A typical method of defining a specification is to use the combination of item code and size range. The Specification Builder allows you to create filters that meet these requirements.
Before using the Specification Builder, you must have at least one database open
to function as the source.
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Click Tools > Specification Builder to open the Specification Builder.
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In the Definition name box, type a name for the specification definition. For example, type SpecDef1.
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In the Source list, select the database to use as your source.
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In the Output list, select the database in which to output the new specification.
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The Source and Output databases must be different.
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All currently open databases are listed. New Database 1 is the default output database.
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Expand the tree view, right-click the component type for which to define a filter, and then click Add Filter.
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Right-click the new filter, and then select Edit Filter to open the Filter Builder dialog box.
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On the Property tab, select ItemCode in the Property name list, type PA5BS30 in the Equals box, and then click Add.
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On the Bore tab, select BoreA in the Bore name list, type 10 and 14 in the From and To boxes, respectively, and then click Add.
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Click OK to save the filter in the specification definition and return to the Specification Builder dialog box.
The software displays the filters as nodes under each component type node.
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In the Specification Builder dialog box, click Build Specification.
Clicking Build Specification in the Specification Builder dialog box processes only items that have not yet run through a build cycle and applies only newly added filters
on the source database. To process all items (new and existing), as well as apply all existing filters, you must right-click
the tree view and then click Build Specification > All Items in the shortcut menu.
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Click OK in the Build Complete message box, and then click Close in the Specification Builder dialog box.
The software displays the new database in the Database window.
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Before closing the Specification Builder dialog box, click Save to save the specification definition on the local computer.
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The specification definition is the container within which the filters and modifiers that you define are held. You can save this definition as a .xml file on your local computer for future use. By default, the .xml file is saved in a subfolder under the current isometric project.
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If you leave the Definition name box empty, the software names the definition Spec Builder Definition 1.
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To maintain revision management, along with any filters and modifiers that you have created, it is important to save the specification definition. If you have not saved the specification definition prior to clicking Close, the software prompts you to do so.
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To view a list of previously saved specification definitions, select More. To load a previously saved definition, select the definition to view in the More Definitions dialog box, and then click OK.