Protect my Templates
Protect my Templates
(OP)
Hi everybody! I have a question about Drawings... Is there a way to avoid that people can access to "edit Sheet Format"? Some of my coworkers use a template that I create, but for some reason, the think that is a better idea to override my links with "hard" data (I mean, Instead "$PRPSHEET:{DESCRIPTION}" the wrote in the label "First Gear") Then, when somebody else try to run some macros that I create to change some of the model properties, the drawings are not update (Of course! they have not links!) So, I would like to avoid that those "My way is better than your" coworkers change the sheets in wich they make they drawings. I'm Not talking of the template! the template is password protected and can not be change directly, but the "copy" that they get when start a new drawing. I hope that you understand my problem.
Thanks in Advance!
Thanks in Advance!
Adi Corrales Magallanes
Centro de Ingenieria y Desarrollo Industrial
Queretaro, Mexico






RE: Protect my Templates
Queretaro, eh? I have a friend who grew up there who is here in the Phoenix area now. (Small world.)
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.
RE: Protect my Templates
RE: Protect my Templates
RMB click on an unused area of the toolbars then select Customize > Menus > Edit > Sheet Format > Remove
I have not tried this because I'm not sure how or if I can bring it back.
RE: Protect my Templates
I hope CBL's suggestion works. I think it is a good idea.
This would be a great enhancement request.
Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-27-06)
RE: Protect my Templates
We allow users to Edit Sheet, because we want the general notes locked down when they insert annotation blocks.
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Protect my Templates
There was a recent thread about using an automatically-run macro which forced users to apply standard properties to a part before it could be saved. Maybe that macro could be modified to account for the OPs problem.
RE: Protect my Templates
Windows XP / Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000
SolidWorks 2007 SP1.0 / SpaceBall 5000
Lava Lamp
www.Tate3d.com
RE: Protect my Templates
I would love to be able to not allow users to edit sheet format either.
RE: Protect my Templates
I recommend a combination of a custom property editor and robust description field on your template.
First, I have a custom property editor that only has the template fields and I set up everyone’s systems to call this macro with the letter P. It is a lot easier to type P then to manual edit anything. So, out of pure laziness, I was able to get and keep everyone on aboard with this. I have a sample of this macro on my website called “Rigid Custom Properties” (see link in my signature), if you are interested.
Second, I set up a text field for the description on the template that is automatically top-centered and wordwrapped (works correctly for up to three lines of description without any manual work to it). This means, no matter how short or long the desc entered into the above macro, the template’s annotation note automatically centers it at the top of the description field and sizes it properly for up to three lines of text.
Also, I have default values assigned for each field so it becomes instinctual to replace the default info the custom property editor. Especially with the desc field, if they try to manual edit it, it becomes a formatting mess, so anyone that does try this will likely not try it past the first time (or have to go through the trouble of deleting it and entering theirs in from scratch, which is a pain, so once again, they will likely begin to depend on your macro).
Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php
RE: Protect my Templates
1. Put the description in model. Controls BOM and Drawing.
2. Reads users name so they do not have to type it in.
3. Knows date so they do not have to type it in.
4. Pick engineers name so they do not have to type it in.
5. Pick material so they do not have to type it in.
6. Macro picks standard finish so they do not have to type it in. Can over ride with click.
7. Macro picks standard tolerance so they do not have to type it in. Can over ride with click.
8. All text entered lower or upper case, macro changes case to upper case.
Our clerks in document control just loves to type up cover sheets for our purchased parts. Our custom built macro enters 12 lines of data after the model is done without typing. Engineering does the same thing by entering the ECN number and our initials only. Document control types in the 12 lines of data by hand.
One advantage that we had over other companies is that we changed our company name 3 times in three years. We had to change the template’s logo and company name each time. Any prints that went outside the company had to have the new name and logo. That really fixes editing the templates. For that reason we do not put notes on the template anymore. What a headache that was.
Bradley
SolidWorks 2007 SP2.2
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3400
RE: Protect my Templates
adicm, find what works for you. There's a lot of resources in this thread to help you on your journey. :)
Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php
RE: Protect my Templates
Bummer
The idea is a good one, so I put in an enhancement request stating:
Administrator only has ability to change template. Can be locked in PDM somehow.
Bradley
SolidWorks 2007 SP2.2
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3400
RE: Protect my Templates
RE: Protect my Templates
www.cadworkssoftware.com
Rob Rodriguez CSWP
www.axiscadsolutions.com
www.robrodriguez.com
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/rob_rodriguez/
President: www.nvtswug.com
SW 2007 SP 2.0
RE: Protect my Templates
Adi Corrales Magallanes
Centro de Ingenieria y Desarrollo Industrial
Queretaro, Mexico
RE: Protect my Templates
Is that mcaro called "CheckPropsb4save.swp"?
Are you the author?
I believe I downloaded it from the thread I mentioned earlier. Does anyone remember the thread or know of the macros author? The macro could be useful for the OP.
RE: Protect my Templates
Adi Corrales Magallanes
Centro de Ingenieria y Desarrollo Industrial
Queretaro, Mexico
RE: Protect my Templates
Properties thread559-166303
RE: Protect my Templates
An idea that may work is to make your macro more comprehensive. Don't put in any annotation notes with prop links on the template. Have the macro insert those notes when it is run. So, if an engineer tries to go in to the template to edit it, there's nothing there to edit until the macro is run. There's macro functions in SW that allows you to insert an annotation note at a specific location with a specific value. I forget where I found it, but if you like, I'll upload the sample code to my site for download.
Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php
RE: Protect my Templates
We have the same dilema here.
I have a thought about this. If we can disable "Edit Sheet Format" command, this issue will no longer exist. Is there a way to permanently remove this command from SW so that users have not access to it? I know I can hide it from menus, but users can always easily bring it back.
There is no reason why every user needs to have access to sheet formats.
Alex
RE: Protect my Templates
RE: Protect my Templates
I think I will try something like the FCsuper Suggestion: delete all labels and create them by request of a macro... I don't know how to do that yet, but it should not be hard to implement.
Adi Corrales Magallanes
Centro de Ingenieria y Desarrollo Industrial
Queretaro, Mexico
RE: Protect my Templates
It's only barebones (and you will prolly be able to figure this out without it), but I've uploaded an example of how to place text at a particular location on a drawing from a macro at this location: http:/
Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php
RE: Protect my Templates
Your website is a very helpful website.
A star for you.
Bradley
SolidWorks 2007 SP2.2
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3400
RE: Protect my Templates
Thank you for your effort, the link and the follow-up. A star!
Matt - A star for you too. You have a very helpful website.
RE: Protect my Templates
Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php