How do you duplicate a 3D model along with its drawing in one click using SmartProperties?
With the SmartProperties tool from the myCADtools suite, you can easily create a new model—complete with its associated drawing—based on an existing model.
In fact, when property values are changed, SmartProperties will calculate a new name and prompt the user to generate a new 3D document, handling the duplication of its associated drawing(s).
The reference link for the new drawing will then be automatically updated to point to the new 3D model.
In the example below, we use the default SmartProperties input mask, which is included with the installation of myCADtools. In addition, our file includes an associated drawing.
First, our 3D model was automatically named using SmartProperties.
In our SmartProperties configuration, the FILE_NAME property serves as our reference for naming files.
In other words, when this property is changed, a new name will be generated and the file will be duplicated.
To do this, go to the SmartProperties settings, then select “Settings\Automatically Rename Document.” Next, check the “Automatically rename the document with a property value” option and enter the property name.
If you restart SmartProperties, it restores the property values that were set when the file was created.
In that case, we'll modify the counter by adding an "Increment" button, which will allow us to change its value.
That same counter number is used to generate the value of our “FILE_NAME” property. The tool will then detect the change in the value of the “FILE_NAME” property and open the duplication dialog box.
In this dialog box, simply check the "Copy associated drawing" option to duplicate the 2D drawing:
Complete instructions:
