Selecting Using the Find... Command in Advanced Mode

You can search for specific attributes such as the color or the diameter of an object. You can also combine search criteria to run more complex queries.

1. Press Ctrl+F or select Edit > Find....

2. In the Find dialog box, click the Advanced tab:

   
   
   

3. Select the workbench Product Structure.

4. Select an attribute from the Attribute list.

   If you are searching for a character string whose value is empty, leave the box in the Attribute Criterion dialog box empty so that the query syntax looks something like this:

   'workbench'.type.attribute=

   where:

   
   
   • workbench is the workbench in which you are performing your search
   • type is the type of the object containing the string you are searching for
   • attribute is the attribute containing the empty string.

   For instance:

   'Product Structure'.Product.Product Description=

5. Click OK then click the operating sign of your choice (And, Or, Except) to combine several search criteria and refine your query.

6. Select the attribute Color from the Attribute list then choose a color.

7. Click OK then click the Find button to run the search (you can also click the Find and Select button to run the search AND select automatically the objects that have been found):

   
   
   

   When running a query with a color as search criterion, you can either:
   

   • Pick a color among the 16 colors available in the list.
   • Pick a color among the 48 colors available by default in the Basic Color area of the Color chooser (displayed when you click More Colors... at the end of the list).
   • Pick a color among the 16 custom colors available in the Custom Colors area of the Color chooser.
   • If this color is one of the 48 colors available by default, enter directly its name in the Composed query box.

8. Select a workbench then a type.

9. Select an attribute for the type then enter a value.

   Depending on the attribute you select, the Attribute Criterion dialog box may:
   

   • Display a list of attributes.
   • Let you choose a boolean attribute (e.g. TRUE or FALSE), if you are searching for a threaded hole, for instance.

10. Select an operating sign in the list box, then enter a value (you can use the default value (*) as a wildcard).

    For instance, select the = operating sign and the value "4mm; 10mm" to search for any element whose diameter is comprised between "4mm" and "10mm".

    The number of operating signs displayed in the list depends on the attribute you chose. Here is an exhaustive list of the available operating signs:

    
    
    • =
    • != (different)
    • <
    • <=
    • >
    • >=

11. To modify the query, type a new query in the editor.

    For instance:

    'Part Design'.Sketch.name!=*2

    or

    'Part Design'.Sketch - name=*2

    means that you search for all sketches except those whose names end with "2".

    Another example:

    'Part Design'.Hole.name=*1 & 'Part Design'.Hole.Diameter<50mm

    means that you search for all holes whose names end with "1" and whose diameters are lower than 50 mm.

    Tip: You can add brackets and group queries together. You can copy one of the above-detailed queries, paste it directly to the query editor then start the search.

12. Click OK to validate then click the Find button to run the search:

    
    
    

    Important: If you select the Drafting workbench, you can search for specific attributes (such as dimensions) or elements of type Geometry such as 2D lines, 2D curves, etc. See Interactive Drafting User's Guide: Annotations: Performing an Advanced Search for more information.

13. Click OK to exit search mode.

The Product Structure workbench lets you search for elements which possess certain properties (called "dynamic attributes") you defined for a product.

You assign properties to products (and parts in products) by selecting an element from the Product property list box.

The properties you can search for (the same as those you assigned to the element) are:

• Part Number
• Revision
• Nomenclature
• Description
• Source.

If you type only the first characters of a property, then press Enter, the system automatically displays the full name of the property.

When you have chosen the property, type in the value of the property in the "of value" box. For example, if you assigned a description to the element, you must select the Description property then enter the text included in the description.

For more information, see VPM Physical Editor User's Guide: Editing Products or Representations: Modifying Product Properties.

1. Press Ctrl+F (or select Edit > Find...).

2. In the Find dialog box, click the Advanced tab.

3. Select Product Structure in the Workbench box and Product DS in the Type box.

   The query syntax is displayed in the editor:
   
   

4. Edit the query manually in the editor to add a search for a more specific attribute.

   For instance:
   

   • 'Product Structure'.Product DS.'Real.2'=12.3

   means that you search for an attribute named "Real.2" with a value equal to 12.3.

   
   
   • 'Product Structure'.Product DS.'Real.2'='10;40'

   means that you search for an attribute named "Real.2" with a value comprised between 10 and 40.

   
   
   • 'Product Structure'.Product DS.'Real.2'!='12;12.25'

   means that you search for an attribute named "Real.2" with a value different from 12 and 12.25.

   
   
   • 'Product Structure'.Product DS.'Real.2'<13

   means that you search for an attribute named "Real.2" with a value lower than 13.

   Important: You can also search for specific attributes such as materials. For instance, to search for the "Steel" material, enter the following query: 'Product Structure'.Material.Name=Steel

5. Click OK to validate then click the Find button to run the search.

6. Click OK to exit search mode.