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how to use label in SW, not full render application

Question asked by Kevin Vaughan on Jul 16, 2010
Latest reply on Jul 19, 2010 by Kevin Vaughan

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I have simple labels I want to apply to a panel. I want to show the orientation of the labels, so they need to be visible in drawings, and in assemblies that use the parts. I started looking into decals and photoworks, but I understand this is going away. I am looking for an alternative to extruding text (performance hog)

The information should reside in the SW file, so it can be seen by others, needs to be compatible with EPDM

As I understand it, the best approach is to create a jpg of the label, read into photoworks and create a decal, save the information with th eSW file.

The trouble I have is not all users see the same thing after I have gone through this excersise

Also if photoworks is going away, why would I bother learning....

so whats the best thing for labels these days?

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Rob Rodríguez Jul 16, 2010 4:22 PM
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I'd use decals. Users using newer versions of SW 2009 and up should see them correctly. They say PW is going away but no one has said decals are going away.

You could try using sketch pictures. They may work but only show in drawings in the 2010 version.
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- Kevin Vaughan @ Rob Rodríguez on Jul 16, 2010 4:45 PM
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  My issue is sharing the information, and compatibility with EPDM...
  
  see the attached screen shot
  On the left is my SW application, wih a decal show, in both the live session and the EPDM preview pane of the SW add-in
  
  One the right is the same file in EPDM preview window, no decal shown...
  
  Also on another persons machine, the decal does not show up unless they activate PW
  
  I have selected SAVE PW INFO with SW files, and deselected hide decals in SW
  
  any ideas?
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  - Rob Rodríguez @ Kevin Vaughan on Jul 16, 2010 4:49 PM
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    No Ideas for EPDM
    
    For the other users. Open the file with PW off. Click RV on and off and see if the decal shows up.
    
    What version and SP are you running?
    
    You shouldn't need to save the PW data with the file. The decal info is saved in SW.
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    - Kevin Vaughan @ Rob Rodríguez on Jul 16, 2010 5:26 PM
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      SW2010 SP4
      
      OK - I truned of the save PW data in SW file, rebuilt and saved the part.
      
      Now my preview of the file is the same in EPDM and on screen. If I turn off PW, and open the file the decal shows ok.
      
      If I open the file on another machine - no decal , toggling RV doesn't help...
      
      Rock Solid baby....
      
      This seemed so promising in the beginning..
      
      edrawings launched from EPDM does show the decal on my machine, not on another.
      
      If I load PW on the other machine it tells me the decal is missing a link to the image file for teh decal.
      
      If I manually reconnect to the file, everything is ok. I don't think this is expected behavior, I need to open PW on the target machine, and find teh references.
      Now way to avoid this I can see
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      - Jeff Mowry @ Kevin Vaughan on Jul 16, 2010 5:36 PM
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        In my experience, decals (the actual image file) are not saved with regular PW data, but on the local machine in a very mysterious folder (wherever custom settings are saved in the current SW release--changes each release like a game of keep-away). To solve the problem, the decals would need to be copied separately to the same mysterious directory on the other machine--or wherever you like and deliberately pointed to on the other machine. I cannot remember if the PhotoWorks decal file (file PhotoWorks creates from the image file) needs to be specifically copied or not.
        
        Good luck.
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        Kevin Vaughan @ Jeff Mowry on Jul 19, 2010 8:16 AM
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        OK - I think this is the problem, but I need to confirm..
        Below is the info from the help file
        
        Store PhotoWorks data in model file (Note: May increase file size.) Embeds referenced image files in the SolidWorks document. Clear the check box to store links to the files. Referenced files are used for appearances, decals, and scenes.
        Links to referenced image files are needed to make decals visible in PhotoView 360 or in SolidWorks when PhotoWorks is not added in. In this case, clear this option.
        
        If I understand what this says storing PW data with the file will pack all referenced files into the SW file. This should be compatible with EPDM. But line 2 of the help says users need PW active to see the dacals, otherwise the referenced files are needed.
        
        Can anybody confirm this?
        
        I'll run some tests with other machines to see what happens
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Jeff Mowry Jul 16, 2010 5:27 PM
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You may have already thought of this, but I always create a part representing my label first--then apply a decal to the surface of the label--since, technically the label has true 3D dimensions and ought to be tracked in a BOM. Then, wherever you put the label, the decal on the label will follow its placement.
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- Kevin Vaughan @ Jeff Mowry on Jul 16, 2010 5:29 PM
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  Thats not what I'm trying to show, the decal is for a silkscreen. Decals would work fine -if they behaved correctly - I need to ask VAR for help...
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how to use label in SW, not full render application

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