Copying Files with References

You can copy a parent file with all its references to create a second instance unrelated to the original. For example, you can copy an assembly file to use as the basis for a new product. Copying a file with references lets you reuse all the related parts and drawings without having to recreate the data.

If you copy, move, or rename a part or assembly, Enterprise PDM records the new relative location of the associated files when you check them in. This applies to relations between assemblies, sub-assemblies, drawings, and parts.

To copy files with references:

1. Browse to the parent file, right-click it, and click Copy Tree.

2. In the dialog box, click Browse and navigate to the destination folder.

3. Select an option for how to copy the files:

• Copy files to folder. Copies all referenced files to the Destination folder.

• Copy files to compressed archive. Copies all referenced files into a compressed archive stored in the Destination folder. The compression tool specified in the SolidWorks Enterprise PDM settings is used. If no compression tool is specified, a compressed Windows archive is created.

4. To change the names of copied files, click Transform and click a command:

   • To add a prefix to file names, click Add prefix and type a prefix.

   • To add a suffix to file names, click Add suffix and type a suffix.

   • To replace strings in file or folder names, click Replace. In the Replace dialog box, for Find what, type the string to replace. For Replace with, type the replacement string. To replace strings in file names, folders names, or both, select File names, Folders, or both.

   • To name files using serial numbers, click Rename with Serial Number. In the Rename with Serial Number dialog box, under Serial Number, select a serial number or click <Do Not Rename>. You can select a different serial number for each file type. If a serial number is associated with a file type in the SolidWorks add-in (see SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Add-in Options), that serial number is selected by default.

     Note: If Name drawings after their models is selected, renaming drawings based on a serial number is ignored if doing so conflicts with naming the drawings to match their associated models.

     You can also right-click files in the file list and select Rename with Serial Number. If all selected files have the same serial number defined in the SolidWorks add-in, that serial number is bold and is first in the list.

   For all transformations, if you selected one or more files before clicking Transform, under Apply to, select one of the following:

   • All. Applies the transformation to all copied files.

   • Selected only. Applies the transformation only to selected files. 

   Transformations other than Rename with Serial Number are cumulative. For example, you can add both a prefix and a suffix.

   To verify that a transformation has the desired effect, view Target path in the file list.

   To clear the transformations you have defined, click Reset all.

5. Set the remaining options:

• Preserve relative paths. Keeps the paths of references relative to the copied parent file, creating folder structure as needed. With Preserve relative paths cleared, the folder hierarchy is flattened; all referenced files are copied to the same destination folder as the parent. In the list of referenced files, see Target path to view the effect of this setting.

• Regenerate serial number in cards. If serial numbers are used in data cards, assigns the next number in the sequence. For Rename with Serial Number transformations, the same serial numbers used to name the files are used in the data cards.

• Include drawings. Shows any related drawing files (such as .slddrw, .idw, .dwg files) in the file list so you can include them when copying the reference tree.

• Name drawings after their models. Sets drawing file names to the same as their associated assembly or part file names.

• Select which version of references to use:

• Use latest version of references.

• Use attached version of references. Uses the version that is attached rather than the latest version.

• Check in files with comment. Checks in the copied files to the vault. Optionally type a check-in comment.

6. In the file list, under Copy, select references you want to copy.

   By default, references to Toolbox parts are not selected and all other references are selected.

7. Click Copy.

The newly copied parts start with a new version history.