Rolling a ProE part/assembly using PDMLink

animalpoems · ‎Apr 03, 2009

I'm trying to roll a sub-assembly part number because of a form/fit/function change and I want parent assemblies and drawings that refer to the old number to now point to the new number. Since there may be several assemblies and drawings that refer to the number being rolled, I want the collector to gather all parents automatically, rather than manual.

Basically I'm trying to do this:

I have subassy A.asm and now want to roll the part number to C.asm.

Old assembly structure:

B.asm (and B.drw)

|__ A.asm

New assembly structure:

B.asm (and B.drw)

|__ C.asm

In Intralink, this was done quite nicely with the 'duplicate' operation, but I'm not sure how to accomplish the same with PDMLink. I know how to use the 'Save As' operation to roll a part number and change dependencies down stream to the children, but can't seem to see how to make it go up the chain to the parents. I've played around with various settings in Preference Manager with no luck. Surely this can't be that hard!

Steve

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animalpoems · ‎Apr 03, 2009

Thanks to Chris for the answer to this riddle which is an “Update Parents” screen in the Workspace operation of Save As. By the way, I am using PDMLink version 9, which makes a difference with regards to the solution.

Key points:

1) This is a new feature of PDMLink 9.0. If you’re using 8, see below.

2) The operation must be made from a Workspace (that was my problem since I normally do this type of operation from the Product folder view which does not have this option). The second screen of the Save As operation will present you with the “Update Parents” screen.

3) All parents must be in the Workspace in order for them to be included in the Update Parents operation.

The solution is documented here in the link below.

http://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/relnotes/note.jsp?&im_dbkey=54444&icg_dbkey=826

Solution for PDMLink version 8 (from Chris).

If you are using 8 you have to open all of the top level references first and then do a rename of the part that is changing (in pro/e) and then save everything and check in.

In Reply to Steve Christensen:

I'm trying to roll a sub-assembly part number because of a form/fit/function change and I want parent assemblies and drawings that refer to the old number to now point to the new number. Since there may be several assemblies and drawings that refer to the number being rolled, I want the collector to gather all parents automatically, rather than manual.
Basically I'm trying to do this:
I have subassy A.asm and now want to roll the part number to C.asm.
Old assembly structure:
B.asm (and B.drw)
|__ A.asm
New assembly structure:
B.asm (and B.drw)
|__ C.asm
In Intralink, this was done quite nicely with the 'duplicate' operation, but I'm not sure how to accomplish the same with PDMLink. I know how to use the 'Save As' operation to roll a part number and change dependencies down stream to the children, but can't seem to see how to make it go up the chain to the parents. I've played around with various settings in Preference Manager with no luck. Surely this can't be that hard!
Steve

johnmanthey · ‎Apr 06, 2009

We are struggling with this same problem and have found the method Steve describes, however it is still not as easy to use as duplicate. So how do you get all of the used on Assy into workspace? All we have found is a manual operation. You must do a where used in commom space and write down what you find and then check out. Is there a better way?

Thanks

amedina · ‎Apr 06, 2009

I think this is an Intralink legacy mindset. PDMlink may be a nightmare
to use, but It is a different one. It sounds like you want to have all
parts used in an assembly for some reason on your work space.

I have some ideas.

1) I haven't done it yet but it will fix my problems. Control your
system

2) Go to pro and type the name of the assembly on file-open you
will open the assembly. Now just save and all parts will be on the work
space

3) Anything you do to that assembly or the parts is saved on your
local drive

4) You may check out if you want to modify with your new changes
the common space

5) You may instead just continue if you don't think you are going
to apply those changes (what if proposal scenarios that never get to
common space)

6) You may keep the same names either way unless you don't want to

7) If you know before hand, then just copy the assembly on PDMlink
with "Save as" and make sure all you know will change, gets a new part
number accordingly

😎 If you know things will get applied part change by part
change/new name by new name, then just use the config.pro "allow pro/e
to change PDM names" something similar to this anyway.

9) Re name the part, make your changes or do that in reverse, then
just check-in the new part

So the question that many of my users still have is "but can I take what
I have on the workspace and put it on a folder" and my answer is always,
that you don't want that. Working outside of the PDM environment opens
your system to problems. Even if just confusing names or overwriting
parts with old copies is not enough to scare you, There are others. So
be careful with that. I remember a good friend taking his lap top to
work on during a flight. No good came out of that one. And I only knew
about it because every one started complaining about the template not
having a format or layers anymore. He overwrote, templates, formats,
start parts, you name it.

Take the PDM... well the approach anyway. The items are in the work
space. If you make a change but don't want to check in, you can just
upload. All work is safely back on the server and can be see from anyone
else's computer. If you really must save a copy, then open the model
and back up to a folder.

Regards,

Alfonso

Alfonso Medina O.
Mechanical Engineer