In addition to the gripes about Smart selection filter being removed in Creo 4.0 in regards to selecting a component in an assembly, I now find it incredibly difficult to select and edit a feature of an activated component in an assembly.
In Creo 2.0, with the smart selection filter, once a component was activated, only features of that component would preselect, regardless of how many layers of other non-active components of the assembly were "in front of" that component. Other components would highlight ONLY if the cursor was not over the active part.
For instance, lets pretend we have an assembly with a bunch of components on top of a base plate that has a number of holes in it. In those holes are fasteners, or other components. Say I want to adjust the position of one of the holes in the base plate which is counterbored and has a socket head cap screw assembled into it. I activate the base plate, and with the geometry filter still active (assuming I didnt change it to part whilst the assembly was active, which would then require changing off of part.) I have to hover over the edge of the hole, and click it to then access the ability to edit definition of it. Even though the plate is active, preselection will highlight the SHCS in the hole. If I switch the filter to "feature", now it wants to select the feature that created the head of the SHCS, or the chamfer, or the hex. I have to hover over the small gap between the shcs head and the hole, generally requiring to zoom the view very close to the feature. Frustrating to select a hole that is even partially unobstructed to the view.
Now, pretend there is a component that is covering the hole with the shcs in it. Now I have to right click through all components until the feature of the plate, that I have active, is highlighted, while still contending with not selecting an edge or feature of the SHCS. Whoops, went one too far, start over.
Whereas in Creo 2.0, with SMART filter, the features of the ACTIVE part are all that would select.
Even if I have to manually change it from geometry to feature, to avoid highlighting every edge and surface on the part instead of a feature in its entirety, the fact that it attempts to, and allows, the preselection highlighting of features or components that are not active is incredibly frustrating.
Aside from being able to clearly see an activated component and turning the rest of the assembly transparent, this change has effectively rendered activating a component useless, considering I have to contend with selecting a feature the same, regardless if the component is active or not.
I find it strange, and quite frankly ironic, that time and effort went into the removal of SMART. Even if it was disabled or required some sort of workaround, why purposefully remove functionality?
) other Creo users would agree with me.
