Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
(OP)
I am in the process of creating a test vault to use to get everyone to buy in to making the switch to PDMWorks. I have run into a problem and wanted to get some suggestions and feedback.
I mentioned in a previous post that our network is extremely slow so I will be putting everything, even vendor OEM parts into the vault. Many of these have been downloaded off of various websites by everyone here. The problem I am running into is often the files come in as an assembly with a vendor part number, which is not a problem, but the parts inside the assembly have generic file names. The files may be named, for example, part1, part2, part3, etc. I always made it a habit to rename all the parts based on the assembly number so everything was easy to identify. However I'm not the only person who has been downloading parts.
My original thought was to use SW Explorer to rename the parts, but that won't work because they have to be in the vault first.
Anyone every have to deal with this and what did you do?
I mentioned in a previous post that our network is extremely slow so I will be putting everything, even vendor OEM parts into the vault. Many of these have been downloaded off of various websites by everyone here. The problem I am running into is often the files come in as an assembly with a vendor part number, which is not a problem, but the parts inside the assembly have generic file names. The files may be named, for example, part1, part2, part3, etc. I always made it a habit to rename all the parts based on the assembly number so everything was easy to identify. However I'm not the only person who has been downloading parts.
My original thought was to use SW Explorer to rename the parts, but that won't work because they have to be in the vault first.
Anyone every have to deal with this and what did you do?






RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
This is how I handle my assemblies. I use the base p/n for all the parts in the assembly, and then add _AC1, _AC2, _AC3 etc...after the parts to make them unique. See attached example.
Best,
Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2009 SP 3.0
Dell 490 XP Pro SP 2
Xeon CPU 3.00 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro FX 3450 512 MB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2009 SP 3.0
Dell 490 XP Pro SP 2
Xeon CPU 3.00 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro FX 3450 512 MB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
I'm looking for a way of doing exactly what you did but on a larger scale. The only way I know is to open the assembly and then do save as for each part to keep all the associations.
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
Otherwise garbage in, garbage out.
James Spisich
Design Engineer, CSWP
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
BTW, we employ a similar technique described by Macduff re naming associated parts in an assembly where XXXXX is the assy number and XXXXX_1 would be the first part associated with the assy, XXXXX_2 the 2nd and so on.
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
Another thing you can do is set up an FTP and then move the files over yourself once you've formatted the file names.
Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
Joe Hasik, CSWP/SMTL
SW 09 x64, SP 3.0
Dell T3400
Intel Core2 Quad
Q6700 2.66 GHz
3.93 GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4600
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
From the assembly, hit File > Save As... , then press the references button, then press more options. make sure you have the "name" column highlighted, then you can use "find/replace" to rename parts to whatever you like
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
The assembly is a 3D assembly of an electrical device. It was downloaded from a vendor as a STEP file. Via SW Explorer, I renamed the assy, but not the sub assy and piece part files that are contained within the assy.
We created a directory (this may not be the right wording) in the vault that is the same name as the assembly and saved the assy and it's supporting parts in that directory.
The reason for having all associated files in a unique directory is that there will be other downloaded assemblies from this vendor and they will always be a STEP file. I believe that when SW convert them, there may be same part/assy files names, but the internal ID is different. Further, if one of these files is modified (as via import diagnostics and feature reconigition), then overwriting files and the fall-out of that is prevented.
That's what we are trying.
Good luck,
Bill
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
We do not append the vendor part number in the name we give it a unique name per our naming convention. We have some properties in the part/assembly where we enter the vendor and part number for the BOM table.
To rename parts and keep all links together, we use Pack and Go on the drawing to make sure it gets all the parts. While in Pack and go, use the "Select/Replace" button and in the "Search for" field, enter the original name/number of the component. Then pick the "Replace text with" radial button and enter the new part number you want to use.
Flores
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names
RE: Populating a Vault - Generic File Names