Understanding display group Boolean operations

As an example of a simple Boolean operation, assume the current viewport shows the entire model. If you select a single element set and then apply the Remove operation, that element set is eliminated from the display in the current viewport.

For each Boolean operation you perform to create or edit a display group, you can select only one type of model component: part instances, geometry (cells, faces, or edges), datum geometry (points, axes, planes, or coordinate systems), elements, nodes, surfaces, previously saved display groups, or the entire model. For a given display group, Abaqus/CAE initially assumes that you want to include all nodes connected to all elements in the group. However, if you select particular nodes, all subsequent operations on that display group include only the nodes you have selected.

An explanation of each of the Boolean operations follows. In the icons below, the circle on the left represents the items in the current viewport; the circle on the right represents your selection. The shaded portion represents the resulting display group. All of these Boolean operations except the last one, Replace All, are available in the Create Display Group dialog box; the Display Group toolbar provides access to the Replace, Remove, Either, and Replace All Boolean operations, as well as Undo and Redo operations.

Replace

Use the Replace operator to replace the current viewport contents with your selection.

Add

Use the Add operator to add your selection to the current viewport contents.

Remove

Use the Remove operator to remove your selection from the current viewport contents. If your selection includes one or more elements or surfaces, the nodes connected to those items are also removed, provided that you have not specifically operated to include those nodes in the display group.

Intersect

Use the Intersect operator to display only those items common to your selection and the display in the current viewport.

Either

Use the Either operator to display only model components that are either in your selection or in the current viewport but not in both.

Note: From the Display Group toolbar, click Invert Display to hide all the model components that are displayed in the current display group or to display all the model components that are hidden. This operation is equivalent to selecting all the objects in the Create Display Group or Edit Display Group dialog box and clicking the Either button.

Replace All

Use the Replace All operator to replace your display group and display all entities in the current viewport. This operator is available in the toolbar only.

When you select the (Replace Selected) or (Remove Selected) operators from the toolbar, Abaqus/CAE displays a list of model components in the prompt area. Select the type of model component that you want to replace or remove from the selected display group, then click one or more model components in the viewport to change the contents of the display group.