Feature Manager design tree in Solidworks - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a product engineer working with SolidWorks CAD software.

📋 Request: Your manager wants a report showing how the Feature Manager design tree is organized for a complex part, highlighting key features and their dependencies.

📊 Data: You have access to the Feature Manager design tree data exported as a list of features with their types, order, and parent-child relationships.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a dashboard report that visualizes the Feature Manager design tree structure, counts of feature types, and identifies any missing or suppressed features.

Sample Data

FeatureID	FeatureName	FeatureType	ParentFeatureID	Status
1	Base Extrude	Extrude		Active
2	Cut-Extrude1	Cut	1	Active
3	Fillet1	Fillet	2	Active
4	Boss-Extrude1	Extrude	1	Suppressed
5	Hole Wizard1	Hole	3	Active
6	Pattern1	Pattern	5	Active
7	Shell1	Shell	1	Active
8	Draft1	Draft	7	Active

1

Step 1: Import the Feature Manager design tree data into your BI tool as a table with columns FeatureID, FeatureName, FeatureType, ParentFeatureID, and Status.

Load the provided sample_data table into the BI tool's data model.

Expected Result

Data table with 8 rows and 5 columns loaded successfully.

2

Step 2: Create a hierarchy visualization showing the parent-child relationships of features using FeatureID and ParentFeatureID.

Configure a tree diagram visual: Nodes = FeatureName, Parent = ParentFeatureID.

Expected Result

A tree diagram showing Base Extrude at root, with branches to Cut-Extrude1, Boss-Extrude1 (suppressed), Shell1, and their child features.

3

Step 3: Create a measure to count the number of features by FeatureType.

CountFeatures = COUNTROWS('FeatureTable') grouped by FeatureType.

Expected Result

Counts such as Extrude=2, Cut=1, Fillet=1, Hole=1, Pattern=1, Shell=1, Draft=1.

4

Step 4: Create a filter or highlight to identify suppressed features in the tree and counts.

Filter Status = 'Suppressed' to highlight suppressed features in visuals.

Expected Result

Boss-Extrude1 is highlighted as suppressed in the tree and excluded or marked in counts.

5

Step 5: Build a dashboard combining the tree diagram, feature type counts, and a status summary showing active vs suppressed features.

Dashboard layout: Left - Feature Manager tree; Right top - FeatureType counts bar chart; Right bottom - Status pie chart.

Expected Result

Dashboard clearly shows feature hierarchy, counts by type, and status distribution.

Final Result

Feature Manager Design Tree Dashboard

[Tree Diagram]
Base Extrude
├─ Cut-Extrude1
│  └─ Fillet1
│     └─ Hole Wizard1
│        └─ Pattern1
├─ Boss-Extrude1 (Suppressed)
└─ Shell1
   └─ Draft1

[Feature Type Counts]
Extrude: 2
Cut: 1
Fillet: 1
Hole: 1
Pattern: 1
Shell: 1
Draft: 1

[Status Summary]
Active: 7
Suppressed: 1

Bonus Challenge

Add a timeline visualization showing when each feature was created or modified if timestamp data is available.

Show Hint

Use a date/time column and create a Gantt or line chart to visualize feature creation order.