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      <title>Descriptor characteristics</title>
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      <div class="title_topic4" id="xps10_pagetitle">Descriptor characteristics</div>
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      </table><br><p class="para_topic"><b class="uiTerm">Descriptor Characteristics</b> identify and define a physical standard part. Since these characteristics define a specific type of part, you should not change their values except by replacing the part with a different part. The system defines <b class="uiTerm">Descriptor Characteristics</b> in the Part Table File (.ptf) or through <b class="uiTerm">Qualify Part</b> and automatically assigns them to a standard part when the part is placed in a routing assembly.
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      <p class="para_topic">When using a part table, you select a part based on <b class="uiTerm">Descriptor Characteristics</b>. These can be values that specify things like size, material, color, etc. There may also be <b class="uiTerm">Descriptor Characteristics</b>, assigned to the part that are not used for selecting the part. If a characteristic is needed but is not valid for selection, like weight perhaps, then that characteristic is designated as hidden in the part table and is not used for part selection.
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      <p class="para_topic">You can define descriptor characteristics within the component part rather than through a part table. &nbsp;If you define a descriptor characteristic through <b class="uiTerm">Qualify Part</b> when the component is qualified, the system uses that characteristic to automatically create an attribute attached to the occurrence of the component in the Routing assembly by the <b class="uiTerm">Place Part</b> operation.
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      <div class="title_division">Required and optional characteristics</div>
      <p class="para_division">You can use the same part in different ways. Since descriptor characteristic values are the same for all uses of a part, a different type of characteristic is available to capture information that defines the different uses of the same part. For instance, a pressure rating may be a descriptor characteristic, but the actual pressure that the part expects to experience will vary depending on how the part is used. Therefore, the descriptor characteristic PRESSURE_RATING is always the same but the <b class="uiTerm">Required</b> characteristic PRESSURE (if so desired) must be assigned by you using assembly design.
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      <p class="para_division">You must set the values for these types of characteristics when the part is included in the routing assembly. The Routing Application Administrator may define <b class="uiTerm">Required</b> and <b class="uiTerm">Optional</b> characteristics whose values are set interactively. You must enter values for <b class="uiTerm">Required</b> characteristics before Routing will permit the part to be placed. You may give values for <b class="uiTerm">Optional</b> characteristics or leave unassigned and, possibly, given a value later using <b class="uiTerm">Routing Edit Characteristics</b>.
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      <p class="para_division">The Routing application administrator can define any set of <b class="uiTerm">Required</b> and <b class="uiTerm">Optional</b> characteristics for each <b class="uiTerm">Discipline</b> in the <b class="uiTerm">Application View</b>. If there is no requirement for such characteristics, then the <b class="uiTerm">Discipline</b> may not have any.
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