Multi-page linked Word Documents in SW 2004

[Istre]

Ok, I have several Word documents that I use that our electrical engineers update in order to accomodate changing electronic procedures without having to get the mechanical engineers and SolidWorks involved with every change. Previously, we've kept the two separate, but what I would like to be able to do is link them into a SW drawing so that manufacturing can print one document and have all the information necessary. By linking, the EEs don't have to worry about informing anyone about changes to integrate them, and we don't have to worry about making sure the changes have been integrated into our documents.

The problem arises when the EEs have a multiple page Word document that I try to link or embed. I have yet to find a way to tell SolidWorks to display page X of Y or to have Solidworks span the Word document across multiple SW drawing sheets.

I'm hoping one of you gurus has an answer because being able to link to multipage EE documents would be a HUGE help.

Thanks, folks!

 

[ctopher]

If you have SW 2005, you can add them in the Design Binder located in the Feature Manager.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[Istre]

Well, I don't have access to 2005 now. Is there any way to accomplish this other than breaking the document into multiple one page documents and then having an unholy mess when repagination is required in the Word document?

 

[ctopher]

I'm trying to understand. Why would you want to have Word docs on a SW dwg?

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[Istre]

Because our EE's don't use or have seats of Solidworks. Our products have assemblies with electrical and mechanical components that need to be built up in tandem to finish the assembly.

Our EEs could give us the information, but then a great chunk of our Mechanicals' time would be integrating EE documentation directly into SW documents, and we mechanicals aren't going to do that. What our EEs are now doing is creating Word documents that manufacturing prints at the same time they print the SW document for the mechanical side of the same assembly. If we could link the Word documents from within the SW drawing, then the EEs could do their own upkeep on their electrical files and then the manufacturing prints would automatically update as needed when opened.

Basically, this is a workaround to correct for the fact that 1) our EEs don't have SW skills or seats to modify files, and 2) Often, SW just isn't the right program to use to show electrical assemblies and components, even though it is our primary source of manufacturing floor documents.

I'm just trying to find a way to implement a system whereby the EE guys can keep up their own files and have confidence our manufacturing prints will update. The sticking point is that multipage files just aren't playing nice when linked into a SW document, and only the first page will show.

 

[ctopher]

I would not link Word docs into SW dwgs. It could create havoc in the future. We save all of our Word docs for mfg on a server in separate folders depending on the type.
The EE's can manage their documentation and ME's can yours, but the ME's can manage all of the solid models ... mechanical or electronic.
SolidWorks dwgs are for drawings, not for managing documents. If you use PDMWorks, you can link Word docs to dwgs and models.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[ShaggyPE]

I agree with ctopher.
Assign the EE documentation and simply include an note on the ME drawing to reference doc# such-n-such for electrical assembly. That way the EE's can constantly update their document without affect yours.