Sheet Format Question 2

[debodine]

I have recently picked up the responsibility for revising our existing Solidworks templates and sheet formats. We currently run Solidworks 2006 (I don't know the service pack level), but I can find it next time I am at work if it is needed).

Our current setup is this: We have a template named Drawing.slddot, and we have two sheet formats named sht_1.slddrt and shr_2.slddrt. The first is our sheet 1 for all drawings and the second is for sheet 2 and all subsequent sheets.

Before I touched the template and sheet formats, whenever I opened a new Solidworks drawing it first opened to the dialog box to allow selection of the sheet format. At that time I could select sht_1.slddrt if I was creating sheet 1, or I could select sht_2.slddrt if I wanted to start out with sheet 2 or subsequent. (Some of our larger drawings are broken into separate files such as sheets 1-10, sheets 11-20, etc., so the second file would start with sheet 11 and never need the sht_1.slddrt sheet format).

After making the various changes desired (annotation font sizes, adding a revision table, and a few other changes), I saved the new file first as a template, and then again using the Save Sheet Format command, so I ended up with a new Drawing.slddot file, a new sht_1.slddrt file and a new sht_2.slddrt file.

However now when I open Solidworks, it automatically opens the sht_1.slddrt sheet format. That is not necessarily a showstopper. However, when I right click Add Sheet, instead of going to the dialog box that allows me to select either sht_1.slddrt or sht_2.slddrt as my sheet 2 or subsequent, it automatically adds another sht_1.slddrt. In other words, I can no longer choose, and I cannot access sht_2.slddrt.

Any ideas on what I have done wrong? This is my first foray into templates and sheet formats on Solidworks, so assume I know NOTHING, which will be an accurate assumption.

Our original template and sheet formats reside on a read only drive so I have not lost them or overwritten them. Productivity is not affected as my new template and sheet formats will not go online until I get the bugs out.

debodine

 

[draftsman101]

Try going to the system options and goto default templates. Look at the bottom of the list, there should be two options. One to always use the default template. Two to prompt user to select document template.

B. Long
P 4 2.80 GHz
2.5 Gig Ram
Solidworks Office 2007 Sp. 2.2

 

[CADGemini]

Debodine,

Where have you saved your new sheet templates to? You will want to make sure that you go to Tools-Options-System Options Tab- Then File Locations.

Make sure your template locations include the location you saved your new templates to. If you need more details please respond to this post and I will try to help you further.

Best Regards,
Jon Knabenschuh

Gemini CAD Solutions

http://www.geminicadworks.com

Challenges are what makes life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

Solidworks 2006 SP5.0

 

[Standing]

When adding Sheet 2 to your drawing SolidWorks will put in Sheet 1. Our does the same, I called our VAR he said it is a problem with SolidWorks.
Once you have Sheet 1 as Sheet 2 RMC (Right Mouse Click) on sheet 2 and click properties to reload the correct Sheet 2.


Bradley
SolidWorks Premim 2007 x64 SP3.1
PDM Works, Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU
3.00 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Virtual memory 12577 MB, nVidia 3400

 

[J-C]

2007 changed this behaviour....it now prompts you to select a sheet format when you add a sheet. Of course, some people complained that this was extra work and they like the old behaviour. Everyone has different needs. So as of swx2007 SP3 I think, they added a system option for whether to prompt you for it or not. Now everyone can be happy.

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
UG NX4.01.0 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2007 SP3.1 on WinXP SP2

 

[fcsuper]

debodine,

What not just have two Drawing Templates, one with first sheet format, and one with multiply sheet format? Since your system allows both to be the principle sheet, this makes the most sense to me.



Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA

http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php

 

[Standing]

Jason,
We are running SolidWorks 2007 SP 3.1. Where is that prompt setting for adding new sheet? Have you tried it to see if it works for you? Click add new sheet to see what happens.


Bradley
SolidWorks Premim 2007 x64 SP3.1
PDM Works, Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU
3.00 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Virtual memory 12577 MB, nVidia 3400

 

[J-C]

Same SP here....I haven't tried it as the new behaviour works better for us (we don't mix sheet formats in a drawing). I just remember seeing it in the release notes....think its under Tools/Options/System Options/Drawings.

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
UG NX4.01.0 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2007 SP3.1 on WinXP SP2

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

It's the last checkbox (Show sheet format dialog on add new sheet) at Tools > Options > System Options > Darwings


SW07-SP3.1
SW06-SP5.1

 

[Standing]

Jason
I looked and did not find it. The help was not help, to much data.

Bradley
SolidWorks Premim 2007 x64 SP3.1
PDM Works, Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU
3.00 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Virtual memory 12577 MB, nVidia 3400

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

SW07-SP3.1
SW06-SP5.1

 

[Standing]

Thanks Jason and CorBlimeyLimey A star for you both.

Bradley
SolidWorks Premim 2007 x64 SP3.1
PDM Works, Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU
3.00 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Virtual memory 12577 MB, nVidia 3400

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Tools > Options > System Options > Darwings

Must still be evolving.


SW07-SP3.1
SW06-SP5.1

 

[debodine]

In the order received:

draftsman101L Found the choices you mentioned, selecting prompt didn't change anything. Maybe its the way I have it set up but it still doesn't prompt.

CadGemini: Reverified that Solidworks is set to point to only one location for the template and only one location for the sheet formats, and they are the location of the new template and sheet formats. Didn't solve my issue.

Bradley: I think you are on to something. This does not happen with our previous Solidworks 2006. I said in my original post that this occurs with Solidworks 2006. I was wrong...it does not. It occurs when I attempt to use our newly acquired Solidworks 2007. We upgraded because we changed from individual licenses of 2006 to a key server for 2007. But you are correct that the issue is with 2007. Per what Gildashard says, I hope that our new 2007 will be SP 3.0 so we will eventually have the option. I have not tried to find that option on 2007 yet.

fcsuper: I think your suggestion may be the best way to go. I am going to attempt this tomorrow, as I am at home right now.

CBL: Good luck on the evolution of those new wings! )

debodine

 

[Standing]

Read CorBlimeyLimey post above. That setting fix our problem.

Bradley
SolidWorks Premim 2007 x64 SP3.1
PDM Works, Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU
3.00 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Virtual memory 12577 MB, nVidia 3400

 

[debodine]

Ok, IT has temporarily removed 2007 from testing (for other reasons) but when they let me get back into the process I will check for the setting noted by CBL. It sounds like it will solve the issue for us as well.

Many thanks to all for the support and suggestions!

)

debodine

 

[Standing]

Debodine,
As a side note. What does IT have to do with SolidWorks 2007, if you already have SolidWorks 2006?


Bradley
SolidWorks Premim 2007 x64 SP3.1
PDM Works, Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU
3.00 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Virtual memory 12577 MB, nVidia 3400

 

[debodine]

Bradley:

Our engineers currently have Solidworks 2006 individual licenses installed on their machines. IT came to me and asked me to help them choose defaults to set up an image for installing Solidworks 2007 using a network license and a key server arrangement, and they will remove the Solidworks 2006 individual licenses.

This question of mine was created when I was experimenting with Solidworks 2007 while IT had it here in my shop (on their own laptop) where I could play with it. They have since removed the laptop to accomplish other tasks so I can't play with it at the moment.

I was able to successfully create all the appropriate defaults except of course for the one which you and the others who posted to this thread graciously assisted in helping me solve.

In the past we had our own managers authorized to install software on our machines, but in the not too distant past that permission was rescinded and ALL software is now installed by IT. Without giving too much detail, it was a wise decision considering what we had on our machines that was not accounted for or controlled by IT. )

Best regards,

debodine

 

[Standing]

Debodine,
Thanks for your comment.
Having a good IT department that wants to install SolidWorks is good. We had an IT guy install SolidWorks for a non-computer literate engineer on the east coast; I am on the west coast. IT was a pleasure to work with. He accepted the fact that he would have to turn off virus protection. Other in IT person have not been so gracious.
Good luck,


Bradley
SolidWorks Premim 2007 x64 SP3.1
PDM Works, Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU
3.00 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Virtual memory 12577 MB, nVidia 3400

 

[fcsuper]

Bradley, wow, I never thought I'd see the words "IT was a pleasure to work with" ever in my life! lol

Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
sw.fcsuper.com
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group