Increment numerial text

[Peter K]

Every project that I do has one lay-out that takes forever to draw. It was so in Autocad and it's still so in Solidworks. The problem isn't so much the actual putting in of the parts/models but of the annotations that is needed.

 

Image this : there are + 100 entities that need to be numbered. The numbering goes sequentially and normally starts from 1. The numbers are there to indicate which of the numbered parts comes first. This means that although the numbers are sequential that the placing of the numbers is not.

It even happens (often) that the parts themselves are placed not with a linear pattern but with a circular one which means that of course the numbers them selves can't be placed with a linear pattern.

 

In autocad the solution that was workable was to make it so that the part had an attribute and then use a lisp routine that let one simple click that attribute which then automatically replaced it with the next increment of the number that was needed. This meant that I could place the 100 parts and then only had to click 100 times to get them all numbered. Still a boring and tedious job but much much quicker then actually having to click 100 times and typing in each and every number manually.

Especially considering that it does happen often that due to circumstances the numbering has to alter a bit with as result that I have to re-number as good as all of them.

 

Now we're using Solidworks .... and I'm back to square one.

 

I don't care what the solution is, may it be macro, notes, balloons, blocks.... doing it on .asm level or whatever. As long as that when printing out the drawing it is present and viewable.

 

I have looked on the web to see what I could find macro wise and such but no joy.

 

Does anyone have a solution or at least a starting point to help me out ?

[shift1313]

Are these notes you need in the assembly file or is this in a drawing? In a drawing file the parts BOM already numbers everything from 1-? (or another range you set) and balloons reflect this when placed.

 

When you say every project has one layout, can you describe this a little more. Are the same parts being used only they are assembly different? There are ways to make adaptive parts, link a part to an excel spread sheet and so on but it will depend on what you are actually doing.

[Peter K]

The notes are needed in the drawing file.

 

The BOM already numbers everything, this is true but in that drawing there's no need for a BOM because all the parts that need numbering are identical except for the needed number. On top of that, the exact sequence of numbers can't be generated by the program but is dictated by the design.

 

The part in question doesn't have nor really need configurations because they are identical.

 

*ponder*

I suppose one could make it so that there is a configuration table wherein one let the number change be driven by the table.

 

*ponder*

However that would mean that :

1) the text would have to be a feature which would then mean it would have to be either embossed or extruded cut and there for burden the .asm (and any .asm that incorparate that one) with an excessive amount of data.

2) it would also mean that to change the numbers that one still would need a macro routine to assist because having to scroll though the entire amount of configurations so as to select number 215 and then having to do it again for number 216 and .....ad infinitum...

would drive anyone to drink .... or worse

 

Included are two examples files;

EG2 made with Acad (with numbers included)

EG1 made with Solidworks (without numbers)

and yes, it's those rectangle shaped objects that need numbering

[shift1313]

sorry peter i still havent come up with anything on this. Did you figure anything out?

[Peter K]

Nope.

 

The only way to tie me over was to convert the drawing to a .dwg

Open it in Acad, put in the text elements and use the lisp routine I spoke of, after which I copied and pasted the result back into SW.

 

Does it work, yes. Is it convenient - quick - easily edited ..... heck no.

 

If you, or someone else, ever have a suggestion or an idea, no matter how wild it might be, please don't hesitate to share it.