Branching saves a copy of an instance's referenced master model under a new name/location, and automatically switches the instance's dependency to that new master model. Branching is useful when you want two or more versions of a very similar model.
For example, say you have an assembly named Engine Assembly HD, which includes an instance of a "Connecting_Rod" model.
For this particular assembly, which is for a heavy-duty engine, you want to increase the thickness of the connecting rod. However, you do not want to change the Connecting_Rod master model, because the model is also referenced by instances in other assemblies.
To change the connecting rod as needed for the current assembly without affecting other assemblies, you can use branching to simultaneously save a copy of the Connecting_Rod master model under a new name (for example, "Connecting_Rod_HD") and switch the dependency of the model instance to this new version of the master model.
Note that if you have more than one copy of the instance in the assembly, all copies will reference the new master model after branching.
In addition to the ability to branch individual models, you can branch all models in an assembly. This lets you save an existing assembly as a new assembly and branch all the instances in the assembly in one procedure, leaving the original master models and assembly unchanged.
To run an example of using branching, see the Assemblies Tutorial in the Concept Help menu.
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