6 Replies Latest reply on Mar 6, 2018 2:52 PM by Craig Schultz

How does a vault with different folders not allow duplicate parts?

Janet Coleman Mar 6, 2018 2:00 PM

i.e.

A screw that is used on many parts will be located where?

If each "folder" holds a full assembly with all its parts, what if the parts need to be in other "folders"? How do I avoid duplicate parts?

I recently started working for a company that has had solidworks for about 10 years but have never used PDM, only folders... I'm researching ways we can start using PDM but we already have a crazy amount of duplicate parts. For example:

How should I go about cleaning this up?

Re: How does a vault with different folders not allow duplicate parts?

Craig Schultz Mar 6, 2018 2:12 PM (in response to Janet Coleman)

That setting is done through the admin program.

I would set up a "Library" folder and then sub folders for the types (screws, nuts, washers...) You might wan't to look at limiting the ability to copy tree on these parts as well.

As far as cleaning it up. Maybe move the offenders into a temporary folder. Then delete the parts with a suffix. You'd have to replace them in the assemblies, but you wouldn't have to do them all at once. Just as you run across them.
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- Re: How does a vault with different folders not allow duplicate parts?
  
  Janet Coleman Mar 6, 2018 2:20 PM (in response to Craig Schultz)
  
  ya that's what I was afraid of. (replacing, etc)
  
  When it comes to "Library" folder and the sub folders, currently we have folders for a grouping of part numbers. Which means that a full assembly will have parts from many different folders. Is this an ok way to go about it in PDM?
  
  I'm researching (plan, plan, plan ) to see what we'll need to do to migrate.
  
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  - Re: How does a vault with different folders not allow duplicate parts?
    
    Janet Coleman Mar 6, 2018 2:23 PM (in response to Janet Coleman)
    
    also does admin have the ability to not allow someone to rename or create a copy of a part , therefore creating a duplicate except the name?
    
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    - Re: How does a vault with different folders not allow duplicate parts?
      
      S. Casale Mar 6, 2018 2:43 PM (in response to Janet Coleman)
      
      PDM has the ability to map as needed. So part reuse is a possibility and a huge benefit... However, don't move file(s) from one folder to the next without remapping or using the proper move tree functionality.
      
      The Admin tool has the ability to turn off copying of specified folders.
      
      Something to note. The flatter the folder struture the better. Big Buckets if you will.
      The more subfolders the more load times. The more folders the longer the file map. I believe PDM only allows for 256 characters in mapping, and this includes the file name and extension. IF you have a lot of sub folders then you could cause yourself some issues. This 256 may have changed, but I don't recall.
      
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      - Re: How does a vault with different folders not allow duplicate parts?
        
        Craig Schultz Mar 6, 2018 2:50 PM (in response to S. Casale)
        
        Under group permissions you can set it up how you like. I also control not being able to copy tree by setting library parts to look like toolbox parts using the set document properties.
        
        The 256 character is a windows thing. You can reset it, but I believe it's only local.... So that would be a real pain if you have a ton of people.
        
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  - Re: How does a vault with different folders not allow duplicate parts?
    
    Craig Schultz Mar 6, 2018 2:52 PM (in response to Janet Coleman)
    
    "Which means that a full assembly will have parts from many different folders. Is this an ok way to go about it in PDM?"
    
    Totally fine. PDM is a much different monster than windows explorer when it comes to handling files.
    
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