Solidworks 2017 Toolbox in Windchill

[Dobrisa]

Has anyone had success in setting up Solidworks 2017 Toolbox within Windchill? The instructions in the help files reference Solidworks 2012 but that doesn't seem to be applicable anymore on account of the sldsetdocprop.exe function to designate a part as a toolbox component. 

We tried putting in a toolbox component into our classification system in Windchill and the toolbox designated component can't even be browsed to be added into the databases unless it is specifically designated as "not a toolbox component". However, that then removes all of the configuration properties that help a single screw model address 900 different screws (as an example). 

Any feedback/help is welcome. 

Dobi

[MikeLockwood]

I spent several hours on this two years ago (on WC 10.2 and SW 15) - haven't gone back to revisit since.  Very confusing how it's documented by PTC.  Seems very vulnerable to users specifically selecting that each is to be handled as a toolbox part by users every time, or things go very wrong.

We came to the conclusion to just not go down this path for now - but very interested if others have some lessons learned.

[Dobrisa]

That's close to the same conclusion we are getting to as well. PTC's documentation on this is much too old to be of any use and with the changes SW made in defining toolbox components, it is completely irrelevant. 

[Dobrisa]

Didn't want to leave this hanging. After a few PTC calls, we were able to set up Toolbox correctly to work with Windchill. The functionality (at least OOTB) works by selecting a TB component from Solidworks, configuring it and once it's added to the assembly it's added to the workspace (and in our case, auto-uploaded). 

We can use the added parts as part of our part classification so that's a plus and users can either get the parts from Windchill to consume or they can continue to use them from SW TB. Parts that are already in Windchill will be recognized automatically and used in the assembly. 

The downside is that you can only add 1 part to an assembly... sometimes. Solidworks crashes after that. 

PTC is looking at the different log files now to try to figure out why. The SW Performance logs give this as an indicator: <EXCEPTION> "auAm_c::iFireEventV handled exception %lx"; and that's normally a graphics card fail. 

I updated graphics drivers and still the same issue remains. 

So ... promising, but still needs work.