I have a tubing part which I've used configurations (via a design table) to generate. The different configurations are of different lengths, though they all share the same hole pattern (in this case, 1 hole every 1"). I'm trying to design a plate to attach to this tubing which has a corresponding mounting pattern (matching holes). I've put the tubing into an assembly, and created a new part within the assembly on one of the holed faces of the tubing. I could go and manually use convert entities to project every single hole that I'd be using, but that will take a lot of time and, more importantly, isn't robust to configuration changes. That is, if I were to go from say, a 10" piece of tubing to a 24" piece of tubing, I'd like the plate to update as well with the proper holes. I know that I could also recreate the exact hole pattern using a linear pattern on the plate, but that doubles the amount of work and is very prone to error.
So, my question, then, is as follows: what is the proper way to project mounting holes / features / patterns from one part to another within an assembly, such that a configuration change will not break the design?
You can perhaps get a better sense of what I mean when you look at the solidworks files I've attached.
Everyone has a different way. There is not a #1 answer. Whatever works for you that is fast and efficient.
Following your lead I would now edit the back plate in the assembly, make a hole wizard hole at the same starting hole wizard hole location on the rail. Then use the syntax in the linear pattern below. When you change the configuration of the rail and it gets longer/shorter the linear pattern D1 and D3 will update and the back plate will update.