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Save All tries to save all read-only documents

Question asked by Mike Damisch on Oct 31, 2018
Latest reply on Dec 9, 2019 by John Matrishon

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When I'm working in a model or a drawing, if I accidentally click "Save All" when trying to save the document, SW tries to save every single referenced component. I just spent about 3 minutes holding down the escape key while SW iterated through my assembly trying to save every part.

I have the options "Open referenced documents with read-only access" and "Don't prompt to save read-only referenced documents (discard changes)" both checked (see attached pictures).

Is there another reason that this might be happening?

Thanks.

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Dan Bovinich Oct 31, 2018 12:41 PM
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I have had that problem too (forever). I think SW needs to work on that....

Dan
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Mark Johnson Oct 31, 2018 2:53 PM
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Hey Mike,
What you’re describing sounds like SPR 1077946 ('Save all' the assembly with modified read-only component still prompts to save modified part even if 'Don't prompt to save read-only referenced documents (discard changes)' option is enabled) which fixed in SolidWorks 2018 Sp4 onward.

If you are using an older service pack of SW 2018, try downloading\installing the latest and greatest service pack of 2018. If the latest service pack doesn’t help – Your VAR would be happy to help you troubleshoot this further.

Cheers,
Mark Johnson
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Dan Bovinich @ Mark Johnson on Nov 1, 2018 8:42 AM
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Yea, I'm still on SW2017. I hope we go to 18 or 19 soon...

Dan
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Greg H. Nov 1, 2018 9:14 AM
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Try unchecking options 1 & 3.
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Cliff Daniel Aug 5, 2019 10:46 AM
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Still a problem in 2019

The user should not be involved with not saving read only parts.
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Mark Johnson @ Cliff Daniel on Aug 5, 2019 4:01 PM
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Cliff,
If a SLDDRW is opened read only but the Parts\Assemblies contained are NOT read only, then if changes are made (references marked dirty) then the dialogue you highlight will be shown prompting you to saved changes to the referenced components . The drawing will not be saved.

Example, I open have simple part, in an assembly, in a drawing view.
Next I open the part, by itself, make a change, save\close.
I now open the drawing Read Only. When I close the model, the assembly containing the part is updated because the part has changed. When closing, the “save modified documents…” dialogue will be shown to save the assembly but NOT the drawing because the Drawing is read only.

This is expected

Cheers,
Mark Johnson
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Cliff Daniel @ Mark Johnson on Aug 5, 2019 4:26 PM
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I opened a drawing read only and looked at it. Prompted for saving to close it.
What changed?
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Alex Lachance @ Cliff Daniel on Aug 5, 2019 4:38 PM
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I'm guessing your drawing is an assembly drawing. There's probably a few parts that are used inside other assemblies and that have been modified since the last time your drawing was opened. The drawing updated itself with whatever modification that has been made since it was last opened.

Just to be clear, the modification was probably either done at the part level or in another assembly. Heck, it could even have been done in the specific assembly that you have opened. The guy modified 2-3 parts in the assembly, saved the assembly without opening the drawing. Voila, you got your pop-up about the file needing to be saved.
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John Matrishon Aug 5, 2019 4:41 PM
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are any of the read only files older versions of SolidWorks that have not been updated? Depending on the types of references and if you have PDM and all the files haven't been updated you may get SolidWorks trying to update them wanting a save, which then conflicts with the read only.
JM
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Mark Johnson @ Alex Lachance on Aug 5, 2019 4:41 PM
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Following up on Alex's point - When saving a document you will be prompted with the "Save Modified Documents" dialogue box (unless you have selected "Don't ask me again when saving").
Try resetting your Messages / Errors / Warnings. - Navigate to Tools > Options> System Options > Messages / Errors / Warnings and choose "Reset..." and then choose "Reset this page only" when prompted.
-Mark
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John Matrishon Aug 5, 2019 4:45 PM
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...also, are you using the Multi-user environment?
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Cliff Daniel @ Alex Lachance on Aug 6, 2019 9:49 AM
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Not an assembly. Part only.
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Cliff Daniel @ John Matrishon on Aug 6, 2019 9:50 AM
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Part and drawing file are current versions. 2019 SP4
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Cliff Daniel @ John Matrishon on Aug 6, 2019 9:52 AM
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That box is not checked currently.
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Alex Lachance @ Cliff Daniel on Aug 6, 2019 9:54 AM
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Another thing that could be of cause is if you've used the same template over the years instead of recreating it. Updating a template from 2018 to 2019 is not recommended.

See this thread:
Crusty Old Template File Gotcha
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Cliff Daniel @ Mark Johnson on Aug 6, 2019 9:57 AM
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Sound like this would clear all of the dismissed messages. I don't want to do that.
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Piotr Kluba Sep 20, 2019 2:34 PM
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I have similar problem. I was talking with customer support and they gave me link to this topic.

My problem question is why SW want to save my components and assembly files:

As and an example, I have two components A and B. Then I use them to create assembly C and drawing D.
Then if I change A and save it, then open assembly and rebuilding so it shows new A I want to save the assy C but it prompts me to save component A as well. WHY? and then the same thing is happening with after saving drawing D. WHY?
Why SW want to save a file that was not modified withing the assembly nor drawing.
Whats even funnier sometimes I get message as above, and other times message like this:
and some other times message like this:

The last message is what I want to see unless I modify a component then i can get the first message, but I shouldn't be forced to save all. I cant even deselect the component.

And the second message is the most sketchy one because I tested it on small assembly and it ended up saving just the assembly file so WHY it states "all modified document".

Please someone help me figure this out because It doesn't make sense to me.

It would make more sense if it will ask me if i want to save assembles after changing component, so I would understand it as the assembly will be updated to new component A.
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Tom Strohscher @ John Matrishon on Nov 21, 2019 3:07 PM
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"...if you have PDM and all the files haven't been updated you may get SolidWorks trying to update them wanting a save..."

Why does SW try to update the files?
SW should know it can't cave it. Why does it need to do anything to the file?

Wouldn't SW be faster if it stops processing files it can't save?
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John Matrishon @ Tom Strohscher on Nov 22, 2019 8:18 AM
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I can't answer the code part of that, but to me it makes sense for the software. Things change from version to version and improvements made. The software has been around for almost 25 years, how many years back is okay to keep a file? The efficiency of maintaining an older versioned file could have some consequences that may not be apparent. It is only asking you, and I believe it is the right thing to do. Painful, yes sometimes, but overall worth it IMO. You only need to do this once and you can even automate the task using the Task Scheduler or other PDM tools.
JM
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Piotr Kluba Dec 9, 2019 9:02 AM
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John, I have this problem with new files on one version of solidworks.
I think I found the problem which is a pain in a butt. All files in SW so super fragile and sometime even if you just open it and save it they are not "rebuild". and if you have assembly that use that "not rebuild" component SW will try to save that file at assembly level. Depends on situation you getting different save option, however I still didn't figured out which message is for what kind of rebuild problem. Whats worst, sometimes SW is saving this component but not doing anything besides saving it so each time you open assy SW will force you to save that component over and over without fixing the problem. you literally have to open that component, rebuild it, save it, then open the assembly and save the assembly.
As it might sounds no big deal, when you dont have PDM and you have lots of components, sub assemblies, assemblies you have to save each file to make it work.
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John Matrishon @ Piotr Kluba on Dec 9, 2019 11:28 AM
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There are many things that can cause requests to rebuild, and a few options you can select in terms of this. I would not call the files fragile though. If SWKs wants to rebuild a file, it has a reason. How are you referencing the file, what does your external reference look like? Do you have an in context relation to an assembly then reuse that part in a different assembly? All these things can make a rebuild want to happen. Versions and PDM can both help and get in the way, you just have to understand the way your designs are being intended to function. It can take some patience the more complex of a structure you have. Ask your VAR for help in explaining this, they can really open your eyes to all the background things going on. It's tough for us to give precise feedback on some of these topics without seeing everything you are seeing and taking the time to digest it.
JM
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Piotr Kluba Dec 9, 2019 1:37 PM
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John,
For example a i have a component "bolt". This file has for example 50 configurations for different sizes. No external references.
Than I put the bolts to my sub assembly for example base plate, blocks, clamps etc. Using this sub assemblies I make another assembly, depends on size and complexity there might be sub assembly of sub assembly that goes to final assembly.
There is no other relations between component except mates.
The "fragile" file usually is one of my components such as simple bolt. I have to keep this file as "read only" to make sure people will not open it and save without full rebuild of configurations plus ctrl+q.

About the VAR they had no idea and were unable to answer my questions after figuring out most of the problems they simply told me "yeah just rebuild the files", but the fact SW will save the bolt from final assembly every single time i open it till I open bolt itself and rebuild completely they don't care.

SW should at least rebuild everything before saving or ask you to do so so you are sure the file good.

Never seen such a dumb problem with NX
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John Matrishon @ Piotr Kluba on Dec 9, 2019 1:56 PM
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Have you just tried to turn on the system option to "Not save Read only documents"? Not all VARs are equal, that's too bad.
NX is not a history based modeler. The behavior is not quite the same.
JM
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Piotr Kluba @ John Matrishon on Dec 9, 2019 4:05 PM
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John,
Yes, I started using "Not save Read only documents" however it bothers me because it is just a loop around not the actual fix of the problem. Thank you for your input, I appreciate your help.

From what I heard PDM takes care of this problem because it can update components without opening them. Too bad SW charge so much for it that personally I would prefer to switch to a different software.
In my opinion SW has too many small bugs that people asking to fix it for years but they don't.
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John Matrishon @ Piotr Kluba on Dec 9, 2019 4:19 PM
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No problem Piotr. All software has bugs. CAD is complex and everyone works differently so that I believe is the real challenge. Good luck.
JM
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