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SOLIDWORKS PDM · Lesson 3: References, copy and local cache

Contains and Where Used tabs, custom references, Copy Tree and Move Tree, local cache.

Lesson goal

Assess the impact of a change, link non-CAD documents and duplicate a project without breaking references.

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4 videos

✎

1 exercise

Intermediate

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Prerequisite: Lesson 2

1. Watch the videos

Dassault Systèmes videos hosted on MySolidWorks: they open in a new tab and a free account is enough. Watch them in order.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Viewing the Contains and Where Used TabVideo 1▶SOLIDWORKS PDM Viewing the Contains and Where Used TabSee what a file contains and where it is used.↗ SOLIDWORKS PDM Creating and Modifying ReferencesVideo 2▶SOLIDWORKS PDM Creating and Modifying ReferencesLink a Word document to an assembly, then remove that link with custom references.↗ SOLIDWORKS PDM Copy/Move TreeVideo 3▶SOLIDWORKS PDM Copy/Move TreeCopy all CAD and non-CAD files to a new folder, or move them while keeping references.↗ SOLIDWORKS PDM Managing the Local CacheVideo 4▶SOLIDWORKS PDM Managing the Local CacheClear the local cache for one file or for a whole folder.↗

2. Key takeaways

1

The Contains tab lists the components of a file, the Where Used tab lists the assemblies and drawings that use it.

2

A custom reference attaches a non-CAD document (manual, specification) to an assembly.

3

Copy Tree duplicates a set with its linked files, without touching the original; a plain Windows copy and paste does not guarantee the references.

4

The local cache holds copies of the files on your workstation: clearing it frees space, the originals stay in the vault.

Tip

Before modifying a standard part, open the Where Used tab: you immediately see how many assemblies will be affected.

3. Do the exercise

In a test vault, with a small assembly:

  • check the Where Used tab of one of its parts
  • link a Word manual to the assembly with a custom reference
  • copy the assembly tree to a new folder
✓To check: The copy opens with no missing component, and the Contains tab of the original assembly shows the Word manual.

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