iFeature environment

A regular iFeature is a single version. You create it to be a specific size and can modify it directly by editing its file.

A table-driven iFeature is like an iPart factory. You define multiple versions of the same feature by adding rows to a table. Each row represents a different version of the feature.

If you use iFeatures regularly, such as slots in different sizes, define them as iFeatures. When placing the iFeature in a part, you specify its size by selecting a row in the table. To change sizes, edit the iFeature and select a different row.

If the entire part is going to be used as an iFeature, you can create a table-driven iPart and use it to create a table-driven iFeature. Once the table-driven iFeature is saved to the catalog location, use the iFeature Author to make changes to the table. Make sure you include all required parameter values in the table before creation. You can add or delete rows or modify column attributes in the iFeature Author, but you cannot add or delete parameters.

The iFeature Author converts an iFeature to a table-driven iFeature. Like an iPart factory, a table-driven iFeature has multiple versions that are developed and selected by rows in a table. In the iFeature Author dialog box, you can specify parameters, properties, threads, placement geometry, and custom parameters. Each row in the table can contain different values so that the iFeature can have many versions, each with a specific diameter, thread specifications, material, and so on.

Once an iFeature is converted by the iFeature Author, it can no longer be modified with the Edit iFeature command. To modify a table-driven iFeature, you select or define different parameters, then select that version of the iFeature to replace the current version.

In the browser, a table-driven iFeature is designated with a table symbol. When you delete the table, the iFeature is converted to a regular iFeature. The current version is its only size. It can be edited with Edit iFeature.

To modify an iFeature you used in a part, right-click the iFeature in the browser, and then select Edit iFeature. You can change variables such as position geometry, a parameter value, or reorient the coordinate system, but you cannot add or delete geometry or parameters.

If necessary, you can edit the iFeature sketch. Right-click the iFeature in the browser, and then select Edit Sketch. Add dimensions and constraints, as needed.

Other occurrences of the iFeature in this file, or occurrences that were already placed, are not affected by edits.

Be sure to create iFeatures that contain all parameters you want to include in a table-driven iFeature. Once you convert a regular iFeature to a table-driven iFeature, you cannot add or remove parameters.

You can, however, right-click the table icon in a part file where you have used a table-driven iFeature, and then select Edit Table. You can add or delete rows or modify column attributes, but you cannot add or delete parameters. Your changes affect only the current table-driven iFeature. Other instances of the same table-driven iFeature do not update.

You can use the Key 1 value name to identify a specific characteristic of an iFeature in the browser of a part file. Enable the Application option to use the Key 1 value in the browser name column to provide a unique identity for a table-driven iFeature.

Insert a table-driven iFeature in an iPart file and use the iFeatures tab in the table to add an iFeatures column. You can specify the iFeature value to use in each row. You can also choose to compute or suppress the iFeature on a row by row basis.

When you edit an iFeature .ide file, you can create custom properties. When you insert the iFeature in a part file, the iFeature properties are exposed in the custom iProperties tab of the part. If you create a drawing of the part, the custom iFeature properties are available in the drawing.