Actually dimensions, and annotations will survive only if structure of the part is exactly the same and edges (points) they (annotations) are connected have identical ID.
Otherwise it ends up with missing reference.
What I do to have model highly replaceable in drawings (for example for revision purposes, or type variations). I always create new parts as copies of originals and edit as little as possible changing original structure so original entities (edges, surfaces, sketches, bodies, features) are unchanged.
- For part sketches: Dimension within sketches can be changes, and constrain can be changed as log as you do not delete original line that constructs an edge.
- For holes - dimensions can be changes as long as you do not change hole type (round to threaded for example)
- For patterns - edits loose annotations most of the time if pattern structure is changed. As long as original referenced parts do not cease to exist it is fine.
As for you problem with not being able to replace the model.
I do not ever recall this behavior.
What you can try is:
1) to check if actually original drawing does not have any problems. Like missing references to parts/assemblies that are missing (libraries, workgroup paths) ..
I think if model has missing references its reference on the drawing cannot be edited. This may have something to do with avoiding infinite loop in cyclic dependency (but this is just a speculation).
2) You should also check if your model that you want to use to replace the old one does not have missing references.
3) Than you should try to create new drawing with the old model but without any annotation and try to replace.
If this works that it is likely that there is a problem related to your old drawing.
Without full data structure available it is difficult to give more precise guidance.
Cris,
https://simply.engineering
