Custom Properties 1

[PenDragon1970]

I'm in the process of creating custom borders and I'm trying to utilize as many built-in and custom properties as I can to eliminate repetitive data entry. I've searched through the posts but I haven't found anything on my particular issue, so I'm posting this:

In Inventor, I can link custom properties to the border without having to fill them in, so they remain invisible until I need them. In Solidworks, I'm forced to add BS "Sample" text for some ridiculous reason, and then that garbage text always shows up in the format.

What I want to know is: is there a way to leave those property fields blank but still link them to the sheet format. I mean, this is supposed to be a template, so I don't want a bunch of text in unused property fields. These fields will eventually be filled with data, but I need them to remain blank until that data is defined.

 

[Theophilus]

Can you fill them with a space and see if that works? Perhaps the space will act as a placeholder until you want to fill in your fields.


Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

 

[rockguy]

As Jeff said. One click of the space bar in the custom property field is all it takes.

Rob Rodriguez CSWP

http://www.robrodriguez.com

SW 2006 0.0

 

[TheTick]

I prefer using a hyphen "-" instead of a space, so it is apparent that there is a place being held. also, users are prone to forgetting to remove the leading space.

I've even tried w/ API to force empty properties. No dice.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Strange ... I made my drawing tempates using SW2000 using the following method. I just tried again using SW2005 but it doesn't work ... the property remains visible.

1) Open drawing template.
2) Place a view of a part.
3) Enter Edit Sheet Format mode.
4) Click on the Note icon.
5) Click where you want the note to be placed.
6) Click on the Link to property icon.
7) Select Model in view specified in sheet properties
8) Select a property & Click OK.
9) Click anywhere on the sheet to close the note. The relevant property should appear.
10) Return to Edit Sheet mode.
11) Delete the view of the part.

The property should now be "invisible" but will be populated when another part view is inserted onto the sheet.

Image showing border in Edit Sheet mode

Image showing border in Edit Sheet Format mode

The visible property was made using SW2005, the "invisble" ones were created with SW2000.

I can send the template to whoever wants to try & find out why it once worked but now doesn't.


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[J-C]

Tick, I have no problems creating "empty" properties with the API.

Jason

 

[TheTick]

Gildashard:
Sounds like a useful tool in the making.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Anyone know why & when this changed?


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[ctopher]

I have my p/n and title, etc in my dwg templates linked to the part/assy file description and file name. Has been since SW03 and still works fine.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

ctopher ... when you open just your drawing template (no part views), are the property fields visible?


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[ctopher]

no, they are not. Only when I bring in a part or assy they become visible.
When did you see this change?

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Not till this thread. I tried to reproduce what I did in SW2000, but the properites remain visible. Maybe I did something diferent back then, but I have no idea what.
Try creating a new linked note on your template, see if it's the same for you.


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[ctopher]

I just recreated one, still works.





Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

But what do you see when there are no part views on the sheet?


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[PenDragon1970]

Thanks for the responses guys, but I think the subject is getting off track. I have absolutely NO problem with properties linked to parts & assemblies. They remain empty or invisible until I place the component into the drawing.

My original question wasn't about properties that are linked to a part or assy, but just simple custom text properties that I don't add till the drawing level, such as next higher assembly number, approval signoffs etc.

Jeff & Tick got it - I'll try using a space and see if that does it for me.

Thanks a ton for all the help. This forum is great.

 

[ctopher]

response to CBL,
It is empty until part/assy is added.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Pendragon1970 ... Take a look at PropertyEditorSpec at

http://webpages.charter.net/mkikstra/SolidWorks.html

It places whatever properties you want without the need for a space, hyphen, etc.

Also, instead of worrying about pre-assigning the properties you could use the macro to assign them only when needed. The macro has an external ".ini" file which can be modified to insert a standard set of properties to parts.


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Also check out swCP3 Local Version & swProp2 at

http://www.swcp3.com/

I have not used those so do not know if they will do what you want.


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091