In-context References

[sbmathias]

An assembly gets designed in-context. The part and assembly drawings then get moved to various places using operating system tools. When the assembly gets opened, it prompts to find the component parts, and all seems well. However, when you attempt to edit the components in context again, you get a message that they were created in the context of a different (the original) assembly, so you can't make any references to other components or the assembly.

How should the files have been moved - using SW Explorer? (I didn't see an obvious way to do this.) Can this all be fixed by moving files back to original locations (using the operating system) and then moving correctly?

 

[engAlright]

From the first part of your post it sounds like the assembly was copied rather than moved.

In Solidworks, when you do a "Save As" on a part with a new name, new location, and while the assembly is open, the assembly will reference the new copy instead of the old one. The old one can then be deleted.

I find using SWexplorer to be much cleaner, however. In this case you can just copy the files to the appropriate locations all at once, then select the "Find Where Used" option to update whatever assemblies (or parts if they are in-context) are currently using the parts being copied, to use the copies instead of the originals.

 

[ctopher]

Should never use Win Exp to manage SW files. I use SW Exp if needed. I use PDMWorks and never have this problem.
I think engAlright is correct.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[cadman1997]

I use CopyProject to copy an assembly to a new location. I work on my C:\ Drive, when the project is complete I use CopyProject to copy it to the Network Drive. The only problem I have right now is that CopyProject has a data limit but, my projects are not that big in size. Some Machine designs that I have done the limit has come in affect. The new version is supposed to take care of this issue but it has not been released yet. I too never use Win Exp to copy SW Files.

Cheers,

Ralph

 

[SBaugh]

To follow up on ctopher response: Never use Windows explorer to not only manage files, but to manage In-contexted files. Only use SW Explorer or possibly PDMworks (Never tried that myself) to copy the files. You can always go back an delete the original file if you need too.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376