howto
Designate Components
Set designations on assembly components in Creo with Designate Components, including tree edits and designation-map import and export.
Designate Components is the Creo how-to for Designator: name components in the active assembly, watch compound designations for conflicts, and save or import a designation map. See Designator for methods, settings, and what Designator is not.
Open Designate Components
Open the assembly you want to designate. It must be the active model and modifiable (checked out / unlocked).
In the CadActive ribbon, Standardize group, select Designate Components.
The dialog title is Designate Components - by CadActive. The command help is: Set designations for components in the assembly. You need a Standardize license, a CadActive server session, and an assembly. Parts are not supported. If the model is not modifiable, CadActive prompts you before the dialog opens.
There is no OK or Cancel. Designations apply as you set them. Close dismisses the dialog (Esc also closes). Changing Show Settings writes Designation Method back to the organization setting on close.
Read the tree
Each node is a model name. Columns:
Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
Stat | Status icon. Help text: Designated (unique compound designation), Conflicting designation (the same compound designation on more than one component), or Assembly contains conflicting designation (an ancestor of a conflict). |
Base Designation | The designation on that component. |
Compound Designation | Parent designations joined with the compound delimiter. |
ID Path | Creo assembly component path from the top assembly. |
The top-level assembly cannot be designated. Selecting it shows: The top level assembly cannot be selected.
Select and expand
Select in model — select a component in the model tree or graphics window to highlight it in the designation tree. Help text: Select component in model tree or graphics window.
Expand cascade: Expand All, Expand Designated, Collapse All.
Designate, edit, or undesignate
Right-click a component (not the top assembly).
Command | When it is available | What it does |
|---|---|---|
Designate | The component has no designation | Prompts Please enter designation. The name cannot contain the compound delimiter. |
Select Designation | The component has no designation and you have imported a map | Opens Select Designation / Select the desired designation from the imported data. If none match the model name: No designations found matching {model}. |
Edit Designation | The component is already designated | Prompts Please enter new designation. |
Undesignate | The component is already designated | Confirms: Are you sure you want to undesignate {model}? |
If the component is already designated and you would otherwise designate it, CadActive asks: Selected component is already designated. Do you want to edit the designation?
If it is not designated and you undesignate: Selected component is not designated.
Save or import a designation map
File menu:
Save — Save Designation Data to File. Writes the designation map (Excel by default; CSV is accepted).
Import — Import Designation Data from File. Required columns:
Model Name,Designation. After import, Select Designation becomes available. Attach Designation Import to Windchill controls whether the file is attached (Disabled, As Content to Model, or As Independent File).
Unattended export and import: Standardize Command Line with EXPORT_DESIGNATION_MAP and IMPORT_DESIGNATION_MAP. Map columns and the Designated Components Report are on Designator.
Show Settings
Optionally select Show Settings to reveal Component Settings:
Designation Method: — Cabling Designation, Feature Name, or Feature Parameter. Help text: How would you like to search for designated components?
Designation Parameter: — shown when the method is Feature Parameter. The field displays Reference Designation Component Parameter and is not editable here.
Changing Designation Method updates the tree and writes the organization setting. Full list: Settings for Standardize.
Tools
Tools → Undesignate All clears designations for the current method on the top model. CadActive asks: Are you sure you want to undesignate all components in {model}? All designation data will be removed.