e-Profiles, Winter 2001-2002: What is Pro/INTRALINK® Branching?

3. From the Locate Commonspace Objects window, check the objects out to a Workspace. If needed, open the files in Pro/ENGINEER, modify as required, and Save.

4. Before check in, modify the objects in the Workspace and set them to the new branch name. Highlight the two objects (slot_machine and rollers) and pick Objects, Modify. In the Modify Attributes window, select the slot_machine and roller. Select Branch from the For Selected Items pull-down menu. Type in the new branch name “main/reno” (Fig. 7). Note that the new name must be typed in after “main/” to be recognized. (Future versions of the software will list available branch names in this pull-down menu.)

Figure 7.

5. To check in the modified files, select the slot_machine.asm and pick the check-in icon. An “override conflicts” will be required to complete the check-in process. To check out the files and modify the branched objects, use the branch names saved search in Pro/LOCATE to find the objects set to a particular branch name (Fig. 8). Select the objects from the Locate Commonspace Objects window, check out and follow normal modify and check-in steps.

Figure 8.

6. To complete the branching process, select the final design concept or alternative. This example selects branch “main/reno” for the final design.

7. Check the file(s) out to a Workspace by using the “Branch Search” saved in Pro/LOCATE for branch name “main/reno.”

8. Modify branch back to Main following the process in Step 4.

9. Check in using override conflicts. Careful planning, setup, and a well-defined process makes Pro/INTRALINK branching a very effective tool for an individual or a team to create preproduction design concepts as well as conceptualize changes to existing designs.

Karen Dougherty is a senior designer at Honeywell, where she is responsible for user training and support. She is also chair of PTC/USER’s Usability and Training Technical Committee. She can be reached by e-mail at karen.dougherty@honeywell.com.