Custom frame generator file location.

[Anonymous]

Frame generator gives members a name by type and length. For example pipe handrail. If you have other pipe handrails in Vault the software won't check in the new handrail because Vault says that the files already exist. How do you name the Frame member file structure to eliminate this issue??

[cbenner · Accepted solution]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Frame generator gives members a name by type and length. For example pipe handrail. If you have other pipe handrails in Vault the software won't check in the new handrail because Vault says that the files already exist. How do you name the Frame member file structure to eliminate this issue??

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@Anonymous

If you have Vault set to NOT allow duplicate file names, like I do and like I think you should (opinion), you can check the box in the lower left of the frame generator dialog "Prompt for File Name".  Then (very tedious, but necessary in my opinion), give each frame piece a unique prefix or other identifier.  I use our project number as a prefix.  That way, I not only avoid duplicate file names, but if I use copy design on that frame later, I can use Find & Replace in Copy Design to quickly rename the new files to a new Project number.  In the same window where you set the file name, you can also set the location for the frame member, but I usually just stick to the default.

I've asked for a tool to set a file name prefix right there in the dialog, and have it carry through the design... we'll see if I ever get that.  😉

[Anonymous]

Thank You Sir, VERY MUCH!!!!

[jtylerbc · Accepted solution]

Another option (which may be a poorer practice in general, but suits my company's part numbering conventions better) would be to accept the default file names, and then when the design is finished make a pass with Design Assistant to rename the files.  This requires a secondary step, but avoids taking up part numbers that aren't going to be used in the final design.

This works for us for developing unique file names, but we also don't use Vault, so it may not make the most sense in your application.  Even if it's not the method you want to use for future work, it could help you fix designs you already have with the problem.