Hello all,

I've looked around several different forums and SolidWorks help and haven't found anything related to my question. I'm automating the drawing of a simple gear. I have written a macro beginning with a userform in which the user enters a few parameters from which the gear can be built. A 'master' model is then opened and updated according to the parameters, at which point the 'master' drawing of this model is opened and updated. Then the Pack and Go feature creates a new editable drawing independent from the 'master' drawing. Basically the idea is that the user can create any configuration he or she likes and save it as an independent file.

My problem is that I cannot label the diameter of the gear and have the dimension/leader line tolerate a change from the previous user's parameters. When I update the model with a new diameter, it simply leaves the old OD dimension dangling rather than updating it to the new dimension. I have a strong feeling that the presence of teeth on the OD is causing this. I've tried simply dimensioning the OD as well as creating a note with a leader line pointing to the OD, the text for which is linked to a custom property that links to the OD value from the part model... That did not work either, it simply got left dangling.

One more idea I have is to perhaps create a circle (for construction) in the drawing view and SmartDimension it, somehow linking the OD of this circle to the part's OD custom property. Is it possible to link a smart dimension to a custom property? Or is there perhaps an easier way i'm overlooking?

Much thanks in advance for any ideas,

Kevin