solidworks, file list, properties and access database

[-Mc-]

hello to all;
I am in difficulty because of the management, little consonant, of the file archive (solidworks) of the company where I will shortly go to lend my collaboration.
files are structured by manually compiling file properties in solidworks (file name, description, weight etc.);
I need to copy and paste the following fields properties of solidworks:
- file name
- description
- weight
in a database access file so you have a complete list of everything that exists without having to manually search through explore resources and preview image.
How can I do that?
is it possible to create a macro?
Thank you very much
-Mc.

 

[jenuary]

Hi.
Usually these things do the pdms, I don't know if with the "light" version of the pdm contained in the professional license of 2016 (we don't know what version you will work with) you will be able to satisfy your need, other users will give you a safe answer.
if the solidworks license is a standard then you are forced to do differently.

However, it is not enough to put the file name, properties, etc into a database, but you need to define an identifier for your files (primary key), i.e. decide if there can be multiple files in your database with the same name by defining the id field in the database as a key, or if it is the file name your unique id.

I think it's a little risky to do something like this, that is to work with an application where you decide when to throw in the data, because you should do it to every modification of the part otherwise the database is not synchronized.
mostly you should do it for each new part or together that you go to create reminding you to press a button every time (before or after forget it)

you should also consider that if in the future the needs should change, that your database is dynamic and accept other fields without having to review everything; It is not easy to predict the future, and therefore there are pdms.

Surely it is not easy to go to a company as a neo-assum and tell him "we buy a pdm" but there are economic solutions that are worthwhile being in depth, given the few needs you have.

You would risk that a well-made macro will cost you more an economic pdm.

this is still my opinion

 

[-Mc-]

hello, jenuary, thank you for the answer;
look at your correct considerations:

However, it is not enough to put the file name, properties, etc into a database, but you need to define an identifier for your files (primary key), i.e. decide if there can be multiple files in your database with the same name by defining the id field in the database as a key, or if it is the file name your unique id.

It is true, but in this case, having to collaborate for a short period, it is more than enough; I need a list of codes/descriptions to track some work performed especially on welding assemblies; the properties are well compiled therefore will be of great help a simple access file with these characteristics.

Surely it is not easy to go to a company as a neo-assum and tell him "we buy a pdm" but there are economic solutions that are worthwhile being in depth, given the few needs you have.

not within as a new member but as a short-term collaborator; I have to develop projects; I don't need a pdm and less than updates are performed on both the list and the drawing files.
I simply need an access or excel or similar file that offers me the filename fields (univocal) / description / weight and other cmapi that I will change according to my needs;
is someone able to do this through windows (without pdm)?

 

[poli1978]

Hi, mc.

How did you solve the problem? I am facing the same thing and I would like to have another point of view

Thank you.

hello, jenuary, thank you for the answer;
look at your correct considerations:

It is true, but in this case, having to collaborate for a short period, it is more than enough; I need a list of codes/descriptions to track some work performed especially on welding assemblies; the properties are well compiled therefore will be of great help a simple access file with these characteristics.

not within as a new member but as a short-term collaborator; I have to develop projects; I don't need a pdm and less than updates are performed on both the list and the drawing files.
I simply need an access or excel or similar file that offers me the filename fields (univocal) / description / weight and other cmapi that I will change according to my needs;
is someone able to do this through windows (without pdm)?

 

[-Mc-]

How did you solve the problem?

Hi.
here on the site there is no one who can do it;
I asked a friend computer engineer who programmed me a macro that reports the fields I need in an access file or excel;
export I have to do it manually to update the data, but it is really a great solution for the management work that I have to do on the drawing details and especially at zero cost.
I am not able to help you because I would not be able to do this job, I am sorry:-(
Besides, I had to format the pc, I should again ask for help too :-(

 

[jenuary]

here on the site there is no one who can do it;

...this is not true, you are not able to do it.... it should not be assumed that if a request is made in the forum above all "body", there is on the other hand someone available to take charge of activities that are usually "costous" to be done outside.
It has often happened to post in the macro forum or programs useful to users, sometimes already existing, sometimes custom-built, sometimes modified, sometimes without even a thanks... not always everything is due.

 

[-Mc-]

...this is not true, you are not able to do it

I'm sorry, but don't you think you're overreacting? other than I think you misunderstood me, as my tone did not want to be offensive; Of course I'm not able to do this and for this reason I opened a discussion on a technical forum.

it should not be assumed that if a request is made in the forum above all "body", there is on the other hand someone available to take charge of activities that are usually "costous" to be done outside.

no one asked to create the macro; I just asked two straights to do what I needed; obvious that it must be the community to provide the answer, not the single (although administrators would be required to give an answer without dropping into nothing a discussion); in any case the answers to topic (when sensible) must be handled otherwise to what the forums serve (except to provide banal answers like those above proposed)? Besides, who told you that I would pay a service like the one requested? Did I write "someone free me the system to run a list of files with access"?
I apologize but I do not share your thought; read carefully and you will find that this is yet another open discussion, with a useful and sensible request, which will lack concrete answers and will end in offtopic: At this point it is worth eliminating the argument otherwise, who will look for the subject, will find the usual 100 discussions that do not lead to anything.
share my thoughts?

 

[jenuary]

...maybe you misunderstood me, I just reported what happens normally in the forum.
I can give you reason that often some discussions go to die, like this for example no one then knew if you had solved and how you had resolved, but it is in the nature of a forum, sometimes I think I did it too, even if without wanting it.
my opinion for "gratis" is discounted at the moment we are in a forum and I think it must remain such, what do you think?

 

[-Mc-]

What do you think?

Yes it is true; on the "voluntary" speech, I think it is right to pay the job done on specific requests;
in my case I would also have paid to have what I had requested as it would make me earn a lot of time (and therefore money);
then I think it is right that competence is recognized, especially because always living in a race it is difficult to find time to answer everyone; as a user, on the other hand, from a lot "fastidium" to find a list (from "search" function) of discussions without useful answers; but I understand that it is impossible to be behind all

 

[jenuary]

I fully agree with you,
And I apologize if I may have seemed rude.
However...if you feel very useful the initial request and can be useful to others, and in case the macro you use is not complete for how it could serve, we might think to put on a lean application that recovers properties, codes etc.

we also feel the needs of other users to unify things.

 

[-Mc-]

Don't worry. I imagined that I had not expressed well; unfortunately the written phrases are "mute" of expressions;
we had spoken in person we would have made four laughs;
thank you very much for the help; for now I've been able to fix it. Maybe poly still needs... We'll see what he answers.
soon and again thank you!
mc

 

[drake]

I hook up with the discussion even if not totally relevant. . .
having found, without pdm of course, the impossibility of sw to read the quantities of a part within a set, it could be useful to read precisely these quantities in the axieme and to bring them inside the individual parts in a custom property, which then can be recalled with a simple note to insert in the table.
the only thing that allows sw is the following. in the table of the individual parts, for example for a separate cut, you can read the quantities only after entering the drawing the axieme and having made a distinct material. at that point you can pull out the amount are with the insertion of a bubble, but in no case with a note.
I hope I made the idea...

 

[jenuary]

should do what you need.. .

 

[drake]

should do what you need.. .

First of all, thank you, but doesn't open the macro by giving me these messages.. .and then closing solid I crashed....

 

[jenuary]

Hell, my problem is now the same.
I'll put you macro in place tomorrow morning.

Hi.

 

[drake]

There is no rush to control x well and take the time you need.. .

 

[jenuary]

...the file was corrupted.
Try now. . .
components must be solved before launching the macro, I take it for granted.

Hi.

 

[drake]

I just tried and did this...
I open a set, launch the macro that seems to work, choose the name of the custom property and make it process.
then I open the components and control that actually the custom property is present. I immediately notice that you do not warn me that the axieme has changed (it does not appear asterisk on the name). and shut him down, saving him. I open the part and I no longer find the property that was before....

 

[drake]

I just realized that as soon as the macro is launched, you have to save the axieme with the command saves everything. Then it's okay.
but how come he doesn't see that his parts have been changed and with a simple save is not enough? Could it be better to save everything to the macro at the end of the process?

 

[jenuary]

Hi, drake.
for solidworks the thing is more complex because you go to write inside the component with a macro and he "does not notice", in fact it does not give you the asterisk next to the file name.
Otherwise it would be using an addin, where you can more deeply intercept events.
to overcome the problem you highlighted, I entered the rescue of the component immediately after the writing of the property, so the result is safe, at the expense of the speed.
I therefore attach the updated macro.