Points

Add a point to the model with the Points tool.

1. From the Browser, select the system to which the point entity is to be added.
   By default, points are created in a model level Cartesian coordinate system called the Global Reference Frame. This is the only coordinate system currently available.
2. From the Geometry ribbon, Points tool set, click the Points icon.

   Figure 1.

   A guide bar for entity creation appears.
3. Create a point using any of the following methods:
   • Click on an empty location in the modeling window to create a new point at that location.

     OR

   • Hover over a CAD Graphic in the modeling window to highlight a point on its edge or center (surface or circular edge) and click on it to create a point at that location.

     OR

   • Use the Alt key over a CAD Graphic or a File Graphic to highlight tessellation. Click on any node to create a point at the node location.
   Optional: Select the Create Pair check box to create a pair entity.
   Once the point has been added to the model, the corresponding point will automatically be displayed in the browser area.

   Note: A microdialog is available near the point location that contains coordinate values.

Tip: A new point can be created from the Model Browser by right-clicking on the top level Model system (or any System/ Analysis of your choice) and selecting Add > Reference Entity > Point or by right-clicking the Points group in any system and selecting Add Point.

Use the Create Points on a Vector tool to create a set of points along a vector.

1. From the Geometry ribbon, Points tool set, click the Points (Vector) icon.

   Figure 2.

2. In the Points panel that appears, select the Create points equally along a vector radio button.
   If Define vector using points is chosen:
   1. Click the first Point/Node collector and select a point/node from the modeling window, or double-click the collector to display the Model Tree (from which the desired point/node can be selected).
   2. Repeat for the second node collector.
   3. Click the System collector and specify the system attached to the model.
   4. Specify the number of points to create.
   5. Specify the desired prefix for the label and variable name.
   6. Click Create Points.
   Tip: By default the new point locations will be a parametric function of the original points. Activating the Keep values as parametric equations check box allows you to used the calculated point locations directly.
   If Define vector using base point and vector is chosen:
   1. Click the Point/Node collector and select a point/node from the modeling window, or double-click the collector to display the Model Tree (from which the desired point/node can be selected).
   2. Click the Vector collector and select the vector attached to the model from the modeling window or Model Tree.
   3. Click the System collector and specify the system attached to the model.
   4. Enter a value for the distance between the created points.
   5. Specify the number of points to create.
   6. Specify the desired prefix for label and variable names.
   7. Click Create Points.

Use this option to create a set of points equally spaced along a curve.

1. From the Geometry ribbon, Points tool set, click the Points (Vector) icon.

   Figure 3.

2. In the Points panel that appears, select the Create points equally spaced along a curve radio button.
3. Specify the number of points to create.
4. Specify the desired prefix for the label and varname (short for variable name).
5. Enter a value for the number of points used to create the curve fit.
   Note: A minimum number of four points is required to create a curve fit.
6. Click the Point/Node collectors and select a point/node from the modeling window, or double-click the collectors to display the Model Tree (from which the desired point/node can be selected).
   Note: The number of collectors displayed will match the number input into the Points for curve fit text box.
7. Click Create Points.

Use this option to create points at the center of an arc.

1. From the Geometry ribbon, Points tool set, click the Points (Vector) icon.

   Figure 4.

2. In the Points panel that appears, select the Create point at center of circle radio button.
3. Click the first Point/Node collector and select a point/node from the modeling window, or double-click the collector to display the Model Tree (from which the desired point/node can be selected).
4. Repeat for the second and third Point/Node collectors.
5. Click the System collector and specify the system attached to the model.
6. Specify the desired prefix for the label and variable name.
7. Click Create Points.

Use the Parametric Points dialog to create a set of points with respect to a reference marker either in Cartesian coordinates or cylindrical coordinates.

1. From the Geometry ribbon, Points tool set, click the Parametric Points icon.

   Figure 5.

   The Parametric Points dialog opens.
2. Click the System collector to identify the system or container into which the marker will be created.
3. Click the Marker collector and select an entity in the modeling window, or double click the button and make your selection from the Model Tree.
4. Select Coordinates of input. If you select Cylindrical, specify units for angle input theta (Degrees or Radians).
5. Select the Create mirror points about marker plane check box if symmetric pair points are needed.
   The point will be created symmetric to the Marker chosen.
   1. Select a marker plane from the drop-down menu.
   2. Select whether to create a single point or a point pair.
6. Specify a Varname and Label suffix.
7. Point coordinate values can be provided either:
   1. through the table. Enter the Total number of points. A suitable number of rows will appear. Enter the coordinate values for each point.
   2. using a .csv file. Use the file browser to select a .csv file that contains the tabulated point coordinate values.
   Use the Clear All button to clear the table entry.
8. Click OK to create the points and close the window or Apply to continue creating more points.

Change the coordinates of a point.

1. Modeling Window
   Select the desired point by clicking on it in the browser or in the modeling window. The Entity Editor is displayed on the right side. If not displayed, it can be turned on by using Menu>View>Entity Editor OR using the right-click context menu option Show Properties available in the browser or the modeling window.
   • Double-click on a point in the modeling window to display a microdialog.

     OR

   • Select the point and click on the Points icon in the Points tool set.

     OR

   • Click the Points icon in the Points tool set and select the point.
2. Entity Editor
   1. Select a point from the modeling window or the Model Browser.
   2. View and edit the point properties listed in the Entity Editor.
   3. Click on Fx to display the Expression Builder to define the property using an expression.