The following steps describe how to use E-Links to link to external models or files.
- Open the desired job file that you want to insert an E-Link into.
- To import an external model link (E-Link), in the Workspace window, click the E-Links tab.
- Right click inside the E-Links window pane and click New, as shown below.
The Select External File to Link to dialog displays.
- In the Select External File to Link to dialog, navigate to and select the external file that contains the desired model, then click Open. The example shown below uses an external model that exists in a file named "Steel Layout.CAJ".
For a list of the various model formats than can be used, see E-Links - Supported Model Formats.
- Next, the External Link dialog displays, and if desired, you can specify the X, Y, and Z offset locations and orientation of the job\model that will be inserted into the currently open model. By default, these are set to zero. You can edit these to suit various co-ordinate references, depending on the models datum location
- Click OK to accept these parameters.
The selected external model is now displayed in the current model.
- Now that the external model has been linked to the current model, the name of the externally linked model displays in the E-Links tab.
- You can right-click on the name of the linked model in the E-Links tab to display the right-click menu options available. These options are described below.
- Select: When this option is enabled, the model can be selected. When this option is disabled, the E-Link cannot be selected.
- Isolate: When this option is enabled, the E-Link model is isolated (displayed) and other objects within the current model (job) are not displayed.
- Rename: Lets you rename the linked model, as it is displayed in the E-Links tab.
- Update: Updates the E-Linked model.
- Show: When this option is enabled, the E-Linked model is displayed in the current model (job).
- Enable: When this option is enabled, the E-Linked model can be selected.
- Reload: path location will be reloaded & refreshed back into the master model.
- Remove: Removes the E-linked model from the current model (job).
- Properties: Displays the External Link properties dialog which lets you edit the X, Y, and Z offset locations, as well as the orientation of the externally linked model.