Managing part/assembly/drawing files 3

[Uka]

My understanding is that when a file has reference, then it saves the "path" to that reference within.

Well, my company has two folders, "Pending" and "Approved". When you first create part/assembly/drawing files, first we save them in pending directory, and then when they are approved, we want to move a set of files (part,assembly&dwg) to approved directory.

My question is that when you move those files all together, does it automatically update the path? Or it would still point the old path? I first thought it doesn't work that way, but it seems though it works 'sometimes'.

Can anybody help me managing files? Please?

Thanks -

Uka

 

[SBaugh]

If you move it via Windows explorer your going to have lots of problems. Use SW Explorer to copy the files to a new location. Then Delete the files in the old location.

Using SW Explorer is your best bet to keep the relationships intacted.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[Uka]

Thank you, Scott.

1) If you copy the assembly and parts used to a new location, and then doesn't the assembly still point the old path to parts? Or does it update the path to parts that are in new location?

2) If you copy the part and delete the old one, any file that has reference to the old part would loose the path and cannot find the reference, correct? What can I do?

Thank you.

Uka

 

[TheTick]

Yes, SW saves the refernced files' paths, but that is not necessarily where SW will look first for components. Look in the SW help under "Search --> file locatins for external references".

You can set up search folders to check for components in certain folders in a certain order. Specified search folders are the first place SW looks for referenced documents.

The next folders SW checks are the folders most recently used to open files and references. After that, SW checks the locations as they were saved.

SW checks "relative path" before it checks "absolute path". For instance, if you have an entire assembly saved in "C:\project" and move or copy the entire folder to "D:\project", and you open the assembly from "D:\project", SW will search "D:\project" before it searches "C:\project". Try some experiments and see for yourself.

Due to illness, the part of The Tick will be played by... The Tick.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

 

[Uka]

Thank you, TheTick!!

I think you solved the problem!!

Uka

 

[SBaugh]

1) If you copy the assembly and parts used to a new location, and then doesn't the assembly still point the old path to parts? Or does it update the path to parts that are in new location?

Yes using SW Explorer it does update the paths. With SW Explorer you can place the assembly in folder and the Parts in another one. That don't have to reside in the same folder. If you use SW to copy the files all files will reside in the same folder.

2) If you copy the part and delete the old one, any file that has reference to the old part would loose the path and cannot find the reference, correct? What can I do?

In SW explorer you can do a "find where used" and change all the files that reference that part. It will basically change the location information in the assembly (that references that part) and tell it the new location path for that part.

Best thing to do, is to test it out. Try out a small Sample assembly and parts.

The proper Technique is to use SW Explorer. It's their for your benefit and once you figure it out you won't go back... IMO.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[Heckler]

Scott you get another star

SW Explorer & a PDM Works are the only ways to keep the SW's data healthy. I remember the days before they offered those two tools and it was a nightmare with multiple users. If anybody still thinks that can do data management with these tools is a fool riding the edge of data disaster. That's my 2 cents.....

Vince