Transparent part in draft?

Not possible that I know of. If you find an answer be sure to post it here because I've been looking for that one too.

Another possibilty would be to make the view Shaded instead of Wireframe (or add an additional view for this). Next, in the assembly file make your tank transparent. Now back to the drawing file, your shaded view should have updated accordingly. Also, make sure you set your transparency in the same configuration as your drawing view (in SW2004 the component transparency is configuration dependent, but I can't remember how earlier versions handled this).

And another possibily that's only good if you have a color plotter is to separate all your parts onto separate layers with different colors (in the drawing file). It won't make the lines solid, but will assign the different colors to them. There's a sample macro in the SW2004 help to create the layers as well as a macro called layout.swp at:

can't remember if either one of those did the colors or not tho, but it's a start. There's also layer options for lineweight, but I've never experimented with that.

Good luck with your search, Ken

I was thinking about a macro that would create a 3D sketch by "convert entity" ing all the edges in a part. You could then hide all 3d and show only the sketch in 3D and in drawings Would it fit your needs ?

Thanks for the link, TinMan. Actually, Layout is not free any more. It is now a part of the "SolidPlus macros" pack sold for $99

Layout creates a layer for each part and assings it the part's color, or a random one.

If your test fixture and tank have been modelled as separate parts in an assembly, you can insert each part into the drawing independantly. Then you can align them horizontally and vertically by origin assuming the origins are in the right places.

If the items are separate bodies in a multibody part file, you can make two configurations, each with one of the solid bodies deleted. Then insert the part into the drawing twice, once for each configuration and align as before. At least your origins will be in the right place this time!

Hope this helps a bit.

Ralph

Perhaps something can be worked out wit halternate position views? I don't use them often enough to be sure it would work.

If the geometry of the tank is simple enough, there is one possibility that will work well but it will require a little bit of work.

Convert all of the visible edges of the tank in the drawing by either selecting individual edges or entire faces and clicking convert entity. Then right click on the tank and Hide Component. Then, select all of the converted geometry (window select is fastest) and adjust the line font to whatever you want.

Hope this helps.

As others in the thread have mentioned...

Use an Alternate Position View.

I have d> I have a test fixture to hold a water tank during pressure test, I wish the

Awsome solution guys! I just tried it and WOW no more converting edges. The cool thing is how easy it is to change the phantom part or have many phantom parts! Tons of possibilities! Who thought of this?!?!?! My appreciation! Once again this group has paid for itself!

Thank you, that worked great.

Reading this message gave valuable clues, but I find that the constant use of the word "it" can leave a user who is not a conversant with the situation to wonder just what "it" refers to. This is an all to common problem in technical manual writing, so it is not unusual.

"It" can be INCREDIBLY confusing.

Bo

Hey BO,

Who the hell made you God of IT. 3d GOT the soluti>

The intent of this groupd with a public forum is that the information will be usable for a wide range of users so all who are interested can benefit without each user asking the same question over and over again.

When you use a reply on a subject to explain it then explain how it might work if they are put together to restrain it, well...

I can not imagine what the real meaning is from such a sentence, and neither can most users of this group.

I respectfully submit that clarity counts.

Bo

Bo,

Don't ya think that's being a bit anal ??

Most folks read through the thread, not just an arbitrary reply. I don't think many will have a problem understanding the problem, or the solution.

Regards

Mark