Clone a configuration item

You may clone a configuration item from any configuration as this process stems from the same CAD file.

1. Open the CAD model you want to clone in your CAD software and refresh the cBOM view.

2. Right-click the item you want to clone and select Copy.

   Cancel, Clone and Replace are displayed at the top of the plugin.

3. Select the items you want to clone.

   If you select an assembly to clone, you can also clone its components at the same time. Autodesk recommends that you clone any phantom components.

   Tip: Right-click the top level box to select items by status.

4. Click Clone.

   Upchain begins to create copies of all selected components in your home folder. Once this is finished, Upchain opens the copied file into SOLIDWORKS. If you chose more than one file to clone, Upchain opens a window where you must select which copied file to open into SOLIDWORKS. You should choose the parent assembly that was cloned.

   Now, you must save or check in the copied files to complete the process.

5. Refresh the cBOM view.

   The copied item appears as 'Not Registered' with an orange icon next to it indicating a new item is about to be created.

6. Right-click the cloned item and select Check in (or Save).

   The CAD Check in window opens and displays a green icon beside every item chosen to be copied. Upchain recognizes that the file you chose to clone contains configurations. Every configuration will be copied to a new item or phantom depending on how each configuration is registered in the CAD file being copied.

7. Choose a BOM location for every copied configuration for which an item is being created:

   1. Click the BOM Location field shown with a red border.

      The project picker window opens.

   2. Select the BOM Location in which you wish to place the new configuration item.

   3. Click OK.

      The selected location is displayed in the BOM Location field and now has a green border.

   4. Repeat for every configuration being copied to a new item.

      Note: You must select a BOM location for all configurations you are copying to a new item.

8. Click OK on the CAD Check in window.

A new item is created for each configuration that was originally registered to an item and placed in the location you chose. Any copied sub-components are also registered to new items.

If a copied sub-component also contains configurations, only the configuration(s) used in the parent copied assembly (and its configurations) are registered to new items during the above copy process. You can see the names of the configurations in the Configuration Name column of the CAD Check in window.

However, as soon as you open a copied sub-component on its own and check it in, the CAD Check in window displays all of its configurations and enables you to complete the copy process and register them to new items.