Uneditable Custom Properties

Uncle_Hairball
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Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by Uncle_Hairball »

Anyone know how to overcome a part with uneditable custom properties? This component came from a supplier.
by zwei » Fri Aug 06, 2021 1:08 am
Without looking at the file, I cannot prpoperly advise...

My first guess is that you had imported the part with 3DInterconnect which link the part to the 3rd party CAD file.
The custom properties are locked when the third-party CAD file and the SOLIDWORKS file are linked. To overwrite these properties, you must break the link.

Try turning off the 3D Interconnect and reimport the file again
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zwei
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by zwei »

Without looking at the file, I cannot prpoperly advise...

My first guess is that you had imported the part with 3DInterconnect which link the part to the 3rd party CAD file.
The custom properties are locked when the third-party CAD file and the SOLIDWORKS file are linked. To overwrite these properties, you must break the link.

Try turning off the 3D Interconnect and reimport the file again
Far too many items in the world are designed, constructed and foisted upon us with no understanding-or even care-for how we will use them.
Uncle_Hairball
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by Uncle_Hairball »

Zhen-Wei Tee wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 1:08 am Without looking at the file, I cannot prpoperly advise...

My first guess is that you had imported the part with 3DInterconnect which link the part to the 3rd party CAD file.
The custom properties are locked when the third-party CAD file and the SOLIDWORKS file are linked. To overwrite these properties, you must break the link.

Try turning off the 3D Interconnect and reimport the file again
Very good, that is the right answer. I hadn't noticed that it is a linked .step file.

Is there any way to break the link and turn it into a regular Solidworks part?
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JPARKER
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by JPARKER »

If you right-click on the features in the tree and select "Dissolve Feature" it will break the link to the original CAD file.
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SPerman
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by SPerman »

Click on the properties for the part, and make sure there aren't "configuration specific" properties.
image.png
I've had the software create those when I did a "save as" on a part. Until I delete them, the print will not recognize the regular custom properties.
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Uncle_Hairball
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by Uncle_Hairball »

Yes, there is one configuration-specific property, but I cannot delete it either. I can add more, but cannot delete existing properties.
Uncle_Hairball
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by Uncle_Hairball »

JPARKER wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 2:21 pm If you right-click on the features in the tree and select "Dissolve Feature" it will break the link to the original CAD file.
Worked perfectly. Thanks!
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SolidMuse
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by SolidMuse »

If you do not wish to use the 3DInterconnect you can disable it in the SolidWorks Options.... By default it is toggled on when doing a new install of SolidWorks.
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by Uncle_Hairball »

Now what??? I've got another imported part whose custom properties I cannot edit, but 3D Interconnect is turned off. Any idea how to make the custom properties editable?
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DanPihlaja
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by DanPihlaja »

SolidMuse wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:33 pm If you do not wish to use the 3DInterconnect you can disable it in the SolidWorks Options.... By default it is toggled on when doing a new install of SolidWorks.
Just be aware that the algorithm for importing STP files (and the like) is different when you have 3D interconnect on (more robust) vs when you have it off.

(they may have fixed this, but they hadn't yet as of 2022 as far as I know).

Test this out on complex parts. There is a noticeable difference in the imported parts.

So I keep 3D interconnect on to use the advanced algorithm, and then immediately break the link.
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DanPihlaja
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by DanPihlaja »

Uncle_Hairball wrote: Mon Jul 01, 2024 5:58 pm Now what??? I've got another imported part whose custom properties I cannot edit, but 3D Interconnect is turned off. Any idea how to make the custom properties editable?
If you import a part into another part (using "Insert"-->"Part"), then there is a check box to import custom properties with it. This makes the imported custom properties un-editable.
image.png
image.png
Could this be the problem that you are having?
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Uncle_Hairball
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by Uncle_Hairball »

DanPihlaja wrote: Tue Jul 02, 2024 9:30 am If you import a part into another part (using "Insert"-->"Part"), then there is a check box to import custom properties with it. This makes the imported custom properties un-editable.

image.png

image.png

Could this be the problem that you are having?
No, my parts' custom properties look normal, but are greyed out; cannot be selected.

I tried downloading and importing the .step again, but got the same results. I then tried your suggestion to enable 3D Interconnect and break the link, which gave me editable custom properties.

Thanks for the helpful advice. Now I can work around this problem.
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mp3-250
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Re: Uneditable Custom Properties

Unread post by mp3-250 »

DanPihlaja wrote: Tue Jul 02, 2024 9:26 am Just be aware that the algorithm for importing STP files (and the like) is different when you have 3D interconnect on (more robust) vs when you have it off.

(they may have fixed this, but they hadn't yet as of 2022 as far as I know).

Test this out on complex parts. There is a noticeable difference in the imported parts.

So I keep 3D interconnect on to use the advanced algorithm, and then immediately break the link.
it is appaerently by design to have two algorithms for data imports.
3d interconnect link should be cut the moment you successfully import the data and you do not need it.
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