Metadata Attributes

Each part and assembly has several attributes, including its name and description. In addition, there are several attributes which do not describe any particular part or assembly. The “global” attributes describe the assembly tree as a whole, or the metadata as a whole.

These sections describe how to view and edit metadata attributes.

Part and Assembly Metadata Attributes

Each part and assembly has several attributes. Some attributes apply to both parts and assemblies, while other attributes apply to only parts. The attributes are listed in the following table:

Attribute Name

Attribute Description

Applies To:

Part

Assembly

Name

Name of Part or Assembly

x

x

Description

Description of Part or Assembly

x

x

Instance

Instance Number

x

x

File

The name of the file containing the original version of this entity. Often a reference to a PDM system.

x

x

Units

The unit system of this part or assembly.

x

x

Material_Description

The name or description of the material of which this part is composed.

x

 

Material_Specification

The formal specification number of the material of which this part is composed.

x

 

Density

The density of the material of which this part is composed. Setting it to a non-positive value will clear the attribute, as if there were no value assigned.

x

 

Material_Volume

The volume of the region enclosed by this part. The material_volume is not calculated from the volumes associated with the part. It will often differ from the actual volume enclosed by this part's associated geometric volumes, and can also be manually set to any non-negative value. Setting it to a non-positive value will clear the attribute, as if there were no value assigned.

x

 

Elemental_Composition

A string value describing the composition of the material, typically expressed as percentages of given elements.

x

 

Viewing Part and Assembly Metadata Attribute Values

The easiest way to view a part or assembly’s metadata attribute values is to select the item in the entity tree. The item’s metadata attributes are listed in the property page.

A part or assembly’s metadata attribute values can also be viewed using the Metadata List command:

Metadata List [<attribute_name>] {Part|Assembly} “<path>”

The attribute_name should be one of the attribute names in the table above. If no attribute name is included in the command, all metadata attributes are listed.

Metadata attributes can also be listed based on a volume.

Metadata List [<attribute_name>] Volume <id>

This volume-based command works just like the part-based command, but lists the metadata for the part with which the volume is associated.

Modifying Metadata Attributes

A part or assembly’s metadata attributes can be modified in the property page. Simply select the part or assembly in the entity tree, then click in the appropriate text field in the property page.

A part or assembly’s metadata attributes can also be modified using the Metadata Modify command:

Metadata Modify <attribute> “new value” {Part|Assembly} “<path>”

where attribute is one of the attributes listed in the table above. The specified attribute value will be changed to new_value.

There is also a volume-based version of the Metadata Modify command:

Metadata Modify <attribute> “new_value” Volume <id>

The volume-based command works just like the part-based command, operating on the part with which the volume is associated. Note that if the specified volume is not associated with a part, a new part will be created and associated with the volume.

Viewing and Modifying Global Metadata

There are several attributes which do not describe any particular part or assembly. These “global” attributes describe the metadata as a whole:

Attribute Name

Description

Classification_Level

The level of sensitivity of the metadata. Usually one of the following:

  • Secret
  • Confidential
  • Unclassified

Classification_Category

The classification category. Usually one of the following:

  • Not Restricted
  • Restricted Data (RD)
  • Formerly Restricted Data (FRD)
  • National Security Information (NSI)

Weapon_Category

Sigma 1 through Sigma 15

Global metadata values can be viewed using the Metadata List command:

Metadata List <attribute_name>

Global metadata values can be modified using the Metadata Modify command:

Metadata Modify <attribute_name> “new_value”

For both commands, attribute_name should be one of the attribute names in the table above.