large assembly rework
large assembly rework
(OP)
I have to deal with a very challenging sittuation I haven't been exposed to before.
I have a large assembly (bottom-up design), few hundreds components (parts and subassemblies) and the manager decided to change all the part names, also drawing and assembly names and assign new names for everything but keep the existing top-assembly. This company dosen't have Pro/Intralink to manage their files. I know when you change part names or drawing names, also assembly names I need to have opened all this files and save them one by one. But how can I have everything opened since the top-level assembly takes about 10-15 minutes to load because of the large number of components?
Is there a way to rename all the files (subassemblies, parts, drawings) without blowing-out the existing top-assembly? Anybody did this before?
Thanks!
ediushu
I have a large assembly (bottom-up design), few hundreds components (parts and subassemblies) and the manager decided to change all the part names, also drawing and assembly names and assign new names for everything but keep the existing top-assembly. This company dosen't have Pro/Intralink to manage their files. I know when you change part names or drawing names, also assembly names I need to have opened all this files and save them one by one. But how can I have everything opened since the top-level assembly takes about 10-15 minutes to load because of the large number of components?
Is there a way to rename all the files (subassemblies, parts, drawings) without blowing-out the existing top-assembly? Anybody did this before?
Thanks!
ediushu





RE: large assembly rework
Good luck with that!!! I would not recommend attempting that, especially if parts (like hardware) are used in other assemblies that you are not working with. If you do not have Intralink, I would leave it alone...
Tofflemire
RE: large assembly rework
You have conffirmed my fears. How much would cost the Intralink software?
RE: large assembly rework
Set the config.pro option for SAVE AS to include to make new drawings, and then do the SAVE AS. Re-enter the new assembly and part names as required.
If you have flat patterns (or many instances), this may be tricky, as the instances are not renamed to the new generic name.
Steve
http://www.sprdesign.com
http://www.3dlogix.com
RE: large assembly rework
Although purchasing Intralink would be a good long term strategy for your company, you may consider contracting a third party firm that has Intralink to perform the file renaming exercise for you. This would ensure that the interdependencies would remain intact. Also, be sure to specify that all family table instances are verified.
Standard (library) parts such as hardware & some vendor items are generally not subject to renaming, unless your practice is to copy everything into a dedicated folder on a project-by-project basis.
Attempting to do this without a file management system would be tedious at best. Be sure to have a backup of your data beforehand!
Ed Leitkowski
RE: large assembly rework
I don't know if contrating a third party firm to rename all our files using their Intralink software would be a good ideea since the renaming process in Intralink is actually just assigning new attributes but not changing the name of the files for real. When they have to be exported out of Intralink I am not sure what kind of file names I would have. This is something that I haven't try before.
That's why implementing a file management like Intralink is probably the best solution.
ediushu
RE: large assembly rework
I like your suggestion and I want to try it out but could you please explain how do I setup the config.pro for SAVE AS to include the drawings? How pro/e would know where those drawings are on my hard drive? Or do I have to have the drwaings open as well?
Thanks!
ediushu
RE: large assembly rework
There are some things to consider first.
Drawings of parts and assemblies must have the same name for this to work.
Example:, you have the following parts, assemblies and drawings.
FLANGE.asm ------> FLANGE.drw
PIPE.prt ------> PIPE.drw
PIPE_1.prt -------> PIPE_1.drw
GASKET.prt -------> GASKET.drw
VALVE_BODY.prt -------> VALVE_BODY.drw
You want to make a new assembly and rename them as follows. Select FILE > SAVE AS and enter the new part and assembly names as needed.
(new names) (drw's automatically saved under new names)
FLANGE_NEW.asm ------> FLANGE_NEW.drw
PIPE_NEW.prt ------> PIPE_NEW.drw
PIPE_1_NEW.prt ------> PIPE_1_NEW.drw
GASKET_NEW.prt ------> GASKET_NEW.drw
VALVE_BODY_NEW.prt ------> VALVE_BODY_NEW.drw
For this to be successful, the files should be in one folder. Make a new folder and copy all the parts, assemblies and draiwng over. Do the SAVE AS and renaming here, that way, if you mess up, it doesn't affect the "good" copies. The drawings do not need to be open or in session for this to work.
If your drawings don't have the same names as the parts or assemblies, then this exercise will not work for the drawings.
I hope this helps you out.
Steve
http://www.sprdesign.com
http://www.3dlogix.com
RE: large assembly rework
Thanks a lot for the information.
ediushu
RE: large assembly rework
Best Regards,
3dlogix (Mechanical)
I will work on large assemblies, but I have seen these crash sometimes after you accept the new names. Be patient with this feature...
3dlogix (Mechanical)
Sorry, it should read;
Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2005 SP 2.0 & Pro/E 2001
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RE: large assembly rework
Steve
http://www.sprdesign.com
http://www.3dlogix.com
RE: large assembly rework
"It will work on ..."
It's Friday....
http://www.sprdesign.com
http://www.3dlogix.com