External referenced issues

Hi all,

I'm doing a project for a client in SW2006 (SP5.1) having some issues
with referenced parts. I've got a bunch of parts that have "in
context" sketch relationships referenced in higher-level assemblies.

Now, I'm having some troubles with the relationships going "out of
context" when I open the parts without the assembly. Despite ticking
the "open all references" in options, whenever I open the parts in
isolation (without the master assembly open) the configurations fall
over and fail to update as they are "out of context". Is there any way
you can force SolidWorks to open any referenced parts/assemblies when
you open a part with referenced "in context" relationships? I was
pretty sure there was but the option I thought it was doesn't seem to
be doing it much.

The option I've chosen is: Tools--->Options--->System Options--->Load
Referenced Documents--->All

The only other option I'll have, I fear, is to get the part open and
working properly then "lock" the external references... which is less
than desirable.

I generally steer clear of in-context references where I can, and I
can engineer them out.... but the client has already generated a lot
of data using this and I'm reluctant to go through and make wholesale
backtrack changes if I can help it.

 

This is how SolidWorks operates. It is the norm.

If you need to work on something without the assembly open then go to
the part's FILE/EXTERNAL REFERENCES and lock all the references. Then
you will have to remember to un-lock the external references if you
change anything.

The very nature of an in-context feature demands that the assembly
which mediates changes between parts be open when references are to be
loaded.

TOP

 

Thanks TOP,


That's exactly what I've done and it seems to be working, although
it's not ideal... thanks for the tip nonetheless

 

I find myself forgetting that I've locked something down. I think the
symbol for external references changes to let you know. You just have
to be aware that you have used that technique and be on the lookout
when making changes.

TOP

 

In the end, I decided to ditch the in-context references and just
break all the links and define things manually.... the client is not a
SWX guru and I weighed up the damage they could do tinkering around
with the model with and without in-context relationshps... figured it
was better to spend the time and "weed out" all of the links.