Rules changed for "Search Routine for Referenced Documents" ?

Dear all!

Recently we upgraded from Solidwork2021 to Solidworks2025 SP2.

 

We use the option "Search external references in:" 
We want Solidworks to search for parts in a particular folder first instead of the same folder where the assembly is located.

In SW2021 this worked fine.
The assembly opens a part at the Referenced file location, even though the part is in the same folder as the assembly.

In SW2025 
The assembly opens a part in the same folder, when the part is deleted/renamed it opens the part at the Referenced file location.

The rules should be:

  1. open document with same name
  2. search in referenced document folders
  3. path of active document.

 

It appears 2 and 3 are mixed up in 2025

It this a bug? Or did something changed?
Anyone recognizes this problem?

Thanks for the help!