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Replace part/assy in dwg

Replace part/assy in dwg

Replace part/assy in dwg

(OP)
I don't have 2006 yet. Do you guys know if you can replace an assembly with another assembly in a dwg with SW 06?
I have a complicated dwg with a big assy. There is a new assy that is 90% like the other. I would like to replace the old with the new and rename the dwg for the new.
thanks

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

You can do that any any version of Solidworks, unless I'm missing something.

Jason

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

How do you do this?

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

In Solidworks:

Select File/Open
In the open dialogue, select and highlight the drawing, then select the "references" button.
Double click the assy path shown and browse for the new assy.
Ok that and the "Ok" to open the drawing.


In Solidworks Explorer:

Open drawing file.
In the tree, right click the assembly and select replace.
Browse for new assy
Apply

Jason

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

IN SW explorer you

1) open the Drawing
2) select Edit\Replace
3) Highlight Assembly
4) Select "Browse" and browse for new assembly
5) You can do a "find where used" if the assembly is used elsewhere, recommended if you do this to parts.
6) Select "apply"

If you have anything in the Find where used box there they will turn blue, informing you they have been updated.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

I do it in Solidworks, not SW Explorer.
see thread 559-122252
"Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part"
This should be in the FAQ because it has been asked a few times, but in different ways.

Flores

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

Then make an FAQ out of it, but include all the ways not just from SW side, because I have been using Explorer and if you have in-contexted part files and you change a name... doing it from SW alone will not update the files that the part is associated like SW explorer does.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

I have to agree with Scott.
Swx Explorer is the best way to visually see what's going on and provides more options for maintaining references, where-used, etc.

Now if Solidworks would just replace the "References" button in the Open/Save dialogue with a revamped Explorer interface. Time for an enhancement request.

Jason

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

(OP)
I have been trying to do this with SW Exp, but won't work for me. It works well with replacing/renaming in an assy, but not in a dwg.

Gildashard, the open/file references worked! perfect!
thank you

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

I'm with Scott, That's why SWx Explorer was developed.  This is what the SWx help has to say.

The SolidWorks Explorer is a file management tool designed to help you perform such tasks as renaming, replacing, and copying SolidWorks files. You can show a document’s references, search for documents using a variety of criteria, and list all the places where a document is used. Renamed files are still available to those documents that reference them.

NOTE: The SolidWorks Explorer is not a PDM (Product Data Management) tool; however, it does perform many useful tasks and simplifies many file management processes.

Best Regards,

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2005 SP 4.0 & Pro/E 2001
Dell Precision 370
P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
XP Pro SP2.0
NIVIDA Quadro FX 1400
      o
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(_)/ (_)

"There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea"  Bernard-Paul Heroux
 

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

(OP)
Scott and Heckler,
I agree with you guys 100%.
I use SW Explorer all the time for various issues.
But the only thing it won't do for me is replace a part/assy in a dwg. Time for another Enh Req.
thank you for your help

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

Quote (Gildashard):

Swx Explorer is the best way to visually see what's going on and provides more options for maintaining references, where-used, etc.
 
I know there is more than 1 way  to skin a cat, but how can you visually see what is being replaced?  I only get the first page on a drawing.  I cannot see page 2 or page 50 for that matter.  

I use SW Explorer all the time for renaming files, changing properties, etc. because of the "find where used" feature.  I just haven't used it for repacing Asm. A with Asm. B on a drawing.  

As for replacing a part or sub-assembly in an assembly within SW, I right-click what I want to replace, and pick "replace components".
Cheers  

Flores

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

Well the drawing in your case is referencing one assembly (assy a). And you can replace it with assy b, but it does so for all sheets. Sounds like you want to just replace certain views on the drawing with another assy while leaving the rest of the views referencing the first assy.

I've only had to do this once. I think what I did was save a copy of the drawing. Then replaced the copy's assy with the second assy. The cut and pasted the views in the copied drawing file back into the original. Now the drawing is pointing to two assembly files.

Jason

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

ctopher,

It's just the user bud (no offence), no need for an ER. I just made an avi file for you to look at and show you how it's done.

I sent it to your yahoo address from your home website.

Check it out.

Best Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

smcadman
"I do it in Solidworks, not SW Explorer.
see thread 559-122252
'Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part'"

That thread that you mentioned was a bit of a special case that I believe is still not possible;  Changing the reference of a drawing from a assembly to a part.

Anybody with 06 give this a try?

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

(OP)
Thanks Scott.
I tried that per your video, but for some reason doesn't work for me...never has. It works well for replacing a component in a assembly, but not a dwg.
I may have to reload SW Explorer, maybe it will fix it.
thanks again.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

Quote (Shaggy18VW):

That thread that you mentioned was a bit of a special case that I believe is still not possible;  Changing the reference of a drawing from a assembly to a part.
You started that thread, and neither SW, or SW Explorer worked for you, but I have done this several times.  After reading the steps you took, I see what you were doing wrong: You opened the DRAWING FIRST, and then tried to do a reference change.  
The correct way is BEFORE OPENING THE DRAWING, in the Open dialog box, pick the drawing (not open), and the lower right-hand side hit the "References" button.  From there is where you can double-click a specific page and change the reference.

Yours was a simple assembly with sheet metal + pem nuts.  Not only have I replaced the assembly with just the sheetmtal, but I have changed square tubing that had Riv-nuts to just the part with no Riv-nuts.

Flores

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

smcadman,
What version of SW are you using.  As per the former thread (thread559-122252), I did exactly as you state, clicking references BEFORE OPENING THE DRAWING and I select the part that I want to replace the assembly with.  It fills in the path, the way it should, but when I select OK, I get an error message.  I am using SW2004 with the latest service pack.

Does this work with a newer version?  I haven't tried with 2005 at home.

I have done the references replace game many times, but it only works part to part or assembly to assembly, not part to assembly.  This is in the context of opening a drawing of course.

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

Shaggy,
I am using SW 2005 SP 4.0.  Don't know why it isn't working for you, because I have done this on several occasions.  Typically it is when a client wants to save money and wants a thru-hole and will use nuts and bolts instead of paying for the pem nuts or riv-nuts as well as the labor to install them.

Flores

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

This is a limitation. Drawing references cannot be changed to a file of a different type. Thus a drawing referencing a part cannot switch to an assy and vice versa.

I suggest doing a insert part for adding something like pem nuts. Otherwise you will have to rebuild the drawing from scratch.

Oh, and please submit an enhancement request for this.

Jason

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

I hear you, that is basically the situation that I was in.  I will try it with 2005 when I get home.  But it definently 100% does not work with 2004.

-Shaggy

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

My last statement was in regard to smcadman.

But just like the original thread, I am getting mixed opinions of this.

smcadman says he can do it with 05.  I will try it tonight, but if anybody else wants to try it and post the result, I would appreciate it.

I did submit an enhancement request for this after the last thread concluded that it was not possible.

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

(OP)
I agree with Gildashard. I can not switch an assy with a part and vice versa, I never could. I will submit an Enh Req.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

Gildashard, are you using 2005?  I haven't tried using 2005, only 2004.  I get the error message as stated before, ... cannot change reference to file of different type... etc.

ctopher,
I see from your signature, you are using 05, sp3.1.  Is it possible this feature was added in 05, sp4.0?

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

2005 & 2006. Not totally sure about 2006 but I don't think anything has changed.

Jason

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

Speak of the devil....Solidworks has posted a survey in the subscription site regarding Solidworks Explorer. Be sure to take the survey and voice these shortcomings.

Jason

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

I am very new to SW and I have been pulling my hair out with it, till I discovered this site.  I have already picked up several great tips here and this was just one more, thanks to Gildashard for the great how to, it works great.

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

smcadman,
Last night I tried the process that I have tried numerous times already, this time however on 2005 sp4.0.  I got the same result, it did not work.

I ask anyone who would like to verify this by quickly repeating this task (takes about 5 min).
1. create two parts, part1 and part2
2. create an assembly with part1 and part2
3. create a drawing of the assembly
4. close all files
5. begin the process to open the drawing, however prior to clicking open, click on references in the lower right corner.
6. You will see that the drawing is referencing the assembly.
7. Double-click on the assembly path and browse to part1
8. You will see that part1 has replaced the assembly in the reference (all good to this point)
9. Click OK and you WILL receive an error message about not being able to switch the file type.

smcadman,
If you are able to do this without the error, you are magic.

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

(OP)
Shaggy18VW,
I have never seen that work for me or anyone here at our company. Only replacing a part with a part or assy with an assy.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

Agreed, but smcadman seems to understand the issue and he says it works for him.  I would just like some input from others to verify that I am not looney.

-Shaggy

Tally

Works       Doesn't Work
    0                   2

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

To all:

Just as Jason stated, you can replace a part with another part on a drawing on a drawing.  You can also replace an assembly with another assembly on a drawing.  You can do that any version of Solidworks.

But we should not think about replacing a part with an assembly, or replacing an assembly with a part on a drawing.  This does make sense, and it is wrong logically.  Also, I do not see any reason of doing so.

Alex

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

(OP)
I just tried it again using Gildashard's method. It will not let you replace a part with an assy or vise versa in a dwg. Only a part with a part, assy with an assy.
Same thing happened with SW Explorer, which does not give the option to browse for an assy if you want to replace a part with an assy...within an assy.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

Sorry, it does work, for the most part.  It is a bit touchy but it does work.  FYI 4U.

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

(OP)
quest4k,
How exactly did you make it work and what version are you using?

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

Hi, Shaggy18VW:

I just read your original post copied below:

**********************************************************
I have an assembly model that consists of two components.  A drawing was created of this assembly.  Later one of these components was found to no longer be needed.  I still have a drawing of the assembly that now contains only the one part.

The drawing is of a sheet metal component that has some PEM hardware inserted. The assembly is an "inseparable assembly" and we do a drawing of the assembly file only.  No drawing is ever created of the part.  In this redesign, the pems are no longer be needed, we can do away with the assembly file.

Ideally I would like to replace the assembly reference within the drawing with the part model.  I would then delete the assembly file.  I don't want to recreate the drawing from scratch and can't seem to trick SW into recognizing the part file.

Anyone ever run into this situation?
*******************************************************

I don't think your company handles engineering drawing document properly.  According to what you described, you made the following changes:

1) You removed a part ("part A") from your assembly;
2) You later removed all of your PEM hardware from your assembly;
3) Now your assembly contains only one part ("part B");
4) You decided to obsolete your assembly;
5) You need to create new drawing for your part ("part B")

Please be aware that even though an view of a part looks identical to an view of an assembly with the same single part, behind the screen there are different definitions.  Each entity (point, line, circle or arc, etc) has its unique ID.  So, this will not work, should not work.  All your annotations on your assembly drawing based IDs of assembly views.  In no way, will they reconnect to IDs on the views of the same part.  This is just how database programing works.

Additionally, you should not make a part based on an assembly drawing documents unless the part has some or all assembly features in it.

Alex

RE: Replace part/assy in dwg

Alex,
All the changes were done in pre-release stage of design.  The desire to use through bolted fasteners rather than pems was what drove the change.

Your description of my process is not quite accurate.  1 and 2 are the same.  We had a sheet metal piece with some pems installed, we decided we no longer needed the pems.  We had a drawing of the sheetmetal piece with pems installed.  This drawing is the manufacturing print for the sheet metal piece with pems installed.  We do not do a separate drawing for the sheet metal and an assembly drawing indicating which holes get pems.  This is redundant for our purposes because we outsource all of our sheet metal fabrication.  We simply tell the metal shop that we want a part with such and such dimensions with pems here and there. I am not going to tell a fab shop what size hole to use for a standoff, I just want a standoff.

Concerning number 4, we did not obsolete our "assembly", we simply removed the pems from a "part".  Everything else is still valid.

I agree, unfortunately, that at the present time the only way to correct the issue is to create a new drawing of part b only. However it seemed that SW should allow the reference change.

Your explanation of the of the entity IDs may very well be valid and the reason why this seemingly simple request is impossible.  I thank you for that.

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