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Component Definition vs Instance

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  • L Offline
    LindaRose
    last edited by 26 Feb 2022, 03:19

    What is the difference between them? Googling, I find info that tells me when I edit the definition all instances edit with it, but when I edit an instance, it makes that instance unique. Is that old behavior? Because when I edit an instance, it certainly does change all other instances and the definitions. So are these all really just copies and it doesn't matter which one is the original? Thanks!

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    • B Offline
      Box
      last edited by 26 Feb 2022, 03:30

      Perhaps a simple way of putting it is, the definition is what it is and the instance is which specific copy.
      So the definition might be Door Knob.
      And various instances would be Front door, Back door, Side door and so on.
      Edit any instance will edit the rest.
      Make unique will change the definition but not the instance name. So you can make the back door unique and edit it without changing the front door.

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      • N Offline
        ntxdave
        last edited by 26 Feb 2022, 16:02

        Box, I don’t think anyone could make it any clearer.

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        • S Offline
          slbaumgartner
          last edited by 28 Feb 2022, 14:39

          The term "definition" is the easier of the two. Like the definition of a word, it is what the Component "means". That is, what geometry goes into being that component. "Instance" is less clear to those who aren't computer programmers. It is the equivalent to "use" of a word. That is, a single place in which the defined word is inserted into a sentence. In SketchUp and "instance" of a "definition" is placed in a model.

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          • L Offline
            LindaRose
            last edited by 12 Mar 2022, 23:58

            Thanks! So my takeaway is that they all ARE copies of each other and there’s really no difference in behavior between the definition (original) and the instances (copies).

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            • D Offline
              Dave R
              last edited by 13 Mar 2022, 00:52

              Maybe think about the example Box gave. You might use the same interior door on every doorway throughout a house such as this one:
              Screenshot - 3_12_2022 , 6_49_30 PM.png
              They all have the same definition which includes the Definition Name of TS6080 TruStile. One has an instance name of Bedroom 1 Door, another Bedroom 2 Door, and a third, Bathrom door.

              Etaoin Shrdlu

              %

              (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE)

              G28 X0.0 Y0.0 Z0.0

              M30

              %

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