Project Manager
This tool renames the parts and sub-assemblies within the SolidWorks assembly with systematic part numbers.
Usage
- Ensure that the assembly document is active.
- Run the Project Manager tool from the task pane.
- The template configuration window allows user to define the part number format.
The four essential components of the part numbers are assembly identifier, part identifier, assembly auto number and part auto number.
These components cannot be removed. However additional components to the part number can be added by pressing the + button.
The part number will be generated for each part and assembly according to the sequence defined here. To rearrange the sequence, use the up and down button while a row is selected.The assembly identifier is attached to each assembly file while the part identifier is attached to each part. The identifier can be changed in the Value/Digits column.
The assembly/part auto number are the running number assigned to each part. The number of digits can be changed in the Value/Digits column.The delimiter is added after each component. Different types of delimiter can be chosen in the delimiter column.
Templates can be saved and reused in future project using the save new template button.
- Once the template has been configured, click the Set Template button. The Project Manager window will show up.
Read-only and toolbox components are ignored by default. A useful tip is to set standard components as read-only or toolbox components to prevent the files from being renamed.
In the left most column of the table, the checkbox are used to select which components to be renamed.
The current file name column shows the current file name while the new file name shows the part number generated based on the template.
The description column shows any description from the part custom property. Description can be manually updated directly in the table.
If a drawing exists (drawings must have the same file name and path as the part), an additional check box will appear in the update drawing name column. This allows any drawing to be renamed with the new file name.
Checking the checkbox in the current name to description column will set the description of the part to the current file name.
If any duplicates of part is found (e.g. part A exists in both assembly A and assembly B), an additional checkbox for the part will appear in the Save As New column. Checking this will cause the duplicate part to become an entirely separate file with a new name. - Once all the desired options are selected, click on Update Files to change the names of the files.
- Inspect the design tree and windows explorer folder of the files to see the updated file names.
