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AV_131912844-Participant
4-Participant
November 4, 2025
Solved

How to link all design documentation (PDFs, calculations, emails, etc.) to a part in Windchill

  • November 4, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 379 views

Hi everyone,

I’m working in Windchill with parts and drawings stored in my workspace. I’ve generated the drawing PDFs, and now I’d like to link all related information—such as design calculations, supporting documents, and relevant email correspondence—to the specific part in Windchill.

The goal is to have a complete design history or data package for each part, similar to how it’s managed in Teamcenter, where all associated files and communication are traceable and connected to the part.

What is the best way to achieve this in Windchill?

  • Is there a recommended workflow or structure to ensure everything stays linked and easily accessible later?

Any guidance or best practices would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Best answer by joe_morton

To add to what Ben said,

 

In Windchill, the WTPart is the central focus for a part number. Linked to that is everything that defines the part number (CAD models, CAD, drawings, documents, etc.). This would be your controlled documents that all get a unique document number and have version control.

 

You can also add what are known as "attachments" to CAD Documents. These files are directly tied to the CAD Model file. "Attachments" do not get document numbers and they don't have any version control. This might be a good solution for some of the things you mentioned like design calculations and emails. I don't believe you cad add "attachments" to WTParts.

 

A few additional comments:

  • You mentioned that you generated the Drawing PDFs, I'm assuming manually. Windchill can be configured to generate the PDFs for you automatically, either upon check in, or at specific gates (like a release workflow) or both. I'd recommend this as a best practice. If you generate the PDF manually, it's possible to make mistakes where the generated PDF doesn't end up matching what is checked in to Windchill.
  • In Windchill terminology, "part" is ambiguous. I'd recommend developing the discipline for you and your team to be explicit when you mean a "WTPart" (the Windchill object referring to the part number) and a "part model" (a CAD file).
  • In terms of workflows/structure, I think the main thing is keeping your design team working consistently. If the rule is that all emails should be added as attachments to the relevant CAD documents, ideally you'd have a check in the release process to confirm that. 

3 replies

B
23-Emerald III
BenLoosli23-Emerald III
23-Emerald III
November 4, 2025

You cannot attach those secondary documents to the CAD objects. This is where using WTparts comes into play.

If you have a WTpart for your top level assembly, then you attach the related documents in Windchill to that WTpart.

You can only have WTparts for parts and assemblies, not drawings.

 

    M
    Martin_Hill10-Marble
    10-Marble
    February 23, 2026

    You can have WTParts associated to drawings but you cant make them automatically during a CAD Check-In unless you have changed some of the OOTB settings.

    If you are using a Part centric method you can associate what you like to a WTPart including CAD drawings.

     

    You sometimes have to manually associate the CAD drawing to a WTPart in the Design View so that you can pass the PDF of the drawing to ERP from the Manufacturing View if you are using MPMLink.

    Normally the BoM transformation drops all CAD references so you have to have the drawing added to the WTPart as a describing document or reference document.

    V
    vnamboodheriCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    November 11, 2025

    Hello @AV_13191284, 

     

    It looks like you have a response from a community champion. If it helped you solve your question please mark the reply as the Accepted Solution. 

    Of course, if you have more to share on your issue, please let the Community know so other community members can continue to help you.

    Thanks,
    Vivek N.
    Community Moderation Team.

    joe_morton
    18-Opal
    joe_morton18-OpalAnswer
    18-Opal
    November 25, 2025

    To add to what Ben said,

     

    In Windchill, the WTPart is the central focus for a part number. Linked to that is everything that defines the part number (CAD models, CAD, drawings, documents, etc.). This would be your controlled documents that all get a unique document number and have version control.

     

    You can also add what are known as "attachments" to CAD Documents. These files are directly tied to the CAD Model file. "Attachments" do not get document numbers and they don't have any version control. This might be a good solution for some of the things you mentioned like design calculations and emails. I don't believe you cad add "attachments" to WTParts.

     

    A few additional comments:

    • You mentioned that you generated the Drawing PDFs, I'm assuming manually. Windchill can be configured to generate the PDFs for you automatically, either upon check in, or at specific gates (like a release workflow) or both. I'd recommend this as a best practice. If you generate the PDF manually, it's possible to make mistakes where the generated PDF doesn't end up matching what is checked in to Windchill.
    • In Windchill terminology, "part" is ambiguous. I'd recommend developing the discipline for you and your team to be explicit when you mean a "WTPart" (the Windchill object referring to the part number) and a "part model" (a CAD file).
    • In terms of workflows/structure, I think the main thing is keeping your design team working consistently. If the rule is that all emails should be added as attachments to the relevant CAD documents, ideally you'd have a check in the release process to confirm that. 
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