Table Anchors

[pdybeck]

I am trying to set up default table locations on our sheet formats in SolidWorks 2004 (SP 2.1). I am able to set the anchors with no problem. I then save the sheet format. If I create a new drawing and use the sheet format that I just saved, it contains different table anchor locations than what I just set. Can someone confirm that anchor locations don't get saved with the sheet format, and if not - why? Is there a way to do this? Should this be an enhancement request? Thanks

Pete Yodis

 

[APPENG]

Pete,

You should be able to save the anchor locations in the sheet format as you wish to.

Be sure that you are follwing the correct procedure.

Create/modify the sheet format as you want to.. including the anchor point.

Save the sheet format to the correct file location for your sheet formats.

Save the drawing template

Create a new drawing using that new template.

Create a drawing view as necessary to create the type of table you wish to use.. BOM, HOLE TABLE, etc.

select the "use anchor point" option in the property manager for the table. This should place it where you want it.

Let me know if this still does not work.



Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com

 

[pdybeck]

APPENG,

I was trying to use just one drawing template that defines things like layers, file properties, etc. and then make several sheet formats that we use, 16 to be exact. Sheet formats for us are different depending on what process the part is i.e. sand cast aluminum, ductile iron casting, standard machined part, aluminum die cast, or a weldement, and obviously the size of the sheet. The main difference in the sheet format is the tolerance block, as that obviously changes from process to process. I had SolidWorks 2003 set up so that users just need to specify they want to make a drawing and then select what sheet format - example "Standard Machining B Size". With 2003 I just needed to maintain and set up 16 individual sheet formats and one single drawing template, but with SolidWorks 2004 it looks like I will need to set up 16 drawing file templates and 16 sheet formats since users may want to reload sheet formats to a bigger size or different manufacturing process. I don't think I can use one single drawing template to do what I need, or can I? Thanks for the help. By the way, I tried what you suggested and it worked, except now I need to create 15 more drawing templates to get it to work for all possible combinations.

 

[APPENG]

You can still accomplish this.

First of all, am I to beleive that you already have sheet formats from last year? If so why not just re-use those? Just copy them into whatever directory you want or have specified in your tools options, system options file locations? Then you can just use the drawing template (drwdot) that you already created. and simply have the users create a new drawing and after the document opens, Right-click in the white area select properties and select the appropriate sheet format, and size.

Otherwise:

Just save that template with all the custom properties and settings that you require in whatever size you want to start with and save the sheet format. (sounds like you already have) With the same drawing template open, right-click in the white area, and select properties. Change the sheet size, and create your new sheet format.. then again save the sheet format but not the template. Do this for all sheet formats.

When the users open the template they will get the default one that saved as a DRWDOT with the Default Sheet Format that you saved with it. They can change this by a right-click/properties and adjust sheet size, and use the browse button to select the appropriate sheet format from the list

It seems as if you open a new docuemnt and save it as a template it no longer offers the sheet properties dialog when you first open it.

hope that helps
Jon

Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com

 

[pdybeck]

Jon,

Thats what I plan on doing. Just was trying to avoid having to create 15 addittional drawing templates. I understand it won't take long - just trying to make life as simple as possible.

 

[APPENG]

Pete,

You shouldnt have to create the 15 templates.

You should only have to create the sheet formats.

You can edit the default template in the solidworks directory, and overwrite it with the custom properties and other various document settings that you want.. this is the only template that you will need.

The only thing that you will need to do is create the sheet formats "*.slddrt"

If you overwrite the existing Drawing template "drawing.drwdot" it will prompt the user to select the desired sheet size and sheet format.

Like I was saying. It sounds to me like you have these already correct? You sounded like you already had those sheet formats from the previous version? If so then you can just copy them over to your sheet format file location. and recycle them. save yourself some work.. but like I said... and I think I may have mislead you a little yesterday.. it was a busy day in the training room! You can still use the default document template, in whicj it will ask you to select sheet size, and the appropriate sheet format. so really in essence you need to only worry about the custom properties, the sheet formats, and ONE template file.

Does that clear it up a little??



Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com