This SOLIDWORKS PDM blog is the second in a three part series. The first posting (Part I) laid the groundwork for understanding different types of SOLIDWORKS drawing file property links ($PRP, $PRPSHEET, $PRPMODEL, and $PRPVIEW). Part I was written with the notion it would benefit both SOLIDWORKS users and SOLIDWORKS PDM administrators. This article, on the other hand, is directed towards SOLIDWORKS PDM administrators solely.
The administrator will learn how to link property values from the SOLIDWORKS model to the controls on the SOLIDWORKS drawing file data card. This blog posting comes from the following SOLIDWORKS knowledge base solution: S-010321. The details contained within apply only to clients with SOLIDWORKS PDM CAD Editor License type. This requirement is reinforced below under “Important Notes” section.
Summary
Companies purchase SOLIDWORKS PDM to help them control how documents are managed based on a clearly defined set of business rules. SOLIDWORKS PDM also helps automate elements of the documentation process. Therefore, this stands to reason why customers frequently ask: “How do I link the SOLIDWORKS model custom properties to the SOLIDWORKS PDM data card associated with a SOLIDWORKS drawing?” Setting this up according to the instructions below eliminates the need to fill out identical fields on both the model and drawing file data cards.
Important Notes
Unlike the knowledge base article, this is going to start with the two most important notes first. If these are not heeded, then any setup performed per the information contained within is useless. This statement comes from a customer troubleshooting experience many years ago. If the two critical notes weren’t overlooked by the seemingly blind author of this blog, then it would have taken minutes to get functioning instead of over an hour.
The two notes are as follows:
1. The SOLIDWORKS PDM add-in must be activated through SOLIDWORKS: Tools>>Addins.
2. The model properties will be copied to the SOLIDWORKS drawing file data card each time the drawing is saved within SOLIDWORKS.
Setup
1. Create a variable through the Variable Editor within the SOLIDWORKS PDM administration tool. For this example, the name will be “Part Number” because this value will be pulled/copied from the SOLIDWORKS part file to the SOLIDWORKS drawing file data card.
2. Add an attribute to the “Part Number” variable and choose “CustomProperty” for the block name. This variable attribute will be assigned to SOLIDWORKS parts, assemblies, and drawings. Notice extensions listed in figure below.
Remember, attributes create a bi-directional communication link between the file custom property and the variable assigned to the associated file data card control. If you update the value on the data card, then it gets copied to the custom property assigned through the attribute in the variable. Vice-versa, if the value gets changed in the custom property and it’s mapped to a variable attribute, then the file data card will be updated.
3. Add another attribute to the “Part Number” variable. Instead of using “CustomProperty” for the block name, type the following exactly: “$PRPSHEET”. This block name must be capitalized as shown in the figure below. The attribute name will be identical to the custom property found in the SOLIDWORKS part file. In this example, “PartNo” is the custom property/attribute name.
Recall from Part I of this blog series, $PRPSHEET property link copies the value from the model shown in the drawing view selected through the sheet properties.
4. Choose only one extension: slddrw.
5. Link “Part Number” variable to an Edit box control on both the SOLIDWORKS drawing and part file data cards.
6. Setup is complete.
Test Case
Add “PartNo” custom property to a part file. In the figure below, notice the value is “PN14513.” The property can also be filled out through the file data card for the “Ratchet Body_&.sldprt.” Filling out the edit box on the data card will automatically generate the custom property.
Create/open a drawing. The drawing must be in the vault with a view containing, in this case, the “Ratchet Body_&.sldprt” model. The view referred to is the one setup under sheet properties. The setting is “Use custom property values from model shown in.” Please refer to previous blog post for additional details about $PRPSHEET property link: Part I - Drawing Property Links.
Notice the drawing does not contain the custom property for “PartNo.”
With the SOLIDWORKS PDM add in activated in SOLIDWORKS and the drawing is open from the vault, save the file. Notice the custom properties for the drawing now contains the custom property for “PartNo.”
In addition, the file data card for the drawing includes the value for “PartNo.”
Conclusion
Reading this posting has taught you how to link the model custom properties to the controls on the associated drawing file data card within SOLIDWORKS PDM. This benefits the users by not having to insert the same data in both the SOLIDWORKS part file data card, for example, and its drawing file data card. Setting this up also streamlines your process, preserves business rules, and standardizes information input. If you want to learn more about SOLIDWORKS drawing property links in general, then please read Part I. The next and final topic of this three part series is about linking SOLIDWORKS system defined properties to a SOLIDWORKS PDM file data card. Part III is a slight twist to what you learned in this blog and includes an example exercise to follow.