Here is a repeating problem for me. I have an assembly with multiple parts and sub-assemblies, and I need to share a variable across several parts. More importantly I would like to have only one place that controls that variable. Is there something I can set at the top level and have it go down to each sub part and assembly?
A couple of really cumbersome ways I did this before. And I say cumbersome because as time went on, I found links getting broken between parts, assemblies, and design tables. It also became really hard to back-track from the bottom levels to the top level ;
1. Have a top level sketch with the variable as dimensions in the sketch. Then have each part have their own sketch that links to whatever variables are needed in the top one.
2. Use a spread sheet that drove the Design Tables of each individual part and sub-assembly.
Global Variables assembly ->part (or sub assembly) can be linked via equations. There are two ways to create links.
Top-down: link Global Variables assembly -> part
Bottom-up: link Global Variables part -> assembly
This technique works in SW 2014, but so far may not work in SW 2015. SolidWorks has confirmed this issue and has reported it to their development team as SPR 895813 (Changing the value of global variable equation in assembly).