Historically, auto-numbering of new CAD files in Windchill Workgroup Manager was done only from the New CAD Document option available from the Workspace UI. For many users this proved to be a cumbersome process. The preferred method of creating new CAD files is to use the New file command in the CAD tool; but the inability to populate Windchill PDMLink auto-generated numbers in the New dialogue restricted the use of Windchill PDMLink auto-numbering.

Beginning at Windchill Workgroup Manager 10.1, auto-numbering is supported in AutoCAD using the New file command . When AutoCAD is connected to the Windchill Workgroup Manager, and there is an Active Server registered, then the new file name is generated from the Windchill PDMLink auto-numbering generator. Depending upon the differences in your CAD tool, the number may be populated either during initial creation or during first save. Specific information about your CAD tool’s behavior follows the Use of the “Soft Type Parameter” Preference when Auto-numbering Files section, below.

In the Windchill Preference Management utility, the Soft Type Parameter preference can be used to specify a property in the CAD file that can be used to set the Windchill CAD Document soft type on upload. The preference default is UPLOAD_SOFT_TYPE. The soft type is set on first upload, and cannot be changed after the initial upload.

To set this preference, locate Preference Management on the Windchill Utilities page, and navigate to Operation > Upload Operation > Upload > Soft Type Parameter.

This attribute must be set prior to applying auto-numbering. Once auto-numbering has been applied, changing the soft type parameter will not change the number that has already been allocated as the file name. The best practice is either to set the Soft Type Parameter in templates, so that there is no reliance on the user to set it; or to use the New CAD Document feature in the Workspace UI.

AutoCAD uses the Windchill PDMLink auto-number generator to create new file names. New files are created using the native AutoCADNew function. The file number is populated during initial creation.