. Click OK to accept the setup.
11. To review the setup, click Setup > Show setup.
12. To compute the master table, click Setup > Compute and type the number of
experiments you want Pro/ENGINEER to generate, to conduct the study. The
Multi-Objective Design Study dialog box displays the results. The Table Tree
displays the Master Table. The Record #, Goals, and Variables appear in the
Table Data section of the Master Table.
Note: If you have selected the Manual method of sampling, then Pro/ENGINEER
calculates the number of experiments and displays it in the message area.
13. To create a derived table, click Table > Derive The Derive Table dialog box
opens.
Note: You cannot expand a master table that has been created using the
Manual method of sampling.
14. Select one of the following methods for deriving a table:
• Constraints—Creates a derived table by setting the maximum and minimum

values for the design goals. Select a parameter in the parameter list and specify
new values in the Min and Max boxes or accept the default values.
• Pareto—Creates a derived table by optimizing your design goals. Click on a cell

under Options and set its value to Maximize, Minimize, or Exclude.
15. Type the table name and click OK The results are displayed in the Multi-
Objective Design Study dialog box. The Table Tree displays the derived table
icon. The contents of the table appear in the Table Data section. Each row in the
32
table represents a record of an experiment. A record includes the Record number,

computed values of the design goals, and the corresponding values of the design
variables.
Note: The record number of an experiment is derived from the master table.
16. To create another derived table, click a table in the Table Tree, click Table >
Derive, and create a table from the parent table by selecting the Constraints or
the Pareto method. Each derived table appears in the Table Tree with an icon
indicating its method of creation.
17. To save the study including the derived tables, click File > Save in the Multi-
Objective Design Study dialog box.
18. Click File > Exit to end the study.
Table Operations
The following table summarizes table operations that you can perform while working
with a Multi-Objective Design study.
Note: You can also use a shortcut menu by selecting a table in the Table Tree and
clicking the right mouse button. The commands on the shortcut menu are: Derive,
Edit, Show Data, and Delete.
Table Operation User Action Icon
Create a new study. Click File > New.
Open an existing study. Click File > Open.
Save a study. Click File > Save.
Delete a study. Click File > Delete.
Exit a study. Click File > Exit.
Set up the master table. Click Setup > Variables/Goals.
Show the setup for the Click Setup > Show setup.
table.
Generate the master Click Setup >

table or expand the Compute/Expand.
master table.
Generate the derived Click Table > Derive.

table.
Edit a derived table. Select a table in the Table Tree

and click Table > Edit.
33
Show data for the Select a table in the Table Tree

selected table. and click Table > Show Data.
Delete a table. Select a table in the Table Tree

and click Table > Delete.
Show the model for the Select a record and click Record
selected record. > Show Model.
Save the model for the Select a record and click Record
selected record. > Save Model.
Generate the Click Tools > Approximation

approximation table. Table.
Find approximation Click Tools > Approximation

values. Value.
Generate graphs for the Select a table in the Table Tree

selected table. and click Tools > Graph study.
Set preferences for the Click Options > Preferences.

study.
Set the default range for Click Options > Default Range.
the variables.
To Expand the Master Table

You can expand the master table by specifying an additional number of experiments
to be conducted for the study. Expanding the table provides a more frequent
sampling of the field designated for the study and therefore yields more accurate
data. You cannot expand a master table that has been created using the Manual
method of sampling.
To expand the master table:
1. In the Multi-Objective Design Study dialog box, click Setup >
Compute/Expand or click the icon. The Master Table dialog box opens.
2. Specify the number of new experiments you want to add. Pro/ENGINEER

conducts additional experiments and adds their records to the master table.
If you have set the preferences to update feedback after expanding the master table,
the Records column in the Table Tree window shows the updated number of
records for the master table and affected derived tables.
To Display the Results of the Study

To display the model that corresponds to a selected record:
1. Select a table in the Table Tree.
34
2. Click a row in the Table Data window.
3. Click Record > Show Model, or click the icon. You can also display a model
by double-clicking the record.
To Save the Results of the Study

1. To save the study, choose File > Save from the dialog box.
2. Make sure to save the model after you have saved the study. To save the model
that corresponds to a particular record:
a. Select a record and click Record > Save Model or click the icon.
b. The system creates a temporary directory with the name
.tmp_mobj_save_# (where # is the record number) and saves the model in
that directory. The name of the saved model is modelname_#, where # is
the record number.
c. When you save an assembly model, the system opens a Pro/TABLE
window that shows two columns: component names in the original
assembly and component names in the model you are saving. You can
change the names in the second column. To save your changes and exit,
click Exit. If you attempt to save an assembly that has been previously
saved, the system prompts you to change the component names to avoid
overwriting the existing files.
Note: Each time you save the model corresponding to a particular record, the
system saves it to the record-specific directory and overwrites a previously saved
model that may exist in that directory. To preserve the model that you have saved,
move it from the temporary .tmp_mobj_save_# directory to a different directory.
To Generate Graphs for the Multi-Objective Design Study

For the master or a derived table, you can generate graphs that illustrate how a
selected goal changes with respect to a selected dimension variable. To set graph
preferences, click Options > Preferences and click the Graph tab.
1. Select a table for which you want to generate graphs.
2. Click Tools > Graph Study or click the icon. The Graph dialog box opens.
The dialog box contains two tabs: X-Axis and Y-Axis.
3. Specify the parameter for the x-axis. Select a design goal or design variable by
clicking in the appropriate column.
4. Specify the parameter for the y-axis. Click on the Y-axis tab. Select a design
goal or design variable by clicking in the appropriate column.
5. To generate the graph, click Graph in the Graph dialog box. The system opens a
window with the graph. Each yellow point in the graph corresponds to an
experiment.
35
6. To finish generating graphs, click Close in the Graph dialog box.
Note: The system lets you display up to 10 graphic windows.
To Set Preferences
To set preferences, click Options > Preferences. Select a tab for the function you
want to set: Update, Graph, or Compute.
In the Update tab, you can set the following options:
• Update Rate—When expanding the master table, update the Records column in
the Table Tree window of the dialog box at regular intervals after the specified
number of experiments.
• Auto Save Rate—When expanding the master table, automatically save the
.pdl file at regular intervals after the specified number of new experiments.
In the Graph tab, you can set the following options:

Keep graphs after study—The graph windows remain displayed after you have
exited the study.
Set the Graph Update options attribute:
• Do not update graphs—The graphs do not update after you have expanded the
master table.
• Update graphs after expansion—Update the graphs after you have expanded
the master table.
• Update graphs dynamically—Update the graphs at regular intervals set by the

Update Rate in the General Preferences dialog box.
In the Compute tab, you can set the following option:

Use Distributed Computation—Distribute computation tasks among the
participating workstations in your network.
To Generate Approximation Values

To obtain approximate values for a single point:
1. Click Tools > Approximation Value. The Approximate Evaluation dialog box
opens.
2. For the design variables that you want to set for your evaluation, select the
current value of the variable and type in the desired value.
3. Click Run > Approximate or click to generate approximate values. The

system estimates values for the design goals and fills out the Design Goals
table.
4. To reset values for the design variables, click Run > Reset.
Note: To generate exact values, click Run > Exact or click the icon.
36
To conduct a sensitivity analysis on approximate values:

1. Click Tools > Approximation Value. The Approximate Evaluation dialog box
opens.
2. Select a design variable and a design goal for which you want to generate a
graph.
3. Click the icon to plot a graph. The graph shows points with estimated results
and a curve that approximates these results.
Note: If you want to obtain a smoother curve, you can increase the noise level
(deviation of the plotted curve from estimated points). If you want to obtain a
curve that approximates estimated results with more accuracy, you can decrease
the noise level.
4. To set the noise level, click Tools > Preferences from the Approximate
Evaluation dialog box. Set the value in the Preferences box and click OK. You
can now generate another graph by clicking the icon.
Using Approximation in Multi-Objective Design Studies

In a Multi-Objective Design Study, you have the ability to generate approximate
evaluations of the design study goals. To generate approximation values,
Pro/ENGINEER uses the concept of a "response surface."
For a given point or set of points in the n-dimensional design space, the response
surface gives approximate values of the design study goals. The approximate results
are based on all conducted experiments.
Instead of conducting time-consuming regenerations, you can evaluate goals and
create sensitivity studies based on approximated values. The approximated values
allow you to quickly evaluate how design goals change for the specified values of the
design variables. To use approximation values, click Tools > Approximation Value
on the Multi-Objective Design Study dialog box.
In addition, you can create an approximation table derived from the master table.
The approximation table gives you approximated values of the design study goals for
the requested number of experiments. To create the approximation table, click Tools
> Approximation Table on the Multi-Objective Design Study dialog box.
Analyses
Sensitivity Analysis
About the Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitivity analysis allows you to analyze how various measured quantities
(parameters) vary when a model dimension or an independent model parameter is
varied within a specified range. The result is a graph for each selected parameter
showing the value of the parameter as a function of the dimension.
37
To access a sensitivity analysis, click Analysis > Sensitivity Analysis.

To create the analysis, you define the following attributes:
• A model dimension or parameter to vary.
• The range of values within which the dimension will vary.
• The number of steps (computations in the range).
• Parameters that have been created as the results of analysis features.
To generate the sensitivity analysis, the system does the following:

• Varies the selected dimension or parameter within the range
• Regenerates the model at each step.
• Computes the selected parameters.
• Generates a graph.
To Perform a Sensitivity Analysis

1. Click Analysis > Sensitivity Analysis. The Sensitivity dialog box opens.
2. Create a new or open an existing study.
o To create a new study, click . Accept a default name or type a name for
the study.
o To open an existing study, click . Select the name of the study from a
list.
3. Under Variable Selection, select design variables as follows:
o To select a variable dimension, click Dimension and select a dimension in

the model.
Note: You cannot select driven dimensions. They appear on the left side of
a relation.
o To select an independent model parameter, click Parameter. An

independent model parameter is a parameter on the right hand side of a
relation.
4. Specify the range for design variables by typing the minimum and maximum
values in the respective fields in the dialog box.
5. Under Parameters to Plot, click the selection arrow button and select any of the
previously created analysis feature parameters from the Parameters dialog box.
6. Click OK to return to the Sensitivity dialog box.
Note:
38
o If you have a license for Mechanica, Mechanica parameters and analyses

that have been previously defined also appear in the Parameters list box.
After you select Mechanica parameters or analyses and click Compute, the
system starts running multiple Mechanica analyses.
o If you have a license for Mechanism Dynamics, dynamics measures

created in Mechanism Dynamics are available under Goals and Design
Constraints.
7. Under Steps, enter the number of calculations you want to make between the
minimum and maximum values.
8. Optionally, to see the model change as each value is calculated, click Options >
Preferences and click Animate model.
9. Click OK to return to the Sensitivity dialog box.
10. Optionally, to set the default range for design variables, click Options > Default
Range.
11. Click Compute or click . For each selected parameter, a graph window opens
to display the calculations.
12. To save the study, click
13. Click Close.
Example: Sensitivity Analysis

Summary: This example shows how to create a sensitivity study to investigate the
relationship between two model parameters.
Problem: Need to analyze how the part mass changes as you change the number of
teeth in the gear.
Solution: Create an analysis feature to measure the mass of the gear. After the
MASS parameter is created, you can conduct a sensitivity study to investigate how
the mass changes as you change another parameter, the number of teeth in the
gear.
1. Create an analysis feature to measure the mass of the gear. Click Insert >
Model Datum > Analysis. In the ANALYSIS dialog box, do the following:
o Enter the name of the analysis, gear_mass.
o Click Model Analysis as the type of the analysis.
o Click Next.
o Click Model Mass Properties as the type of measure.
o Click Compute.
o Click Close.
39
o Under Result params, select the parameter MASS and select Yes to
create this parameter.
o Click OK.
2. Create a sensitivity analysis by clicking Analysis > Sensitivity Analysis. In the

Sensitivity dialog box, specify the following:
o Click Parameter.
o Click the number of teeth (N) as the parameter to vary and click OK.
o Set the range to 10 – 20 teeth.
o Select a parameter to plot (MASS) and click OK.
o Specify the number of passes, 11.
o Click Compute.
3. Inspect the graph produced by the analysis. Click Close.
The following graph shows the output of the sensitivity study. The graph shows how
the mass of the gear (y-axis) changes as you change the number of teeth (x-axis).
The number of points in the resulting curve corresponds to the number of
computations within the selected range.
40
External Analysis
About the External Analysis and Analysis Feature

In addition to standard analyses provided by Pro/ENGINEER, you can create a
customized analysis using a Pro/TOOLKIT application, register the application, and
start it from within Pro/ENGINEER in a parametric, associative fashion.
To access an external analysis, click Analysis > External Analysis from the toolbar
menu.
You can also create an analysis feature that is driven by an external analysis. The
external application determines which parameters and datum features will be created
as a result of this analysis feature. The external application allows you to create
geometry (for example, datum curves) and use this geometry as regular
Pro/ENGINEER features for modeling and analysis.
To create an external analysis feature, click Insert > Model Datum > Analysis and
select External Analysis as the analysis type.
For information on using Pro/TOOLKIT to define the analysis functions and for
examples of external analyses, refer to the Pro/TOOLKIT User's Guide.
To Perform an External Analysis

Note: Before creating an external analysis, you must register your application as the
analysis type in Pro/TOOLKIT. For information on using Pro/TOOLKIT to define the
analysis functions, refer to the Pro/TOOLKIT User's Guide.
1. Click Analysis > External Analysis. The External Analysis dialog box opens.
2. Under Type, select an application supplied by Pro/TOOLKIT.
3. Click the Analysis UI button. This brings up the user interface defined by your
Pro/TOOLKIT application.
4. Follow system prompts to make selections as specified in your Pro/TOOLKIT

application.
5. Click Compute to perform the analysis.
7. To save the analysis, click Save and enter its name.
9. Click Close to close the External Analysis dialog box.
Motion Analysis
About Motion Analysis

Motion Analysis produces the following results:
41
• Maximum and minimum values of the top-level assembly feature parameters and
the time when these values were reached
• A graphical display of the motion envelope
To Create a Motion Analysis

1. Click Analysis > Motion Analysis. The Motion Analysis dialog box opens.
2. Under Motion Definition, select the motion definition that you want to analyze.
3. Under Parameters, select the parameters that you want to compute.
Note: If you have a license for Mechanism Dynamics, the Parameters list
includes the dynamics measures created in Mechanism Dynamics.
4. Under Options, select from the following:
o Use All Moving Parts—Create a motion envelope using all moving parts.
If you do not want to include all moving parts, clear this option and select
the parts individually.
o Create Motion Envelope—Show the motion envelope for all or selected

moving parts.
o Envelope quality—Enter an integer that defines accuracy of the display of

the quilt that represents the motion envelope.
o Update Interval—Enter the number of frames between two update

events. This number determines how often the system updates the
graphical results.
5. Click Run to begin the analysis. The system shows the moving parts in motion,
computes the values of the parameters included in the analysis, and shows the
graphs. The number of the computation points for the analysis depends on the
number of frames in the motion definition.
The results of the computation appear in the Results box. For each parameter,
the system computes the minimum and maximum values, and the time when
these values were reached.
6. To view the results in an Information window, click Info.
7. To change the display setting for the motion envelope, click Display.
8. To save or retrieve the results of the analysis, click Saved Analyses.
9. To save this analysis in an analysis feature, click Add Feature and enter a name
for the feature. A new analysis feature appears in the Model Tree.
10. Click Close.
42
Mechanica Analysis
To Create a Mechanica Analysis

With a Mechanica license, you can run structure and thermal analyses that have
been previously defined in Mechanica.
Note: When running Mechanica analyses in Behavioral Modeling, the number of load
sets or modes may be restricted.
1. Click Analysis > Mechanica Analysis. The Mechanica Analysis dialog box
opens.
2. Under Type, choose the type of the analysis: Structure or Thermal.
3. To retrieve a Mechanica analysis, select its name from the Definition list.
4. Under Results, select the measures that you want to compute.
5. Click Compute.
6. To view the results in an Information window, click Info.
7. To save or retrieve the results of the analysis, click Saved Analyses.
8. To save this analysis in an analysis feature, click Add Feature and enter a name
for the feature. The new analysis feature appears on the Model Tree under the
name of the analysis.
9. Click Close to end the analysis.
Excel Analysis and Excel Analysis Feature
About the Excel Analysis and Excel Analysis Feature

As part of your Behavioral Modeling activities, you can use an external Excel file to
define the analysis that you want to perform on a Pro/ENGINEER model. You can
then capture the results of the Excel analysis in the Excel Analysis feature.
This functionality is intended for Windows 95 and Windows NT machines. You cannot
access Excel analysis on a UNIX workstation. If you retrieve a model with an Excel
analysis on a UNIX workstation, the Analysis feature becomes frozen.
When you save an Excel analysis or create an Excel Analysis feature, the system
saves the complete path to the .xls file. When you retrieve an Excel analysis or
when an Excel Analysis feature is regenerated, the system searches for the .xls file
in these locations in the following order:
• The original location of the file from which it was selected for the analysis
• The current working directory
• The directory specified by the configuration option excel_analysis_directory.
43
To Create an Excel Analysis

Input values for the Excel analysis can be the following:
• Model dimensions
• Top-level model parameters
• Analysis feature parameters
1. Click Analysis > Excel Analysis. The Excel Analysis dialog box opens.
Click Load file and select a .xls file to open. If you want to create an Excel table
on-the-fly, click New file.
The system opens the Excel file so that you can specify input and output values
for the analysis.
2. Specify input settings by associating a model dimension or parameter with the

corresponding cell in the Excel spreadsheet.
To associate a dimension, click Add Dimension, in the model window. Select a

dimension that you want to use in the analysis, and click the corresponding cell in
the Excel spreadsheet. Accept the selection. Click Add Dimension to continue.
To associate a parameter, click Add Parameter. Select a parameter that you

want to use in the analysis from the Parameters dialog box, and click the
corresponding cell in the Excel spreadsheet. Accept the selection. Click Add
Parameter to continue.
The dimension and parameter selected for the analysis appear in the Input
Settings table in the Excel Analysis dialog box. For each dimension or
parameter, the table lists its current value and the corresponding cell in the
spreadsheet.
To remove a dimension or parameter from the selection, select a row in the

Input Settings table and click Remove.
3. Specify output settings by selecting what you want to compute from the
spreadsheet. Click Output Cells in the dialog box, in the spreadsheet click a cell
that contains an output value, and click Done Select.
The selected cells appear in the Output cells field in the dialog box.
4. Click Compute. The system runs the Excel analysis. The results of the
computation appear under Results in the Excel Analysis dialog box.
6. To save the analysis, click Saved Analyses, enter its name, and click the Save
icon.
7. Click Close to close the Excel Analysis dialog box.
To Create an Excel Analysis Feature

You can create an Excel Analysis feature by using the results of an Excel analysis.
44
2. Under Name, type a name for the analysis or accept the default name.
3. Under Type, click Excel Analysis.

following options:

regeneration.

by a design study.
5. Click Next. The Excel Analysis dialog box opens.
6. To retrieve a previously saved analysis, click Saved Analyses and select the
name of the .xls file.
To load an existing Excel file, click Load file and select an .xls file. To create a
new Excel file, click New file.
7. After loading or creating the Excel file, define the analysis as required.
Note: If you created a new file, you must save and reload it into the current
analysis feature.
8. Click Compute to run the analysis.
9. Click Close to return to the ANALYSIS dialog box.
The Result params window opens. All cells selected for the output settings
appear in the Result params table. The table lists the parameter status,
parameter name, and description.
10. To create a parameter, select it from the Result params table and click YES
under Create.
11. Under Param name, accept the default name or type a name for the parameter.
The defaults parameter name XL_<columnletter>_<rownumber> reflects the

position of the corresponding output cell in the Excel spreadsheet.
13. Click OK to create the Analysis feature.
45
Comparing Graphs
About Comparing Graphs

You can compare two graphs to determine the difference in the distributions of one
parameter along the other parameter. For example, in your project you may be
required to change the cross section of a pipe according to a certain rule, or graph.
To analyze the distribution, you can compare the actual distribution of the cross
section along the length of the pipe to the desired distribution, which is defined by a
graph feature. Once you have measured the difference between the two graphs, you
can use this parameter in Behavioral Modeling to optimize the difference and obtain
the most desired distribution.
To Compare Two Graphs

Matching two graphs involves two basic steps:
1. Create a Relation Analysis Feature that compares two graphs. Use the Analysis
feature to compute the difference between the graphs.
2. Run an optimization study to minimize the difference.
To compare two graphs, add a relation using the following syntax:

relation_name = comparegraphs("name_1", "name_2", "type", left_bound_1,
right_bound_1, left_bound_2, right_bound_2)
where:
• relation_name – is the name for the relation.
• name_1 – is the name for the first graph or analysis feature.
• name_2 – is the name for the second graph or analysis feature.
• left_bound_1 and right_bound_1 – are the left and right boundaries of the first
graph.
• left_bound_2 and right_bound_2 – are the left and right boundaries of the
second graph.
• type – is the method for computing the difference between the graphs. Choose
from the following types: lone (default), ltwo, linf, area. The table explains
the different types of measurement.
Measurement Based on the Formula What it

Type Measures
lone L1 norm of f(t)-g(t) = ? ¦f(t)-g(t)¦dt - 8 Measures the

<t<8 area between
f(t) and g(t).
ltwo L2 norm of f(t)-g(t) = sqrt (? (f(t)- When f(t) -
46
g(t))2 dt - 8 < t < 8) g(t) is a

measure of the
error, larger
values of the
error have
more weight
on the L2
norm.
linf L8 norm of f(t)-g(t) = max f(t)-g(t) - 8 Measures the

<t<8 maximum
error between
two functions.
area integral of f(t)-g(t) = ? (f(t)-g(t)) dt - 8 Measures the

<t<8 signed area
between f(t)
and g(t).
When specifying arguments for the comparegraphs function, you have the following
options:
• Specify only two arguments – Specify the names for the graphs only. By default,
the system uses the lone result type and the entire lengths of the graphs.
• Specify only three arguments – Specify the names for the two graphs and the
result type. By default, the system uses the entire lengths of the graphs.
• Specify all 7 allowable arguments.
Note: You can specify the name for the second graph (name_2) as "zero". Then the
system will compute the function with respect to the horizontal base y=0.
Graphing Tools
About Graphing Tools

You can customize various aspects of the Grapher window using the Grapher tools.
• File :
o Export Excel—Save raw data in a Microsoft Excel file.
o Export Text—Save raw data in a text file under the extension .grt. In the
text file, data is listed in columns, separated by tabs. The first row lists the x-
axis values. To save the file, use the Export To Text dialog box.
o Print—Print the graph or save the image in a preferred format using the Print
dialog box.
o Exit—Close the graphics window.
47
• View :
o Toggle Grid—Turn the grid display on or off.
o Repaint—Refresh the display.
o Refit—Reset the graph to the default size.
o Zoom In—Zoom into a portion of the graph. The system displays the selected
portion of the graph using the minimum and maximum values for the x-axis.
• Format :
o Graph—Open the Graph dialog box.
The next tables shows the icons on the Grapher toolbar.
Icon Function
Opens the Print dialog box.
Toggles the display of grid lines.
Runs the Repaint command.
Runs the Zoom In command.
Runs the Refit command.
Opens the Graph Window Options dialog

box.
To Modify the Graphtool

1. Click Format > Graph. The Graph Window Options dialog box opens.
Note: You can also open this dialog box through the shortcut menu, or by clicking
in the toolbar, or clicking one of the following items in the Graphtool:

• x-axis and y-axis labels
• graph title
• data series legend
2. Click the X Axis and Y Axis tabs to specify the following:
• Graph—List the name of the graph.
• Axis Label—Specify a new label for the axis. A name can contain a single line of
text up to 32 characters long.
48
• Display Axis Label—Click or clear the Display Axis Label check box to display
or erase the label on the axis, respectively.
• Text Style—Select the character style for the axis label from the Graph Font
Editor dialog box. You can also select the font, color, and character height.
• Range—Change the default range for the graph axis by specifying maximum and
minimum values.
• Gridlines—Select the gridline style from the Style list. To set the color of grid
lines, click to open the Color Editor.
• Tick Marks—Specify the number of major and minor tick marks on the graph.
Two is the minimum value for the major tick marks, zero for the minor tick
marks. Click Reset to recalculate the tick marks for the user-supplied range.
• Axis—Set the line width for the axis from the Thickness list. To set the color of
grid lines, click to open the Color Editor.
• Tick Labels—Set the alignment of tick labels to horizontal or vertical. Click Text
Style to select the character style for the axis label from the Graph Font Editor.
You can also specify the font, color, and character height.
• Scaling—Scale the axis using Log Scale. Alternatively, to compress the y-axis,
clear the Log Scale check box and specify a scaling factor.
3. Click the Data Series tab to specify the following:
• Graph—Displays the name of the graph.
• Data Series edit table—The number of rows in the table corresponds to the
number of data series. This table has the following columns:
o Data Series—Displays the default name for the data series. You cannot
edit this box.
o Label—Displays the name that appears in the legend. You can type a new
name.
o Point—Displays the default color for point display. Click this box to change
the color using the Color Editor.
o Line—Displays the default color for line display. Click this box to change
the color using the Color Editor.
o Point Display—Displays the current style for point display. You can select
a different style from the list.
o Interpolation—Displays the current interpolation method. To change the

method, select from the list.
o Thickness—Displays the current line thickness style. To change the line

thickness, select from the list.
• Legend—Turn the display of the legend on or off.
49
• Text Style—Select the character style for the data series from the Graph Font
Editor. You can select the font, color, and character height.
4. Click the Graph Display tab to specify the following:
• Title—Specify a new title for the graph. A title can contain up to 80 characters
and can have two lines of text.
• Display Title—Turn the display of the title on or off.
• Text Style—Change the style of the title using the Graph Font Editor. You can
select the font, color, and character height.
• Background Color—Change the background color by clicking .
• Blended Background—Set the background to blended. To change the blended

background, click Edit. To change the blended background to solid, clear the
Blended Background checkbox.
• Selection Color—Click to change the selection color.
Note: Click Set default in the Graph Window Options dialog box to customize the
graph settings and set them as default. The text file that defines the settings for the
graphs is automatically updated with the new settings. Set default is available only
if you set the bmgr_pref_file configuration option in the config.pro file.
To Use the Print Dialog Box
1. Click on the Graphtool window.
2. Select the output format by choosing from these formats: Microsoft Print
Manager, PostScript (Vector), HPGL2, TIFF, BMP, Encapsulated
PostScript, JPEG.
3. Select the printer. To configure the printer, click Properties.
4. Select the paper size. You can also set the custom paper size by selecting
Variable in mm or Variable in Inch from the Size list and entering the width
and height dimensions.
5. Select the image resolution and depth.
Note: For TIFF and BMP formats, you can define the plot quality by specifying
Resolution and Image Depth. For JPEG and Encapsulated PostScript, you can
define the quality by specifying Resolution.
6. Specify the output options:
o To File—Save the plot to a file in the selected format. Specify the file name
and location.
o To Printer—Send the plot to the printer. Enter the print command to use.
You can specify whether you want to delete the temporary plot file
(tmplot.plt) by selecting one of these options:
50
Never—Do not delete the plot file.
Immediately—Delete the plot file after the plot has been sent to the
printer.
Dialog—Display a dialog box, allowing you to delete the plot file.
7. Specify the plot format options:
o Select the orientation of the plot: Landscape or Portrait.
o Scale up or scale down the plot image by specifying the zoom factor.
o Offset the location of the graph on the paper by specifying the x-axis and
y-axis offset values.
8. Specify the number of copies.
9. To preview the plot, click Preview.
10. To finish, click OK.
Customizing Graph Display Settings

You can use the bmgr_pref_file configuration option to customize various settings
for your graphs. You can define the axis and graph line weights, label fonts, tick
mark types, grid styles and so on.
With this configuration option included in your config.pro file, Pro/ENGINEER uses
settings stored in a user-created graph preferences text file to determine how to
render your graphs. Customising your graph helps you ensure the exact graph
display characteristics you want, each time you view a graph. To change the
appearance of the customised graph, click Format > Graph. You can also save the
time of manually reformatting each graph through the Graph Window Options
dialog box.
You can create a graph preferences file as follows:
1. Create a text file that contains the settings you want.
2. Add the bmgr_pref_file configuration option to your config.pro file and set it
to the name of your graph settings file.
To help you create a valid graph settings file, here is a sample file, that shows the
items you can set and what some of the possible values might be.
X_Axis_Color 5.019608e-01f,5.019608e-01f,1.000000e+00f
X_Axis_DisplayLabel 1
X_Axis_GridColor 5.019608e-01f,5.019608e-01f,0.000000e+00f
X_Axis_GridEnabled 1
X_Axis_GridStyle 2
X_Axis_LabelColor 1.000000e+00f,1.000000e+00f,1.000000e+00f
X_Axis_LabelEnabled 1
X_Axis_LabelFont graphtool_font
X_Axis_LabelFontHeight 1.500000e-01f
X_Axis_Thickness 4
51
X_Axis_TickColor 1.000000e+00f,1.000000e+00f,1.000000e+00f
X_Axis_TickFont graphtool_font
X_Axis_TickFontHeight 1.000000e-01f
X_Axis_TickHorizontal 1
Y_Axis_Color 1.000000e+00f,0.000000e+00f,0.000000e+00f
Y_Axis_DisplayLabel 1
Y_Axis_GridColor 5.019608e-01f,5.019608e-01f,0.000000e+00f
Y_Axis_GridEnabled 1
Y_Axis_GridStyle 2
Y_Axis_LabelColor 1.000000e+00f,1.000000e+00f,1.000000e+00f
Y_Axis_LabelEnabled 1
Y_Axis_LabelFont graphtool_font
Y_Axis_LabelFontHeight 1.500000e-01f
Y_Axis_Thickness 2
Y_Axis_TickColor 1.000000e+00f,1.000000e+00f,1.000000e+00f
Y_Axis_TickFont graphtool_font
Y_Axis_TickFontHeight 1.000000e-01f
Y_Axis_TickHorizontal 1
52
Index
A overview ...................................44
Analysis Excel analysis ...............................44
saved ......................................... 1 Excel Analysis feature
Analysis ........................................ 1 creating ....................................45
Analysis feature overview ...................................44
creating...................................... 4 Excel Analysis feature .............. 44, 45
definition .................................... 3 External analysis
external...............................10, 11 creating ....................................41
graph as a result of ...................... 5 overview ...................................41
motion analysis type .................... 9 External analysis ...........................41
overview..................................... 3 External Analysis command ............41
Analysis feature.............................. 3 External Analysis feature................10
B external application
Behavioral Modeling Extension running .....................................41
overview..................................... 1 external application .......................41
Behavioral Modeling Extension ....... 11 F
C Feasibility study
compare graphs functions.............. 46 definition...................................27
construction group for UDA overview ...................................38
creating.................................... 13 performing ................................25
definition .................................. 13 Feasibility study ............................38
rules for creating ....................... 13 Feasibility/Optimization command ...24
construction group for UDA ............ 13 field point
D creating ....................................12
Design study definition...................................12
creating an optimization feature... 23 overview ...................................11
Design study................................ 23 types ........................................12
E field point ....................................12
Excel analysis Field Point command .....................12
creating.................................... 44
53
G derived table .............................28
graph study for Multi-Objective Design expanding master table...............34

Analysis.................................... 35
generating graphs ......................35
graphs
master table ..............................28
comparing ................................ 46
overview ...................................28
display ..................................... 51
Pareto method ...........................28
graphs ........................................ 46
saving results ............................35
graphtool..................................... 48
terminology ...............................29
Graphtool window
Multi-Objective Design study ..........28
modifying ................................. 49
O
Graphtool window....................48, 51
Optimization feature ......................23
L
Optimization study
Local Group command
definition...................................25
CREATE GROUP menu ................ 13
methods....................................24
Local Group command................... 13
overview ...................................38
M
performing ................................24
master table
Optimization study ........................38
expanding............................33, 34
P
generating ................................ 33
persistent display ........................1, 2
master table ................................ 28
preferences
Mechanica analyses .................21, 43
for Multi-Objective Design study ...36
Motion analysis ............................ 42
preferences ..................................36
Motion Analysis command.............. 42
S
Motion Analysis feature ................... 9
Sensitivity Analysis command .........38
motion definition .......................... 42
Sensitivity study
motion envelope
overview ...................................38
creating in BMX ......................... 42
performing ................................38
motion envelope........................... 42
Sensitivity study ...........................38
Multi-Objective Design study
U
conducting ................................ 31
UDA
constraints method .................... 28
creating ....................................13
54
Index
UDA............................................ 13 rules and recommendations .........11
User-Defined Analysis (UDA) saving.......................................15
creating.................................... 13 User-Defined Analysis (UDA) ..........11
definition .................................. 11
55

Behavioral Modeling

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Behavioral Modeling

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

®

Parametric Technology Corporation

Using Behavioral Modeling ............................................................................ 1

About Behavioral Modeling ......................................................................... 1

To Open the Saved Analysis ....................................................................... 1

Configuring Behavioral Modeling .................................................................... 2

About Configuring Behavioral Modeling ........................................................ 2

To Set Behavioral Modeling Configuration Options ......................................... 2

Behavioral Modeling Tools ............................................................................. 3

Analysis Feature ....................................................................................... 3

User-Defined Analysis ...............................................................................11

Comparing Graphs ...................................................................................46

Graphing Tools ...........................................................................................47

About Graphing Tools ...............................................................................47

To Modify the Graphtool ............................................................................48

To Use the Print Dialog Box .......................................................................50

Customizing Graph Display Settings ...........................................................51

Using Behavioral Modeling

About Behavioral Modeling

• Create geometric entities based on measurements and analyses of the model.

• Create new types of measurements tailored to application-specific needs.

• Analyze the behavior of measured parameters as variable dimensions and

• Automatically find dimension and parameter values that achieve a desired

• Analyze the behavior of measured parameters within a specified design space.

The basic building blocks of Behavioral Modeling are:

• Persistent analysis display

• User-Defined Analysis (UDA)

• Sensitivity, Feasibility, and Optimization Studies

• Multi-Objective Design studies

To Open the Saved Analysis

• Redefine a selected analysis

• Delete a saved analysis

Configuring Behavioral Modeling

About Configuring Behavioral Modeling

• Default and available variables or values. The default value is in italic.

• Brief description and notes describing the configuration option.

To Set Behavioral Modeling Configuration Options

4. In the Value box type or select a value.

Note: The default value is followed by an asterisk (*).

6. Click Apply or OK. See Also

• default—Opens a customizable Grapher window with several utilities available.

• generic_graphtool—Opens a generic graph window.

For Windows NT machines:

• excel_embedded—Opens an Excel window that is part of the Pro/ENGINEER

• excel_linked—Opens a stand alone Excel window.

• generic_graphtool—Opens a generic graph window.

When you work with Behavioral Modeling on an NT or a Windows 95 machine, you

Behavioral Modeling Tools

About an Analysis Feature

• A type (measure, model analysis, surface analysis, curve analysis, relation, or

• A definition (consisting of the measurement or analysis to be performed, the

• Results of the analysis to be included in the feature

To Create an Analysis Feature

3. Under Type, select the analysis that you want to perform.

4. Under RegenRequest, specify the regeneration option by selecting one of the

o Always—Always regenerates the analysis feature during model

o Read Only—Excludes the analysis feature from the model regeneration.

o Only Design Study—Regenerates the analysis feature only when it is used

12. Click . The analysis feature is created.

Tip: Using the Graph as a Result of the Analysis Feature

Example: Including Mass Properties in the Family Table

2. Create an analysis feature. In the ANALYSIS dialog box, do the following:

o Enter the name of the analysis, bolt_mass.