When beta features are enabled, you can make use of comma-separated value files (CSV) to manage custom meshing objects (and their structure) for use with the Fault-tolerant Meshing workflow through the Import CAD and Part Management task. This can useful in alleviating the sometimes cumbersome task of organizing and categorizing numerous individual meshing objects when working with very complex CAD geometries.

In the Import CAD and Part Management task after loading your CAD geometry file(s), and using the Custom selection for creating meshing objects, select the top-level node in the CAD Model tree and choose the Export to CSV option from the context menu. This creates a CSV file (with the default name of cad-tree.csv). You can make changes to this CSV file accordingly, outside of the workflow. Once your changes are complete, you can import the CSV file into the Meshing Model tree.

The following listing is an example of an exported CSV file:

Name	            Flag	            Object Name
my_bike		
 drive_shaft_assembly.asm		
  drive_shaft.prt		
   Surface1		
   Surface2		
   Surface3		
   Surface4		
   Surface5		
   Surface6		
   Surface7		
   Solid1		
  rear_wheel_flange.prt		
   Surface1		
   Surface2		
   Surface3		
   Surface4		
   Solid1		
  rear_wheel_flange.prt		
   Surface1		
   Surface2		
   Surface3		
   Surface4	
...	

This CSV file contains the names of the various parts of the loaded CAD geometry, and for each, an area for a flag and a meshing object name. Flags are used to assist in organizing your meshing objects so they can then be visualized and processed accordingly in the Meshing Model tree.

The CSV file supports the following flags:

The following listing is an example of an edited CSV file that is ready to be imported into the Meshing Model tree:

Name	            Flag	            Object Name
my_bike		
 drive_shaft_assembly.asm	1	
  drive_shaft.prt		
   Surface1		        3                    drive_shaft_surf1
   Surface2		        3                    drive_shaft_surf2
   Surface3		        3                    drive_shaft_surf3
   Surface4		        3                    drive_shaft_surf4
   Surface5		        3                    drive_shaft_surf5
   Surface6		        3                    drive_shaft_surf6
   Surface7		        3                    drive_shaft_surf7
   Solid1		
  rear_wheel_flange.prt	  1
   Surface1		
   Surface2		
   Surface3		
   Surface4		
   Solid1		          0
  rear_wheel_flange.prt		
   Surface1		        2
   Surface2		        2
   Surface3		        2
   Surface4	               
...	

To import an edited CSV file into the Meshing Model tree, select the Load Meshing Objects button and use the Select File dialog box to browse for the name and location of the CSV file (using the CSV File Type setting for Files of type field). Once the file is selected, its contents will be imported and represented in the Meshing Model tree, where you can then create the meshing objects as usual.