To number a model in Advance Steel, click Numbering (Home tab > Documents panel, or Output tab > Part Marks panel), pick a Post Number Method, check Process Single Parts and Process Assemblies, set the start numbers and click OK. Every part needs a number before you make drawings, or the drawings come out blank. Renumber any time the model changes.
Why do I have to number the model?
Drawings, BOMs and CNC files all use the part marks. Each part gets two marks: a single part number and an assembly number. Without them, the drawing processes have nothing to put on the sheets. Numbering comes after the model check and before drawings in the Advance Steel workflow.
Where is the Numbering tool?
Home tab > Documents panel > Numbering:
Output tab > Part Marks panel > Numbering:
How does Advance Steel decide the numbers?
When you run Numbering, Advance Steel looks at how the parts connect and puts each one in a category:
- Main part. The heaviest or largest part of an assembly, like the beam a clip angle is welded to. On assembly drawings, main parts are laid out horizontally.
- Single parts. The other parts in the assembly.
- Standalone parts. Parts not connected to anything.
Then it finds identical parts, counts them, and gives identical parts the same mark. Prefixes come from the model role of each part. If a part has the wrong model role, it gets the wrong prefix, so check model roles before you number.
What do the numbering settings do?
Post number method
- None (default). Assemblies and parts are numbered separately.
- Assembly group. The main part gets the assembly number, and single parts get numbers relative to the assembly they were first found in.
- SP No (for main part) = Assembly No. The main part gets the assembly number; single parts use their prefix schemes.
- SP No (for standalone part) = Assembly No. Standalone parts get the assembly number; main and single parts use their prefix schemes.
Preliminary mark
Check Process Preliminary Mark to number preliminary parts, and set the Start number and Increment.
Single part
Check Process Single Parts to number single parts, and set the start and increment.
- Method. The first three methods give fixed numbers. With Drawing Number gives an internal number that changes to the detail drawing number once the drawing is made.
- Counter. Only with With Drawing Number: small letters, capital letters or numbers.
- Format. The mark format. Use the [<<] button to add tokens.
Assembly
Same options as Single Part, for assemblies.
How do I number parts and assemblies together?
This is the way I’d recommend for most jobs.
- Start Numbering.
- Pick a Post Number Method. Any method except None checks both single parts and assemblies for you. With None, check them yourself.
- Set the Start and Increment for single parts and assemblies.
- Click OK.
The Numbering MP window opens with the main part numbers. Double-click a row and Advance Steel highlights that part and zooms to it. Click Clear Marked Objects on the window’s toolbar to clear the highlight.
How do I number single parts only?
If you need to number them separately, do single parts first.
- Make sure every part has the right model role.
- Start Numbering.
- Set Post Number Method to None. It’s the only method that numbers single parts alone.
- Check Process Single Parts, pick the method, and set the start and increment.
- Make sure preliminary parts and assemblies are unchecked.
- Click OK.
- In the Numbering window, click Numbering SP on the left to see the single part numbers. Double-click a row to find that part in the model.
What if I closed the Numbering window?
Open it again from Extended Modeling tab > Checking panel > Data Panel.
What mistakes should I avoid with numbering?
- Not renumbering after changes. Any time you edit the model after numbering, run Numbering again so the marks match.
- Wrong model roles. They decide the prefixes. Check them in the Model Browser before numbering.
- Numbering before the model check. Duplicate or overlapping parts get their own marks. Run the model check first.
- Changing the method halfway through a job. Pick a method at the start and stay with it, so revisions don’t reshuffle marks the shop already knows.
If you’re looking at hardware or software upgrades, my toolbox page lists the tools I use and any discounts I know of.
