How to change the name and the Windows tree of SOLIDWORKS files without losing the reference links?


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.

For example, let's take an assembly where all the files have been saved in the same directory.

We want to reorganize the file structure and create directories for this project.

In ProjectExplorer we open a "Windows Explorer" window. The tool analyses all the documents in the indicated folder (and possible subfolders) and memorizes all the dependencies. Let's proceed to the modifications (creation of new folders, moving of some files, manual renaming of files...). We can visualize, 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 we can select the files and then select "Rename with ProjectExplorer". The action is automatically executed. Let's see it in pictures!


 

Don't panic, if you have a regret or if you made a wrong manipulation, a backup of the structure of your initial folder is made (you can also activate the backup button), this backup will allow you to come back to the initial state (which is very reassuring!).