Automating with Design Tables Flashcards

When creating a Design Table, which option automatically populates the spreadsheet with all existing configurations and their currently configured parameters?

Answer: Auto-create

The 'Auto-create' option scans the SOLIDWORKS model for existing configurations and parameters that have been set to vary per configuration. It then automatically generates a Design Table with columns for these parameters and rows for each configuration, populating the cells with the current values.

In a SOLIDWORKS Design Table, what is the correct syntax for a column header to control the suppression state of a feature named 'Pocket-Cut'?

Answer: $STATE@Pocket-Cut

The correct syntax to control the suppression state of a feature is `$STATE@feature_name`. Therefore, for a feature named 'Pocket-Cut', the header must be `$STATE@Pocket-Cut`. The cells under this column would then accept values like 'S' (Suppressed) or 'U' (Unsuppressed).

You are creating several configurations of a part for a family of products. You need to assign a unique part number to each configuration that will appear in a Bill of Materials. Which parameter should you add as a column header in the Design Table to control this property?

Answer: $PARTNUMBER

The specific keyword to control the configuration-specific part number used in a Bill of Materials is `$PARTNUMBER`. By adding this as a column header, you can enter a unique text string for each configuration in the corresponding rows.

A user wants to create and manage a large number of configurations for a standard component. The parameter data already exists in an external Excel spreadsheet. What is the most efficient method to use this existing data to drive the SOLIDWORKS configurations?

Answer: Use the 'From file' option and link it to the external Excel spreadsheet.

The 'From file' option is designed for this scenario. It allows you to use an existing external Microsoft Excel file to create the Design Table. Furthermore, selecting the 'Link to file' option ensures that any changes made to the external spreadsheet will automatically update the configurations in the SOLIDWORKS model, making it the most efficient and maintainable method.

Within a Design Table, what values are typically used in the cells to control the suppression state of a feature?

Answer: 1 / 0 (or S / U)

To control feature suppression, you can use 'S' or 'Suppressed' or the number '1' to suppress a feature. To unsuppress it, you can use 'U' or 'Unsuppressed' or the number '0'. If a cell is left blank, the default is unsuppressed.

You have inserted a Design Table and set the option 'Block model edits that would update the design table'. What is the effect of this setting?

Answer: Manually changing a dimension in the model that is controlled by the Design Table is prevented.

The setting 'Block model edits that would update the design table' establishes the Design Table as the sole driver for any controlled parameters. This prevents users from making changes to those parameters directly in the graphics area or FeatureManager, thus ensuring that all configurations remain consistent with the data in the spreadsheet.