×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

(OP)
Hi,

Does anyone have indepth understanding this option of assembly drawing views?  I look at online help, and see the following explanation.

*****************************************************
Bill of Materials (BOM). Keep linked to BOM. Overrides the automatic linking of a BOM to a drawing view. As long as the BOM exists and Keep linked to BOM is selected, the SolidWorks software uses the selected BOM to assign balloon numbers. If you attach a balloon to a component that is not in the BOM configuration, the balloon appears with an asterisk (*).
*****************************************************

I tried to select or unselect this option.  But it seems that it does not make any difference.

 

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

To my understanding (and I could be incorrect) - you want to 'keep it linked to the BOM' - if you're ever changing the quantities of the item in question.  (I'm not entirely certain why you would ever NOT want to keep it linked to the BOM.)

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

(OP)
Hi, Nella95:

Yes, I want to keep it linked to the BOM.  But my confusion is that my drawing view is always linked to the BOM even though this option ('keep it linked to the BOM') is not selected.  So, what does this option do?

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

If you do not link the item, it will NOT show up in the BOM.  It isn't an updating thing, it will do that no matter what you do (in a SW BOM, not excel BOM).  It's more an option where it will actually exist automatically in the BOM or not.

James Spisich
Design Engineer, CSWP

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

This feature is also useful for detailed indented BOM's where you may want to balloons components of a subassembly in a view of just that sub assembly. SW will still reference the master BOM and balloon accordingly. This feature is also good if you have multiple BOM's on a single sheet or in a single document. Keeps SW from getting confused.  

Joe Hasik, CSWP/SMTL
SW 09 x64, SP 4.0
Dell T3400
Intel Core2 Quad
Q6700 2.66 GHz
3.93 GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4600

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

You can have multiple SW BOM's (not Excel BOMs) per drawing file on multiple sheets.  This allows you to link the drawing view to another BOM and the balloons will automatically match that BOM.  This is useful for showing exploded subassemblies and such for production/shop floor.

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

(OP)
Hi, DEddie:

I tried multiple SW BOM's (not Excel BOMs) per drawing file.  My drawing view can be linked to any BOM and the balloons will automatically match that BOM even though this option ('keep it linked to the BOM') is not selected.

So, what does this option do?

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

Suppose you have a drawing showing views created from 2 different SW assys. (either different SW Assy or different Configrations)

Now, you can create 2 different BOMs, each based on the different drawing view. The drawing views have different parts, so the BOMs will list different items with different balloon numbers.

If 'Link to Specified BOM' is unchecked, each drawing view will always reference the BOM created directly from it.

If 'Link to Specified BOM' is checked, you can now tell that drawing to reference the original BOM it created, or you now have the ability to select a different BOM for it to reference.

So each drawing view has the ability to lock it to its own BOM, link it to its own BOM, or link it to a different BOM.
If you simply check/uncheck 'Link to Specified BOM' it doesn't do anything (except changes permission) until you select a different BOM from the pull-down menu to reference.

Hope this helps.

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

Also, if your drawing view shows a different configuration of the assembly than the config. driving the BOM, the balloons on that view will not necessarily match unless you force that option.  

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

(OP)
Hi, LMonaco:

I am very impressed with your in-depth explanation.  Particularly, I like the word ("Specified") you used. A star for you.

So, basically, by checking "Link to Specificed BOM" option, one can control balloons based on different BOM.  I think I understand it now.  But what is this feature for?  What is typical application of this "Link to Specified BOM"?

Sorry! I tried to give your big star, but my anti-Virus software seems to block it.

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

Everyone's "typical application" will depend on their specific needs.  I use this feature when I need multiple views, spread across multiple sheets, all linked back to one BOM.

Joe
SW Office 2008 SP5.0
P4 3.0Ghz 3GB
ATI FireGL X1

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

rgrayclamps ... what AV are you using. I've not heard of one doing that before.

For future ref', can you not temporarily disable/suspend the AV while awarding a star?

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

(OP)
It is something called "Kaspersky".  It is set up by my IT and I can not disable it.

RE: What does "Keep linked to BOM" do (property of assembly drawing view)?

I use Kaspersky at work and do not have that problem. It must be a setting/script your IT have activated. Or maybe they have prevented Java scripts from running.

I have to say that IT people can be a PITA.
ponder ... but I do most of the IT stuff at my company ... which would make me a PITA ... and that could never be true, could it? spin2

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources