Losing drawing reference on imported part

[pejaer]

Hi all,

I am working with a subcontractor who uses Inventor, so when he sends me a part, it is...actually therefore he has been sending me Step files, which shows up as an import on the tree. I have been detailing the drawings using Solidworks, but not modifying the part any, which means import the file and save it as a solidworks part before doing the drawing. On occasion, he sends me an update (i.e. new step file), and when doing so I lose the reference to the part and I have a "part with no outline" in the drawing as in the attached PDF. What I been doing, which I thought would work, is simply replacing the old file by first importing the new step file, and replacing the older file when it asks me to save as a sw-part....that way the file is the same name.

I should add that when I first open the drawing, it looks like the old part and not "refreshed"...I get the disappearing lines when I was trying to get a re-fresh by toggling the different Display Style, i.e. "hidden line removed" etc...in a last ditch effort. The only other notable is that I noticed that there is no configuration listed in the drop down list if you go to the properties after right clicking the view...should be at least the classic "default" listed there.

Questions:
What is the proper way to replace the part so I don't lose the reference in the drawing? Is the issue with the way that I am back-dooring the part swap-out, or is the problem that I am working with step files and I'll never get this to work?

Thanks
Paul

 

[handleman]

Pretty much you'll never get it to work. You are not going to be able to replace one imported file with another in the drawing context. You only have three options:

1. Force the sub to use SolidWorks.
2. Transfer the detailing work to the sub and accept DXFs as your final drawing, with the Step files as reference.
3. Keep doing what you are doing now.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

 

[pejaer]

Ouch, that's disappointing....but at least I'll stop spinning my wheels on the futile attempt...you'd think somebody has solved this issue at least with the generic formats.

Paul

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

If you install Inventor View (

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?id=10535296&siteID=123112),

you should be able to open an Inventor format file with features intact. I don't know whether it's an exact duplication of the Inventor feature structure. You will have to test for yourself.

http://help.solidworks.com/2013/English/solidworks/sldworks/t_autodesk_inventor_files.htm

 

[ctopher]

Also you can use SW Explorer to replace the part in the drawing.

Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
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