Inserting Components from Different Projects

[Anonymous]

I want to insert in a file a component I've created in a different file. Is there a way to achieve that?

[julia.paganucci]

Hi @Anonymous, 

Thanks for posting!

There is definitely a way to do this! The first step will to be to open the design that you want to build everything in, which will most likely be your main body piece. Then you can either drag in the file you want to bring in from the Data Panel to the design or right click the component file in the Data Panel and select "Insert into Current Design". 

This will create a component in your body design that is referenced to the original external component file (if it was brought over from the same project folder). This means that you can go ahead and make changes to the original component design and when you update the the main body design file, the inserted component will convert to its new design. The referenced file can be indicated by a chain link image next to its name in the browser tree. If you right click on the inserted component, you will see options for "Get Latest", "Choose Version", and "Break Link". 

You can insert a component from another project, but in this case that component will not be linked to your body design. 

More information on inserting a component here.

Please accept as solution if my post fully resolves your issue, or reply with additional details if you have more questions. 

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I am aware you can insert components from the same project and how I can do that.

You mentioned that "You can insert a component from another project, but in this case that component will not be linked to your body design.", but could you show how I can do that? When I try to insert a component from another project, I get an error that the component is from another project, so is there a way to circumvent this?

Your link only covers the case of the component belonging to the same project.

[julia.paganucci]

Hi @Anonymous, 

You can still use the same steps (drag in the file you want to bring in from the Data Panel to the design or right click the component file in the Data Panel and select "Insert into Current Design"). The only thing that should pop up is this message: 

You can click proceed, and the file you inserted will show up as a new component (not linked). If you want your component to be linked, you will have to move the file (the file you want to insert as a linked component) into the same project folder as your body design. If you don't want to move it, you can create a copy and then move that copied file. The only way for components to be linked is for them to be in the same project folder. 

Are you getting a different error message than this? If so, can you please post a screen shot?

Thanks, 

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

I have spotted where the issue was.

Designs from another project, say A, that have links to components from various designs in project A, cannot be inserted to a project, B, without breaking these links first.