Logical Association

A Logical Association associates one or more nonelectrical components with a particular electrical object, either a path segment or a connector, so that the display of the nonelectrical object is determined by the routed or unrouted status of the electrical object.

For example, you may specify that a clamp is associated with a particular segment and that the clamp should be hidden if the segment is not routed (e.g., there are no wires running along that segment).

A single navigator manages Logical Association Objects (LAOs). The navigator is available whenever the Routing Electrical application is active. Each node corresponds to an LAO. Each LAO has a reference name assigned automatically using the form LAO_<n>, where <n> is an integer one greater than any other currently in use (the LAO reference name may be changed). The navigator uses different buttons for components, segments, and All Stock entries.

Concepts and definitions

A Logical Association is a relationship between one or more Target Entities and a Control Entity.

A Target Entity is one of the following:

• An assembly component that is not a device or connector in the active route list (e.g., clips and clamps through which path segments pass). These components may or may not be subcomponents of the part that contains the active route list. Other nonelectrical components such as bulkheads and mechanical subcomponents also qualify.

  Note: Selecting a port extracted from a Target Entity in the assembly causes the extracted port to act as a stand-in for the component — the Hide or Show function performs on the component as well.

• A stock (typically conduit stock or overstock) in the part file of the active route list. For overstock with multiple pieces, such as those defined using the Interval Method, each stock piece is specified separately for inclusion in a logical association.

A Control Entity is either a path segment or a component.

Function

You may assign one function:

• Hide function — causes the Target Entities to be hidden when the condition is met.

A Target Entity's display depends upon the Control Entity to which it is associated. Two conditions of the Control Entity help determine the Target Entity's display:

• ROUTED condition — If the Control Entity is a segment, it is Routed when there are wires assigned to it. If the Control Entity is a connector, it is Routed when at least one wire is routed that terminates at the connector.
• UNROUTED condition — If the Control Entity is a segment, it is Unrouted when there are NO wires assigned to it. If the Control Entity is a connector, it is Unrouted when there is NO routed wire terminating at the connector.

There are two distinct combinations of Function and Condition:

• Hide when Routed — the Target Entities are hidden when the Control Entity becomes routed.
• Hide when Unrouted — the Target Entities are hidden when the Control Entity is unrouted (this reflects typical hiding behavior in NX).

Defining a Logical Association

Defining a logical association requires that you identify:

1. One or more Target Entities.
2. The Control Entity (segment or connector in the active Route List).
3. The Condition (either Routed or Unrouted).
4. The All Stock Flag (on or off — only when Control Entity is a segment).

You can create, list, inquire, edit, and delete logical associations.

You can either Enable or Disable any or all of the Logical Associations previously defined. Enabling a Logical Association causes the Target Entities to be hidden based on the routed status of the Control Entity, whenever wires are routed (following any Auto Route or Manual Route). Disabling a Logical Association causes the Target Entities to return to their display prior to the application of the Logical Association.

Rules

• A Target Entity may be a member of only one Logical Association.
• A Control Entity may be a part of any number of Logical Associations.
• If the Control Entity of an LAO is a segment, the Target Entities may include all stock assigned to that segment at the time the Logical Association is performed.
• An object cannot be both a Control Entity and a Target Entity.

Related topics

• Logical Association dialog box
• Logical Association renaming policy
• Create logical associations