12 Replies Latest reply on Jan 31, 2017 5:38 PM by Justin Roskowske

Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard

Justin Roskowske Jan 30, 2017 1:50 PM

We switched over to PDM Standard from Workgroups PDM last year and love it. I recently started creating configurations rather than having the same file repeated several times with only minor changes. O-rings and screws are some other items I've switched over to configurations so if there's a change in the o-ring size or screw length, this can be done easily without changing mates or explosions. The problem that I'm having with PDM is that it wants to overwrite the files every time they are used. I don't need to overwrite the file. I just want to use a configuration.

Is there something in the settings that I need to change?

Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard

Prasad Bhonsule Jan 31, 2017 3:50 PM (in response to Justin Roskowske)

Hi Justin, could you please elaborate on the behavior you are witnessing? When exactly does PDM seem to want to overwrite the files? On check in? Do you have any screenshots you could post?

Cheers

Prasad
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- Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard
  
  Justin Roskowske Jan 31, 2017 4:17 PM (in response to Prasad Bhonsule)
  
  When I switch from one configuration to any other configuration than the one it was last saved as, it wants me to check it out, save it, check it in. I can obviously bypass this by hitting cancel, but I wasn't sure if this was standard procedure.
  
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Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard

S. Casale Jan 31, 2017 3:52 PM (in response to Justin Roskowske)

It says you have changed it, even though you have not. Don't save it and you will be fine.
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- Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard
  
  Justin Roskowske Jan 31, 2017 4:16 PM (in response to S. Casale)
  
  That's what I'm currently doing. I just find it annoying and wondered if it's because I have something set up wrong.
  
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  - Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard
    
    S. Casale Jan 31, 2017 4:22 PM (in response to Justin Roskowske)
    
    It's been an issue since I've used pdm (2013).
    
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    - Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard
      
      Justin Roskowske Jan 31, 2017 4:25 PM (in response to S. Casale)
      
      Thanks for the feedback. I guess I'll just continue hitting cancel.
      
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    - Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard
      
      Justin Roskowske Jan 31, 2017 5:09 PM (in response to S. Casale)
      
      It looks like the response from Jim Sculley solved my issue.
      
      "Second, the model will not do this if you save it with all configurations having been rebuilt. To do this, I typically right click on any feature and select 'Configure Feature'. In the Modify Configurations dialog there is a drop down button at the lower left that allows you to rebuild all configurations. Check the file out once, rebuild all the configurations and then check it back in."
      
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  - Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard
    
    Jim Sculley Jan 31, 2017 4:27 PM (in response to Justin Roskowske)
    
    First, is there a reason you are opening the file and changing the configuration?
    
    Second, the model will not do this if you save it with all configurations having been rebuilt. To do this, I typically right click on any feature and select 'Configure Feature'. In the Modify Configurations dialog there is a drop down button at the lower left that allows you to rebuild all configurations. Check the file out once, rebuild all the configurations and then check it back in.
    
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    - Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard
      
      Justin Roskowske Jan 31, 2017 4:42 PM (in response to Jim Sculley)
      
      I mostly choose the configuration I want on import. That triggers the dialog to save it. Sometimes, I'll be told an assembly needs a different size o-ring or screw. When I change the configuration with the dropdown list, it triggers the response.
      
      I'm going to try that "rebuild all configuration" command. That sounds like the issue.
      
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    - Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard
      
      Justin Roskowske Jan 31, 2017 5:07 PM (in response to Jim Sculley)
      
      This seems to be the solution I was looking for. Thanks!
      
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Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard

Victor Frauenfeld Jan 31, 2017 5:28 PM (in response to Justin Roskowske)

Justin, another possible option you might have is to change the way SolidWorks handles read-only documents (basically documents that you don’t have checked out). If you check the System Options=>External References=>Don’t prompt to save read-only referenced documents (discard changes), it will not ask you to save the changed file. By setting this up, you will not need to worry about the individual files.

Be careful with this, if you open a file that you don’t have checked out, make changes that you actually wanted to make, and then close the file, your changes will be discarded. It will not prompt you to save those changes.
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- Re: Configurations in Assemblies and PDM Standard
  
  Justin Roskowske Jan 31, 2017 5:38 PM (in response to Victor Frauenfeld)
  
  Great. I'm okay with the risk of not saving a link that I changed. I just need to be vigilant on checking stuff out. Thanks for the tip!
  
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