For instance, say I'm doing ECN work on one of our assemblies, but someone else is doing unrelated work on a part used in that assembly. I run a Dispatch script that checks my assembly out, makes some variable changes, and checks it back in. Because someone else has one of the child files checked out, Dispatch won't check my file back in, but just gives me this error: "Error checking in file. The file isn't checked out by you, which is required by the operation."
Perhaps this is because when you go to check a file in manually, EPDM automatically selects any checked out child files - which you can then de-select in the Check In dialog box (but you don't get this option in Dispatch, so it assumes you mean to check in those child files as well). As such, is there any way to keep EPDM from selecting those child files? I know you can choose whether you want EPDM to select reference files during check out, but I've never seen a similar option for check in.
Joshua,
My first recommendation is to avoid using Dispatch this way. Consider converting those variables into version free variables. However this approach may cause issues if the variables that need updating are mapped to SW properties because version free variables can't be mapped to SW properties.
My second recommendation is to use an EPDM add-in to run the transition and variable update. This add-in would check to ensure all referenced files are checked in and in the correct state before allowing the top level assembly to transition through your ECN transition.
I may have missed your point and I'm sure there are easier ways to accomplish this but this is how I've handled it in the past.
Best,
Tim CEPA
http://www.equivaq.com