Independent copy of a Product structure

[Akesson]

Which is the best/fastest way to create an independent copy of an entire Product structure (with drawings to both products and Parts)? I would like to have new document names, instance numbers, part names and UUID.

/Akesson

 

[catiajim]

Either Save Management or Send To should work, but you will have to manually update the Intance Numbers and Document Names.

Sounds like what you really need is a script.

 

[Akesson]

With Save Management I don't get the "Save as new document" option which means that I don't get a new UUID number and with Send To I do not manage to get a copy of all the part drawings.

Is it really possible to work with Catia V5 without a PDM system?

 

[Excalibur]

The New / From is supposed to create new UUID, you may want to try that.

 

[ferdo]

Hi

Definitely this is a job for a script (or more), as catiajim said.

I am sure its possible to work with Catia V5 without a PDM system, because I was in this situation (but your life will not be so nice). A PDM system has a lot of advantages.

For what you want to do its a must (in my opinion) to use Send To Directory (it will be more easy to handle the files).

After that, you have to recreate all your old parts using function New From and save them (in the same directory for example) - if you want new UUID, as Excalibur said.

In all your old products, you can Replace Components with the new ones created - I did something like this but replacing v5 parts with v4 models (standard parts, that was client requirement). The instances will be replaced automatically.

Finally you have to create new products with the same function New From and Save Management to finalize the job.

Its not so pleasant to do all of these without some macros, especially if you have a big numbers of products and parts.

Regards
Fernando

 

[catiajim]

If you have a PKT license, you could create a Product Template, and that should do everything you want here, including reseting the UUIDs.

Also, if you are using Save Management, you will need to open both your CATParts, CATProducts, and CATDrawings. Then save your CATParts and CATProducts, but not your CATDrawings. Then, after that save is done, you can save your CATDrawings. That way all of the links in the Drawings will be correct.

 

[ferdo]

Hi,

Yep, nice and easy. catiajim gives you a good advice.

But usually, we designers have problems with our management when we are talking about new licenses. So, I can understand you very well if you don't have that license.

Regards
Fernando

 

[Akesson]

Hi,

Thanks for all ideas,

I'm familiar with all the suggested functionalites but I raised this issue to see if there where any easy and fast way to make an independent copy of an product structure (without any PDM system). And the anwers to tha question seems to be... NO!

For some Products I use the PKT workbench to create templates. But using the PKT to solve the "save as" problem i Catia V5 seems like a "workaround" for me. Buy and use an extra workbench to be able to perform a simple task as get an independet copy of the product structure (with drawings) can't be right.

I think Dassault let the users solve to many missing functionalities in Catia with macros and scripts.

Catia V5 is a powerful tool but sometimes you find issues that are solved much better in much cheaper 3D MCAD tools like Solid Works and even ProENGINEER.

/Akesson