When a project is finalized it is very common that the names of the components created and the directories in which the files are saved do not match the expectation of the company's naming rules.

If you rename and/or move files in a global project from Windows Explorer, when you then open your assembly in SOLIDWORKS, in most cases, SOLIDWORKS will not find the references by itself. SOLIDWORKS will ask the user to search each reference manually. If you have several files the process may be long.

If these operations are performed with the ProjectExplorerthe behaviour is very different.

Let's take the example of this assembly where all the files have been saved in the same folder.


 


In ProjectExplorer I open a "Windows Explorer" window. The tool analyzes all the documents in the indicated folder (and the possible subfolders) and memorizes all the dependencies. I proceed to the modifications (creation of new folders, moving of some files, manual renaming of files...). I visualize, in live, the actions that ProjectExplorer performs in real time.

The renaming action can be set to follow naming rules that are very easy to set up. In this case, by right-clicking on the documents I can select the files then select "Rename with ProjectExplorer". The action is automatically executed.