Windchill 13.0 Save As – Need Default “Reuse” for Library Parts Only

[SumA_ZF]

Version: Windchill 13.0

Use Case: A CAD Engineer is working on an assembly in Windchill 13.0. The assembly contains both: Standard Library Parts (e.g., screws, bearings, fasteners, etc.) stored in a controlled Library context. Design-Specific Parts that need to be copied for a new product variant. When performing Save As: The business requirement is that Library Parts must always be reused (to avoid duplication of standards). Only the design-specific parts should be copied automatically. Current challenge: Windchill sets either all dependents to Reuse (with preference “Enable Save Selected Objects Only”) or requires the user to manually adjust each dependent, which is error-prone.

Description:

In Windchill 13.0, when performing a Save As on a CAD assembly, the system does not provide an option to automatically distinguish between Library parts and non-Library parts.

• With the preference “Enable Save Selected Objects Only” enabled, only the top-level assembly is copied, and all child dependents default to Reuse.

• The requirement is to ensure that only Library parts are set to Reuse, while all other dependent CAD parts should default to Copy.

• This leads to manual effort where users must adjust each child object in the Save As dialog, increasing the risk of errors and duplication of Library objects.

Impact: Without this functionality, standard Library objects may be unintentionally duplicated, leading to data inconsistency and confusion in product structures.

[joe_morton]

You might want to submit this under the Ideas area: https://community.ptc.com/t5/Windchill-Ideas/idb-p/WindchillIdeas

I think it's a good idea. Save As is always a really error-prone operation. Our engineers have access to do it, and frequently either I get asked to do it for them, or correct the mistakes 🙂

Maybe PTC could create a new ACL permission that would control Create Copy. For Libraries, you would give engineers read access, but not the ability to Create Copy. 

[SumA_ZF]

Hi @joe_morton Can You please suggest me best possible ways to resolve this?

[joe_morton]

Submit it as a product idea here: https://community.ptc.com/t5/Windchill-Ideas/idb-p/WindchillIdeas

I don't know a good way to achieve this with the current functionality

[shussaini · Accepted solution]

Agree with Joe's suggestion. In the meantime, you can use a workaround. Although its manual but at least can eliminate the chances of duplication for Library parts. You can create a view which filters data based on location attribute being set to library name, Once you change to the library view, select all the parts and have set them for Re-use. Remove the selection and revert to the original view. Continue with the Save As.

Hope this helps.

regards
~Syed

[SumA_ZF]

Thank you, it works for me

Regards

Sumanth

[AKHILESH_YM]

In Windchill 13.0, how can you configure a Save As operation so that Library parts always default to Reuse while design-specific parts default to Copy, without requiring users to manually adjust dependencies?

[SumA_ZF]

Hi @AKHILESH_YM need to go with Lisners and data utility - customization
Lisners for save as even and data utility to set the lib part to reuse. but the simple solution is suggested by syed.