SW multi file multisheet drawings

[madvlad]

Hi everyone...first post of mine, I have a simple problem with no simple solution.

Basically, I have to do a whole bunch of drawings, and my computer is getting plugged up already with too much stuff loaded at once. So, I've started making separate files, just for performance reasons.

Does anyone have a scheme to number the sheets of different files? It would be great if I could just introduce an offset to the sheetnumber $PRP, and have the offset and totalsheets as a custom property, but as far as I can figure, this is impossible. I spent a bit of time trying to write a macro to go through all the sheets, but gave up, hoping that someone else has already done it...?

Really appreciate the time guys,
Thanks,

Chris
Toronto, Ontario

 

[fcsuper]

You can have a macro that creates, names, and delete sheets per whatever you wish. Your counting engine would be nothing but a FOR loop. You can use the affected string variable in your sheet name as your macro creates each sheet.

Here's an example for some of this:

http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php?name=UpDownload&req=viewdownloaddetails&lid=48

Be mindful that SolidWorks does not allow multiple revision tables for the same drawing (though I believe split tables are ok). Also, you my not get the space savings you expect by doing this.

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group

 

[handleman]

Matt,
I belive you may have read the question backwards. I think the OP is saying that he is breaking up multi-sheet drawings into separate files. I've done this before with complicated assemblies. The more drawing views you put into one file the slower your system runs. The sheet numbering (i.e. notes linked to SW-CurrentSheet and SW-TotalSheets) doesn't work if you do this. You have to manually change the numbers.

Chris,
I haven't found a good way of doing this other than manually changing the notes on the drawing. Sorry!

 

[madvlad]

Matt;
I started to fool with a macro but its not "just a for loop".

1. First you need to write a macro to change the name of the text field in your template from AnnotationItem353@Sheet Format12 etc to something sensible. Or for that matter, find out what it's called in the first place. Done.

2. Then you have to go apply that format to all your drawing sheets in each file. I found a macro somebody wrote which does this. Done.

3. Then you have to write a macro which opens a drawing, figures out how many sheets are in it, and goes to each individual sheet format and changes the text value.

4. Then you have to write some simple interface to control it all.

I got stuck trying to figure out what the sheet formats were called. Ie the sheet format on sheet n isn't "Sheet Formatn", it's some number which is the order I made the sheets.

ret=Part.Extension.SelectByID2("SheetNo@Sheet Format1", "NOTE",0,0)

It can be done I'm sure, but its not so trivial. I just thought someone might have a better way.

Chris

 

[fcsuper]

Your right handleman. I am tired. I did re-read twice, but misread it the same both times. Got up at 3:31 this more for a flight back from San Diego to get my work day started on time.

That macro is for making sheets, and my suggestion was for making sheets. Since that is not what is being asked for, please ignore my previous comment completely.



Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group

 

[fcsuper]

This could be done with a macro using an external database (easiest is a list within an .ini) under very tightly controlled system. I think the development of this would be on the scale of a rudimentry PLM.

You could perhaps manually control sheet numbers and part numbers alike through an excel file and a macro that knows which drawings uses which cell (perhaps based on a particular file name structure that can be directly used in the math of the spreadsheet) so it can feed the right number to a custom sheet custom property in that file.

Hmmm, unless I again mis-read it, I hope this help. I think I said this before, I shouldn't post when I'm tired.



Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group