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gboterman1-Visitor
1-Visitor
August 25, 2016
Question

workspace folders

  • August 25, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 6745 views

How do I create multiple folders in my workspace to store my different CAD projects.

If I can only store one CAD projects at the time (using Solidworks 2012) can I have multiple workspaces open at the same time.

All I want is to have direct access (or even simultaneous access) to my different projects without having to close SW.

Can this be done

(new to Windchill, Gerard)

2 replies

K
kpritchard1-Visitor
1-Visitor
August 25, 2016

Suggest a workspace per project, and delete each when finished with it.  The Windchill environment is a bit different than file folders...  for files that are needed but not modified in the Workspace think of it like linking to the original file rather than creating a copy for local use.  When files are modified in a Workspace a working copy is created and checking in, in essence commits these changes.  So a file can be modified in many local Workspaces, but once one of these is checked in none of the others can.  It keeps multiple users from stepping on each others work, and once you get used to it you'll wonder how you ever managed using file folders on network drives.

If you need folders within your Workspace, you probably have too much going on - use more Workspaces of lesser scope.  You can only have one Workspace active at a  time but you should be sable to switch between them, but this will mean any previously opened fileswill be cleared from memory.

G
gboterman1-VisitorAuthor
1-Visitor
August 25, 2016

I need access to any files from different projects as shown in my SW recent files tree.

I work on three of four different projects at the time.

Example: when I work on a design of one project, I get phone calls or request to quickly check files of another project.

Clicking on such a file in my recent file tree now results in an error, saying the workspace is not open.

I cannot open a workspace without closing my current design . . .

Now I have to close my current design, close SW, open workspace manager, find the workspace, activate it, find and open the file, do what I have to do in SW. Close the file, close SW, open workspace manager, find my current workspace, activate it, find the file I was working on, open this and find back the feature or sketch where I was working on.

Also of this was done with one simple click having two files open at the same time.

Any suggestions please?

M
22-Sapphire I
MikeLockwood22-Sapphire I
22-Sapphire I
August 25, 2016

Terminology is sometimes very important - appears to be so in this case.

Ideally you Check In everything as soon as it is created, then check out as needed for ongoing development.  Assuming this, then workspaces become unimportant for accessing and looking at data - one can do so for the most part within Windchill accessed directly from a browser.

From a browser:

- examine relationships / where-used / history

- examine / measure / section in Creo View (assuming you have publishing in place)

Would need to a workspace and bring up in CAD only rarely.

G
gboterman1-VisitorAuthor
1-Visitor
August 25, 2016

Thanks for the replies, I will clarify the problem one more time:

Currently my main problem is that PTC work against me using Solidworks:

Example:

I work on three different (note: development) projects all placed in a separate workspace. Previously (pre-PTC Windchill) each project was located in a separate folder on our ‘development’ network drive.

Now  with Windchill, after opening the workspace, opening the file in SW, I frequently get requests to quickly check a part of the other project, as all are in progress during development and design.

The part file requested shows in SW in ‘recent files’, with one click I had access to open these, leaving my current design in the background.

Now with PTC Windchill, clicking on the 'recent file' results in an error, indicating the workspace is not open.

I cannot open a workspace without closing my current design . . . I am in the middle of a design tree somewhere in a sketch . . . so I cannot move it to the background.

With PTC I have to:

- close my current design,

- close SW,

- open workspace manager,

- find the workspace, open it,

- activate the workspace,

- find and open the file,

a total of 6 tedious actions to just open my previous file, do what I have to do, close it and repeat another six steps to continue working . . . trying to remember where I left off in the tree / sketch, etc.

So with Windchill I currently cannot efficiently work as this happens continuously during the day.

Is there a solution for this, being able to open multiple project, workspaces and having my SW ‘recent files’ working again please? Not having to close my file what I am working on.

We can use maybe only one workspace for all projects, but then all project parts mix up and some might have the same name which would become a chaos.


I am looking for a solution. No doubt others have encountered the same problem.

M
22-Sapphire I
MikeLockwood22-Sapphire I
22-Sapphire I
August 25, 2016

From a browser, search Windchill. From search results, right click, Open In SolidWorks.

System downloads files to currently active workspace and opens in SW.

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