Navigating on PPR Data

You can use a number of commands to navigate PPR data (Explore, Expand, Refresh, Collapse, and so on).

This task shows you how to:

Related Topics
Exploring Parents

Explore

The Explore command enables you to select an object and explore it as root in a new Navigation window.

  • In the PPR tree or in the 3D, right-click an object and select Explore or select the object and then select Edit > Explore.

    When you select a product, a new Navigation window opens with that product as root node in the tree.

    When you select a resource, a new Navigation window opens with that resource as root node in the tree.

    When you select a process, it must be used by a PPR Context in order to be explored:


    • When the process is used in only one PPR Context, the PPR Context will be explored in a new Navigation window as a root object. In the window, there will be a single branch expanded from the PPR Context to the selected process to be explored. For example:



    • When the process is used by several PPR Contexts, the Explore Parents dialog box is displayed. This allows you to choose in which context you want to explore the Process. For example:



      For more information, see Exploring Parents.

    When you select a system:


    • If only one PPR Context contains the selected system, this PPR Context is explored.
    • If several PPR Contexts contain the selected system, the Explore command switches to Explore Parent to enable selection of the desired PPR Context.

    When you select an operation:


    • If only one PPR Context contains the selected operation, this PPR Context is explored.
    • If several PPR Contexts contain the selected operation, the Explore command switches to Explore Parent to enable selection of the desired PPR Context. As an operation has always at least one parent system, the explored PPR Context is explored with the selected operation as non-direct children, and at least one system as intermediate-level object, and potentially other intermediate-level systems and operations.

    Notes:

    • A PPR Context cannot be filtered. Only Products, Resources and Processes can be filtered. It is possible to apply different filters to Products, Resources and Processes. See Filtering Data in VPM Navigator for more information.
    • Smart Completion and Implement links analysis via the Compass are not available in an Explore (PPR Context) window.

Expand All

The Expand All command enables you to expand the complete sub-tree of the selected node.

  • Select a node in the tree, then click Expand All or select View > Expand All. Note that you can also right-click the selected node and select Expand All.

    All branches of the selected object are expanded down to their leaf components.

Refresh and Collapse

The Refresh and Collapse command enables you to collapse the PPR tree to a selected level and refresh the structure content.

  • In the PPR tree or in the 3D, right-click an object and select Refresh and Collapse or select an object and then select View > Refresh and Collapse.

    The selected level is collapsed and its structure content is refreshed.

Expand or Collapse an Object

You can expand or collapse an object in the 3D or PPR tree.

  1. To expand an object:


    • in the 3D, double-click the object
    • in the PPR tree, double-click the object name
    • in the PPR tree, click the "+" node

    The object is expanded one level.

  2. To collapse an object, click the "-" node in the PPR tree or double-click in the middle of the turntable in the 3D.

    The object is collapsed.

Switch between Turntable/In-place Navigation Modes

You can use either Turntable navigation mode (Swap Turntable/In-place activated) or In-place navigation mode (Swap Turntable/In-place not activated) for navigation.

In Turntable mode, all expanded parts are presented on a platter that regroups all parts having a common parent.

In In-place mode, the root part is integrally assembled in the 3D, even though the structure is being expanded in the PPR tree.

  1. Click Swap Turntable/In Place .

    The icon changes color to indicate that it is activated (Turntable mode) .

  2. Expand a branch of the PPR tree or double-click a part in the 3D.

    The part is expanded. In the 3D, the first-level components of the part appear together on a dedicated platter.

  3. Click Swap Turntable/In-place again.

    The icon changes back to indicate that it is not activated (In-place mode) .

  4. Expand a branch of the PPR tree.

    The branch of the PPR tree is expanded one level. However, in the 3D, the root assembly remains in-place.

Tips:
  • You can drag the mouse on a turntable to rotate the turntable content.
  • You can press the F9 key to toggle the navigation mode.

View the Document Window Layout

There are three components in the document window layout: PPR tree, Text and Geometry. By default, only Geometry and PPR tree are displayed.

  1. To toggle the PPR tree display select/deselect View > Tree or press F3.

  2. To toggle the Text display select/deselect View > Text or press F5.

  3. To toggle the Geometry display select/deselect View > Geometry.