SolidWorks & PDM Works renaming of parts

[vher]

My company has just purchased SW2001+ and PDMWorks. We have run ProE and Ideas previously, both using data manangement.

I was told by the VAR's AE that in order to rename a part that is used in multiple assemblies, I would have to go into each assembly and rename/replace the part. I know this isn't the case for Intralink and I-deas TDM. Does anyone know of an easier way? Either built in or with some VBA scritping?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

VH

 

[BBJT]

I am not sure how many assemblies you are talking but you could give this a shot. Open all the assemblies at one time. Then open the part up while the assemblies are open and select reload and replace in the part. Replace the part with the new one. SW should warn you that there are other documents that are referencing this part and that it will replace them also.

You could also try using SolidWorks Explorer. BBJT CSWP

 

[dhinners]

SolidWorks Explorer does a nice job of this task. Just open SWX Explorer, and open the file you want to rename. Then either use Edit-Rename or (my preference) right-click the file in the tree and select rename. Make sure you have the box checked for 'Find where used'. Click the 'Search rules' button to add directories that SWX Explorer will search to find referenced files. You should include higher level directories, since by default subfolders will be searched. You can also change your options in case you don't want all files found to be updated. After you click 'OK', select 'Find Now' to start the search. Be prepared to wait a while if you have a large network tree selected. (The bottom area of the window shows a status line for search progress.) After all the affected files are found, select 'Apply'. That's it!

You can cover lots of ground quickly if you open an assembly containing a bunch of the files you want to rename. Then you can just go down the tree, right-clicking parts and renaming. Since your search rules are set you just have to click 'Find now' & 'Apply' for each.

 

[Stoker]

Dhinners is right, SWX explorer is the way to go. It is very easy and straightforward to do this. I am very surprised that an AE would tell you to manually update every file which references the renamed part. The obvious limitation is that you have to have your files organized so that the search will locate ALL instances in which the file to be renamed has been referenced. If people are working from their local hard drive and you rename a part which is located on the network then they will have to manually browse to the renamed part when opening. In cases like this you may want to let people know that the name of the file has been changed.

 

[vher]

Thanks for the input.

Much appreciated.

VH