Simcenter 3D Solutions Deactivating Entire Submechanisms in Simcenter 3D Motion

There is no current means to directly deactivate an entire submechanism from the parent model. 

Solution

Change to the submechanism and create a new Solution. Once the new Solution is active, use a multiple select to highlight all of the motion bodies and then right-click on the group. Select "Deactivate" in order to set the motion bodies and all of the referencing elements to inactive. NOTE: it is very important that "Deactivate" is selected and NOT "Deactivate for All". The former will deactivate all of the elements for the new Solution only, while the latter will deactivate all of the elements for all existing Solutions. This will make it difficult to reactivate the submechanism and render it useless on its own.

Switch back to the parent model and right-click on the submechanism from the Motion Navigator. Select "Read Deactivated States" which will open a new dialog listing the different Solutions from the submechanism along with the number of inactive elements.

This dialog will allow you to choose the activated state configuration from the submechanism Solutions. Choose the Solution in which all of the elements were deactivated and hit OK. 

Notice that all of the same elements that were deactivated in the submechanism are now inactive in the parent model. The elements can be reactivated by going to the same Read Deactivated States dialog and choosing another Solution. 

Notes