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

Question

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.

Syed_PLM · Accepted Answer

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

joe_morton · Answer

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.

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