Workgroup Search Path Projects Don't Link To Drawings???

[phlyx]

Since we design and built custom machine systems we have a separate Project file (IPJ) for each job/system we do.  Each of these projects have sub-folders for drawings, parts, assemblies and things like that.  In each project we also have Workgroup Search Paths pointing to common purchased parts we use on machines so we don't have multiple copies of these scattered in hundreds of folders.

Occasionally we design a machine system for a previous customer that is the same as their previous project only with some minor changes.  So we add the previous root folder from their previous project to the new project's Workgroup Search Path and then we can use parts and assemblies from their previous project that never changed.   And new parts and assemblies or altered parts and assemblies are given new names and saved in the new project.   This works great with on major flaw, opening drawings (IDW).  

When we have a part or assembly open that is in the new project file structure we can right click on the filename in the model tree, click on Open Drawing and it opens the drawing that matches that part or assembly.  No problem.  But if we have a part or assembly open that is in the old project structure and we do the same thing, when we click on Open Drawing it just opens the Open dialog window in the folder the part or assembly is in that is in the old project file structure.  It also has the name of the desired IDW in the File Name: box.   As soon as we click out of that folder the File Name: box blanks out and we have to open the folder the drawings are in, then just browse to the file name (or type it all back in again) and open it.

Since everything in the old project exists in sub-folders under the root folder, and the root folder is in the Workgroup Search Path of the new project so Inventor will find anything in there, why doesn't it "search" and find the related drawing for something in the old file structure?  This is really a royal pain to have to do each and every time you want to open a drawing in the old project.

We have tried adding the old project sub-folder into Workgroup Search Path and all kinds of things but nothing helps.  Any fix or suggestions out there?  And we're still running INV2016.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[bshbsh]

AFAIK, the "open drawing" function doesn't search for anything, anywhere, at all. It doesn't care about search pats set in project files or anything like that. It only tries to open the idw with the same filename as the model, in the same folder where the model is. if it's not there, then it will show the open file dialog.

[phlyx]

Have to disagree.  We have this sub-folder structure:

Project Root

-------Assemblies (with IAM assemblies)

-------Parts (with parts and IAM's that are individual parts like weldments)

-------Details (that are all the IDW drawings for parts and assemblies)

When we are in the Assemblies folder with an IAM open and right click on the filename at the top of the Model Tree and click Open Drawing, it opens the drawing from the Details folder which is not in the same folder as the IAM we have open.  Same goes for IPT's and IAM's in the Parts folder.  ALL IDW drawings are in the Details folder, none of the IAM's or IPT's are in the same folder.  If it wasn't searching it wouldn't find any drawings.  Problem is it searches thru the main project but won't thru the linked project structure identified by Workgroup Search Path inclusion.