Visual Collaboration for Discussing Items

You can discuss Parts, Documents, CAD Documents, CAD Models, etc. with your team right in Aras Innovator. To do so, use the discussion feature as described in the following subsections.

In this section, the term Item means an item of discussable ItemTypes: Parts, Documents, CAD Documents, CAD Models, etc. Examples shown on CAD Documents and CAD Models are generic and applicable to other Items.

To access the discussion feature, click the Discussion button on the right of the Item toolbar:

1. Click the Refresh button to see the latest changes in the discussion.
2. Use the Search box to search for comment messages in the discussion.
3. Click the Display Settings button to change the discussion view.
4. Compose a message in the Comment field and click the Comment button to post it as part of a discussion.
5. The Discussion box displays all comment messages that are part of a discussion.

You can use the Search box for simple and advanced searching of specific comment messages in a discussion. You can combine these two methods.

For a simple search, type your keywords in the Search box and press Enter on your keyboard.

For advanced search, click the drop-down arrow in the Search box and specify your search criteria in the following fields:

• Type – Displays a drop-down list of comment message types: All, All Comments, Text Comments Only, Snapshot Comments Only, Audio Comments Only, Video Comments Only, Automated Messages Only.



• Source – Displays a drop-down list of comment messages: All, This Item Only.



• From – Displays the author name associated with the comment messages.
• Timeframe – Displays a drop-down list to enables you to specify the timeframe during which comment messages were created: All, Within the Last, Date Range.



• Revision– Enables you to specify a Revision value of the item for search.
• State – Enables you to specify a life cycle state for search.

The Display Settings button enables you to configure the view of information that appears in a discussion.

• Show by – A drop-down list to specify the order of comment messages: Conversation, Thread Date, Message Date.



• Display – A drop-down list to specify the display type: Standard, Review.

You can use the Comment box for composing messages and posting them in the discussion of an Item. To post one, enter your message in the text box and click Comment. You can also use the @ sign to send the message to specific people.

By default, everyone can see a comment thread, including the message and all replies to it. An initial comment message has the World link when created. To change this accessibility, click the World link and then click the person you want to share the comment thread.

The person’s name replaces the Word link. Only you and this person can see this comment thread.

If you want to add an image to your message, use the Attach link to attach the image file and click Comment. The Attach link displays the following options:

• Sketch makes a snapshot of an Item view if you check the Include snapshot check box.



Even if an Item has no 3D Model attached, you can use this feature to draw an arbitrary sketch using the markup tools.



• Select Picture opens the standard dialog of your operating system for file browsing. Search for and select an image. The uploaded image appears in the image view. You can draw on the uploaded image using the markup tools.

When attached, the image appears as a thumbnail in a comment message.

Click the thumbnail, and the image appears in the Item view.

If you need to edit your message, click the Edit link at the bottom of your comment, edit the message text, and click Save.

You cannot edit or remove attached images. You can draw with the markup tools on the attached images. To save the changes, you need to attach the changed image as a snapshot to a new comment. To keep a history of changes, you can attach the changed snapshot as a reply to your own comment.

To enlarge or reduce a thumbnail, click the arrow button at the top left corner of the thumbnail.

You can mark important messages with the Flag link. For a comment with flags, click the number link after the flag icon to see who flagged the comment.

Click the Erase link that appears at the bottom of the Comment box to delete your comment message in a discussion. You can only delete your own messages and attached files. You cannot delete other people’s messages. The discussions keep a history of changes; metadata for erased messages is always available. This metadata provides the following information about a deleted message: author, when it was erased, related CAD Document, CAD Document version and state.

You can quickly navigate through Item versions in discussions. Click the drop-down arrow after the displayed version that appears in the top right corner of a comment message. A drop-down list appears with the following options: View This Version, View Current Version, Edit Current Version, Add Item to Bookmarks. When selected, the view of a corresponding Item version appears.

To reply to a comment:

1. Click the Reply link at the bottom of the Comment box. The Reply box appears.



2. Enter your comment.
3. If necessary, attach an image as described in section 12.3 Managing Your Comments.
4. Click Reply.

You can edit and delete only your replies as described in section 12.3 Managing Your Comments.