Creating an Index of Referenced Files 1

[epierce]

Hi,

I just started a job with a manufacturing company, and it is the first time that I've worked in a multi-user Solidworks environment. The other day I wanted to find an assembly(ies) that reference part X. My co worker directed me to SW Explorer, and after a very long wait, I had my answer. My question is whether there is a quicker way to do this.. Perhaps Explorer could create an index that I could access through Excel or the like? Ideas?

E

 

[TheTick]

Not quicker, but more reliable and thorough.

http://esoxrepublic.com/freeware/WhereUsed.php

Honesty may be the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

-SolidWorks API VB programming help

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

See also;

Indexing

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...23-9983-d1b89df0e214&file=Hide-Show_Lines.png

SolidWorks Search

http://help.solidworks.com/2012/English/solidworks/pdmworks/exp_search.htm

 

[handleman]

I think this is one of the purposes of PDM.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

handleman,

Does PDM speed up the Search process?

 

[handleman]

I may misunderstand the purpose of PDM (don't use it) but I thought part of what it did was (as you check files in and out, etc) maintain a database of what parts/files are used where. Then you just query a database (very fast) instead of having to actually examine the content of all files to see if they reference a given file.

Of course, I'm sure PDM brings its own set of headaches. And it only knows files that have been checked in.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

 

[epierce]

Funny, as we were talking about it I had a similar response for my coworker: "I've never used it, but isn't that what PDM is for?"

Anyhow, thanks for the responses.. CorBlimeyLimey: I'll check out the SW search link at work tomorrow, but is your indexing link a mistake? It brings up a picture of the hide/show lines button.

E

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

LOL ... yeah, try this link;

http://help.solidworks.com/2012/English/solidworks/pdmworks/start_the_windows_indexing_service.htm

 

[EEnd]

PDMWorks Workgroup does track references and where used upon checkin. You can go to a document in the vault and it will tell you what files it references and what file references it. It stores these lists internally so retrieval is quick.

I would not go as far as to say that this feature is what PDM is for, but a bit of the data that it has to track to do what it is for.

Eric