Changing Drawing References

[SWISGR8]

I am trying to change the referenced assy in a drawing with a very, very, very similar one by doing the old "open", "references", "dbl click", select new file, and it shows the change in the New Pathname column, but when I open the file, the old assy is still there in every way.

What am I doing wrong? Isn't this supposed to work this way? Is there a setting(s) I need to ensure is(are) correct?

Thanks,
"Frustrated"

 

[SWISGR8]

I did more extensive testing, and it works fine for:

- parts in assys
- parts in dwgs
- Sub-assys in assys

But not fine for:

- Assy's in Dwgs

I hear you on the search rules, which I have looked at quite extensively and keep a printed copy in my desk. However, that shouldnt matter when I am telling it exactly what I want; it has no searching to do. And I feel that is confirmed when I replace a sub-assy in an assy.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but none of this is adding up. Has everyone understood that I have been trying to replace a SLDASM with another SLDASM in a SLDDRW? If SW doesnt allow that then it shouldnt let you go through the motions.

 

[nathonrose]

I understand, not sure why not working. My video was of a part. I'll try with an assembly, should be no different.

You aren't working with/with-in PDM works or anything, right?

 

[dutch7777]

I just did this last week with swx05 sp0.0 and it worked
just fine...

 

[SWISGR8]

With an assy in a dwg?

 

[rporter]

SWISGR8

We do this all the time with assemblies without any issues.
I just did one to make sure with 2006 sp4.0 and had no problems changeing the referances.

 

[dutch7777]

Yep...three similar assemblies a,b,c.
Created drawing of a.
Saved a as b and c.
Opened b with redirected ref to b
Opened c with redirected ref to c


Worked just as described in previous post..

 

[SWISGR8]

I just did the same with 2 very basic assys and all parts, assys and dwgs are in the same directory and I included the directory in the "Referenced Documents" serach path listing ... still no good .... any other settings anyone might be aware that would affect this situation with the specific situation of assy in dwg?

 

[nathonrose]

Yep, worked with assemblies.
Open Assy_BC.slddrw -> Assy_BC.sldasm
Save as copy: Assy_BC.slddrw as Assy_BCD.slddrw
Save as copy: Assy_BC.slddrw as Assy_ABCD.slddrw

Close Assy_BC.slddrw

Now will have three DWGs with -> Reference
Assy_BC.slddrw -> Assy_BC.sldasm
Assy_BCD.slddrw -> Assy_BC.sldasm
Assy_ABCD.slddrw -> Assy_BC.sldasm

So, open Assy_BCD.slddrw, change reference from within open window, and now you should have:
Assy_BCD.slddrw -> Assy_BCD.sldasm

No problems, except some location of views, if model size changes, as in my example video...

Google compresses the heck outta it...and I can't seem to find another way to host it.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6571234497347503657

is too ugly to watch...
Even though it's ugly, you should be able to see the steps as I outlined them above...

Good luck

 

[nathonrose]

May seem overkill...making a new account for this...
But feel free to log into a quick email address I created to share the video. (Heck could be an easy annonymous way for anyone on the site to share tips.)

goto
gmail.com
Username: EngTipsX
Password: Eng-Tips

There is a self sent email there with a .wmv file attached.

It's only 1 MB and it plenty legible and usable. Are you following that process?

 

[nathonrose]

OK, you don't need to do that, in another thread was this site, that allows to store any file:

http://quick.dropfiles.net/634323

Cool...

 

[rgrayclamps]

Hi, SWISGR8:

I have been replacing assembly models in drawing documents for a long time using every version of SW. I never had any problems. The only problems that I know is that you can not replace an assembly model with a part model or replace a part model with an assembly model in a drawing document (BTW, there is no reason to do so!).

I do not think that you saved your newly created drawing document successfully. When you try to open this new document, SW reroutes reference to the original assembly model based on its default search rules.

By the way, when you double click the References list to browse for replacement model, the checkbox you mentioned below is no longer of use.

************************************
- making sure the box of the reference I changed is
checked before executing opening
************************************

This checkbox only works when you create a new model.

You are very close to figure your problem. Do not give up.

Alex

 

[rporter]

SWISGR8

The only thing that I can think of that is that the drawing is a read only file and your settings are to disregard changes to read only files.

 

[SWISGR8]

Yeah,

I dont know. I realize checking the box has nothing to do with it once dbl clicked and also saving as copy is really not an issue either (i've done it to make sure, but doesnt really make sense for that to matter); SW doesnt care if you want to change the ref of an orig; just do it with an orig dwg (part dwg in my case LOL) or assy, it really doesnt, rightfully so, care. My typical experience with Read Only is that most, if not all things, are allowed. It's just that you can't save to the file that was read only when you opened it. Dont take any of that the wrong way, just trying to work through and eliminate potential probs.

This thing just makes no sense to me since I can change part-in-dwg, part-in-assy, sub-in-assy. I can pretty much guarantee not a saving issue. Everything goes fine. It allows me to do what I want until comes time for SW to follow through and load the correct assy which it doesnt do. I dont see refs as an issue since I can replace a sub in an assy with no prob, it's just when I go to replace an assy in a dwg. That's why I wonder if there is a setting or bug.

Please anyone feel free to question all that logic, but that's the way I'm seeing it right now.

I'd do an RX, but keeps killing SW just after it opens it; maybe these issues are in some way related.

I dont know .... but it's Friday right? Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Mike

 

[SWISGR8]

Oh, and thanks for the videos ... that's pretty much what I do too. Just to recap, I get it to work for all situations except assy-in-dwg.

Thanks all

 

[rgrayclamps]

Hi, SWISGR8:

Try the following. You may find an answer to your question.

1) Launch your SolidWorks (if your SolidWorks is running, close and relaunch it);
2) Create a new part model and save it as "Part1.sldprt";
3) Create a new assembly model with this new part "Part1" and save it as "Assembly1.sldasm";
4) Create a new assembly drawing document for this assembly model "Assembly1" and save it as "Assembly1.slddrw";
5) Close all your active SolidWorks documents;
6) Open the assembly model "Assembly1" and save it as a copy named "Assembly2" and close the "Assembly1";
7) Now try again to see if you can replace "Assembly1" with "Assembly2" for "Assembly1" drawing document.

(Note: Try not to use any of your existing SW documents!)

Please post your finding.

Have a nice weekend!

Alex

 

[nathonrose]

You have a good weekend, too...However, have you tried just making a test case?

Try something similar, but with new, fakely made parts, just to test it?

Could be something in the file you're using itself, i.e. references it just can't break/figure out.

 

[SWISGR8]

Yeah, I made very simple extrusions of rectangle, circle, and triangle parts. Made 2 assys (1 of rect and circ, 1 of rect and tri to quickly and easily see differences). Made dwgs of parts and 1 assy. Saved-as-copy the assy dwg (just to rule that out). All in same directory with nothing else. Even did with Referenced Docs search path directory list inclusive of this test directory as well as exclusive of it. Went through change scenarios of part-in-assy, part-in-dwg, and assy-in-dwg; and the same thing, assy-in-dwg did not work but others did. I did not have a chance to do sub-in-assy since I did not make an assy with a sub, but I had that work in other assys.

I wondered about the file itself being problematic too, but when I did this very basic test, the results were the same.

I dont know ... I just dont know

 

[SWISGR8]

Just saw yours rgrayclamps,

I'll give it a whirl.

 

[SWISGR8]

Did it, completely separated from other things, but still same. The reference in the view is still "assembly1" as well as when I find references in the File menu.

I even gave it a little twist:
1) closed SW completely
2) renamed "assembly1" in Windows Explorer
3) opened SW
4) Went to open "assembly1.slddrw" and change ref to the file I had renamed it original/current reference to
5) OPEN - but gave me the "cant find .... find yourself ?" msg

 

[SWISGR8]

Gotta be installation you think ?