• Publishing geometrical elements is the process of making geometrical features available to different users.

• Although not essential, publishing geometry and parameters in a skeleton model is suggested to help control the external references created.

• Publishing elements are not just used when applying the skeleton method. Consider using published elements anytime you want to control external references.

Publishing geometry has many benefits such as:

• To label geometry and give it a name that can be easily recognized (particularly in the case of publishing edges, faces, etc.)

• To make particular geometry easier to access from the specification tree.

• To control external references. An option is available that lets you only select as external reference only the published elements.

• To ease replacement of one component of the assembly by another. Published elements that have the same names are automatically reconnected. Without published elements, you would have to reconnect them one by one.

Many types of geometries can published :

• Wireframe features (points, lines, curves, planes)

• Whole sketches

• Bodies (PartBody, other body).

• Part design features (pad, pocket, hole,etc.)

• Generative Shape Design features (extrude surfaces, offsets, joins, etc.)

• Free Style Design features (planar patches, curves etc.)

• Sub elements of all geometrical elements (faces, edges, vertices etc.)

Published elements can identified in the specification tree.

1. The tree displays names of published elements under the Publication node.

2. The green gear on a component icon indicates that the component has been designed using external references.

3. When a published element is used, it is denoted in the external references node.

   • Elements that are updated are denoted by the letter P in a cyan color.

   • Published elements that are not synchronized are denoted by a P in a yellow circle.

Use the following steps to publish geometry:

1. Activate the components that contains the geometry to be published.

2. Click Tools > Publications.

3. Select the geometrical element to publish.

4. The selected geometry is added to the publications window.

5. To rename the published elements, select in the row with the element to rename to activate it. Select in the field again to edit the name.

6. Repeat step 3 to 5 to publish other elements.

7. Click on OK to validate.

8. The published elements are displayed under the publication node of the components.

If necessary, the geometrical element referenced by a publication can be replaced using the following steps:

1. Activate the component containing the published geometry to be replaced.

2. Click Tools > Publications.

3. Select the publication to replace.

4. The current geometrical element highlights on the model

5. Select the replacing geometrical element.

6. Select Yes from the Replace Element dialog box.

7. Select OK to close the publications dialog box.