Instance files are usually saved for the top-level model. They contain information about the model and a reference to its corresponding content file for attributes such as name, color, density, and position.

When you import a *.sdp or a *.sda part or assembly instance file that references a *.sdpc or a *.sdac part or assembly content file, the resultant TIM part or component is only linked to its Creo Elements/Direct source file, that is, the *.sdp or the *.sda instance file. The TIM part or component is not linked to the *.sdpc or the *.sdac content file that the *.sdp or the *.sda instance file references in the Creo Elements/Direct model.

Therefore, when you modify the *.sdpc or the *.sdac content file and create a new version of the content file, the *.sdp or the *.sda instance file that you imported to Creo Parametric is not updated for the changes in the *.sdpc or the *.sdac content file in Creo Elements/Direct. The *.sdp or the *.sda instance file with which the TIM part or TIM component is associated remains unchanged, even if the *.sdp or the *.sda instance file has modified the associated *.sdpc or the *.sdac content file in some way.

As the *.sdp or the *.sda instance file shows the same date stamp and version as at the time of import and the TIM part, component, or assembly is not linked to the *.sdpc or the *.sdac content file, Check Status does not detect the changes in the *.sdpc or the *.sdac content file. Check Status also does not identify the top-level TIM assembly as out-of-date although the changes in the *.sdac content file that the *.sda instance file references has caused the top-level TIM assembly to become out-of-date.

To update the TIM part, TIM component, or the top-level TIM assembly for changes in the *.sdpc or the *.sdac content file, you must run the Change Link command followed by the Update command. Use the Change Link command to link the TIM to the same version of the *.sdp or the *.sda instance file.

You can then use the Update command to update the out-of-date TIM part, component, or the top-level assembly to the changes in the *.sdpc or the *.sdac content file.

However, if you modify the *.sdp or the *.sda instance file that you imported to Creo Parametric, the TIM part or component becomes out-of-date. You can then update the out-of-date TIM part, component, or the top-level TIM assembly for changes in the instance or the associated content files.