Adding parts to an existing assembly

[Woodyscolts]

If I have parts open from different directories can I add them to an assembly without having to use the parts library to constantly switch to different directories? I would think if I already have them open I should be able to add by picking the window of the part I want to add.

 

[beachcomber]

You can drag an existing part from the assembly pathfinder

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

Where would we be without sat-nav?

 

[karmoh]

Beachcomber, don't forget, also from any file manager

 

[karmoh]

P.S.

I forgot to mention. I use a dual monitor system, with a neat (free & portable, no install) quad pane file manager. Each pane is set to the same directory if required and each pane is filtered for SE types only. PSM, PAR, ASM & DFT
This is a massive boost for productive workflow, as each pane is filtered to show browseable directories and the respective file type only. Easily learned behavior, i.e. top left pane is always PAR, bottom left is PSM etc.

 

[Woodyscolts]

BC,

As far as I can tell you can only drag from assembly pathfider if you already have an instance in the assembly.

Karmoh,

Also with file manager you would have to switch from directory to directory, no better than using the parts library.

 

[karmoh]

Hi Woody,

Personally I have only one directory per project, so switching directories to find parts doesn't happen.

I do have a separate standard parts directory/folder structure for nuts, bolts, Pems etc. These are set to released and are copied to the working project directory as required and used from there.
With the advent of very cheap hard drives, the extra storage is hardly noticed. Plus the integrity of assemblies is never questioned. Where used is never required.

I must also mention that I work alone, so that above method may not be viable for organizations with multi cad users

 

[Woodyscolts]

I am at a large company that has been doing this for a long time and parts are used on multiple projects and they are all over the place, it would be a very large project to clean up now and I am only temporary contract. They don't even store the models in the same directory as the drafts.

 

[Woodyscolts]

It just seems to me that if I already have the part open I should be able to insert in the assembly directly.

 

[beachcomber]

But you would have to browse from directory to directory to open the parts anyway, so that's no different to using the edgebar (parts library).
The edgebar does remember previous folders to a certain extent.
Inserting an already open part has never been the way SE works. Some systems force you to open the part first which is even more of a pain.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

Where would we be without sat-nav?

 

[Woodyscolts]

BC,

Because the company I am at stores the drafts in a different location than the models and to make things more confusing the drafts are named by shop order but the models do not have the same names. So no I do not go from directory to directory to open the files, I open from the drafts that I actually know the names of.

 

[beachcomber]

I see your problem now.
My present company used to use different names for model and drawing, but now I rename models to at least include the drawing/part number.
You should do this anyway I think because having a unique number in the model name prevents duplication of model names - and it makes things easier to find.
How many models called "Bracket1' have you seen.


bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

Where would we be without sat-nav?

 

[Woodyscolts]

Well not that name but yes they do have multiple models with the same name, it drives me nuts.

 

[beachcomber]

At my last job I had to use Rev Manager to clean up a big assembly spread over several folders.
I was also reducing the number of folders and creating new ones.
I ran into quite a lot of duplicate model names from different folders and this just made the whole exercise that much harder and longer.
As for the original problem, I think it's possible to write a macro that would add an open model to an assembly.
This might be an option.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

Where would we be without sat-nav?