SOLIDWORKS: Suppressed components
A SOLIDWORKS assembly may contain suppressed components for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to one or more the following:
- Configurations - If there are many possible layouts and variations of assemblies, one configuration may need a component, while another does not.
- Performance - Some components take so long to load that they are suppressed by default and are only unsuppressed when needed.
- Possible Options - You may wish to explore different off-the-shelf parts to perform the same function.
- Multiple Representations of an Item - You may need a space saver for additional components that are added later, such as an electrical circuit board. These items would not be part of the final mechanical design, but used as a reference.
allow.create.item.for.suppressed.files is enabled. This property is enabled by default. If this property is disabled, then the behavior matches that of Suppressed components in Inventor.Initial registration
When an assembly that contains a suppressed component is registered into Upchain using the Create item function from the right-click menu in cBOM view or Settings 
> Import data, the suppressed file is also registered to an item and added to the eBOM.
There are a few things to note regarding the registration process:
- The suppressed items are not locked for editing immediately following registration. This is because you cannot check in an assembly with checked out suppressed components, so Upchain has ensured you are not in this position following registration.
- If there are any drawings associated with the suppressed components, they are registered to the suppressed item as well.
- If your Tenant Admin has configured file renaming rules, the suppressed file (and its drawing) is also renamed according to the rule set for items.
BOM views after registering suppressed components
After registering suppressed components into Upchain the following rules apply:
- The cBOM view displays a suppressed icon next to the suppressed items.
- The eBOM view displays the usual item icon with no indication that it is suppressed in the cBOM.
A note on missing files
If you wish to import an assembly with missing files, your Tenant Admin must enable the tenant property allow.import.with.missing.files.
If any suppressed files are missing, Upchain presents you with a list of files it cannot locate and asks if you wish to continue with registration. If you continue to register the assembly with missing files, an item is created for each missing file and a record of the CAD file is saved to that item, however no file is uploaded. If you locate the files at a later date, Upchain will not recognize that they are the same files for the items it previously created, and you’ll need to create new items anyway.
If you have file renaming rules set in the tenant property filename.pattern, then even suppressed components are renamed. This is fine if the suppressed file is not missing; the file is copied to your home folder with its new name along with the rest of the assembly. However, this may cause you trouble if the suppressed files are missing; you may not remember what the original file name is to be able to locate it. Therefore, it is best practice to unsuppress as much as you can before registering the assembly and remove any references to missing files if possible.
Suppressed files and common BOM actions
The following table outlines how suppressed components are managed in different scenarios.
| Operation | Description of behavior |
|---|---|
| Save/Check in | There are several things to consider when you Save or Check in an assembly containing suppressed components:
|
| Check out | When selecting Check out from the Project BOM on an assembly that contains a suppressed component, the suppressed components can also be checked out at the same time as long as their CAD files aren't missing. If the suppressed component also contains a drawing, the drawing can be checked out here as well. The assembly opens in the active configuration that the assembly was in when last checked in. Note: An assembly containing a checked out suppressed component cannot be checked back in until the check out lock on the suppressed component is removed or the component is unsuppressed. |
| Download | When selecting Open from the Project BOM on an assembly that contains a suppressed component, the suppressed components are also downloaded as long as their CAD files aren't missing. If the suppressed components are associated with items that contain drawings, you can download the drawings as well. The assembly opens in the active configuration that the assembly was in when last checked in. |
| Plugin Settings > Import data | If an assembly that contains suppressed components is imported using this function, all suppressed components are registered to items and any drawings they may have been associated with are registered as well. If any suppressed files are missing, Upchain presents you with a list of files it cannot locate and asks if you wish to continue with registration. If you continue to register the assembly with missing files, an item is created for each missing file and a record of the CAD file is saved to that item, however no file is uploaded. |
| Generate Translations and Visualizations | Suppressed components do not appear in its parent assembly visualization to reflect how it was checked in. Visualizations and translations are generated for suppressed components as long as the CAD files are not missing. |
| Update attributes (common, custom, and CAD) | If your Tenant Admin has configured Read or Write CAD mappings for certain item attributes, the attributes are updated any time a CAD file associated with an item is checked out from Upchain or saved/checked back in. For suppressed items, its attributes are updated in the same way. Note however that you cannot Save or Check in an assembly that contains checked out suppressed components, so you must open the suppressed components one at a time to check them in individually. CAD attributes are also brought into Upchain if your Tenant Admin has enabled the extract.cad.properties tenant property and the CAD file is not missing. |
| Change request | If an assembly is released with suppressed components, the suppressed components are also released as long as they are on the eBOM. Note however that the suppressed component won’t appear on the assembly’s visualization or drawing and may confuse others who look at the assembly in Upchain. |
| Bulk Export | Suppressed files are included when cBOM structures are exported using Bulk Export. |
| Copy > Clone | You can select Copy > Clone on a suppressed component along with its parent assembly in the same was as any other component. However, there are several things to be aware of:
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| Copy > Replace | You can select Copy > Replace on a suppressed component in a checked out assembly in the same way as any other component. However, there are several things to be aware of:
|