ConfigurationManager

The ConfigurationManager is a means to create, select, and view multiple configurations of parts and assemblies in a document.

You can split the ConfigurationManager and either display two ConfigurationManager instances, or combine the ConfigurationManager with the FeatureManager design tree, PropertyManager, or third-party applications that use the panel.

The ConfigurationManager has a section for controlling display states.

To activate the ConfigurationManager:

  • Click the ConfigurationManager tab at the top of the Manager Pane.

Each configuration is listed separately.

The icons in the ConfigurationManager denote how the configuration was created:

Manually.
With a design table.
Manually, and has an explode state or a derived configuration.
With a design table, and has an explode state or a derived configuration.

Additional icons indicate the state of each configuration's data. For example:

The data set for the configuration is full and up-to-date.
The full data set for the configuration generates the next time you save the document.

Other icons that sometimes appear in the ConfigurationManager include:

Design Table Appears when the model contains a design table. Right-click to edit, save, or delete the design table.
PropertyManager Appears when you define a custom PropertyManager in the Configuration Publisher dialog box. These PropertyManagers enable you to select the configuration of a part when you place it in an assembly. Right-click to modify the PropertyManager.

Displaying Configuration Previews

You can display configuration previews of a part or an assembly in the PropertyManager. You do not have to open a configuration to see it, which saves time in complex parts and assemblies.

To display a configuration preview in the PropertyManager:

  1. In the ConfigurationManager tab, right-click the configuration that you want to preview and select Show Preview.
    The configuration preview appears in the PropertyManager.
    If the preview does not appear, open each configuration, and save the document in each configuration. The next time you select Show Preview, the preview appears.
  2. Click in the graphics area to hide the preview.

Customizing Configuration Sort Order

You can specify the order in which configurations are listed.

To customize configuration sort order:

  1. In the ConfigurationManager, right-click the top-level configuration and click Tree Order.
  2. Select an option:
    Option Description
    Numeric Sorts by ascending alpha or numeric value.
    Literal Sorts by alphabetical order.
    Manual (Drag and Drop) Drag configurations in the configuration tree. The configuration that you are moving drops immediately below the highlighted item when you release the pointer.
    History-Based Sorts by the creation date of the configuration, with the last created configuration at the bottom of the list.