Opening Prt file when drawing already open
Opening Prt file when drawing already open
(OP)
Hi all,
I usually give my drawings the same name as my parts. For example:
MyPart.prt and MyPart.drw
If you have MyPart.drw open, and you do "File / Open", the file selection dialog box appears and it automatically preselects the file "MyPart.prt".
So, all I have to do is press OK and file MyPart.prt is opened.
I find that a very handy feature.
But unfortunately, that does not work the other way around.
If I have part "MyPart.prt" open and I open a new file, in the file selection dialog box the first file in the working directory is preselected, and not file "MyPart.drw", as I very much would like.
Is there a way to achieve this ?
I use WildFire 2.0
Best regards
I usually give my drawings the same name as my parts. For example:
MyPart.prt and MyPart.drw
If you have MyPart.drw open, and you do "File / Open", the file selection dialog box appears and it automatically preselects the file "MyPart.prt".
So, all I have to do is press OK and file MyPart.prt is opened.
I find that a very handy feature.
But unfortunately, that does not work the other way around.
If I have part "MyPart.prt" open and I open a new file, in the file selection dialog box the first file in the working directory is preselected, and not file "MyPart.drw", as I very much would like.
Is there a way to achieve this ?
I use WildFire 2.0
Best regards





RE: Opening Prt file when drawing already open
Unigraphics can do this easily because the drawing is actually created in an assembly setup.
I'd rather live in a Pro/E World than a UG one.
This is possible on other systems but not without searching for drawings in a directory that might reference the part.
If you want to work on both just open the Drawing first and use Window to switch between them.
You do have a nice idea that should be submitted to PTC.
I'm going to check the WF4 trial edition to see if this functionality exists.
Michael
RE: Opening Prt file when drawing already open
Also, the fact that you can't sort by date, file name, or anything in the "file open" window... like all other windows programs. Ends in a lot of scrolling thru folders.
David
RE: Opening Prt file when drawing already open
Example: want to open part called "abcdef012345.prt"
could type *bcd*45* and only files with those bits in that order will be shown. Handy if you know the name or part of the name and its a big working directory.
Of just search from within Pro/E on the tab, and open from there.
Regards,
Jon Reynolds
RE: Opening Prt file when drawing already open
Thanks a lot for your replies!
David. Yes, the "File open" window does not really behave like in any other standard Windows application.
For example, in any other Windows application "File open" box, selecting any file, and then entering a character makes the selection jump to the first file that starts with the character you entered. This is a handy feature that the Pro/E File Open box does not have.
I think the reason is that the File Open dialog box is not the Windows one, but PTC created this one theirselves.
Probably for reasons of transportability of Pro/E to other operating systems.
BTW, what was the operating system that Pro/E originated on? I suspect it was not Windows ...
Jon. Good tip ! I didn't know you could use wildcards !
Kind regards
Eddy
RE: Opening Prt file when drawing already open
Don't think I ever thought of using them in the file open window though.
David
RE: Opening Prt file when drawing already open
gd Get Drawing
which does the following
File Rename <Pause>
"Please copy the file name and hit OK to continue"
Resume mapkey
click cancel on rename dialog and goto File Open
Pause and prompt user to paste the copied name
This is a bit tedious another option would be to paste the drawing location into an Annotation or text property with the full path.
Michael
RE: Opening Prt file when drawing already open
I was thinking something simular, however I am probably going to use AutoIt ( http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/ ) to write a script.
I have a little experience with it and I feel it is more powerful than mapkey.
Grabbing the part file name could perhaps be done by doing a 'Rename' as you suggest, or 'Save a copy' or just 'Save'. These all open a window, displaying the current part file name.
Then AutoIt could grab the filename, replace the '.prt' with a '.drw' and open the file.
Thanks !
Kind regards
Eddy
RE: Opening Prt file when drawing already open
"Opening drw file when part already open"
instead of:
"Opening Prt file when drawing already open"
Kind regards
Eddy
RE: Opening Prt file when drawing already open
"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."
Ben Loosli
RE: Opening Prt file when drawing already open
"Wildfires are dangerous, ..."
Do you mind if I borrow that quote sometimes, should the ocasion arise ?
Eddy
RE: Opening Prt file when drawing already open
"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."
Ben Loosli