BOM WIDTHS
BOM WIDTHS
(OP)
Is there a way to lock the widths of a BOM and if it exceeds that width then wrap the text to a second line.
I can specify the width when I setup the BOM template but but if I have a part number that is longer than my width it makes the column wider based on the text size.
I've seen some old posts similiar to this but was wondering if anyone has found a better fix.
Hope this all makes sense.
I can specify the width when I setup the BOM template but but if I have a part number that is longer than my width it makes the column wider based on the text size.
I've seen some old posts similiar to this but was wondering if anyone has found a better fix.
Hope this all makes sense.






RE: BOM WIDTHS
the text was too long. Today, I inserted a BOM and it came out fine. Needing help also.
Lilwil
RE: BOM WIDTHS
I've spent countless hours trying to to lock in my BOM templates in 2004 and hand no luck what so ever. I heard that there were Service Packs that fixes these problems, but still had the BOM's moving on me. All I needed was to control the width on QTY and ITEM to make then narrower, but when I saved, they went right back to the default. So......I pretty much gave up and back to the Excel version, but that also has issues too...
I like the BOM capibilities, but the code still could use some work as far as column/height widths and word wrap.
Best,
macduff
RE: BOM WIDTHS
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com
http://www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376
RE: BOM WIDTHS
I put about 5 enhancement requests in about a years time and only receive one response by email saying that they received it.
RE: BOM WIDTHS
If you turned in 5 separate items, then I'm sure they have been counted.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com
http://www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376
RE: BOM WIDTHS
Also how would I know if I need an enhancement request if I don't know if there is already a command for that.
RE: BOM WIDTHS
I think SolidWorks screwed the Excel BOM to make people migrate to their system.
I am sending this in file as a bug, maybe something will happen.
RE: BOM WIDTHS
Bradley
RE: BOM WIDTHS
I change "ITEM NO." to "ITEM" and "QTY." to "QTY" - If the names aren't changed Solidworks does you a favor and restores the column width.
Another trick I have found to "shrink" the column width is to change the font size, drag the column to resize, and then restore to the desired font. This is a bit of a pain but I can reduce the column widths and save drawing space.
Louis
RE: BOM WIDTHS
Option Explicit
Sub Macro2()
'
' Macro2 Macro
' Macro recorded 2/23/2004 by Brad Johnson
'
' Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+d
'
Columns("F:F").Select
Selection.ColumnWidth = 37
ActiveWindow.SmallScroll ToRight:=-3
Columns("E:E").Select
Selection.ColumnWidth = 57
Columns("D:D").Select
Selection.ColumnWidth = 19.29
ActiveWindow.SmallScroll ToRight:=-1
Columns("C:C").Select
Selection.ColumnWidth = 13.14
Columns("A:A").Select
Selection.ColumnWidth = 9.57
Range("A2").Select
End Sub
Bradley
RE: BOM WIDTHS
Hopefully I can modify that code to work with the nonExcel BOM's.
Thanks.
RE: BOM WIDTHS
At risk of sounding a little single-minded, I really wish SW would fix all the bugs before they introduce a single new feature. The program has more bells and whistles than I'll ever learn to use if I have to waste so much of my time trying to deal with bugs in the fundamental production features. The product has been around long enough that this kind of BS should never occur. I can tolerate a few glitches in whiz-bang new modeling features, but BOM's should have been right from day one for a professional tool.
RE: BOM WIDTHS
As for the Excel BOM not wrapping. That's not a SW issue that's a OLE issue, Compliments of Microsoft.
Then sign up for the beta testing! That's one of the ways to help SW work out it's issues. So when the final product hits the streets you will have a decent BOM working.
Not to sound like a BLANK, but if you don't participate in the beta, then IMO you can't complain. Because that's what the Beta program is there for. It's there to get you involved with the development of SW Beta and the way it is designed for that release. FYI - you will work directly with SW concerning the issues you bring to them, concerning the beta version.
See Thread559-93267 for details.
Some of those bells and whistles are there not for just you, but because other customers need them to do their job. Just because it doesn't work for your needs doesn't mean that it shouldn't be in there. I would have to say 90% of the enhancements put into Sw in the last few years are from the customers ER (Enhancement Requests).
As for the fundamental production features, like wrapping text. - When I was making drawings (by hand) I NEVER Wrapped the text in a BOM. It was wrong to do in the ANSI standards. I have never seen an ACAD drawing with Wrapped text in a BOM. Not to say you can't do it, but I can see why this ability has yet to be implemented.
This BS is called new functionality and on top of that, see above on this statment in further detail.
What kind of whiz-bang glitches? Like crashing, stablity of some new features? The new type of installation. There are all kinds of different things that can occur, no matter if it's in the BOM's or in boss feature.
In conclusion, I hope SW05 will work up to your expectations. But there will be somebody here that will find something that they don't like about the new BOM's in SW05. I might be you, heck it might be me.
I'm honestly not happy about the new BOM's. However I do like them, and they do show that they are taking a step in the right direction. Excel has been soooo limited over the years. (SW has incorporated Excel BOM's for close to 7 years now, and the functionality is still like you see it today... limited) It's a matter of time and I think these new SW BOM's will be great. So just lay back, find a good workaround and hopefully SW05 will fix this issue you are having. If not, place in an ER and always participate in the Beta. At least you get to take a look to see what's new while doing the beta.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com
http://www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376
RE: BOM WIDTHS
RE: BOM WIDTHS
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com
http://www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376
RE: BOM WIDTHS
Fundamental issues like basic formatting should NEVER EVER get to production releases. If they do then they should be fixed without delay once discovered.
I certainly hope the next major release (drawing mode) resembles a proper windows program.
RE: BOM WIDTHS
I hope SW stops parading a string of useless features before the users and sticks with reliability, usability, and stability.