This is a question for all the long term parametric/multi-file CAD users out there.

I began on CADKey some 15 years ago and moved to Solid Edge about 12-13 years ago, (Solidworks last 6 months) and found that with Solid Edge it really helped to save the files using a folder structure that mirrored the assembly structure in CAD. I still use this idea today but simply can’t remember why it was so important (apart from making it easy to locate the files at a later date, which wasn’t the original reason) it’s just habit for me now. I’m trying to train some others in Solidworks techniques and am repeated asked why I insist on a neat and tidy folder structure.

Question 1:

Who amongst you still feels this is the way to go and who thinks it doesn’t matter, just dump every part and assy file in the same folder, and why? (not using the vault or any other file handling system)

Also, the company I now work for used CoCreate because the engineering manager has used it for many years. Trying to get him to accept that multiple files are a better way to go is proving difficult. I know it is better, mostly for drawing creation and future changes without having to open the entire job, but I need to convince him.

Question 2:

Please give me arguments for convincing him or we’ll be forced back to CoCreate (boring, very limited tools) (OK, not so much a question)