3 Replies Latest reply on Feb 7, 2014 4:03 AM by Marc Hervouet-Botta

Sorting part files in large assemblies

Marc Hervouet-Botta Dec 11, 2013 7:02 AM

Our latest 3d project was rather large assembly w an existing model from a client, and our own assemblies and sub assemblies.

. imported models ( in iges and sat format ) create quantities of part files with generic names .

Doing parts revisions also is complicated be cause of need to manage names without causing errors in assemblies that will look for the part

this process ended up with large folders with many part files in them , only some of which are needed in the lastest version

At this point, sorting all that would take too long ,

also at times when the project is eventually passed to somebody else, either for more 3d design or just search , that person will have a hard time understanding whats in the folders and where to look ..;

interest in tips to make the sorting process more simple and efficient for future projects

Re: Sorting part files in large assemblies

Don Van Zile Dec 11, 2013 10:00 AM (in response to Marc Hervouet-Botta)

Hi Marc,

Can the files that are imported as assemblies with many parts just be saved as a multibody part file (.sldprt) or do you require mates for kinematics? If you can save some of these imports as part files it should greatly reduce your file count overhead and confusion.
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Re: Sorting part files in large assemblies

Federico Cantoni Dec 11, 2013 11:39 AM (in response to Marc Hervouet-Botta)

If I understand your question, you want to purge your folders from old and unused files.

Probably your best option would be a "pack and go" command, called from the assembly file.
Just save every file required by your top-level assembly to a new folder (or zip file) and pass that to your contact.

An alternative, altough quite dangerous and not suggested (ok, we all do this now and then, don't pretend) is to open the top level assembly, resolve all the parts and leave SW in background. Now go to the model folders and move *all* the files to a "trash" folder. When windows prompt something about the files being in use, just "ignore all" and there you go, the folders has been purged.
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- Re: Sorting part files in large assemblies
  
  Marc Hervouet-Botta Feb 7, 2014 4:03 AM (in response to Federico Cantoni)
  
  thanks . pack and go works well, / im not sure anyone knows this command in our company :/
  
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