Can you.. Change an assembly that a DFT is based on? 1

[ryandias]

I want to recreate a drawing but just use a different assembly. If i could simply change the file like when you replace a par in an assembly it would be great. (ie then I would not have to redimension everything and start from scratch.)

If you can do this, How would you go about doing so?

 

[KENAT]

Yes you can do this.

I'd suggest making a copy of the drawing you want to use as your base and rename it.

I then suggest using revision manager to link to the different assembly. (you can use edit, links but I prefer rev manager)

Note that unless the new assembly is somehow closely derived from the old one you'll probably get a lot of detatched detailing in the drawing.

Maybe someone else has a better idea.

 

[ryandias]

The assembly is directly derived from the original.

I did this... in a round abouts way. I copied the drawing to a new directory and had the new assembly named the same (as with the originial in the original directory) When i opened the drawing from the new directory it redirected to the local file and seems to have worked with minimal detachment and errors.

on a side note, can you fix detached Centerlines?? If so how?

 

[KENAT]

Yes, just select the 'black square' near the end of the centerline and drag it to the approximate location it should attatch to and it shold snap to it.

Others here may be able to explain this better.

Given the way you did it make sure you rename the assembly before you move either file. You need to 'hardwire' in the change of link. At the moment if you moved the files then depending how you do it the drawing may try looking for the old assy.

 

[SLemin]

In a draft you can always click 'edit/links/change source' and then perform a 'save as'. That should give you the desired result...

 

[PatCouture]

For fixing detached dimension there is a button especially for that but this button isn't included in the toolbars, you have to bring it from the customize toolbar menu under the dimension options it's called "attach dimension". Or you can get it from the pulldown menu Tools, dimension, then the Attach dimension command is there.

Patrick

 

[beachcomber]

To re-attach dimensions -
Click the dimension to re-attach.
Grab the black dot and hold the ALT key.
Drag the dot to the element you want to attach to.

For centre lines -
If circle centre, click it and grab the dot at the centre.
Drag it to the circle edge you want to attach it to.
For linear centre-lines grab the second dot from the end and drag it to the line whose CENTRE it needs to be attached to. You may need to do both ends and use the ALT button when you drag.

For leaders-
If they are detached click it and drag the dot at the arrow end onto the element you want to attach to.

For any of the above you can change the element it is attached to by dragging whilst pressing the ALT button.

Other tips - don't put centre lines inside the drawing view as you can't locate them from the dimension tracker, and don't dimension to a centre line unless absolutely necessary - use the graphics of the drawing view.

bc