Replace a Pro/E assembly component using Workspace Save As

[MikeFoster]

Is there a way in Intralink 9.1 with Pro/E to replace an assembly component in Workspace without having to open the assembly in Pro/E and manually replace it?

In Intralink 3.4 this was easily done as follows:
1. Check out assembly to an empty Workspace
2. Duplicate the part to be replaced to the name of the replacement part and set Update Parent to true
3. The replacement part is marked both "New" and "Same Name Exists"
4. Update the replacement part and override the conflict.
5. The assembly now contains the replacement and can be checked in

As long as the replacement component is derived from the original the assembly constraints still work. This is a huge time saver if you want to replace hundreds of screws in an assembly with a similar screw of a different part number.

I know that using the "Save As" function in 9.1 I can replace an existing component in an assembly with a new one but what I want to do is replace an existing component in the assembly with a different one that isn't new.

In Intralink 9.1 step 2 doesn't work, I cannot do a Workspace Save As to the same name as an existing Commonspace object.

Thanks,

Mike Foster
ATK

[ejhlti]

When you perform the save as, you can replace any component with an existing component with using the replace icon in the workspace save as dialog box. In 9.0 there isthe preference that must be enabled to allow the replace icon to function:

Allow ReplaceYes

Controls the availability of the "Replace" button

[MikeFoster]

Thanks for the replies which pointed me to the solution contained in TPI 147439<">https://www.ptc.com/appserver/cs/view/solution.jsp?n=147439> - The Ability to Rename a CAD Document to an Existing Filename (Save As Replace With Workspace Content)

This capability is controlled by a hidden preference (!?), which is not available in the Windchill preference UI, but is loaded via a file and gives the user an overridable conflict which allows the replacement.

As I mentioned in the original post this is a huge time saver if you want to replace hundreds of screws in an assembly with a similar screw of a different part number - It can all be done without ever opening Pro/E and it can be done in Workspace where the results of the action can be verified prior to checking in. As long as the replacement component is derived from the original the assembly constraints in Pro/E will still work. This process works fine with family table parts as well.

Note that this does not require the "Save As > Replace" Site preference to be set - That one only controls Commonspace Replace functionality which is more dangerous since you can't evaluate the changes and discard if necessary.

Here is the procedure in Intralink 9.1 to replace an assembly component in Workspace without having to open the assembly in Pro/E and manually replace it

1. Check out the assembly to an empty Workspace
2. The Workspace cannot contain the replacement part
3. In the Workspace select the part to be replaced and do File > Save As
4. Change File name and Number to the File name and number of the replacement part and leave its option as "New"
6. Hit Next to get to the Update Parents window, select the assembly and pick the "Replace" option button > Finish
7. The Event Manager opens > Select the "Resolve Conflicts" icon
8. Leave the Retry Option as "Check Out and Overwrite" (default) > Retry
9. In Workspace the assembly and the replacement part appear as "Checked Out" and "Modified"
10. Select the replacement part > Cancel Checkout
11. At this point you can open the assembly and verify that everything's OK
12. Select the assembly > Check In


Another benefit of this hidden preference is that it enables the ability to force check-in an new unrelated part over an existing part. This is useful, for example, if a user creates a new standard library part such as a screw from a part downloaded from the internet and it's incompatible with all the existing library screws. A library administrator can use this function to force check-in a correctly constructed version of that screw into the library on top of the faulty one.

Thanks,

Mike Foster
ATK