sw explorer search paths 1

[Yogibear]

I'm using sw explorer for sw sp4.1 I sometimes need the ability to rename a file. I also know the file is referenced out of another location so I went into the search rules and changed the path to search the whole network drive. Not a good thing because it's been searching for an hour now. I know that it's only possible for the refernce file to be in a couple locations. So my question is can you do a multiple path search in one search for ex. R:\Cad\Solidworks\Standard Parts, R:\UTC Released

Thanks in advance.

The only other option is to rename it and then let the user find the new name when they open the referenced file.

 

[ctopher]

I don't think you can. As far as I know, you can only serch one place. We had the same problem until we switched to PDMWorks. No more searching in network directories.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD

 

[TheTick]

Yes you can. Use a semicolon instead of a comma between directory designations and you're there.

 

[Yogibear]

Thanks TheTick

That should drastically improve the search time.

 

[ctopher]

thanks Tick, I wasn't sure.
FYI, I'm updating to 2005 today company wide. VAR is helping us for clean install.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD

 

[TheTick]

good luck
we're doing that soon (at my discretion!)

 

[rgrayclamps]

Hi, Yogibear:

I do not understand why you need to search in order to rename SolidWorks documents?

I feel that you may not do it properly. There should be no need to search anything at all.

Alex

 

[Yogibear]

Alex

Let's say you need to share a file (part a) with a co-worker. So you have (part a) and they have (part a) both inserted into your seperate assembly files. No everyone is happy and then you realize that (part a) is actually called (part a1). If you just rename (part a) and don't find if someone else is referencing it then when they open thier assembly they will get an error message stating that SW can not find (part a) anymore would you like to find it yourself. If you can find it then that's great, but if I was the one to rename your file or moved a file that your were linked to then what would you do.

 

[mncad]

rgrayclamps,

When you have a part within an assembly that you want to rename it is best to do that thru SW Explorer. Before you rename it you have to do a "Find Where Used" so that Explorer can rename the part within the references of all the assemblies that the particular part is used within. If you don't do the search you will have a huge mess on your hands with the assemblies not being able to find the newly named part. This is especially true of "in-context" parts. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything.

 

[Yogibear]

That's what this I was in question about. I wanted to rename a file and narrow down the search path that it is looking in for referenced files.

 

[rgrayclamps]

Hi, Yogibear & mncad:

You do not need to search for any reference at all. You do not have to use SW Explorer. You are creating an assembly that uses a part (part “A”) which is also used at a lot of other assemblies created by your colleagues or maybe by yourself previously. You do like this part, but you would like to change it a little bit for your assembly. This means that part “A” is not exactly what you want, but you want to use it as a template for your new part (part “B”), so that you do not have to start from scratch. So, what you need to do is to open this part (part “A”) together with your assembly and save it as another part (part “B”). Now, your assembly is referencing part “B”, while all the other assemblies still reference the original part “A”.

Please be aware that like many other software programs, SolidWorks is an object-oriented software. Although, you can use it a variety of way, it is best to treat each part (an "OBJECT") and each assembly (or sub-assembly) (also an "OBJECT") independently. That way, you can revise each object (part or assembly) independently.

Alex

 

[mncad]

rgrayclamps,

Already knew that and do it quite often, I believe what yogibear and I are talking about is when part "A" is still the same exact part that is used in many different assemblies but needs the name changed, possibly because it was just named wrong initially.

mncad

 

[Yogibear]

That's exactly it mncad. I knew the other stuff. I just didn't know of a way to narrow down my search path.
Now I know, thanks to thetick, and am all happy.

 

[darnell]

parta becomes parta1. This is not a derived part

 

[rgrayclamps]

Now I understand. You are not renaming your part. You are trying to revise all assemblies that use this part.

You need a PDM! Whether you purchase one or you make one by yourself using spreadsheet or Database. We use Access database at my company. To search a part's parent, it is always instantaneous. Using SW Explorer for this purpose is just a waste of time.

Alex

 

[mncad]

rgrayclamps,

He is renaming the part, he is renaming in every assembly that uses the part, be it 1 assembly or 1000 assemblies that use the particular part. The references will now be changed in every assembly.

mncad