NX Different options for "apply to ..." in the part properties attributes

In the part properties of an assembly part you have several options (Context) to apply the attributes.


What do these options do, and why are they "added" since NX 8.0 and NX 8.5?


Apply to Component
Apply to Instance
Apply to Reference Set
Apply to Part

Solution

The first part you would need to know, is what is in the (NX) documentation:


https://docs.plm.automation.siemens.com/tdoc/nx/1872/nx_help/#uid:xid683740


This should explain, what the options are, and on what level they can be set/changed. Also where they are inherited from.


Why these options where "introduced"?:


"Apply to Component", is the option you have always had in an assembly.


"Apply to Part" is a short cut instead of having to change display part and edit properties, attributes on the display/work part.


The "Apply to Part" was to avoid the overhead of change display part, which regenerates the display --> set the attribute --> then change display part (and depending on preferences set to the work part) back to the correct parent assembly (and regenerate the display again). 
It was intentionally added to save that tedious waste of time switching display parts (twice).


The "Apply to Instance" was to reach parity with TC. 
NX could have the instance attribute if it was the result of sync from TC but there was no way to accomplish the same by interactive NX.


"Apply to Reference Set" was always available in the piece part. This option was added as well to avoid having the change display part twice, and be able to change it while the assembly is still work/display part.

Notes and References

Hardware/Software Configuration

Platform: all
OS: n/a
OS Version: n/a
Product: NX
Application: ASSEMBLIES
Version: V8.5
Function: PART_FILE_OPS

Ref: 001-1993726