Unexpected Results (Size Changes) Using Reload
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I am developing a model for an item I want to build in my woodshop. In that effort I have made extensive use of components for basic items, sub-assemblies, and major assemblies. Along the way the designs have developed and changed. So I have "Reload"ed components and, barring the need to reposition, have not experienced what I am now facing. The details follow using woodworking terms.
Originally, I used 24" slides to support some drawers. Since the size of the drawers needed to change, I made a unique copy of the 24" slide component, edited it by scaling it on the red axis to 22", updated the name to eliminate the reference to the 24" slide and also removed the #1, and "Saved As" the newly edited component in my Hardware collection. When I Reloaded the 24" slides on the existing drawers, the size of the slide became 26+", yet the outliner lists the correct source file, the updated name of the 22" slide, and the correct sub-assemblies. What's even more curious, if I then load a separate version of the 22" slide from the component collection, it comes in with the same name and so on, but it's the correct size: 22".
Obviously, I am missing something fundamental. Can someone point me in the right direction, please? By the way, I did a search of the forums (as I have done in the past when I ran into difficulty) but did not discover an answer or a lead. My apologies, if this topic has already been covered.
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When you scaled the component you didn't open it for editing first or update the scale to make the definition reflect the new size. If you use Scale on a component without first opening it to edit the geometry, you need to right click on it and choose Scale Definition to update the definition. If you edit you've already saved, you'll need to save it again after the modification.
FWIW, there are many cases in which scaling is not the correct way to modify the dimensions of components. For example, if you scale a table apron with tenons on it to change its length, you wind up scaling the tenons, too. This is usually not what you'd want. Instead, the Move tool can be used to change the length without distorting the tenons.
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Dave, Thanks for mentioning about the differences between Scale and Move when working with items in drawing. I learned that lesson the hard way, early on. In this case, since these are metal slides, I was only interested in a pictorial representation that was true to overall size. Issues resulting from scaling like any increase in internal channel size were immaterial.
As for the explanation of my problem, your analysis was right on. In order for the correctly sized component to replace the existing ones, I first had to open an existing component for Edit and, then, apply the Reload. Voila, all instances changed to 22". Something so simple, but ...
Again, thanks for the help and insights.
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