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Clearing date fields on a copied file

Question asked by Michael Buckley on Oct 15, 2013
Latest reply on Oct 16, 2013 by Michael Buckley

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I would like certain date variables, such as Approved On, to be cleared when copying a file from another file in our EPDM vault.

The variable type is date, so any text value for a default on the data card gets ignored.

I know I can overwrite them during a transition after check in, as well as clearing them using Copy Tree settings,

but I would prefer if they were just cleared on add.

I also tried dispatch, but it gives an error if I put nothing, or something other than a date format when setting a variable.

Hopefully it's something simple that I'm just overlooking.

Any help will be appreciated.

Charley Saint Oct 16, 2013 10:43 AM

Correct Answer

Michael,

May be, I'd say play around with a couple of things, try a text value with a single space in it. I think it has to be set to something to overwrite the custom properties. You may not be able to use a date variable for this, try just a text variable with the field in the data card still tied to a date controller.

See the reply in context

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Charley Saint Oct 15, 2013 3:19 PM

Michael,

Have you already tried the Default Overwrites option?

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Michael Buckley @ Charley Saint on Oct 16, 2013 10:00 AM

Charley,

Yes, and getting today's date works fine.

If I put a text value in, it appears to work. It's unchecked when looking at the data card in windows explorer.

But if I check the file custom properties, the custom property is still there with the copied value.

So if I open it in Solidworks, the titleblock and data card populate with the copied date value.

Possible bug? It appears to be unchecking the field on the data card, but not removing the custom property value.

What I'm looking for is no date, so that the field is unchecked, and the custom property removed.

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Charley Saint @ Michael Buckley on Oct 16, 2013 10:43 AM

Michael,

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Michael Buckley @ Charley Saint on Oct 16, 2013 11:10 AM

If I change the variable type to text, I get the same behavior. It may be because the custom property type is date.

If I change the original file's custom property type to text and copy it, then it works as expected.

The date field is unchecked, and the custom property is overwritten with the default text value.

So changing the variable type to date works, but only if the source file's custom property type is text.

They are most likely all date, and I would have to automate changing them over to text somehow.

I see that I can restrict a date range on the date field if the variable type is date. Is there any other advantage to having the variable type be date?

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Charley Saint @ Michael Buckley on Oct 16, 2013 4:44 PM

Michael,

Just this one from the help file:

"For example, using the Date type ensures that searching between date ranges is handled correctly."

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Michael Buckley @ Charley Saint on Oct 16, 2013 5:08 PM

I think I'll just leave the type as date and clear the copied dates with a transition.

Thanks for your help!

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6 Replies

Charley Saint Oct 15, 2013 3:19 PM
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Correct Answer
Michael,

Have you already tried the Default Overwrites option?
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- Michael Buckley @ Charley Saint on Oct 16, 2013 10:00 AM
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  Charley,
  
  Yes, and getting today's date works fine.
  
  If I put a text value in, it appears to work. It's unchecked when looking at the data card in windows explorer.
  But if I check the file custom properties, the custom property is still there with the copied value.
  So if I open it in Solidworks, the titleblock and data card populate with the copied date value.
  
  Possible bug? It appears to be unchecking the field on the data card, but not removing the custom property value.
  
  What I'm looking for is no date, so that the field is unchecked, and the custom property removed.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
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  - Charley Saint @ Michael Buckley on Oct 16, 2013 10:43 AM
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    Correct Answer
    Michael,
    
    May be, I'd say play around with a couple of things, try a text value with a single space in it. I think it has to be set to something to overwrite the custom properties. You may not be able to use a date variable for this, try just a text variable with the field in the data card still tied to a date controller.
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    - Michael Buckley @ Charley Saint on Oct 16, 2013 11:10 AM
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      If I change the variable type to text, I get the same behavior. It may be because the custom property type is date.
      If I change the original file's custom property type to text and copy it, then it works as expected.
      The date field is unchecked, and the custom property is overwritten with the default text value.
      
      So changing the variable type to date works, but only if the source file's custom property type is text.
      They are most likely all date, and I would have to automate changing them over to text somehow.
      
      I see that I can restrict a date range on the date field if the variable type is date. Is there any other advantage to having the variable type be date?
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      - Charley Saint @ Michael Buckley on Oct 16, 2013 4:44 PM
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        Michael,
        
        Just this one from the help file:
        
        "For example, using the Date type ensures that searching between date ranges is handled correctly."
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        Michael Buckley @ Charley Saint on Oct 16, 2013 5:08 PM
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        I think I'll just leave the type as date and clear the copied dates with a transition.
        Thanks for your help!
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Clearing date fields on a copied file

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