Assembly Reference Problem

I recently reorganized all of our Solidworks files. Previously they
were all in one large windows explorer folder, consisting of
approximately 3400 files (parts, assembly, and their corresponding
drawings). I realized that this is not a good thing to do and I moved
the files into a number of folders. I put the first 250 part numbers
in one folder along with the drawings associated with those parts. I
made another folder for the next 250 part numbers and their drawings
and continued this until all the part and assembly files had been
moved. I did this thinking that I could open the upper level
assemblies, tell Solidworks where to find the parts, and save the
assembly redefining the file paths within the assembly document.

It appeared as though this did not redefine the file paths in the
assembly document and I had to browse for the files each time I tried
to open the assemblies. Next, I went to the Solidworks system options
and added all of the new folders I had created under file locations -
referenced documents. Then I went to external references under the
Solidworks system options and checked the box that says search file
locations for external references. This works for me and I am able to
open up the assemblies and Solidworks finds all of the files within the
assembly, although it seems to be slightly slower in opening them then
it used to be.

The problem I have happens when I tried to check some of the assemblies
into PDM. When I check the assembly in and it is "searching" it takes
a very long time. For example, an assembly with 8 different simple
parts and drawings took 20 minutes to "search." I made the assumption
that this is happening because it is having trouble finding all the
different files within the different folders. Does anyone have any
ideas on how to solve this problem?

We have been keeping two copies of a lot of the part files. The parts
and weldments that need to be sent to vendors to order we have been
checking in to PDM to keep them under revision control. But we've been
working out of the windows explorer folders on a day to day basis for a
couple different reasons. We purchased PDM after we had created most
of these parts so it would be very time consuming to check in every one
of these files. We also keep changing things too often to be checking
them in and out of PDM all of the time.

I know that this is a messy way of doing it, but I am having trouble
thinking of a better way to do it. I would appreciate any comments on
this situation. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

I'm guessing here - but I'm thinking that if you haven't resaved your
assemblies then it goes looking through all your referenced locations
everytime you do something with them. if you resave your assemblies
(perhaps by using SW Task Scheduler) then the problem may go away?

Any other ideas out there?