Referencing Parts List Cells for Auto-Balloon Parts List Text

[rpiian]

Hello all, I’m going to try and write as clearly as possible. I’ve been searching for two days without an answer. These forums are quite valuable. While I’ve found 90% of my answers here, I could not find an answer to this question. Please read carefully if you dare.

I am using UG NX 7.5.1.5

I am using auto-balloon on my parts list for my assemblies. There are many assemblies.

This particular assembly has parts of a quantity greater than 1.
i.e. (3) 30215

I have a custom callout that pulls the quantity and component name for each part: ($~Q) <W$=@$COMPONENT_NAME> *
For custom reference callout text I just use <W$=@$COMPONENT_NAME>.

My problem is:

Most of the parts have a quantity of 1. This is redundant when the quantity is already shown in the parts list and the part is called out. However, I still need to display the quantity of parts with a quantity greater than 1. I want to display (3) 30215 but not (1) 500/2. Instead of (1) 500/2 I want 500/2. **

UG cannot, as far as I know, evaluate a formula for parts list CALLOUT text. But UG can, from what I’ve tried, evaluate a formula for parts list CELL text. Formula being: if($~Q>1)($~Q)else(0) . I figure if I can hide 0, the number in front of the part callout would hide. There is an option, as Mr. Baker pointed out in some other thread, but it only works for parts list CELL text.

Getting to my point, if I can’t use a formula, is there a way to reference the cells in the parts list for the custom callout/auto-balloon? I’ve noticed manual balloon text can pull in references, expressions, and attributes (which might work?), but I need automatic parts lists and auto-balloons. If the quantities of parts change, I need the drawing to update accordingly.

I’ve played with part attributes and part expressions, but selectable attributes only reference the assembly as a whole and not parts individually from each row in the parts list. Exceptions are what I call “generic individual” attributes, quantity $~Q, callout $~C, and maybe another. I have no idea where these individual part attributes are defined and how I can change them. Somehow they pull part attributes when they are associated with a cell or callout; there’s just no way to use them in a formula in the latter.

Should I just call GTAC?

Thank you,
-Ian

*I use <W$=@$COMPONENT_NAME> so I can manually adjust the part name for the company’s part numbers with non-supported characters. For example: 500_2 becomes 500/2.

**This is the company’s standard that is used with our other CAD system, CADKey Keycreator.


Ian
Design Engineer

http://www.schonbek.com/.web/sch_home3.html

 

[rpiian]

Answering my own redundant quantity concern...

There is of course a Semi-Associative way to do this. Just edit text to remove the (1). Not the fastest way but it works.

When the parts list updates, the quantity i.e.(1), is put back in place. This is due to my ($~Q) <W$=@$COMPONENT_NAME> code. It will at least update the balloons if the quantity changes.

If anyone finds or know a purely associative way to do this, let me know. Until then I have something that works.

Thanks!