Work with level of detail representations

The following workflows suggest ways to employ level of detail representations.

Note: When creating level of detail representations for existing assemblies, all files must be migrated and saved to access system-defined level of detail representations.

Use a system-defined level of detail representation to load minimum components

Use a system-defined level of detail representation to load only needed components.

1. Click Open, and browse to the assembly file to open.
2. On the Open dialog box, click Options.
3. On the File Open Options dialog box, click Level of Detail Representations and select one:
   • Master (the default state of the assembly loads all components)
   • All Components Suppressed
   • All Parts Suppressed
   • All Content Center Suppressed

   Click OK to close the dialog box and open the assembly. Graphics of the suppressed components are not displayed, but all components are shown in the browser.

Once the system-defined representation is open, you can suppress or unsuppress components as needed:

1. In the browser, right-click needed components and clear the check mark on Suppress.
2. Use Zoom All, if needed, to see the components in the graphics window.
3. When you have enough parts loaded, save the file. You are prompted to name a new level of detail representation, capturing the current suppression states of components.

Load the full assembly and then suppress unneeded components

You can selectively remove items from memory. This is the reverse of the previous workflow because you load the full assembly and suppress components you do not need.

Tip: You can toggle between Master and All Parts Suppressed. Hold down the Alt key and double-click a subassembly.

1. Click Open, and browse to the assembly file to open.
2. In the Open dialog box, click Options.
3. On the File Open Options dialog box, click Level of Detail Representations and select Master. All components are shown in the browser and the graphics window.
4. In the browser, right-click unneeded components and select Suppress.
5. Save the file. You are prompted to name a new level of detail representation, capturing the current suppression states of components.

If you prefer, you can begin working with the full assembly, and as you determine components you don't need, or begin to run short on memory, suppress components and create a new level of detail to reduce memory consumption.

Suppress or unsuppress components by properties

Use the Find command to locate components by properties such as stock number, change date, adaptive state, or BOM structure. All of the found components are marked in the browser. You can select individually or multiple components, and then suppress.

1. Click Open, and browse to the assembly file to open.
2. On the Open dialog box, click Options.
3. On the File Open Options dialog box, click Level of Detail Representations and select the desired representation. Click OK to close the dialog box. The graphics window and browser represent the selected representation.
4. Click the binoculars on the browser bar to open the Find Assembly Components dialog box.
5. Specify the desired search criteria and then click Add to List to add the criteria. Click Find Now and then click Close.

   All of the found components are marked in the browser.

6. Right-click the found components in the browser and select or clear the check mark on Suppress.
7. When you have suppressed unneeded components, rename the new level of detail with a descriptive name.
8. Save the file. You are prompted to name a new level of detail representation, capturing the current suppression states of components.

Suppress or unsuppress components by selection criteria

Use one of the selection commands to select components, and then suppress them. For example, use the selection command to select components of a specific size, or external components, or constrained to a selected component. Rename the level of detail with a descriptive name.

1. Click Open, and browse to the assembly file to open.
2. On the Open dialog box, click Options.
3. On the File Open Options dialog box, click Level of Detail Representations and select the desired representation. Click OK to close the dialog box. The graphics window and browser represent the selected representation.
4. On the Quick Access toolbar, click the arrow on the drop-down list of component selection options. Use one of the options to create a set:

   	Select All Occurrences of the selected model.
   	Constrained To one or more preselected components.
   	Component Size set in the Select by Size box or specified percentage, with 100% as the largest component size.
   	Component Offset set in the Select by Offset box or partially contained components.
   	Sphere Offset set in the Select by Sphere box or partially contained components.
   	Select by Plane selects on the specified side of a plane or partially contained components.
   	External Components selects and external components by the specified visibility state.
   	Internal Components selects hidden (internal) components by the specified visibility state.
   	All in Camera selects visible components in the current view plane by the specified visibility state.

5. Right-click the found components in the browser and select or clear the check mark on Suppress.
6. Save the file. You are prompted to name a new level of detail representation, capturing the current suppression states of components.

Place a subassembly using a defined level of detail representation

You may find it advantageous to place a subassembly with a pre-defined level of detail representation. For example, you want to place a subassembly using a substitute level of detail to load only a single simplified part in place of the entire assembly to save memory in the upper level assembly.

1. On the ribbon, click Assemble tab Component panel Place . Use the command drop-down arrow if necessary.
2. In the Place Component dialog box, select an Autodesk Inventor *.iam file.
3. Click Options.
4. In the File Open Options dialog box, select a previously defined level of detail representation, and then click OK.
5. Click Open. The subassembly with the selected level of detail representation is attached to the cursor.
6. Click in graphics window of the active assembly to place the subassembly. You can place as many subassemblies as you need, right-click, and then select Done.

Note: When you place a subassembly using a defined Substitute LOD representation the assembly icon in the browser is replaced by the substitute LOD icon .

Tips for creating nested representations

Components consume active levels of detail in their dependents. That is, you can create simplified level of detail representations or a substitute level of detail at the smallest subassembly. Subassemblies that consume the subassembly load only the components in the active level of detail. When this process is repeated several times in the assembly hierarchy, memory consumption is significantly reduced.

Use these guidelines to create nested level of detail representations:

• Start from the bottom and work up the assembly hierarchy. Group small components into subassemblies where possible, and suppress unneeded small detailed parts.

  Create a level of detail of the simplified assembly and save the file, giving the representation a descriptive name.

• Group simplified components into subassemblies, and suppress unneeded components. Create another level of detail of the simplified subassembly and save it as the active state.
• Continue developing level of detail representations by creating subassemblies and then simplify them by suppressing unneeded components.

For best results, establish a naming scheme for the representations so that you can readily see which level of detail needs to be active in a consumed component. Make the name descriptive so you can tell its contents without having to load the component.