Hello,
before 6 months we started Windchill 10.2 implemetation. After some time l have some basic problems with parts numbering. Will describe my situation and problems.
Present situation:
- before Windchill we had use following file name schema:
- each part and assembly includes "extract" function in relation ---> project number and drawing number is included in file name
- 00_00_00 ---> is some logical "model tree" schema ---> example: subassy 01_01_00 includes parts 01_01_01, 01_01_02 ...
- in praxis it means:
assembly moved in model tree ---> rename parts and drawings
- l want keep this logic inside Windchill
Problem:
- during first stage of planing we are changing product structure (model tree) quite often
- Windchill is quite sensitive to rename from the reason of "Drawing - 15009_v01-05_02_05_00.drw is not unique."
- SAVE AS copies does same problem sometimes
My ideas and solution:
- Do l need model number? ---> NO, because all informations are included in file name
- ignore model number ---> turn it to AUTONUMBERING
- will Autonumbering help me? Model number is only for Windchill internal functions, but l´m interested only in file name.
My unskilled imagine about autonumbering:
- Windchill will change model numbers automaticly ---> it will never occur "Drawing - xx_yy_zz.drw is not unique" or am l looking thrue pink glasses? 
Thx for any help or tips...
ACCEPTED SOLUTION
Accepted Solutions
Dobry den Milan, Jak se mas?
I am glad the discussion is giving you some inspiration. It is always best when solution is found by oneself than given by somebody else.
I like that you are actively challenging the way you currently work and that you have found by yourself limitation of your current manual systems. If you digg in further you will find plenty others. I am a strong advocate of random numbering
The reason you have just provided (when reusing a part (component or assembly) into another sub assembly your numbering scheme fall apart.
I guess you have two choices
1) Move into sequential numbering and use the system functionalities to find the information what was once in the filename
2) Persist with your numbering scheme. Renumbering could actually be quite easy. Export the filename into excel, apply some rules in excel to change the filename quickly and use a script to read the new filename and rename in PDMLink.
In the past, I have had to rename thousands of objects (WTpart, NUMBER and NAME, EPMDocument and CAD files, Number, Name and filename). I had a script developed for me. It read a csv file which contains the object number, new number, new name (new filename).
Renaming in PDMLink can be very easy, The difficulty is to find what the new names should be.
ProjectLink is a project management system, You can use it for all sort of projects.
So for instance, if your projects (new product development) usually follow a similar structure (project plan, project team etc..) you can create a project template.
Everytime you have a new project, you create a project from the template. Each project has a unique number,, (up to you to decide what to do with that number, should the project number also be the product number.... ?) You will manage the project plan, the activities, resources , costs (to a certain extend), all your documentation be it Office files or CAD etc... So everything related to the project will be in once unique place, the Project object in ProjectLink. If certain data is shared between projects or PDM, no problem you can share them easily, so people do not have to go and search for them.
I think you should spend more time with you PTC partner. Who are you using in Czech Republic ? Cogras ?
Do you have access to Precision LMS from ptc ? This is a great place to get basic knowledge of functionalities of Windchill and Creo.
Hi
by "dynamically" , I just want to say that Windchill CAD structures are only "links" to childs parts. whatever are their number/filename/name
by having structure/level infomation in the filename ... you will habe to rename each time you change the structure ...
Having meaningfull numbering always lead to painfull BOM and Part management... but adding some structure information in the file name is just another big constraint ...
just my thought 
you probably have business constraints for doin like that
It was so beautyfull, peacefull and simply word without Windchill 
.
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"by having structure/level infomation in the filename ... you will habe to rename each time you change the structure ..." ---> l agrre with you. NUMBER autonumbering will make my work half simplify ---> l have to care only about FILE NAME
l have no limitation for new schema / company standards l can do what l want. Only limitation are my own knowledges, that are not good in Windchill and CAD administration area. Don´t know any other system in model, file name or number and l have to choose something... could you give me some tips in generall? Links are enough...
It looks like l need more theoretical informations.
Already ordered http://www.amazon.com/Engineering-Documentation-Control-Handbook-Edition/dp/1455778605
Hope it will be good choice for me... (long delivery time 
)
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"...should help you to not manage this ...." ---> if l understand correct, you are saing:
1. NUMBER --- autonumbering
2. FILE NAME --- autonumbering? But inside Creo will be model tree full of parts with notsaing numbers (if l´m looking at the problem in some conections)
3. parameter DRW_NUMBER set manualy ---> designate it for WCH ---> attribute DRW_NUMBER
4. parameter PROJECT_NUMBER set manualy ---> designate it for WCH ---> attribute PROJECT_NUMBER
In generall point 3 and 4 destroy the core of company file naming system, that l have build without WCH during last 4 years.
Hello
Very interesting topic.
In my previous company we had over 70 different numbering schemes (some were sequential numbers but mostly were speaking/descriptive/intelligent number) for managing our product families. And this was without counting what the tooling department did with their numbering scheme.
History is heavy to carry and all those descriptive numbering scheme were invented in a time where people could only rely on manual and paper system. As they moved to computerized system, they tend to keep the same way of working and suddenly problems occurs.
The additional problem I had in my company was that all those numbering schemes were managed by different sites which did not share databases. Implementing a group PDM meant that we were going to have to deal with duplicated partnumber for actually different parts.
Also, relying on descriptive partnumber for sorting, searching and reporting on data is limited compared to using the proper functionalities available such as Part Classification or Soft type attributes.
Trying to use both (ie keep the descriptive numbering scheme and attributes) add inefficiency as it duplicates the information (once in the number, once in the attribute) and this can create conflict (ie partnumber says it is white but attribute says it is black. What is correct ? ) The principle of one single source of information should apply.
This said, I had to take the hard decision in my company (who also wanted to acquire companies) was to come up with a new numbering scheme which was generating numbers automatically, could not conflict with any existing or future ones (such as with acquisition, or some we missed in our inventory), be easy to remember etc…. So we had a solution. It was not accepted first as it required to renumbered some of the existing parts.
Also I liked to call a sped a sped and the model was as followed
CAD Number (EPMDocument) = CAD Filename+ext = WTpart Number = ERP Partnumber
CAD Name = WTpart Name = ERP Part name
Here again, there was non acceptance at the beginning but after 8 years, “everyone” agreed it was the best things to do as we have simplified the situation greatly, no conflicts, easy of identification, integration etc…
Also in the process, (due to a “mistake”, the SAP implementation did not talk to the PLM team and went on with the wrong partnumbers in SAP), we had to renumbered over 100 000 wtpart in PDMLink. This meant renumbering the WTPart, the CAD filename, EPMDocument number. Our reseller developed for us a script. We had family table, data shared in projects, relationship such as used in, referenced by, inheritance etc…. We did a fullscale testing. It took about 7hours to renumber everything. So PDMLink and Oracle (we were using Oracle) are fully capable of digesting file rename.
My suggestion to you is keep it simple avoid redundancy. In your current partnumber you include version. Windchill does that for you.
Why is filename important to you ? I can only see that it is important in Creo when the file is opened in the session and you want to swap between files or windows. However, you have preview. Otherwise in PDMLink and in the workspace NUMBER, NAME and other attributes are always available.
You have project numbers ? Why do you need project number in the filename ? Surely the file will be associated within Windchill to a project or product context, but surely this can be driven by an attribute. Not sure of the use of a project version ? is Project a product for you ?
Anyhow.
Based on my experience and that my new company has the same issues than my previous one and somehow yours, I will do the same again. Moved into sequential meaningless number and have
CAD Number (EPMDocument) = CAD Filename+ext = WTpart Number = ERP Partnumber
CAD Name = WTpart Name = ERP Part name
So partnumbering is no longer an administrative task for the users
If you search the forum you will find many discussion about numbering scheme. Modern systems such as Windchill but also Teamcenter, Enovia etc… have no problem with meaningless numbers while still providing powerful capabilities for searching, reporting, etc… The biggest problem is actually not the technology but the people who do not want to change and therefore miss a big opportunity to become better.
It is like driving a car. You do not drive a car built at the beginning of the 1900s as you drive a car today. If you tried you will stay in second gear and complain the engine is a lot noisier than the old timer
Good luck with educating your people. This is the biggest challenge in PLM and Knowledge Work Management System implementation
Best regards
Thanks for input Chris C.
l have read many topics about numbering on this forum, than a told me: "Why am l using manual numbering, when number is meaningless for me?"
l have no problem to propagate any system in our company, the problem is: "Which one or what shall l choose?"
l´m open to any system, that will be the most simply and functional.
For me is product and project the same.
Company CAD data management history without Windchill:
- company estabilished without any idea how to use ProEngineer (l´m the first employee)
- l think ORDER HAS TO BE ---> we choosed a file name schema 13009_V01-00_00_00
- 13 --- year of project begin
- 009 --- project number in this year
- V01 --- version of project (we have many similar geometries)
- "-" --- only one dash in each file name (dash is a relation separator)
- 00_00_00 --- part or assembly drawing number
- parts and assemblies included following relations:
IF CISLO_VYK_V_NAZVU==YES
typ_oznaceni=EXTRACT(REL_MODEL_NAME,1,SEARCH(EXTRACT(REL_MODEL_NAME,1,(\STRING_LENGTH(REL_MODEL_NAME))),"-")-1)
cislo_vyk=EXTRACT(REL_MODEL_NAME,(SEARCH(REL_MODEL_NAME,"-")+1),((\STRING_LENGTH(REL_MODEL_NAME))-(SEARCH(REL_MODEL_NAME,"-")+1)+1))
ENDIF
Explanation:
- CISLO_VYK_V_NAZVU (english translate: DRW_NUMBER_IN_MODEL NAME) --- if set to NO, than the connection between file name is broken
- typ_oznaceni (english translate: project or product) ---> result: 13009_V01
- cislo_vyk (english translate: drawing_number) ---> result: 00_00_00
- it had worked great upto Windchill implementation
- it tooks me so much time to make so many decisions and inovations in this area without WCH, that l want to keep it (is it mystake or pink glasses?)
- l discovered this schema in some project from the year 1960. But als you said: "It is a time to inovation and start to think different way with WCH or any other datab management program. Simply because it is 21st century." l have no problem with this.
Company CAD data management with Windchill: (describes my imagination ---> l have pink and unskilled Windchill glasses )
- l wanna keep this schema ---> from your inputs l have started think if it is a good choice?
- l have to choose something better from the reasons described above
Informations from our Czech PTC technology provider:
- we recommended manual numbering
Company knowledge and skill:
- 1 engineer (me) - 5/10 Creo expiriences; 1/10 Windchill expiriences; 1/10 CAD data management; 8/10 data management (folder structure)
- 2 business persons - 0/10 Creo expiriences; 0/10 Windchill expiriences; 0/10 CAD data management; 8/10 data management (folder structure)
Future:
- engieering team will grow upto 10 people
- need some concrete and simply work system
- in upcomming 1 month we will order a WCH customer suited user training by our Czech PTC technology provider and l need some ideas for discussion. How to do that and that, why we can´t do it like this? etc... This topic will be one of my arguments for upcomming changes.
Thanks for any tips from your praxis...
Thanks for comments.
- l think you guess it right. We have only instaled Windchill not really implemented yet.
l will describe reasons why l want keep this schema:
File name is carried product (project) number and drawing number:
- product number - 2 different products have the same TOP assembly drawing number (00_00_00), looks relevant to keep product number in filename to make files unique (can also add to context inside windchill)
- drawing number - seem to be usefull due to extract relation (described above)
Searching inside Windchill:
- searching by:
- whole file name ---> idetify 1 part ---> OK for me
- drawing number in pruduct level ---> identify 1 file (15099_V01-00_00_00) ---> OK for me
- drawing number in database level ---> identify (15099_V01-00_00_00; 15011_V01-00_00_00...) ---> OK for me
Information duplication:
- drawing number
- filtered from file name ---> don´t have to fill parameter or atribute again. Just call the value from file name. Note: l don´t know any other automatic method for this.
- filtering from name ---> using SAVE AS copy ---> name isn´t unique ---> same drawing number already exist for this prudoct ---> can´t exist 2 same drawing number --->will change file name 1 number up ---> "is it kind of automatic control or am l thinking bad about this functionality?"
- for better ilustration see picture bellow:
- manufactured parts are small letters ---> user input
- buying parts are large letters ---> automaticly filtered from file name
- size of letters gives me quick review about buying and manufactured parts
About workflow:
- still hasn´t been set any ---> it´s bad situation ---> it is under construction
- we are constructing single-use machines ---> each piece is a prototype ---> but the workflow looks similar for each machine ---> looking from point of view: CAD data management, busniss management and manufacturing. Should l think about some other aspect?
Dobry den Milan, Jak se mas?
I am glad the discussion is giving you some inspiration. It is always best when solution is found by oneself than given by somebody else.
I like that you are actively challenging the way you currently work and that you have found by yourself limitation of your current manual systems. If you digg in further you will find plenty others. I am a strong advocate of random numbering
The reason you have just provided (when reusing a part (component or assembly) into another sub assembly your numbering scheme fall apart.
I guess you have two choices
1) Move into sequential numbering and use the system functionalities to find the information what was once in the filename
2) Persist with your numbering scheme. Renumbering could actually be quite easy. Export the filename into excel, apply some rules in excel to change the filename quickly and use a script to read the new filename and rename in PDMLink.
In the past, I have had to rename thousands of objects (WTpart, NUMBER and NAME, EPMDocument and CAD files, Number, Name and filename). I had a script developed for me. It read a csv file which contains the object number, new number, new name (new filename).
Renaming in PDMLink can be very easy, The difficulty is to find what the new names should be.
ProjectLink is a project management system, You can use it for all sort of projects.
So for instance, if your projects (new product development) usually follow a similar structure (project plan, project team etc..) you can create a project template.
Everytime you have a new project, you create a project from the template. Each project has a unique number,, (up to you to decide what to do with that number, should the project number also be the product number.... ?) You will manage the project plan, the activities, resources , costs (to a certain extend), all your documentation be it Office files or CAD etc... So everything related to the project will be in once unique place, the Project object in ProjectLink. If certain data is shared between projects or PDM, no problem you can share them easily, so people do not have to go and search for them.
I think you should spend more time with you PTC partner. Who are you using in Czech Republic ? Cogras ?
Do you have access to Precision LMS from ptc ? This is a great place to get basic knowledge of functionalities of Windchill and Creo.
Some intersting ideas:
- Once you are using a PDM system, you need to change some old habits. One is using dummy part names an then renaming.
- Otherwise, just ignore the number - it´s only used in Windchill.
- Your part number should also be the same as your drawing number.
Hope l can share a link to other CAD forum:
http://www.mechanicaldesignforum.com/showthread.php?2600-Part-Numbering-and-configuration-management
OK, děkuji Chris C and Gregory Perasso.
You pushed me forward and my brain is burning.
Now l think about "inteligent" or "non-inteligent" autonumbering.
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This topic gives me some directions which l can go.
Perhaps will start some other topics with similar (more advanced) concrete problems.
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In future you are welcome in all my topics.
Mark your input as a right answered to close these topic...
