Merge Dialog Box

The Merge dialog box lets you merge the branched file with the source file using different merging options.

To display the Merge dialog box:

  • Select a branched file and click Tools > Merge.

Settings

Branch References
Latest

Uses the latest version of the branched file for merging.
Referenced

Uses the attached version of the branched file for merging.
New File Options

Applicable for files that are newly created using merge option.

Include simulation

Merges SOLIDWORKS Simulation results associated with the selected files.
Include drawings

Shows any related drawing files in the file list so you can include them when merging 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. Applicable for files that are newly created using merge option.
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 have been 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

Lets you enter text to refine the list of files displayed. A column selection drop-down lets you limit the filtering to a specific column, for example, File name, or for 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 easy identification.

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

*string Displays rows that contain text that ends with the string. The string in the filtered rows is highlighted in pink.
string* Displays rows that contain text that starts with the 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 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 string. The string in the filtered rows is highlighted in pink.
.string or string. Displays rows that contain the string and highlights the string with a preceding or a succeeding character depending on the position of the dot.

The filter options include:

! You can invert the filter by entering 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 Merge
    • 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:
  • Branch File Name
  • Branch File Version
  • Branch File Found In
  • Branch File Checked Out By
  • Branch File Checked Out In
  • Branch File State
  • Warnings
  • Merge
  • Merge Option
  • Source File Name
  • Source File Found In
  • Source File Checked Out By
  • Source File Checked Out In
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.
Branch File Name Displays the branched file name and its references.
Branch File Version The first number is the local (cached) version of a branched file or a hyphen (-) if locally modified. The second number is the latest version in the vault.
Branch File Found In Path to the folder that contains the branched file.
Branch File Checked Out By User who has the branched file checked out, or blank if not checked out.
Branch File Checked Out In Path to computer and local folder where the branched file is checked out, or blank if not checked out.
Branch File State State of the branched file.
Warnings Displays the warnings specific to source files and branched files. For multiple warnings for a file, a hyperlink appears. You can click the link to see the details of 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.
You can complete the merge action only after you resolve the critical warnings.
Merge Lets you select files to merge.

If the Merge check box is not selected for a file, the references from the branched file are retained as they are, after the merge action.
Merge Option
Merge

Selected by default for the branched file that is modified. Creates a new version of a source file when a branched file is checked in through the Merge user interface. You can keep the file checked out and check it in later.

You must have read file permission and check out file permission for the source file.
Use Source Reference

Selected by default for the unmodified branched file only if its immediate parent file is selected to merge. SOLIDWORKS PDM repoints the reference to the source file after the merge action.

If Always work with the latest version of files is selected, SOLIDWORKS PDM repoints the reference to the latest version of the source file. You must have read file permission for the latest version.

If Always work with the latest version of files is cleared, the merge action repoints the reference to the version of the source file that is used during branching.
If this version is not available or in cold storage, or does not provide read access, the merge action repoints the reference to the latest version that has read-file permission.
Merge As New File

Available for a branched file. The parent file refers to the new file after the merge action. You must have the add or rename file permission for the vault folder that contains the new file.

By default, the Source File Name is the name of the branched file and its target location is the parent file location. You can change the file name and its target location.
Create New File

Available for the file that is not branched but is a part of the reference tree. You must have the add or rename file permission for the vault folder that contains the new file. The parent file refers to the new file after the merge action.

By default, the Source File Name is the name of the branched file and its target location is the parent file location. You can change the file name and its target location.
Source File Name Lets you change the source file name only if the Merge Option is set to Merge As New File or Create New File.
Source File Found In Lets you change the path to the vault folder that contains the source file only if the Merge Option is set to Merge As New File or Create New File.
Source File Checked Out By User who has the source file checked out, or blank if not checked out.
Source File Checked Out In Path to folder where the source file is checked out, or blank if not checked out.
Source File State State of the source file.

Check-in on Merge

Checks in files on merging.

You can optionally enter the check-in comments.

Total to Merge

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.