Is there a way to block Out of Context References in PDM?
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2021 3:36 pm
Thanks.
Is there a way to block Out of Context References in PDM? Maybe at check in or in workflow transition?
Thanks.
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Is there a way to block Out of Context References in PDM?
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Re: Is there a way to block Out of Context References in PDM?
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2021 12:22 pm
Maybe I asked the question poorly. We would like to prevent Out of Context External References from being approved in our vault. I'm not 100% against them during early development, but would really like them to be severed before the files are approved.
Re: Is there a way to block External References in PDM?
Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2021 1:33 pm
I'm sorry, I'm using the wrong jargon. 
Not "Out of Context" references, I think they just call it External Reference.
There's a setting in Solidworks that can prevent a part referencing another part through an assembly.
https://help.solidworks.com/2019/englis ... rences.htm
Users can turn this on and off also, using this in early design can be handy.
But this is what I would like to block from being transitioned to a Released state in PDM. In our dataset each part needs to be self-defining (exception being insert part such as mirrored parts). Sometimes users will leave these references in the models, and it makes a mess down the road.
I'm looking into the EdmCmd_PreState hook for a way to cancel the state change. It looks like EdmCmd_TaskLaunch can be used to halt the transition by setting EdmCmd::mbCancel to true. If I can use SW Document Manager to find if there are external refs or not, I might be able to make our own. To be honest, I don't know if it's worth the time. I was hoping there was a PDM setting for this.
Not "Out of Context" references, I think they just call it External Reference.There's a setting in Solidworks that can prevent a part referencing another part through an assembly.
https://help.solidworks.com/2019/englis ... rences.htm
Users can turn this on and off also, using this in early design can be handy.
But this is what I would like to block from being transitioned to a Released state in PDM. In our dataset each part needs to be self-defining (exception being insert part such as mirrored parts). Sometimes users will leave these references in the models, and it makes a mess down the road.
I'm looking into the EdmCmd_PreState hook for a way to cancel the state change. It looks like EdmCmd_TaskLaunch can be used to halt the transition by setting EdmCmd::mbCancel to true. If I can use SW Document Manager to find if there are external refs or not, I might be able to make our own. To be honest, I don't know if it's worth the time. I was hoping there was a PDM setting for this.
Re: Is there a way to block Out of Context References in PDM?
Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2021 6:06 pm
I don't believe PDM even tracks this type of reference. I didn't see it in the contains tab (assy as a child under a part).
I'm sure the API with docmgr could get this condition but it would have to cache the files locally then traverse the structure.
I'm sure the API with docmgr could get this condition but it would have to cache the files locally then traverse the structure.
Re: Is there a way to block Out of Context References in PDM?
Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:18 am
This was my thought as well. I wanted to verify it once I got 2021 PDM installed on a test machine. I can't find any reference to blocking external references in parts.jcapriotti wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 6:06 pm I don't believe PDM even tracks this type of reference. I didn't see it in the contains tab (assy as a child under a part).
I'm sure the API with docmgr could get this condition but it would have to cache the files locally then traverse the structure.
A custom add-in to hook check-in isn't too cumbersome for someone familiar with PDM and API programming.