‍How to repair the parametric links in an assembly

(Assembly environment and Design manager)

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Introduction

A parametric assembly contains links that can transfer data(number, geometric references) between components so that they can share common characteristics. Such a link can be updated if the communicating components are activated and if the active context wasn’t modified since the link was created.

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The context

One way to alter the context is to use the ‘save as’ command when in the assembly environment. Solid Edge warns the user about the danger of such an operation:

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Analyzing a “broken” model

If you have a parametric assembly that is unresponsive, select a part with a chain beside it and edit it. At the top of the modelling tree for that part, you will see a ‘Links’ collector. If you expand it, you will see the context (the complete path is in the tool tip as shown below) in which parametric features of that part can receive data from other components.

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How to fix it with ‘Redefine links’

Open the Design Manager application (Start/Programs/Siemens SolidEdge...). In the ‘Tools’ tab of the ribbon, start the command called ‘redefine links’.

Select folder(s) in which all components of the “broken”assembly as well as the assembly itself reside.  Note:for a complex assembly with many components distributed across multiple folders, it is possible to use a result log (txt file) of  the Design Manager ‘search broken links’ command.

Enter the path including the filename and its extension to the original (old) context (the one listed in Solid Edge as shown in the previous image) and then the path to the current “broken” assembly (also with the full file name).

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Conclusion

Altering the context of a parametric model can occur in different ways. It is always recommended to use the Design Manager and its ‘where used’ command when moving or copying projects or libraries in order to prevent this kind of damage. Nevertheless, mistakes happen and it is nice to have a tool to repair parametric links.