Deleting files in 3DEXPERIENCE can be more complex than it appears. Especially when assembly hierarchies and external references are involved, wrong steps can lead to hours of wasted time. In this article, we'll detail the steps you need to follow for a safe and efficient deletion process.
Access Control:
First, make sure you have Leader role in the Collaborative Space. Without this permission, you cannot perform deletion operations.
Deletable Object Types:
In 3DEXPERIENCE, only Drawing and CAD Family objects can be deleted. Other object types require different operations. When you delete a CAD Family object, the child Physical Product and 3DShape objects are automatically deleted.
Maturity State Check:
Objects must be in Private or In Work state. Objects in Frozen, Released, or Obsolete states cannot be deleted. You can use the Collaborative Lifecycle application to check these states.
Top-Down Deletion Order:
A critical rule for assemblies: always follow the top-down order. Delete the top-level assembly CAD Family first, then sub-assembly CAD Families, and finally part CAD Families.
External Reference Management:
You must break all external references to other files in SOLIDWORKS. If you skip this step, you'll get error messages during deletion. After breaking the references, remember to save the data back to 3DEXPERIENCE.
Application Selection:
- Bookmark Editor: Ideal for quick selection and batch operations. Its folder structure makes it easy to find objects.
- Collaborative Lifecycle: Perfect for viewing and organizing workflow states. Especially useful for files not in bookmarks.
Common Errors and Solutions:
- Physical Product deletion error: Delete the parent CAD Family object instead.
- Higher-level reference error: Delete the higher-level CAD Family first.
- External reference error: Break references in SOLIDWORKS and save again.
For more details and screenshots: detailed guide