A common problem I hear about is that, even after all the setup to use the built-in data management tools with Solid Edge, the draft files don’t automatically revise when I revise a part or assembly file.  Why not?

Like many things with Solid Edge, there is a text file controlling that.  If you don’t have the text file configured properly, and Solid Edge pointing to the location of the text file, the draft file won’t automatically revise.

File Management Options

Before we even need to worry about the text file, though, we need to check the simple solution first.  In the Solid Edge Options -> File Management tab, there is a checkbox to “Automatically revise drawings that use the selected 3D document.”  If this isn’t checked, that’s your problem.

Solid Edge Options - File Management Tab

When revising documents, make sure you automatically revise drawings that use the selected 3D documents.

FastSearchScope.txt

By default, the location of this file is

C:\Program Files\Solid Edge ST9\Preferences

At this time, I can’t seem to find a way to point to this file in a network/shared location, so each Solid Edge client may have to update this file individually.

The instructions are defined in the file itself, and are easy.  Essentially, type in the URL of your CAD vault.

\\ The FastSearchScope.txt tells Solid Edge where to look for related drawings when the
\\ option to automatically revise drawings is enabled.
\\
\\ Search locations can be a network folder (\\abc2345\SE_Vault)
\\ or a local folder (d:\SE_Vault)
\\ If no file location is provided, then related drawings may not be found.
\\
\\ NOTE: All lines starting with "\\<space>" are ignored

C:\Users\Scott\Documents\Cloud Drives\GrabCAD\AeroRND\CAD_Vault

You’re file won’t have a C:\Users\Scott\… URL.  I’m showing my vault location as an example.

Conclusion

There are 2 steps to have the draft file automatically revise with the associated 3D document.

  1. Check the box to revise the draft file the File Management Options.
  2. Edit FastSearchScope.txt file (in the Preferences subfolder) to include your vault URL.

Happy Edging, and leave a comment letting me know how your data management is going with the new built-in data management tools.