To publish or not

[rossly]

Maybe someone can set me straight on this one. Is there an advantage to publish bodies, surfaces, points, etc? If so, where is it better than just a straight copy and paste with link.

Thanks.
Ross.

 

[nev99]

A publication is like a stake in the ground.

It gives you the ability to redefine the object it is pointed at. As does copy with link

However it orders the data in a manner that makes it easy to manage and select by some sensible name.

Regards

Nev

 

[jackk]

The biggest benefit is when the linked parent geometry is modified or replaced.

If the linked body,surface,plane,point is modified or if it's replaced with a new element, the copied (child) geometry must be replaced manually. This can take lots of time, especially if this copied geometry is the parent to many other elements.

But if the parent geometry is published, then all the children are automatically replaced.

 

[jackk]

Another benefit is the published elements appear 'higher' in the tree, so you don't have to expand the tree as much to select something.

 

[rossly]

Jackk, agreed that the linked data is better. I do that now but I have been picking an unpublished element and the pasted special> copy w/ link. That seems to do the same thing. What Nev was saying, it give the next user an organized look. ie it puts all the data that was copied to other parts in a tidy area.

What I am feeling is that publishing does not offer any extra modeling benifits but it helps organize you data. Which is a VERY good thing. Is that a correct statement?

Thanks guys.
Ross.

 

[DBezaire]

Can you put a price tag on assembly stability? If you replace components that use identical published names, the contextual links that are used in the assembly are also replaced with the new items.

 

[jackk]

Ross,

Yes - Linked data is better, but Published Linked data is best.

you asked: "What I am feeling is that publishing does not offer any extra modeling benefits but it helps organize you data. Is that a correct statement?"

Well... yes, it is a correct statement. Publishing does not help make better solid or surface geometry.

The only benefit Publish provides to the creator of the Published data is it provides a convenient way to communciate which data should be used by those who are making the links to their children parts.

 

[CPosner]

Reiteration:
Publishing allows you to create a stable external reference. This is especially useful when creating complex Knowledge Templates.