Property Editor
The Property Editor is a window that lists properties about the current
entity selection. Some of the properties, like CUBIT ID, entity type,
or geometry engine, are listed for reference only. Other attributes, like
name, or mesh intervals, color, mesh scheme, or smooth scheme can be edited
from the window. The Property Editor is located on the left panel in the
GUI. The highlighted entity/entities in the graphics window are listed
in the property editor window. The Property Editor also lists information
about selected mesh entities, boundary conditions, and assemblies. Selecting
an object from the Tree View will also open the object in the property
editor.
![](images/property_editor_window.png)
Figure 1. Property Editor
Window
The row of buttons on the top
of the editor are shortcuts to common commands. These include:
>
![mesh_button.gif](images/mesh_button.gif) |
Meshes the selected entity/entities at their current
interval and scheme settings |
![smooth_button.gif](images/smooth_button.gif) |
Smooth selected entity using the current smoothing scheme |
![preview_button.gif](images/preview_button.gif) |
Preview mesh intervals on selected entity |
![delete_mesh_button.gif](images/delete_mesh_button.gif) |
Delete mesh on specified entity (do not propagate to lower
order entities) |
![reset_button.gif](images/reset_button.gif) |
Reset entity to default settings and delete mesh |
![calculate.gif](images/calculate.gif) |
Calculates volumes and surface areas |
![delete_button.gif](images/delete_button.gif) |
Delete current entity |
Editing Entity Attributes from the Property Editor
The Property Editor provides a convenient way to change attributes on
entities. . Some of the fields cannot be changed, some can be edited from
an input field, and others are edited by selecting from a list, or by
opening the corresponding window from the Control Panel.
If multiple entities are selected, the attributes that are similar to
both entities will be shown. Changing an attribute from the property editor
will change that attribute on both entities. If multiple entities are
selected the total volume, surface area, and length of all entities will
be shown.
Below is a summary of properties listed for each attribute type.
General Attributes
- Entity
ID - CUBIT ID for geometry or boundary condition element
- Entity Type - Geometric
type such as Volume, Surface, Curve, Vertex
- Name
- Name by which the entity can be referred to from within CUBIT instead
of using its ID. The entity name can be edited from this window.
- Color
- Opens a dialog box with available colors. A color name can also
be input directly into the text field. See Appendix
for a list of available colors.
Geometry Attributes
- Is
Merged - Returns "Yes" if this entity is merged
- Is
Virtual - Returns "Yes" if this entity is a
virtual
entity
- Location - Returns
the location of specified vertex.
- Geometry
Engine - ACIS or Mesh-Based Geometry
- Volume - The volume
of the specified body
- Surface Area - Surface
area of selected surface
- Analytic Type - Returns
the analytic type of entity (such as cone, sphere, etc)
- Length - Length of
selected curve
Meshing Attributes
- Is
Meshed - Returns "Yes" if the entity is already
meshed
- Number
of Elements - Similar to "List Totals" command
- Requested
Intervals - Number of requested mesh intervals on element.
This can be edited from this window. The number must be an integer
- Requested
Size - Requestd interval size for element. Clicking on
box will open the interval specification panel on the control panel.
The interval size can also be entered manually in the text box.
- Meshed Volume - The
meshed volume may be slightly different than the actual element volume
due to the mesh approximation on curved surfaces.
- Meshed Area - The meshed
area may be slightly different than the actual surface area due to
mesh approximation on curved edges.
- Length of Meshed Edges - Combined total of mesh edge lengths on
curve
- Mesh
Scheme - The mesh scheme for this entity. This can be
changed from the property editor by selecting from the drop-down list.
- Smooth
Scheme - The smooth scheme for this entity. This can
be changed from the property editor by selecting from the drop-down
list.
- ID
- Boundary condition ID. This is an arbitrary user-defined ID that
is exported with the finite element model. This value can be edited
from the property editor
- Name
- A user-defined name that is included in the metadata
for that object. This value can be edited from the property editor.
- Description
- A user-defined description that is included in the metadata
for that object. This value can be edited from the property editor.
- Color
- Opens a dialog box with available colors. A color name can also
be input directly into the text field. See Appendix
for a list of available colors.
- Element
Type - The finite element type for this block, nodeset,
or sideset.
- Element
Count - The total number of elements for this block or
sideset
- Node
Count - Total number of nodes (available for nodesets
only)
- Attribute
Count and Attributes- The attributes represent material
specification data that is associated with the element block. These
values can be changed in the property editor. You can specify up to
10 attributes per block.