Creo Parametric Title Block Automation

[llie]

In the drawing driving model we have a manual user entry parameter called "Drawn" which is used in the drawing title bock. Per ASME standard this needs to stay as the original (rev -) creator no matter what rev the drawing is changing to in the future.

We tried using part relation to drive the parameter:  drawn=ptc_wm_created_by
This parameter updates every time to the person who created the new revision of the model, hence the title block name changes. 

Is there something we can automate that doesn't change like:  drawn=ptc_wm_created_by:revision- 

Thank you in advance.

[KenFarley]

The method I use and have for years is I have my own start parts, which contain all the parameters needed to drive the entries in the drawing title block. The entries that need to identify the creator of the model are pre-defined with my name. Thus, when I create a new model, by default my name is inserted where necessary.

I don't like the system type parameters for these things because they are usually a single string of letters, like "prsmith" or whatever. I prefer a proper name, not a login name that the IT department assigned.

There are other methods possible, though.

If you can access the creation date and todays date you could compare them and if they're the same assign the "drawn" parameter as you said, otherwise leave it alone.

You could have another parameter, a YES/NO (boolean), maybe named "modelnew" set to YES in your start parts. The relations you use would then be something like

IF modelisnew

  drawn = <your evaluation>

  modelisnew = NO

ENDIF

This way the assignment of the parameter is done only once, when a new model is created.

[BenLoosli]

We did something like Ken said at a prior company.

We used a relation that would set a few parameters for the drawing only if the revision was 0 (new drawing).

We also used company specific parameters, like mycompany_drawnBy that we would control in relations.These were all done in the drawing template, not the model.

It does become a bit trickier with Windchill and the usernames assigned by IT. At my last company, it was a <usedID>_<userinitials>. We used a restricted parameter list for titleblock names so we could control the appearance/formatting.

[llie]

Ben/Ken,

I appreciate your input. We do use parameters in our start parts that require manual entry from the users (~4500) but we are trying to automate it. 

You are correct, it is a little trickier when using Windchill. Wondering if there is a way to state rev 0 in the parameter like in the post above?

drawn=ptc_wm_created_by:rev0

[BenLoosli]

Not that I am aware of. You would need to do something like this:

If ptc_wm_revision == '0'

my_drawn = ptc_wm_created_by

endif

That would also reset the my_drawn parameter when a part was saved_as to a new number.

[Patriot_1776]

If I remember, the "created by" is the original modeler/drafter, the "modified by" is the last person who modified it.  I'm not at my system, but that's how I remember it.  I know I have a Windburn search that uses those parameters, so I can see every file a particular user has ever saved.

[llie]

@Patriot_1776 the issue is if someone else creates rev A, then they become the "creator by" for that revision.