Opening Prt file when drawing already open 1

[RayJ2]

Hi all,

I usually give my drawings the same name as my parts. For example:
MyPart.prt and MyPart.drw

If you have MyPart.drw open, and you do "File / Open", the file selection dialog box appears and it automatically preselects the file "MyPart.prt".
So, all I have to do is press OK and file MyPart.prt is opened.
I find that a very handy feature.
But unfortunately, that does not work the other way around.

If I have part "MyPart.prt" open and I open a new file, in the file selection dialog box the first file in the working directory is preselected, and not file "MyPart.drw", as I very much would like.

Is there a way to achieve this ?
I use WildFire 2.0

Best regards

 

[mjcole]

No this is not possible. Drawings use data from the model so it always knows where the part is located.

Unigraphics can do this easily because the drawing is actually created in an assembly setup.

I'd rather live in a Pro/E World than a UG one.

This is possible on other systems but not without searching for drawings in a directory that might reference the part.

If you want to work on both just open the Drawing first and use Window to switch between them.

You do have a nice idea that should be submitted to PTC.
I'm going to check the WF4 trial edition to see if this functionality exists.

Michael

 

[davidinindy]

I submitted this enhancement request first probably two years ago, and once or twice again since... in case they lost it. Haven't seen anything yet.
Also, the fact that you can't sort by date, file name, or anything in the "file open" window... like all other windows programs. Ends in a lot of scrolling thru folders.

David

 

[JCReynolds79]

But if you know what you are looking for, or partially, its very easy to cut down what's shown in the Open dialog box by using wildcards.

Example: want to open part called "abcdef012345.prt"

could type *bcd*45* and only files with those bits in that order will be shown. Handy if you know the name or part of the name and its a big working directory.

Of just search from within Pro/E on the tab, and open from there.

Regards,

Jon Reynolds

 

[RayJ2]

Guys,

Thanks a lot for your replies!

David. Yes, the "File open" window does not really behave like in any other standard Windows application.
For example, in any other Windows application "File open" box, selecting any file, and then entering a character makes the selection jump to the first file that starts with the character you entered. This is a handy feature that the Pro/E File Open box does not have.
I think the reason is that the File Open dialog box is not the Windows one, but PTC created this one theirselves.
Probably for reasons of transportability of Pro/E to other operating systems.
BTW, what was the operating system that Pro/E originated on? I suspect it was not Windows ...

Jon. Good tip ! I didn't know you could use wildcards !

Kind regards
Eddy

 

[davidinindy]

Yea. I learned computers in the ol DOS days, and use wildcards once in a while. Some of the younger folks in our office don't know how I find stuff so easy. "Ancient Chinese secret" I tell them.
Don't think I ever thought of using them in the file open window though.

David

 

[mjcole]

Easy method I've used in the past is make a mapkey
gd Get Drawing

which does the following
File Rename <Pause>
"Please copy the file name and hit OK to continue"
Resume mapkey
click cancel on rename dialog and goto File Open
Pause and prompt user to paste the copied name

This is a bit tedious another option would be to paste the drawing location into an Annotation or text property with the full path.

Michael

 

[RayJ2]

Michael,

I was thinking something simular, however I am probably going to use AutoIt (

http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/

) to write a script.
I have a little experience with it and I feel it is more powerful than mapkey.
Grabbing the part file name could perhaps be done by doing a 'Rename' as you suggest, or 'Save a copy' or just 'Save'. These all open a window, displaying the current part file name.
Then AutoIt could grab the filename, replace the '.prt' with a '.drw' and open the file.

Thanks !
Kind regards
Eddy

 

[RayJ2]

PS. I just noticed that the title of this thread is wrong. It should be:
"Opening drw file when part already open"
instead of:
"Opening Prt file when drawing already open"

:-D

Kind regards
Eddy

 

[looslib]

Pro/E was originally developed on Unix boxes in the late 1980's. Didn't move to a native Windows compile until Late in the Windows NT4 cycle or even Windows 2000.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[RayJ2]

Ben,

"Wildfires are dangerous, ..."

Do you mind if I borrow that quote sometimes, should the ocasion arise ? B-)

Eddy

 

[looslib]

I borrowed it from a trade magazine when Wildfire 1 was released. Thus the quotes around it.

"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli