custom symbol vs user defined symbol

[cowski]

After looking at the help files and searching for past threads, I'm still a bit confused about custom symbols vs. user defined symbols (NX6).

Here's my situation: I have a 'critical dimension' (or 'inspection dimension') symbol that we currently cut and paste as needed. I would like to turn it into a symbol that we can associate to a dimension. Ideally I would like to use it in a text string and use it in a dimension's appended (prefix) text.

Is a custom symbol or user defined symbol better suited for this or something else completely?

 

[cowski]

I should clarify that using the symbol in a line of text isn't a strict requirement. However, I would like to associate it to a dimension so that if/when a dimension moves the symbol will move with it.

 

[JohnRBaker]

While Custom Symbol is the newer and preferred approach, they do have a couple of significant shortcomings. First, they cannot be embedded in a text string like a User Defined Symbol can be, and second, they can not be appended to an Annotation object such as a dimension or label. About the best that you can do for now is to add a Custom Symbol to your drawing and then redefine its origin using something like the 'Offset Character' method and setting the X/Y scale factors until your get an acceptable result.

However, in NX 7.5 we are making Custom Symbols more compatible with other Annotation, such as allowing you embed them into a note, label, ID symbol, GD&T tolerance frame, etc.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[uwam2ie]

John,
can I put/handle the Custom Symbol into the resourcebar (*.pax) like the tubular notes in pre nx7.5 versions?
thx in ad

 

[JohnRBaker]

I'm not sure that you can do that now, but for NX 7.5, Custom Symbols will be included as part of the Reuse Library and therefore the Resource Bar will become the 'normal' way to access them, such as being able to 'drag & drop' them onto a Drawing just like you'd 'drag & drop' a bolt onto an Assembly.

Note that you will still be able to access Custom Symbols from a toolbar icon as you do today, just that the Reuse Library is evolving into the preferred mechanism to 'deliver' pre-engineered 'elements', be it a mechanical component (fasteners, bearings, bushings, etc.), a User Defined Feature, a standard profile (palette of sketches), a Drafting Symbol, etc.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[cowski]

I'm going to use the custom symbol since that seems to be the way NX is headed.

I have created a symbol and its icon, right now it is only available on my computer. How can I move this onto the network so everyone can get at it? I found a symbol library environment variable, this makes me think that all the symbols will have to reside in the same directory? Or is there a way to keep the OOTB symbols where they are (currently installed on each individual computer) and just place the custom company symbols on the network?

One other question: can you define the anchor point at an arbitrary location? User defined symbols allow you to do this, but it does not seem to be the case for custom symbols. For example, if you have an equilateral triangle and want to define the anchor point at the center of the triangle how would you do that in a custom symbol?