DTM Group Status

The Group Status option from the DTM Groups menu gives you the functionality to set the status of the DTM groups.  The main list control shows the DTM groups that are in the current model.  The information next to each group shows its status, attributes, depth and the number of triangles that have been assigned to it.

Any changes that you make to this list of groups will not take place until you select the OK button to end the dialog box.  If you select the Cancel button, any changes made are forgotten.

The status of a DTM group can be either Active or Off.  A group which is active is displayed and used in calculations.  A group which is off is neither displayed nor is it used in calculations.  To set the status of one or more groups, select the groups in the list control and then choose the appropriate button.  The Invert button can be used to invert the selection of groups in the list.

The attribute of a group can be either Current or Locked.  The current group is the DTM group to which any indicated triangles will be assigned when adding triangles to groups.  This process will be discussed a little later.  To change the current group, highlight a single group and select the Current button.  The Group Pick option from the DTM group menu allows you to perform this function graphically.  You will be asked to indicate a triangle that is part of the group you wish to use.  A locked group is one that can only have triangles added.  If a group is not locked and a triangle that is part of that group is indicated for addition to the current group, its allegiance will be changed.  If the group is locked, however, this change cannot take place.  Similarly, when removing triangles from groups, you cannot remove triangles from locked groups.

The Delete button allows you to delete groups from the current model.  A check will be made to ensure that deletion is acceptable and they will be removed from the list.  Note that this option does not delete the DTM triangles.  The triangles associated with the group will be set to have no group.  The Rename button allows you to change the name of a group.  You will be asked to enter a new name and all the triangles associated with the group will be altered accordingly.  The Purge button allows you to purge empty groups from the model.  The Group Purge option from the DTM groups menu performs the same function.

The Load and Groups buttons allow you to access the group selection and group settings dialog boxes respectively.