How do you work

[karmoh]

Hi All,

I have posted here because it’s related to SE, but could be construed as Configuration Management.

How do you work?
For years I have been trying to find a solid (pun intended) revision control and data control solution for a standalone user of SE. There are several methods and software programs that are useful but none give a real solution, unless you have a server system.
I have tried several standalone database methods, but these are either very clunky to use or useless for managing SE assemblies.

At Present I use a directory/folder/sub-folder structure and have a spreadsheet for each client that creates auto part and drawing numbers which I then paste to SE via the property manager.
I use revision manager to move things around and up issue.

Folder/sub-folder structure looks like this or variations of depending on the client

SEE ATTACHED DOC

And to be honest it works really well. 90% of the time I can keep close control over the structure and revision control, but I cannot help thinking that there is something missing.
I need to put this to rest, so two question
1. would you use the structure above as a standalone user
2. If not how would you change it

 

[swertel]

That structure looks just fine. The only thing I may tweak is the standard parts library per client. How many copies of the same PEM fasteners do you have spread across client folders?

Update your link management file to automagically resolve broken links and you are in good shape.

--Scott

http://wertel.eng.pro

 

[karmoh]

Hi Scott,

Yes i agree with the standard parts library, this is a really bad habit of mine from the early days. I do have a standard parts library but copy the required parts (job specific) over to the client directory.

Quote Update your link management file to automatically resolve broken links and you are in good shape.
Can you explain please.

Does anyone use the standard parts libray supplied with SE?

 

[PatCouture]

I'm using the Machinery Library from SE with the Standard parts library. I mostly use it for fasteners though (Fastener system). Every other parts that I modeled myself are put in the standard parts folder but I don't access them through the Standard parts window, I get to them with windows explorer.

Patrick

 

[swertel]

Outside of Insight or Teamcenter, SE uses file names to resolve links between assemblies, drawings, and part files. In order to move or rename files, you should use Revision Manager (Insight Connect), but that is not an easy application to use.

You can use Windows Explorer to move files (not rename them, though), without breaking links. This is done through the Link Management text file and the File Locations options.

Open up the Linkmgmt.txt file in a text editor.
You will see 3 key words: Container, Relative, Absolute.
Container means to look for files within the same folder as the file you just opened.
Relative means to look in folders one level up or down from the folder of the file you just opened.
Absolute means that exact path as it was last saved.

After that, you can force SE to look in specific folders to resolve links.

Example:
Assume we are working in a folder "InWork" and then release the parts.
We use Windows Explorer to move the files from the "InWork" folder to the "Released" folder. This would break links.
But, because we use the link management file, and have it configured to look for files in certain directories, like "released," it searches there and automatically resolves the broken links.

--Scott

http://wertel.eng.pro

 

[KENAT]

swertel, I find Revision Manager pretty decent to use. There's a lack of tutorials etc for it, but it's pretty good stuff.

I might have to consider the other approach you give but I dont' think it would work well for our set up.

karmoh, where possible I try to keep a fairly 'flat' folder structure to minimize the amount of file management required.

However that doesn't mean yours isn't reasonable.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484

 

[HDS]

are old revs in the revision folders and new ones in the main folder?

You will find it hard to archive assemblies unless you copy all of the linked files into a folder and zip it all up together. That is because any files that changed name or location after the revision will be lost.

 

[beachcomber]

I would always use Rev Manager to rename, copy and move model files. You should become familiar with this method and using the 'Where Used' functions to maintain links to draft files.
Draft files can be done with Windows Explorer without breaking any links because the link to models is only one way (the model does not know anything about draft files).
I would not use a Link Management file except as a way of finding/mending broken links, as I believe it slows down file opening times, especially on larger assemblies.
In Rev Manager there are also functions to find and repair broken links.
At a previous contract we used 5 main folders -
"1-Concept" (for initial schemes,sketches etc)
"2-WIP" (work in progress - current models)
"3-PreRelease" (draft files checked and ready for issue)
"4-Released" (finished draft files as issued to customer)
"5-Archive" (old draft files)

By including the number (1,2,3 etc) in the folder name you keep them in work-flow order, and it worked very well.
We never up-rev'd models.
Draft files had their status set to Released when put into the Released folder.

As for your standard parts, I can see why you might make them customer specific - if your customers have their own part numbers etc and these need to be in the model file properties.


bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

 

[karmoh]

Thanks Guys,

Swertel, I prefer to use Revision manager to move things around, it really is a good tool and quite easy to use once you understand the rules, although I will look in to the linkmgmt.txt file.

HDS, Yes each Revision folder is self-contained I open the Draft or Assembly file and do a full copy to the relevant revision folder. My parts have no client significant revision number apart from the revision number being used as a personal reference point on development. The drafts contain the client revision.

Beachcomber, Initially I found it easier when working to have inserts etc as job specific, some of my clients have idiosyncrasies, such as name conventions. I typically work in the fabrication industry, electronic enclosures, construction, that sort of thing. One company may require an insert to be described as BSO-M4-10 and another M4 Blind Standoff. So in my main standard parts folder you’re correct they’re customer detailed.
In the WIP folder was this a flat folder or sub-folders by part?
I’m interested in your statement we never up-rev’d models, is it possible for you to give a more detailed explanation? As I find this difficult to understand!

Cheers
Mark

 

[karmoh]

HDS,
What I meant was, I open the Draft or Assembly file in Revison manager and do a full copy to the relevant revision folder.

 

[KENAT]

I started to write a reply but my machine crashed.

On the topic of models not having revisions.

For us this means that the revision does not form part of the file name, it is only put in the file properties. The rev on the drawings is fed from this property. We do put the rev in the file name for drafts.

This way when you up rev a component part you don't have to worry too much about file management issues. it does mean you don't necessarily get a copy of the pre rev model unless you zip it or something before making changes.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484

 

[karmoh]

Kenat,

For us this means that the revision does not form part of the file name, it is only put in the file properties.

That's good, I do that too. My customers are not interested in the models only drafts.

Cheers

 

[beachcomber]

The projects we were working on were quite big - typically top level assembly comprised 30000 parts in total with 900-1000 parts and assemblies requiring drawings.
The WIP folder contained all models in a flat structure.
We did have another folder in here for Drawings, just to make it easier to find them because I used Property Manager quite a lot.
I wouldn't recommend seperating parts and assemblies into different folders - it becomes a PITA switching folders all the time.
Drawings had the Rev in the filename and we kept the old ones in Archive.
Models did not have a revision at all, not even in the properties. We didn't usually keep old revisions of the model, although sometimes we would archive a copy with the date added to the filename 'just in case'. As Kenat says, it saves the bother and complication of up-reving higher level assemblies.


bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

 

[karmoh]

Beachcomber,

Interesting, if you don't mind me asking a few questions
how did you manage drawing numbers?
through property manager?
how did you generate them?
Did you use a sequential part numbering system or just part naming?

Cheers
Mark