CAD Forum

I have an assembly, with all parts detailed on separate drawing files / sheets.
Is there any way to automatically have the drawing references link to a files Bill of Materials?

So If I look at the assembly-level bill of materials, it will show me what drawing sheets/files each part is detailed in?

I was going to do it manually but I figured I'd ask first.

Thanks

Sure. Name each part file to match its part number. Name each drawing to match the part number of the part detailed in the drawing. Keep a one model/one drawing relationship. Bonus points for understanding there is no such thing as an intelligent part numbering system and simple 6 or seven digit numerical part numbers with no meaning will save you countless hours of work.

JSculley wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 7:12 pm Sure. Name each part file to match its part number. Name each drawing to match the part number of the part detailed in the drawing. Keep a one model/one drawing relationship. Bonus points for understanding there is no such thing as an intelligent part numbering system and simple 6 or seven digit numerical part numbers with no meaning will save you countless hours of work.

Yeah, well ship has sailed on all that stuff. I did just start a part numbering "scheme" though after 10 years of doing this, so i'm feeling good about that!

Thankss

The only 'automatic' way to do this would be a macro, macro feature or add-in that updates one or more custom properties in a part when the part is placed in a view on a drawing. These custom properties could then be used in a BOM column.

JSculley wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 11:29 am The only 'automatic' way to do this would be a macro, macro feature or add-in that updates one or more custom properties in a part when the part is placed in a view on a drawing. These custom properties could then be used in a BOM column.

I was thinking a Macro as well. I was thinking of how the Pack-and-Go feature can track drawing files referenced by parts and wondering if I can access that functionality with a macro. Doesn't give sheet names but hey its something.

In the meantime I'll probably manually update some custom properties. Easy enough to do it in the assembly since I already (for this job at least) have drawings tracked with an excel spreadsheet and I can reference that.

JSculley wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 11:29 am The only 'automatic' way to do this would be a macro, macro feature or add-in that updates one or more custom properties in a part when the part is placed in a view on a drawing. These custom properties could then be used in a BOM column.

That's how we do it with CustomTools!