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Getting blocks in the sheet format to link to part file custom properties

Question asked by Greg Welch on Aug 3, 2015
Latest reply on Aug 6, 2015 by Andrew Topolcsanyi

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Our company's normal practice is to have the title block of a drawing filled out though custom properties in the part or assembly that has been inserted into the drawing. We have a customer who requires that we convert our drawings into AutoCAD drawings, and that the title block still be a working block. They gave us their AutoCAD templates, which includes the title block with attributes, to start with, and I can convert them into SolidWorks templates easy enough, but I here's the problem: If I leave the title block as a SolidWorks block, I can't get it to link to the part custom properties. Or more precisely, I can enter the custom property link, and it will show up properly as long as I'm editing the block, but once I stop editing the block and go back to the drawing, the text just disappears. Of course, I could explode the block, but then when I save it as an AutoCAD drawing, the block becomes just dumb lines and text. Any suggestions?

Chris Angevine Aug 5, 2015 9:43 AM

Correct Answer

Greg,

We use blocks, filled out with the parts custom properties, on every drawing we create. We don't have any issues.

In the block attributes, just type in the custom property you want shown. If you import the AutoCAD format, the attributes should already be there. See pictures below. They convert to AutoCAD just fine.

Let me know how you make out.

Block:

Feature Manager:

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Andrew Topolcsanyi Aug 4, 2015 10:52 PM

Greg

I have created drawing templates that have blocks with property links, things like scale, number of sheets, but custom properties (i.e. discription etc) I try not to have them to deep in the template (inside blocks, or blocks inside blocks) as they tend to misbehave. I normaly have title block as a block, but have the custom property link outside of it but inside the sheet format level.

as for coverting SW draing to dwg format my experiance is that you loose all links to the custom properties, text remains. this is the same for going the other way (dwg to SW).

the only sugestion I have is that as you have their autocad templates,

convert your SW drawing to dwg, then edit your title block off the drawing and replace it with theirs in autocad, with their attributes. I know its more work. but if you have autocad it is probably the lesser of two evils.

hope you work out how to do it.

Andrew T

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Greg Welch @ Andrew Topolcsanyi on Aug 5, 2015 8:07 AM

It sounds like what you're saying is don't try to put custom properties inside of blocks, because they don't work very well there, correct?

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Andrew Topolcsanyi @ Greg Welch on Aug 6, 2015 10:36 PM

Greg

That was what I was saying. At least till I read Chris's reply. I was not aware of that capability.

I will start to use that functionality.

Andrew

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JOHN GEORGE Aug 5, 2015 8:20 AM

Greg,

I would suggest to create a new drawing template and sheet format using your customer's AutoCAD template as a reference.

We had problems with blocks linked to properties in the past and trying to eliminate blocks in the drawing header.

To make a new template may take some time at the start, but can avoid lots of trouble ahead

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Greg Welch @ JOHN GEORGE on Aug 5, 2015 8:26 AM

Unfortunately, that's not a solution for us. We need to be able to save our SolidWorks drawings as AutoCAD drawings, and when we do, all the entire border including imbedded blocks must still look and function the same as the original AutoCAD template we received from the customer.

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Chris Angevine @ Greg Welch on Aug 5, 2015 9:43 AM

Greg,

We use blocks, filled out with the parts custom properties, on every drawing we create. We don't have any issues.

Let me know how you make out.

Block:

Feature Manager:

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Greg Welch @ Chris Angevine on Aug 5, 2015 9:57 AM

That's 90% of what I'm looking for. Thanks.

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7 Replies

Andrew Topolcsanyi Aug 4, 2015 10:52 PM
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Correct Answer
Greg
I have created drawing templates that have blocks with property links, things like scale, number of sheets, but custom properties (i.e. discription etc) I try not to have them to deep in the template (inside blocks, or blocks inside blocks) as they tend to misbehave. I normaly have title block as a block, but have the custom property link outside of it but inside the sheet format level.
as for coverting SW draing to dwg format my experiance is that you loose all links to the custom properties, text remains. this is the same for going the other way (dwg to SW).
the only sugestion I have is that as you have their autocad templates,
convert your SW drawing to dwg, then edit your title block off the drawing and replace it with theirs in autocad, with their attributes. I know its more work. but if you have autocad it is probably the lesser of two evils.

hope you work out how to do it.
Andrew T
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- Greg Welch @ Andrew Topolcsanyi on Aug 5, 2015 8:07 AM
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  It sounds like what you're saying is don't try to put custom properties inside of blocks, because they don't work very well there, correct?
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  - Andrew Topolcsanyi @ Greg Welch on Aug 6, 2015 10:36 PM
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    Greg
    That was what I was saying. At least till I read Chris's reply. I was not aware of that capability.
    I will start to use that functionality.
    
    Andrew
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JOHN GEORGE Aug 5, 2015 8:20 AM
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Greg,
I would suggest to create a new drawing template and sheet format using your customer's AutoCAD template as a reference.
We had problems with blocks linked to properties in the past and trying to eliminate blocks in the drawing header.
To make a new template may take some time at the start, but can avoid lots of trouble ahead
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- Greg Welch @ JOHN GEORGE on Aug 5, 2015 8:26 AM
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  Unfortunately, that's not a solution for us. We need to be able to save our SolidWorks drawings as AutoCAD drawings, and when we do, all the entire border including imbedded blocks must still look and function the same as the original AutoCAD template we received from the customer.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
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  - Chris Angevine @ Greg Welch on Aug 5, 2015 9:43 AM
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    Correct Answer
    Greg,
    We use blocks, filled out with the parts custom properties, on every drawing we create. We don't have any issues.
    In the block attributes, just type in the custom property you want shown. If you import the AutoCAD format, the attributes should already be there. See pictures below. They convert to AutoCAD just fine.
    
    Let me know how you make out.
    
    Block:
    Feature Manager:
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    - Greg Welch @ Chris Angevine on Aug 5, 2015 9:57 AM
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      That's 90% of what I'm looking for. Thanks.
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Getting blocks in the sheet format to link to part file custom properties

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