What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

[rgrayclamps]

Hi,

Does anyone have indepth understanding this option of assembly drawing views? I look at online help, and see the following explanation.

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Bill of Materials (BOM). Keep linked to BOM. Overrides the automatic linking of a BOM to a drawing view. As long as the BOM exists and Keep linked to BOM is selected, the SolidWorks software uses the selected BOM to assign balloon numbers. If you attach a balloon to a component that is not in the BOM configuration, the balloon appears with an asterisk (*).
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I tried to select or unselect this option. But it seems that it does not make any difference.

 

[Nella95]

To my understanding (and I could be incorrect) - you want to 'keep it linked to the BOM' - if you're ever changing the quantities of the item in question. (I'm not entirely certain why you would ever NOT want to keep it linked to the BOM.)

 

[rgrayclamps]

Hi, Nella95:

Yes, I want to keep it linked to the BOM. But my confusion is that my drawing view is always linked to the BOM even though this option ('keep it linked to the BOM') is not selected. So, what does this option do?

 

[DesignerGuy16]

If you do not link the item, it will NOT show up in the BOM. It isn't an updating thing, it will do that no matter what you do (in a SW BOM, not excel BOM). It's more an option where it will actually exist automatically in the BOM or not.

James Spisich
Design Engineer, CSWP

 

[NL8]

This feature is also useful for detailed indented BOM's where you may want to balloons components of a subassembly in a view of just that sub assembly. SW will still reference the master BOM and balloon accordingly. This feature is also good if you have multiple BOM's on a single sheet or in a single document. Keeps SW from getting confused.

Joe Hasik, CSWP/SMTL
SW 09 x64, SP 4.0
Dell T3400
Intel Core2 Quad
Q6700 2.66 GHz
3.93 GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4600

 

[NomLaser]

You can have multiple SW BOM's (not Excel BOMs) per drawing file on multiple sheets. This allows you to link the drawing view to another BOM and the balloons will automatically match that BOM. This is useful for showing exploded subassemblies and such for production/shop floor.

 

[rgrayclamps]

Hi, DEddie:

I tried multiple SW BOM's (not Excel BOMs) per drawing file. My drawing view can be linked to any BOM and the balloons will automatically match that BOM even though this option ('keep it linked to the BOM') is not selected.

So, what does this option do?

 

[MDGroup]

Suppose you have a drawing showing views created from 2 different SW assys. (either different SW Assy or different Configrations)

Now, you can create 2 different BOMs, each based on the different drawing view. The drawing views have different parts, so the BOMs will list different items with different balloon numbers.

If 'Link to Specified BOM' is unchecked, each drawing view will always reference the BOM created directly from it.

If 'Link to Specified BOM' is checked, you can now tell that drawing to reference the original BOM it created, or you now have the ability to select a different BOM for it to reference.

So each drawing view has the ability to lock it to its own BOM, link it to its own BOM, or link it to a different BOM.
If you simply check/uncheck 'Link to Specified BOM' it doesn't do anything (except changes permission) until you select a different BOM from the pull-down menu to reference.

Hope this helps.

 

[handleman]

Also, if your drawing view shows a different configuration of the assembly than the config. driving the BOM, the balloons on that view will not necessarily match unless you force that option.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

 

[rgrayclamps]

Hi, LMonaco:

I am very impressed with your in-depth explanation. Particularly, I like the word ("Specified") you used. A star for you.

So, basically, by checking "Link to Specificed BOM" option, one can control balloons based on different BOM. I think I understand it now. But what is this feature for? What is typical application of this "Link to Specified BOM"?

Sorry! I tried to give your big star, but my anti-Virus software seems to block it.

 

[JMarv]

Everyone's "typical application" will depend on their specific needs. I use this feature when I need multiple views, spread across multiple sheets, all linked back to one BOM.

Joe
SW Office 2008 SP5.0
P4 3.0Ghz 3GB
ATI FireGL X1

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

rgrayclamps ... what AV are you using. I've not heard of one doing that before.

For future ref', can you not temporarily disable/suspend the AV while awarding a star?

 

[rgrayclamps]

It is something called "Kaspersky". It is set up by my IT and I can not disable it.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I use Kaspersky at work and do not have that problem. It must be a setting/script your IT have activated. Or maybe they have prevented Java scripts from running.

I have to say that IT people can be a PITA.
... but I do most of the IT stuff at my company ... which would make me a PITA ... and that could never be true, could it?