Sharing complex assemblies with clients or team members often leads to a common frustration: missing custom properties. These properties—such as Material, Part Number, and Supplier info—are crucial for BOM (Bill of Materials) accuracy. In this guide, we explore the best practices to ensure your metadata stays intact during the transfer.
Why Custom Properties Disappear
When you share an assembly file (.sldasm or .iam) without its referenced part files, or when converting to neutral formats like STEP or IGES, the internal metadata links can break. This leads to broken workflows and manual data re-entry.
Top Methods to Preserve Metadata
1. Use "Pack and Go" or "Archive" Tools
Instead of manual copying, use your CAD software's built-in packaging tool. This gathers all referenced parts, drawings, and custom property databases into a single folder or ZIP file, maintaining all internal links.
2. Saving as 3D PDF or STEP 242
If you must share a neutral file, avoid older formats. STEP 214 and STEP 242 are specifically designed to carry organizational data and custom properties that standard STEP files might strip away.
3. Utilizing PDM Systems
A Product Data Management (PDM) system ensures that custom properties are stored in a centralized database. When sharing, you can export a "Data Card" along with the physical files to ensure the recipient sees exactly what you see.
Best Practices for CAD Sharing
- Consistency: Ensure property names (e.g., "Weight" vs "Mass") are standardized across all parts.
- External References: Always check for "out-of-context" references before sharing.
- Metadata Mapping: Map your custom properties to the file's configuration-specific properties for maximum compatibility.
Pro Tip: Always send a "README" text file or a BOM export in Excel format as a secondary reference to verify that no custom properties were lost during the assembly transfer.
Conclusion
Preserving custom properties when sharing assemblies is about choosing the right format and the right packaging method. By following these steps, you ensure that your engineering data remains professional, searchable, and accurate for everyone involved in the project.
