SW and file management question...

[deek05]

We will soon be upgrading to SW from Autocad 2002. How do you manage SW files? Here is an example of what we do now:

We have a Master folder (ex: D02-4K), this folder contains all drawings numbered from 2001 thru 4000.

If a drawing is to be changed, we open the drawing, flag the drawing (hatch an area of the titleblock to let other users know there is a change pending). Save drawing.

Copy or Save drawing into another folder titled "Pending". Then the drawing is updated an EN (Engineering Notice) is processed and the drawing from the "Pending" folder is moved back to the Master folder (ex: D02-4K).

What is the best way to do this using SW?

 

[Standing]

You really should look into getting a PDM. We have tried not using one and with trust it can be done. Remember if someone opens an assy. All the parts under that assy are write protected.

 

[Timoteo]

You just open the dwg file of Autocad inside the SW and save it as Sheet Format. SW is much more secure and easilly. Good Luck!

 

[APPENG]

Deek,

You can create drawings in SW, and keep them in the normal work folder.

When you have ECP's for a poarticular part. Create another drawing as a "rapidraft" and save it to the "pending" folder When someone opens the rapidraft copy, they are not loading the part(s) into memory therefore the drawing stays as is no matter what changes happen to the model in the interim time. Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com

 

[APPENG]

One more thing tell you about file management.

I don't necessarily think you need a pdm solution yet. One thing you have to be mindful of is how the solidworks files work with each other.

Solidworks documents are "Associative" and therefore have interdependencies. you can no longer simply send someone the drawing and expect them to view it. You also have to send the part file as well. Similarly if you send someone an assembly file, you had better send them all the parts in the assembly as well.

A part can stand on its own two feet while an assembly needs to see the parts in their specified locations. A drawing also needs to see the file (with some exceptions). Before, you only had one kind of file to deal with (a dwg). Now you have three file types to deal with (sldprt, sldasm, slddrw), and understanding how these files work together up front and early, will help you tremendously in avoiding the pitfalls of going 2-d to 3-d.

There are ways around the need to have part file accompany drawings, for instance the rapiddraft feature. And there is also e-drawings to send people outside the dept/company.

the thing to mindful of is to plan out your data structure on the network if applicable. If you intend to share data between multiple users you need to make it accesible to all. For instance if you have a bunch of standard parts that you use in just about every assembly, then you would keep these parts in a central directory on the server. Anyone building an assembly can reference these componenets and put them in an assembly.

There's a lot to write about this subject, I help people set this kind of stuff up all the time when I do my implementations and I could write many pages here on this subject alone. It's not a difficult task it just takes planning, awareness, and education.

Don't waste your money on a PDM solution just yet unless you are absolutely sure you need it.

I dont know what kind of systems you have in place at your company such as ISO/QS....etc but sit down, think of how you want the system to work. make it a team effort with all involved. Document it, implement it! Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com

 

[krishnamurthy]

No Solution yet. Hope in future releases of Solidworks, a nuetral format is established. Wherein the production drawing can be saved along with associated model.

 

[3DDon]

Hey look! An Inventor user!
Don Shoebridge
Sr. Product Developement Engineer

http://www.geocities.com/donshoebridge