The use of patterns can be summarized in the following steps:
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1.
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Create the entity or feature to which the pattern is to be applied.
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2.
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Create an
ACIS pattern object using the pattern API functions and/or the
pattern class methods.
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3.
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Use the
api_set_entity_pattern function to apply the pattern object to the entity or feature. If applied to a feature, the user must specify an entity that will identify the feature (e.g., one face of a bump that is to be patterned). An entity to which a pattern is applied is called a seed entity. The entities generated by the pattern are "true"
ACIS entities (ENTITY classes). Entities of type
BODY,
LUMP,
SHELL,
FACE, and
LOOP support patterns.
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4.
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If a pattern element is modified, use
api_refresh_entity_pattern to have the modification propagate to the other elements.
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5.
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Clean up any memory associated with the pattern when finished.
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6.
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Save the part if desired. The pattern is automatically saved--if saving it will not result in a loss of information (refer to section
Patterns, Attributes, and Tags).
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