Branch Dialog Box

The Branch dialog box is similar to the Copy Tree dialog box and lets you copy selected file references, or retain the existing references.

If your administrator has excluded a folder from branching, a message appears in the Warnings column and the Branch option is unavailable.

To display the Branch dialog box:

  • Select a file and click Tools > Branch.

Branch Name

Enter a branch name.

You must enter a unique branch name.

Default Destination

Displays the current folder location of the selected file. You can enter a new path or browse to specify the destination path for the folder in the vault.

Settings

This group is a collapsible interface that includes:

Version to Use
Latest

Uses the latest version of the references for branching.
Referenced

Uses the attached version of the references for branching.
Options
Include simulation

Branches SOLIDWORKS Simulation results associated with the selected files.
Preserve relative paths

Keeps the paths of references relative to the branched parent file, creating a folder structure as needed. When you clear Preserve relative paths, the folder hierarchy is flattened and all referenced files are branched to the same destination folder as the parent.
Include drawings

Shows any related drawing files in the file list so you can include them when branching the reference tree.
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 data cards.
Name drawings after their models

Sets drawing file names to the same as their associated assembly or part file names.
Transform Operations
Modifies the file names of selected files using the transformation you select.
Add Prefix

Adds the prefix you type to the file names.
Add Suffix

Adds the suffix you type to the file names.
Rename with serial number

Replaces file names with serial numbers.

Only available when serial numbers are defined in the Administration tool.
Replace
Replaces strings in file or folder names. In the Replace dialog box:
  1. For Find what, type the string to replace.
  2. For Replace with, type the replacement string.
  3. Select whether to apply the change to all files or only the selected files.
  4. Select to apply the change to file names, folder names, or both.

Filter Display

Enter text to refine the list of files displayed. Use the column selection drop-down to limit the filtering to a specific column. For example, limit the columns to File name, or All Columns.

By default, the filter is applied to All Columns. You can expand the All Columns list and select a specific column to apply the filter to. The software searches for the text that you enter, displays rows that contain the text, and highlights the text for identification.

The search field supports these wildcard characters: *, ?, %, -, ., "".

*string Displays rows that contain text that ends with the entered string. The string in the filtered rows is highlighted in pink.
string* Displays rows that contain text that starts with the entered string. The string in the filtered rows is highlighted in pink.
Instead of *, you can use ? or %.
-string or string- Displays rows that contain the entered string.
If the hyphen is at the beginning, the text ending with the string is highlighted in pink. If the hyphen is at the end, the text starting with the string is highlighted.
"string or string" Displays rows that contain the entered string. The string in the filtered rows is highlighted in pink.
.string or string. Displays rows that contain the entered string and highlights the string with a preceding or a succeeding character depending on the position of the dot.

The filter options include:

Invert Filter or ! You can invert the filter by clicking or by entering the ! character as a prefix to the text in the search field.

Files that do not include the entered text are displayed.
Filter
  • File Type
    • Assemblies
    • Parts
    • Drawings
    • Others
  • Selected For Branch
    • Yes, Selected
    • No, Not Selected
  • Path/Name Changed
    • Yes, Changed
    • No, Not Changed
All Columns Filters the file list based on the text you enter and the column you select. You can select one of the following columns:
  • Source File Name
  • Warnings
  • Version
  • Checked Out By
  • Checked Out In
  • Source File Found In
  • Branch File Found In
  • Branch File Name
  • State
  • All Columns
This filter supports all custom columns that appear in the file list.
Clear Filter Text Removes all filters. This appears when you select an option in Filter.

Toolbar Buttons

Next Warning/Previous Warning In the file list, changes the focus to the next file with a warning or the previous file with a warning.
Levels Displays file references for the entire file hierarchy (Show All Levels) or just the top level of the file hierarchy (Top Level Only).

The setting defaults to the most recent setting you used.
Open File List Open All opens a list of files in Microsoft Excel.

Open Visible opens a list of visible files in Microsoft Excel.
Save File List Export All exports the file list of all files as comma-separated .txt file.

Export Visible exports the list of visible files as a comma-separated .txt file.

File List

To change the columns that are displayed, right-click any column heading and select columns to display them or clear columns to hide them. You can add up to 10 columns based on variables by clicking More and choosing variables from the Choose Columns dialog box.

You can sort the default and custom columns in tables in ascending, descending, or default order by clicking column headers. Column sorting is useful within large datasets. If you sort a column in ascending or descending order, the column is highlighted in green and an arrowhead appears. When you sort a column in a table, SOLIDWORKS PDM removes the file structure hierarchy. Sorting turns off Show Tree Lines and Show Reference Selection Control.

Drag a column head to change the position of a column.

Type Displays a thumbnail preview of the file when you hover over the file type icon.
Source File Name Displays the source file name.
Warnings Displays the warnings.
To quickly locate files with warnings or errors, use the Next Warning and Previous Warning toolbar buttons or Ctrl + the up-arrow or down-arrow on the numeric keypad.
Branch Lets you select the files to branch.
Version The first number is the local (cached) version of a source file or a hyphen (-) if locally modified. The second number is the latest version in the vault.
Checked Out By User who has the source file checked out, or blank if not checked out.
Checked Out In Path to computer and local folder where the source file is checked out, or blank if not checked out.
Source File Found In Path to the folder that contains the source file.
Branch File Found In Lets you change the path to a folder for the branched file.
The folder must be in the vault.
Branch File Name Lets you change the branched file name.
State State of the source file.

Check-in after branching

Checks in files on branching.

You can optionally enter the check-in comments.

Total to Branch

Displays the number and type of files you have selected for branching.
The warning indicates that other files are selected for branching but do not appear in the file list because of the current filter.

Reset All

Resets all the changed file names and changed destination folder paths to default.