Dangling references

The think3 application allows you to reference external entities inside the profile environment. For example, in a profile you can add a constraint between an entity inside that profile and another entity from, say, a loaded X-reference component. As long as the external entity is available, the constraint continues to apply. If the external entity is unloaded (as in the case of X-reference components), modified, or deleted, the constraint loses its reference. However, if the external entity is restored to its previous state, the constraint is active again. Such constraints, which get "orphaned" when a reference entity is missing, are called "Dangling references".

Feedback on Dangling references
The Dangling constraints can be detected in the following ways inside the program:

• Single Entity command ( Info Single Entity):
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  The Single Entity command on a profile gives the feedback if the profile contains dangling constraints or not. The Single Entity Info dialog Box will also contain items such as Internal entities:, External entities: and Dangling ext. reference(s):.
  To view the feedback on the dangling constraints, right-click a profile in the Model Structure and select Info Single Entity.
  
  
  
  You can also right-click on a constraint inside the Profile environment and select Info Single Entity. The Single Entity Info dialog box for the constraint will have a check box, Dangling external reference(s):. The status of this check box (selected or cleared) will show if the selected constraint is a dangling one or not.
  
  
  
  
• From the context menu:
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  A contextual menu item Show Dangling Reference Constraints is available inside the profile environment. This is a toggling menu item.
  • When it is selected, all the dangling reference constraints will be highlighted.
  • When it is cleared, the dangling reference constraints will not be highlighted.
  Also the Show External Entities is a toggling one. To highlight the external entities, select the menu item.
  The new context menu is as shown:
  
  
  
  
• Using the Check Profile command
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  Yet another method used to give the feedback on Dangling references is the Check Profile command.

Related Topics

• Profiles
• External entities
• How to create a profile
• An Overview on Symbolic References

  e-Learning on Profiles