wondering what is meant by a few UG terms seed files and flat assembly?

[aluminum2]

I am wondering what the following terms mean

what is a seed file? how are they created, they sound like a template

what is a flat assembly structure?

 

[MickyV007]

I can try to answer the seed file question. We use since a year or so now and it is an other way to constrain your assembly. Where as in a normal assembly structure you constrain surfaces or datums to each other from one part to another. With a seed part you create a part in which you place datums, axes even sketches or points and place this as base in your assembly, now you begin entering other parts and attach them (constrain) to the datums/axes/... of the seed part. You begin in the top level of your assembly and place all the parts level down in this assembly (so you don't have subassy no more = flat assembly structure?).
Now you can use arrangements or reference sets and place the parts you need for the sub assemblies in them.
If you need to create some new drawings you can choose which arrangement or reference set is used and only the parts you placed in it will be visible (note, all the parts of the top assembly will be in it but not visible).
The advantage of this way of working is that when some changes have to be made you only will need to adapt the seed part and the whole structure (other drawings) will change with it. So you will need less time to make some changes and have less nested sub assemblies and part families.
I can imagine that if you have very large assemblies you don't want to use this method as the whole assembly will be loaded even if you need just 3 parts or so.
I hope this helps a little if not i can try to provide you with an example.

Best regards,

Michaël.

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