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Toolbox Part Number properties

Question asked by Robert Chivers on Aug 5, 2009
Latest reply on Aug 6, 2009 by Bruce Shand

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Hi all,

I'm currently getting to grips with toolbox DEEP JOY!!!.

The problem I have is that the Company created a property called 'Number' to use as the Part number of the Part/Assy. This is then used in the BOM table. However, Toolbox uses the Solidworks property 'Part Number' in the Toolbox interface to input the 'Company Part Number' and you cannot add a column called 'Number' in the interface. (apparently you can in 2010).

Is it possible to have the BOM column to use both 'Number' and 'Part Number' properties. Or, is it possible to map the toolbox property 'Part Number' to the 'Number' property in the configurations.

Confused??.

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Bruce Shand Aug 5, 2009 4:56 PM
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I find toolbox pretty confusing, lacking and somewhat buggy and the configurator is all that and very limited. But we do something similar in that we us a custom "PartNo" property for our part number bom column. We also use a DwgNo for the you-know-what column. Unfortunately some genius decided to use separate dwg and part numbers. Neither of these can be populated in the toolbox configuration interface in 2009 at least. We use Description for its namesake and that is useable in the interface. The way I've been able to add the two properties is by activating the particular fastener and editing the custom properties in the configuration properties window. Often I've needed to make sure the configurations (sizes, lengths) were available first by inserting fasteners via toolbox into a dummy assembly and selecting the ones I need. Of course you have to have write access to the toolbox parts to do this. Then I've often found that for some reason some information disappears and I have to do all or some of it again. Once I get a batch of parts right I do a backup of the \browser\ folder (which is on a network drive) just in case. I'm finding using toolbox to create library parts is ok but using it as the every day interface for your common fasteners is a headache in a multi-user setting. Many of the toolbox fasteners are way too detailed anyway. Look at pem fasteners with the multi-toothed features on them. Ridiculous and a lot of graphics overhead.
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- Robert Chivers @ Bruce Shand on Aug 6, 2009 4:06 AM
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  Bruce,
  
  That's pretty much the way that I'm having to update the properties. My experience with Toolbox is that all the information filters down from the Toolbox configuration interface. E.G. if you change the 'Description' field in one of the configurations within Solidworks then these changes will not filter up to the Toolbox configuration interface.
  
  The advice I've been given from our VAR is if you want to change any of the fields, dimensions etc of a Toolbox parts is to do it within the Toolboxbox configuration interface and then regenerate all the configurations again!!!! Which is great unless you have extra fields that don't show up in Toolbox. Hence bye bye information and your back to square ONE!!!!.
  
  The latest I've heard is that in Solidworks 2010 you can add extra columns to the Toolbox configuration interface to add you custom properties yipee.
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  - Bruce Shand @ Robert Chivers on Aug 6, 2009 9:13 AM
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    Robert,
    
    Ohhh. Maybe that's why some of the info I enter mysteriously disappears - because I run the configurator and it overwrites it. Although I'm not sure because some of the info doesn't disappear. I think. I really need to run some experiments but I really can't because I actually need to do work and my job description isn't "pin the tail on the donkey" however much I wish it was. I mean, this stuff is fun - right? If it actually functioned simply and correctly how boring life would be - right? 2010 might fix some of this?! Tragic.
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1-FUCZDT Aug 6, 2009 9:07 AM
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hi,
i let all the parts appear in the BOM and put in my columm as yours is called 'number'. this then brings in all the normal parts 'number'. the toolbox pieces have a blank. so i right click in the bom and open the part. go to properties, config specific tab and create the 'number' prop. type in the number. and it then appears in the BOM. seems to work ok
cheers mart
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Toolbox Part Number properties

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