NX STEP assembly imported repeatedly does not overwrite component part files
2021-10-06T23:27:34Z
NX for Design
Summary
Details
We have a STEP assembly containing 2 components, model1 and model2.
The STEP assembly is imported into NX using STEP AP214, the top assembly and the 2 components, model1 and model2 are imported and created as '.prt' files.
We are getting updates of the STEP file, (assembly and components still have the same names), from our source with modifications made to the component part files. Performing an import of the 2nd STEP file into the same folder as the first import using STEP214 renders in assembly + components getting new names, indexed names, model151, model250 and assembly52.
The third time the STEP file is updated and a STEP 214 import is performed, the assembly part file assembly52 gets overwritten but the 2 components model151 and model250 is not overwritten. I.e. the last modifications to them does not come through.
How to get all the part files being translated from STEP AP214 to maintain their original names through repeatedly translations into the same folder and at the same time get the latest STEP import to overwrite the previous version of the same part file?
- Set OVERWRITE_EXISTING_PARTS = On in STEP translator settings file "step214ug.def
PLEASE NOTE: If you add this setting as a line at the end of the .def file, a carriage return <CR> must be added, i.e. it must not be the last line in the file, there must be an empty line after it.
Having done this each and every STEP AP214 translation in the scenario described above, will render in an NX assembly where the original names are kept, model1, model2 and assembly.
WARNING! "OVERWRITE_EXISTING_PARTS = On" means that NX will overwrite any part file with the original component name. DO NOT translate the STEP assembly into the same folder as any original NX part files, (for instance when verifying the result of a STEP export from NX), they WILL BE OVERWRITTEN, and all feature history WILL BE LOST!!
OS: windows
OS Version: 1064
Product: NX
Application: TRANSLATOR
Version: V1899
Function: STEP_AP214
Ref: 001-9665409
The STEP assembly is imported into NX using STEP AP214, the top assembly and the 2 components, model1 and model2 are imported and created as '.prt' files.
We are getting updates of the STEP file, (assembly and components still have the same names), from our source with modifications made to the component part files. Performing an import of the 2nd STEP file into the same folder as the first import using STEP214 renders in assembly + components getting new names, indexed names, model151, model250 and assembly52.
The third time the STEP file is updated and a STEP 214 import is performed, the assembly part file assembly52 gets overwritten but the 2 components model151 and model250 is not overwritten. I.e. the last modifications to them does not come through.
How to get all the part files being translated from STEP AP214 to maintain their original names through repeatedly translations into the same folder and at the same time get the latest STEP import to overwrite the previous version of the same part file?
Solution
If you want to export the same assembly repeatedly and always get a set of components that reflect the last translation you need to do:- Set OVERWRITE_EXISTING_PARTS = On in STEP translator settings file "step214ug.def
PLEASE NOTE: If you add this setting as a line at the end of the .def file, a carriage return <CR> must be added, i.e. it must not be the last line in the file, there must be an empty line after it.
Having done this each and every STEP AP214 translation in the scenario described above, will render in an NX assembly where the original names are kept, model1, model2 and assembly.
WARNING! "OVERWRITE_EXISTING_PARTS = On" means that NX will overwrite any part file with the original component name. DO NOT translate the STEP assembly into the same folder as any original NX part files, (for instance when verifying the result of a STEP export from NX), they WILL BE OVERWRITTEN, and all feature history WILL BE LOST!!
Notes and References
Hardware/Software Configuration
Platform: INTL64OS: windows
OS Version: 1064
Product: NX
Application: TRANSLATOR
Version: V1899
Function: STEP_AP214
Ref: 001-9665409