COPY ALL DIMENSIONS FROM A DRAWING TO ANOTHER DRAWING SIMILAR 8

[draftman01]

Hi people
this is my first post
so I have a lot of troubles with the dangling dimensions
well i have 6-10 models with the same shape but different dimensions
so I thought on reuse the drawing but when I open there are a lot of dangling dimensions so my question is what can i do to fix them? or is some way to copy the dimensions to the other drawings?

 

[TheTick]

One thing that doesn't work is using CAPS LOCK.

Sometimes you can reconnect dimensions. Select the dimension and look for a red point. Drag the red point to a new vertex or edge.

 

[Jboggs]

We discovered another procedure that may work for you. After you finish one drawing and save it, save it as a copy (SaveAs Copy) to the name for the next part. You have created a new drawing file that is linked to your current part. Then click Open, select that newly created drawing file, but DO NOT CLICK THE OPEN BUTTON YET. In the dialog box you will see a button called References. Click it. It will open a dialog box showing you which part file that drawing file is currently linked to. Click on that part file name and a new dialog box will open allowing you to select a different part file for that drawing. Select the new part you want that drawing linked to and click open. If the feature structures of the two parts are similar enough the drawing file will open with all the dimensions linked to the new part. I'm sure there will be some clean up but this process works well for us.

By the way, have you learned about configurations and how to create multiple similar parts in a single part file? Its a VERY handy tool.

And - we're running SW 2012. Not sure about this process in any other version.

 

[TheTick]

Giving JBoggs a star. I do this, as well, but didn't feel like typing it into my iPhone.

 

[saf12]

I also use SWX Explorer for referencing.
I have noticed an issue with my SWX2013 >shift >drag dim. to different view
it doesn't work.... what am i doing wrong?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

draftman01

Were the models created from the same base model? i.e. Create one model, Save as to the next model and change sizes?

Were the drawing dimensions placed manually or with the Insert > Model Items method?

 

[Jboggs]

"Were the models created from the same base model? i.e. Create one model, Save as to the next model and change sizes?"
Yes.

"Were the drawing dimensions placed manually or with the Insert > Model Items method? "
Manually, but it still might work.

Again - check out configurations! It applies exactly to what you are doing.

 

[DiegoLGraves]

Pack and Go beats save-as for pretty much anything being created new from similar parts and drawings. And Jboggs is spot on in his save-as method. We avoid configurations that we send to vendors with the SolidWorks part and drawing files, so they don't accidentally switch configurations and make the part wrong. For design work configs are a great way to go.

Diego

 

[Jboggs]

"We avoid configurations that we send to vendors with the SolidWorks part and drawing files, so they don't accidentally switch configurations and make the part wrong. For design work configs are a great way to go."

We only send drawings to our vendors, and usually they are just PDF's. We don't send models outside the company. And the reason we don't normally use Pack-and-Go for this purpose is that our assemblies include fasteners and commercial items that come from a central library. Pack-and-Go creates new models of those parts.

 

[draftman01]

well i tried with save as and open the copy with the new model reference but it didn't work, they are dangling dimensions still... so pack and go? sorry for my ignorance but how use it? is some tutorial here?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

draftman01 .... Were the models created from the same base model? i.e. Create one model, Save as to the next model and change sizes?

 

[draftman01]

yes...so is one way?

 

[DanStro]

I use a slightly different method than Jboggs , but I think it is a little more efficient because it creates a model as well as a drawing at the same time.

After you create your first model and drawing (and save them). Do a SaveAs on the drawing, change the name but before clicking Save click on the "References" button. Change the name for the model that is listed. Be sure to click in another cell after changing the name of the model (it will turn green if it actually is changed). For some reason if you don't do this SW will ignore the change that you just made. Choose "Save all as copy..." in this dialog as well. Now click the "Save All" button and you should have a new drawing and a new model that is associated with that drawing.

I hope this is clear.

Dan

Han primo incensus

 

[draftman01]

so i made this but now what?

 

[DanStro]

If you're asking me "now what" then you open the new model/drawing, make your changes, and save them. You repeat this until you have all of you models/drawings.

Han primo incensus

 

[draftman01]

mmmmmm....well I've the models,all o them so I made 1 drawing, when I copy this one and open whit other model reference I get dangling dimensions this is the problem.

 

[draftman01]

so what did u say about configurations Jboggs?
can u explain me?

 

[Nella95]

I'm thinking your problem is with loose references...Have you fully studied up on pack and go? It's a real life saver.

 

[draftman01]

i think that no yet...do u know about a manual or something similar to learn about this?
well I need fix them do u know how do it?

 

[Jboggs]

For what its worth, I have been able to "re-attach" lots of dangling dimensions in the past by just clicking on a dimension attach point and dragging it to the new attachment. Many times it will adopt the new attachment and is no longer dangling.