Vault file organization

[Gerard-E]

Hi all,

I recently started working for a company that has a rather odd way of organizing files in their vault.
There is a parts folder, where all the part folders are organized by numbers with their respective files inside.
Problem is, they don't seem to work much with assemblies, and so, there are no assembly numbers anywhere.

Assemblies are only present in a different folder, and these assemblies pick up the files from the part folders

Does this make sense to you. How are your files organized?

Thanks

G

 

[ctopher]

I have always used PDM, it manages files better than saving in folders spread out everywhere.

ctopher, CSWP
SolidWorks '17
ctophers home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[SBaugh]

Our vault is set up with 3 major folders Internal Projects, Projects, and Library. Both Projects and Internal Projects have the same folder structure, just that all the files within the Internal Projects start with "IP" and Projects start with "P"
The folder structure for both of those folders is as follows:

Under the design, the Folder is where all the files are stored but within 11 different folders. That is only because of the nature of our business. In the past, I would normally just save all parts, assemblies, and drawings to the Design folder.

The library folder is set up to house all the referenced or purchased files that we use regularly. I have them set up by the type of component. For example, if I have a clamp I make a folder named "Clamps", and any and all clamps I would place in that folder using the purchased part number.

File naming for our designed parts like I mentioned starts with either IP or P. The 2nd set of numbers follows the folder that the file is saved in. Which starts at 100,200,300, etc. Finally, the 3rd character for parts is the next sequential number starting at 1. Assemblies will have an "A" in front and the next sequential number starting at 1. My drawings match the part\assembly number, but I have to add to it. The 4th character is one of two options F = Fabricated, and M = Machined with the next sequential number starting at 1. Sometimes we can have up to two to 3 different drawings for one file. The reason is that Fab drawings using fractions and Machine drawings use decimals. Unfortunately, SW does not support multiple units within multiple drawing sheets without overriding every dimension in the drawing and I never use the override dimension or units. It's easier to just make another drawing so there is no confusion on the floor.

This numbering scheme is simple and does not back us into a corner nor do we run out of numbers.

Hope that helps,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
CAD Systems Manager
Dapco, INC

http://www.dapcoinc.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[Gerard-E]

Hi Scott,

This is interesting, and definitively closer to what I am used to seeing.
The fact that here they don't store parts and assemblies in project folders makes it awkward, and creates a weird workflow.

Does anyone else use a different organization system?

Thanks all,
G

 

[TheTick]

Better off dumping everything into a single folder than what they're doing now.

 

[drawoh]

Gerard-E,

A very long time ago, I tried to set up SolidWorks with all model files in a sub-directory, and the drawing files in the main directory. I, personally, like to search down through drawing files, as opposed to assembly files. Maybe you do too!

If more than one person accesses your files, PDM really is the better way.

--
JHG

 

[Sparweb]

Since we do dozens of projects every year, our file management is project-based. Also, we go back to old projects and adjust, adapt, change, redesign things pretty often. We have stronger revision control practices than we do have file management practices as a result. Generally, the drawing files are in a folder for drawings, and models in a sub-folder of that one. We use a lot of common "standard" parts and those are saved separately. Those are organized by type and function.