Changing Drawing References
Changing Drawing References
(OP)
I am trying to change the referenced assy in a drawing with a very, very, very similar one by doing the old "open", "references", "dbl click", select new file, and it shows the change in the New Pathname column, but when I open the file, the old assy is still there in every way.
What am I doing wrong? Isn't this supposed to work this way? Is there a setting(s) I need to ensure is(are) correct?
Thanks,
"Frustrated"
What am I doing wrong? Isn't this supposed to work this way? Is there a setting(s) I need to ensure is(are) correct?
Thanks,
"Frustrated"






RE: Changing Drawing References
RE: Changing Drawing References
Thanks for the reply,
Mike
RE: Changing Drawing References
mncad
RE: Changing Drawing References
Are you saying it should in fact be changed at that time (that's what I thought).
Thanks,
Mike
RE: Changing Drawing References
Did you save the new created assembly drawing document? If you did not, you won't see the new assembly model referenced in your new drawing.
Good Luck!
Alex
RE: Changing Drawing References
Let me just give the whole thing to all you in case I am doing something really wrong:
I have 4 dwgs that will be very similar in that the assy files they ref are all very similar. So I made the first and saved it 3 different times for the rest of the p/n's. My plan was then to change the refs as I opened them. And that's where I ran into my problem of refs not changing for me.
Does that all sound legal within SW?
Thanks,
Mike
RE: Changing Drawing References
RE: Changing Drawing References
Thanks,
Mike
RE: Changing Drawing References
Pete
RE: Changing Drawing References
That must be it. I've done ways you and handleman mention, but in this case, re-directing at OPEN seemed quicker and more convenient.
What you say must be it though, because it doesnt seem like such an involved process that would make it so tricky.
There is at least one more sp but we havent had a chance to update yet.
Thanks everyone,
Mike
RE: Changing Drawing References
I have a feeling that you did not replace the model properly. Can you list all the steps you use to open a drawing (drawing "A") with refernece to a model (model "A") and redirect the drawing to reference to a different model (model "B")?
Alex
RE: Changing Drawing References
1)Open file
2)Select, from the file list, the .SLDDRW file which refereneces assy model "A" (with intention of changing ref to assy model "B") but do not execute opening
3)Select the References... button in OPEN dialog box
4) Dbl click, from the References list, the file (which in this case there is only 1) for which I want to apply the re-direct which initiates the an OPEN dialog box
5) Select and accept the file (assy model "B") from the list
6) The "New pathname" column now reflects this change
7) From this point I have tried all combinations of:
- making sure the box of the reference I changed is
checked before executing opening
- open in lightweight on/off
- save after opening to see if that effects change
- Rebuilding/Forced regeneration/Saving-closing-opening
Let me know if something seems incorrect.
Thanks,
Mike
RE: Changing Drawing References
Your process is correct. Alex assumed that you did not apply the change correctly. It is a bug as I stated earlier.
Pete
RE: Changing Drawing References
Thanks everyone,
Off to get SP 5.0
Mike
RE: Changing Drawing References
Model A, B, C and D
You made a first DWG A which References (->) Model A.
To be clear, you need to:
Open: DWG A -> Model A
Save As COPY: DWG B which will still reference (->) Model A
Save As COPY: DWG C -> Model A
Save As COPY: DWG D -> Model A
Then close DWG A.
Open DWG B, then go into the references box and change the reference to Model B, as you listed in steps 3 and on.
This should work, I had it work in SP4.1, I believe. As that is what we had until just recently when we went to 2007SP0.0.
It sounded from your list that you may have just opened up your orignal DWG A and wanted to reference B and THEN do a save as. That won't work, for some odd reason.
RE: Changing Drawing References
RE: Changing Drawing References
I do not think there is a bug here. Your steps 1 to 6 are fine. But the step 7 may have problems. You did not indicate whether you save your active drawing document as (or as a copy) another drawing document.
I have been using SW 2006 sp 4.1. I do not have any problems at all. You may want study a lot more about SW search mechanism ("Searching for Referenced Documents") using SolidWorks Help Topics menu. This section talks about search priorities in SolidWorks.
Also, take a look at Tools/Option.../System Option/File Locations/ to see what you have for referenced documents.
Good Luck!
Alex
RE: Changing Drawing References
It's a settings issue as RGRAYCLAMPS states, or "pilot error" we just can't see what's happening.
I'll try to do a video myself for you and post it if I can.
RE: Changing Drawing References
http://vi
Will try again. You can note that the preview when I go to open up any of the drawings the first time, shows the preview image containing Model_A. But when I open they are the properly newly-referenced models.
I'll try for a cleaner video.
RE: Changing Drawing References
- parts in assys
- parts in dwgs
- Sub-assys in assys
But not fine for:
- Assy's in Dwgs
I hear you on the search rules, which I have looked at quite extensively and keep a printed copy in my desk. However, that shouldnt matter when I am telling it exactly what I want; it has no searching to do. And I feel that is confirmed when I replace a sub-assy in an assy.
I'm not trying to be argumentative, but none of this is adding up. Has everyone understood that I have been trying to replace a SLDASM with another SLDASM in a SLDDRW? If SW doesnt allow that then it shouldnt let you go through the motions.
RE: Changing Drawing References
You aren't working with/with-in PDM works or anything, right?
RE: Changing Drawing References
just fine...
RE: Changing Drawing References
RE: Changing Drawing References
We do this all the time with assemblies without any issues.
I just did one to make sure with 2006 sp4.0 and had no problems changeing the referances.
RE: Changing Drawing References
Created drawing of a.
Saved a as b and c.
Opened b with redirected ref to b
Opened c with redirected ref to c
Worked just as described in previous post..
RE: Changing Drawing References
RE: Changing Drawing References
Open Assy_BC.slddrw -> Assy_BC.sldasm
Save as copy: Assy_BC.slddrw as Assy_BCD.slddrw
Save as copy: Assy_BC.slddrw as Assy_ABCD.slddrw
Close Assy_BC.slddrw
Now will have three DWGs with -> Reference
Assy_BC.slddrw -> Assy_BC.sldasm
Assy_BCD.slddrw -> Assy_BC.sldasm
Assy_ABCD.slddrw -> Assy_BC.sldasm
So, open Assy_BCD.slddrw, change reference from within open window, and now you should have:
Assy_BCD.slddrw -> Assy_BCD.sldasm
No problems, except some location of views, if model size changes, as in my example video...
Google compresses the heck outta it...and I can't seem to find another way to host it.
http://vi
is too ugly to watch...
Even though it's ugly, you should be able to see the steps as I outlined them above...
Good luck
RE: Changing Drawing References
But feel free to log into a quick email address I created to share the video. (Heck could be an easy annonymous way for anyone on the site to share tips.)
goto
gmail.com
Username: EngTipsX
Password: Eng-Tips
There is a self sent email there with a .wmv file attached.
It's only 1 MB and it plenty legible and usable. Are you following that process?
RE: Changing Drawing References
http://quick.dropfiles.net/634323
Cool...
RE: Changing Drawing References
I have been replacing assembly models in drawing documents for a long time using every version of SW. I never had any problems. The only problems that I know is that you can not replace an assembly model with a part model or replace a part model with an assembly model in a drawing document (BTW, there is no reason to do so!).
I do not think that you saved your newly created drawing document successfully. When you try to open this new document, SW reroutes reference to the original assembly model based on its default search rules.
By the way, when you double click the References list to browse for replacement model, the checkbox you mentioned below is no longer of use.
************************************
- making sure the box of the reference I changed is
checked before executing opening
************************************
This checkbox only works when you create a new model.
You are very close to figure your problem. Do not give up.
Alex
RE: Changing Drawing References
The only thing that I can think of that is that the drawing is a read only file and your settings are to disregard changes to read only files.
RE: Changing Drawing References
I dont know. I realize checking the box has nothing to do with it once dbl clicked and also saving as copy is really not an issue either (i've done it to make sure, but doesnt really make sense for that to matter); SW doesnt care if you want to change the ref of an orig; just do it with an orig dwg (part dwg in my case LOL) or assy, it really doesnt, rightfully so, care. My typical experience with Read Only is that most, if not all things, are allowed. It's just that you can't save to the file that was read only when you opened it. Dont take any of that the wrong way, just trying to work through and eliminate potential probs.
This thing just makes no sense to me since I can change part-in-dwg, part-in-assy, sub-in-assy. I can pretty much guarantee not a saving issue. Everything goes fine. It allows me to do what I want until comes time for SW to follow through and load the correct assy which it doesnt do. I dont see refs as an issue since I can replace a sub in an assy with no prob, it's just when I go to replace an assy in a dwg. That's why I wonder if there is a setting or bug.
Please anyone feel free to question all that logic, but that's the way I'm seeing it right now.
I'd do an RX, but keeps killing SW just after it opens it; maybe these issues are in some way related.
I dont know .... but it's Friday right? Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Mike
RE: Changing Drawing References
Thanks all
RE: Changing Drawing References
Try the following. You may find an answer to your question.
1) Launch your SolidWorks (if your SolidWorks is running, close and relaunch it);
2) Create a new part model and save it as "Part1.sldprt";
3) Create a new assembly model with this new part "Part1" and save it as "Assembly1.sldasm";
4) Create a new assembly drawing document for this assembly model "Assembly1" and save it as "Assembly1.slddrw";
5) Close all your active SolidWorks documents;
6) Open the assembly model "Assembly1" and save it as a copy named "Assembly2" and close the "Assembly1";
7) Now try again to see if you can replace "Assembly1" with "Assembly2" for "Assembly1" drawing document.
(Note: Try not to use any of your existing SW documents!)
Please post your finding.
Have a nice weekend!
Alex
RE: Changing Drawing References
Try something similar, but with new, fakely made parts, just to test it?
Could be something in the file you're using itself, i.e. references it just can't break/figure out.
RE: Changing Drawing References
I wondered about the file itself being problematic too, but when I did this very basic test, the results were the same.
I dont know ... I just dont know
RE: Changing Drawing References
I'll give it a whirl.
RE: Changing Drawing References
I even gave it a little twist:
1) closed SW completely
2) renamed "assembly1" in Windows Explorer
3) opened SW
4) Went to open "assembly1.slddrw" and change ref to the file I had renamed it original/current reference to
5) OPEN - but gave me the "cant find .... find yourself ?" msg
RE: Changing Drawing References
RE: Changing Drawing References
RE: Changing Drawing References
Thanks everyone for all the input
RE: Changing Drawing References
I have given up in disgust and waiting for my new system and upgrade to sw 2007 in hopes I can push to have this stuff installed without antivirus running.
RE: Changing Drawing References
I open dwg and part/assy at same time. Go to part/assy, "save as" new name. Go to dwg, "save as" new name.
I do this process again for any similar part or assys.
This will not give you the headaches of references staying with the files.
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: Changing Drawing References
I do that way usually as well, but in this case I had the assys already created and they were extremely similar, so I was trying to do it the way with ref redirect. When the assys are already created, the way you mention isn't really workable, is that correct? If there is a way to do it like that once assys already created, I'd love to know.
thanks,
Mike
RE: Changing Drawing References
http://
Also see the first thing listed in the "Installation" section at this link;
h
While it is true that some anti-virus programmes do not affect the installation of SW, it is generally well-known that some of them can & do cause problems.
RE: Changing Drawing References
thanks. I fwd'd that info to the more cooperative of the IT guys and am going to attempt to make sure he's the one who's setting up our new systems.