I run into this issue pretty consistently.  I will create a drawing for a sheet metal part that includes a Flat Pattern view, dimension it all up and save it.  I might have a set of very similar sheet metal parts (only one or two dimensions changed), and I would like to re-use my drawing and update it accordingly.  I am aware I could just use configurations to make this easier, but I am required to make a unique part for each.  My goal is to be able to use the "Replace Model" function to simply swap to my new part and retain all my dimensional information.  For views other than the "Flat Pattern" view, this works great.  However all my drawings have a flat pattern view, so when I use this method I am usually forced into a situation where I lose all the dimensions on my flat view, and I have to re-add them.  It's still slightly quicker than starting from scratch, but largely defeats the purpose of what I'm trying to accomplish.

I thought that maybe it had something to do with the flat pattern configuration not yet existing on the replacement part, but I still had the same issue, even when I loaded the part into the view palette to generate the flat pattern beforehand.

I have a workaround, but it is quite tedious:

* Save Drawing 1 with the name of the Drawing 2 using "Save as"

* Open Part 1, if it is not already open (which is what "Drawing 2" should currently be referencing)

* With the Drawing 2 still open, do a "save as" on the Part 1 to a temporary part name (let's say abc.sldprt).  This should make Drawing 2 now reference abc.sldprt

* Close the Drawing 2 and abc.sldprt

* Open Part 2 part file

* "Save as" and overwrite abc.sldprt

* Open up Drawing 2, with abc.sldprt still open.  (note that abc.sldprt now has the geometry of Part 2, so that is what Drawing 2 will show)

* On abc.sldprt, "Save as" Part 2, overwriting it.  This should establish references for Part 2 onto Drawing 2, keeping the dimensions of the flat pattern as well.

* If Part 2 does not yet have a flat pattern config, open the view palette and refresh it to generate one.

* Make sure the "flat pattern" view is linked to the flat pattern configuration.

If anyone has a nicer solution to this which doesn't require redimensioning each flat pattern or going through this long process, that would be great.  Let me know if any of you have the same issues or are able to reproduce the problem / workaround solution.

Thanks!

- Steven