Groups in the AWM Model Editor

To make it easier to see the organization of large models, the AWM Model editor enables you to group certain model objects. An example of object grouping is shown in the figure below:


Example grouping in the model editor

You can create model editor groups for all model objects which have an ID attribute, for example, Action Descriptors, Properties, Tool Descriptors, and so on.

You can create a group by selecting one or more objects and clicking the Assign to Group action.


Assigning a list of elements to a group

This opens the Assign to Group dialog box. You can specify a new group name or select an existing group.

To create a new model editor group:

  1. In the Group Name field, type a new group name.
  2. Click OK.

To merge the object into an existing group:

  1. In the Existing Groups list, click the group you want to assign the object to.
  2. Click OK.
Assign to group dialog box

Alternatively, you can assign objects to existing groups by dragging them onto the desired group. To assign items to a group, copy or cut and then paste. This opens an Enter ID dialog box, prompting you for a new object ID. When using cut and paste you are not required to change the original object ID.


Assigning objects to groups by dragging

Assigning objects to a group also works on objects which already belong to a group. You can assign objects from different groups, including ungrouped ones, to a single target group.

You can assign newly created model objects to existing groups by executing the corresponding New Child action on an existing group, or New Sibling on a grouped object.


New child action on an existing group

To remove items from a group, right-click the group, and then click Remove from Group. Alternatively, drag them onto an ungrouped object of the same type.


Removing items from a group

When a group does not contain any more items it automatically disappears. Deleting a group removes all of the objects it contains.

You can rename a group, right-click the group, and then click Rename Group.

Note: AWM Models created in AWM versions 2.3 Update 1 or earlier may contain Tool Category objects. These are comparable to model editor groups, but could only be used for tool descriptors. Tool Categories are now deprecated, since they are not generic and have a negative impact on the model API. You can merge deprecated Tool Categories into model editor groups, click Model Editor > Convert Deprecated Model.