sans PDMWorks - copy project?

[brrian]

I don't use PDMWorks. I occasionally need to copy an entire project (all parts/assemblies/drawings in a folder) to begin a new design. I know that you can use SW Explorer to copy everything except the drawings; I also know the 'trick' of temporarily renaming the original folder to break the old references. My question is: has anybody written a macro or add-in to automate the process--something that automatically fixes the references? Let me know if so. Thanks,

Brian

 

[JonathanAnderson]

I've done something like that for my company. It's not a very hard process. Basically, call SldWorks.GetDocumentDependencies2 and then go through the list returned by that and call SldWorks.ReplaceReferencedDocument to change the references. I don't have a general purpose macro, but that's what you need. (The one I wrote for my company is pretty specific to how we name and store parts.)

Jonathan Anderson

 

[purecoda]

from my experience solidworks explorer automatically relinks references to the copied files; hence the sub folders also being created.

 

[SBaugh]

That would seem like a hard Macro to write, since after all just about all the time, you are required to manaully point SW back to the correct reference, after they are broken.

Maybe someone has written one and I would love to see it myself.

Regards,



Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[brrian]

purecoda--it does for parts and assemblies, but it doesn't even copy the drawings. So (if I understand correctly) I can copy and paste the drawings over, but the references will be to the original files. I want a single solution that brings EVERYTHING over and fixes all references. Thanks,

Brian

 

[purecoda]

i think i was confused by the wording of the original question. if he's asking how to move the drawings associated with the files, that i don't know. sounds to me like an excellent enhancement request.

 

[JonathanAnderson]

Brian, let me get this straight. You want a macro/program that does the following:
a) pick source and destination directories
b) copy all SolidWorks files (including drawings) from source to destination, including all files in sub folders
c) replace references in the destination directory to match the current (new) location

Is that right? Just trying to get an idea. I could write something like that pretty quickly based on some other stuff I've done.

Jonathan Anderson

 

[brrian]

Jonathan--that's exactly right. The end result should be an exact copy of the original folder (project), but with all references within the new folder (project).

I bet you'd have a lot of interest in such a program--surely there are many others who have a similar need.

Thanks for the reply,

Brian

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Check out Copy Project at

http://www.javelin-tech.com/main/products/javware.htm

Making the best use of this Forum. faq559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions. faq559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of. faq559-520

 

[Standing]

Look into PDMWorks Vault Admin under Projects tab, copy projects in Project commands. This will copy a project to a new folder with new names.

Bradley

 

[SBaugh]

That's what I was just thinking Bradley!

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[brrian]

Remember that I'm not using PDMWorks...

 

[Standing]

brrian,
This could be just the right time to start using PDM Works. Do you have SolidWorks Pro? We have saved so much time (and time is money) using this easy to use software it is unimaginable.


Bradley

 

[brrian]

It's on my list--we own it but don't use it yet. There are a few reasons for us to start using it, but I don't have the time to dedicate to testing it yet.

 

[SBaugh]

Are all your files located in a single folder or are they scattered out over the network?

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[brrian]

There's a single folder on the network that holds project-specific folders--each project-specific folder holds ALL files for that project.

 

[SBaugh]

So you copy the folder to a new location... then are you saying that the Drawings, etc... lose their reference, or are you renaming them, via SW Explorer, then they lose their reference.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[brrian]

I use SW Explorer to bring over assemblies and parts--SW Explorer will fix those references. Then I have to bring the drawings manually. I rename the original folder then open the drawings--the drawings can't find their original reference so they reattach to the parts in the new folder. I save and close the drawings, then set the old folder name back to what it was.